The days that followed were critical for both Ash and Justin. Now that Ash had awakened, his mana could potentially be examined — and if anyone detected the presence of both Light and Darkness, the consequences would be catastrophic.
So Justin began the next phase: guiding Ash to develop and embody a single elemental affinity — lightning. It wasn't a lie or a false projection. Ash could truly control any element he trained in, a trait born from his dual affinity with the primordial forces. But the key was to channel and engrain that elemental nature so deeply into his body and aura that no one would question it.
Every day, Justin helped him meditate, pouring his own lightning mana into Ash to guide and shape the resonance. They repeated the process over and over. Channel, anchor, build. Ash struggled at first. The storm inside him wasn't easily tamed. But after nearly a month of focused effort, the lightning affinity was forged into his core, deep and convincing. If anyone tested him now, they would see only lightning — pure, natural, and overwhelming. Both of them exhaled in relief.
But there was something else.
Ash's lightning… it was terrifying. Pure. Raw. It came without summons or chants, erupting at the mere thought, as if lightning itself had chosen him. Justin had never seen anything like it. It wasn't just elemental—it was instinctual.
Yet that raw power came with no control.
So the training turned brutal. On every action, Ash was instructed to channel his mana during each step, every swing, and every breath. That was the only way for him to grow truly familiar with it. He was pushed beyond limits any normal child could withstand. Weighted runs that stretched for hours, sword drills until his arms felt numb, countless swings of practised stances. And always, meditation.
Justin taught him basic breathing and mana circulation methods—primitive but reliable. The foundation for all elemental mastery. Ash would eventually need to develop his own, a unique breathing method to harmonise with his personal brand of lightning.
His mana pool was... impossible.
Justin quickly noticed it. After hours of exhausting physical training and mana expenditure, Ash still had more energy left. No drain. No burnout. His reserves were insanely vast—like a bottomless well.
After one evening's training, Ash incinerated a wooden practice dummy with a single flick. Justin quietly examined the remains, then muttered, "We'll need harder targets."
Ash simply nodded, sparks still dancing in his eyes.
Power, he was learning, was not a gift—it was a responsibility. It had to be mastered. Or it would consume him.
And so, they trained. Lightning flashed in the shadows of the Virellian trees, far from the prying eyes of the Aurelian Empire.
Another month passed, and two major milestones marked Ash's progress.
The first was his mastery of a basic spell — Lightning Arrows. It was the simplest form of magical offense in the lightning category, usually taught to novice mages. For Ash, however, it packed far more power than normal. Though his aim was still inconsistent, the damage output was astounding, several times stronger than what would be expected from a beginner.
The second advancement was more physical. Ash had learned to channel lightning through his body while running — infusing his legs with crackling mana. It wasn't just a speed boost. His strides became sharper, faster, almost weightless. The lightning didn't just make him quicker — it made him more fluid, more agile. His father noted that the technique, though still crude, had the potential to evolve into something far greater.
And due to his immense mana pool, Ash could cast Lightning Arrows repeatedly without pause — what would exhaust most mages in a handful of casts, he could spam without strain. It became less of a calculated spell and more of a natural extension of his will, a reflex.
His father watched with a mix of pride and wariness. The sheer volume of mana behind each cast turned even the simplest spell into a devastating barrage. Control, as always, would be the key.
It was finally time for Ash to face his first real hunt.
Justin led him deep into the forest — but this time, their movement was fast, relentless. Not just to reach a destination, but to test Ash's total physical and mana endurance. It was a deliberate push.
They moved at full speed, Justin matching his pace to Ash's peak. Ash channeled lightning through his legs as he ran, the crackling surge enhancing each step, making him faster — but also draining mana at a constant rate. His control still rough, he burned through more energy than necessary, but his massive reserves kept him going.
Hour after hour, they weaved through dense brush, vaulted over roots, and darted beneath hanging branches. Sweat poured down Ash's face, but he didn't slow. Justin, silently observing, noted every reaction — heart rate, balance, mana flow.
Ash stood beside Justin on the thick branch of a towering tree, staring at the massive creature below. The Grizzly Beast sniffed the air, unaware of their presence for now.
It stood nearly twelve feet tall, covered in dark, rock-like fur, its bulk moving with slow menace. It was classified as mid F-Rank, also commonly referred to as Novice-Level beast. While it lacked any elemental powers, it made up for that with sheer physical endurance and surprisingly decent resistance to lightning.
And Justin had deliberately chosen it as Ash's first hunt.
Ash glanced at him, uncertain.
"Dad… how am I supposed to bring that thing down?"
Justin didn't speak.
He just stared back at Ash — calm, unwavering, expression unreadable.
The silence said everything:
Figure it out.
And he kicked Ash off the branch.
Ash yelped as he tumbled through the foliage, crashing into the underbrush below. The moment he hit the ground, the Grizzly's head snapped in his direction. It let out a low, thunderous growl and started moving toward him.
Ash staggered upright just as the beast began its charge.
Above him, Justin remained on the branch, arms folded, watching calmly.
The hunt had begun.
Ash raised his hand, and the first bolt of mana-born lightning fired off toward the charging beast. His aim? Still slightly off.
The Lightning Arrow struck the Grizzly's shoulder with a sharp crack—but the result was underwhelming.
Just a scratch.
A thin trail of smoke rose from singed fur, but the beast barely flinched. It skidded back a step, then locked its eyes on Ash, more agitated than wounded.
Ash's grin vanished.
"That barely did anything…" he thought, eyes wide.
The beast charged again—and to his shock, it was fast.
Ash barely managed to dodge, enhancing his legs with mana-infused lightning just in time to blur sideways. But the Grizzly twisted mid-lunge and kept up. For something that massive, it moved like a boulder rolling downhill: unstoppable, violent, and terrifyingly relentless.
It was matching his enhanced speed.
Ash's heart pounded. The beast was right on his heels—one that wasn't even using magic.
Above, Justin watched closely, noting every step, every breath, every drop of mana Ash burned.
This wasn't just about killing the beast. It was about showing Ash the gap—between raw power and true combat.
And the Grizzly was more than ready to teach it.
Each time the Grizzly charged, the ground trembled under its weight—small shockwaves rippling out with every thunderous step. Ash struggled to maintain balance. The uneven terrain, thick roots, and scattered foliage made movement unpredictable, and he was still too unfamiliar with the forest floor to manoeuvre efficiently.
He gritted his teeth, barely ducking under a massive swipe of the Grizzly's claws. The wind from it whistled past his ear.
Too close.
But even in the chaos, Ash's mind worked fast. He was observing. Calculating.
The beast was powerful—its physique nearly matched his own enhanced body—but it wasn't clever. Its attacks were wild, telegraphed. Predictable.
It didn't know how to fight. It just knew how to smash.
Ash started adjusting. Dodging more efficiently. Letting the beast wear itself down. His breathing fell into rhythm—lightning crackled subtly at his joints to boost each movement.
But even so, each near-miss was felt. The Grizzly's sheer power rattled through the air, and a single hit could break bones. Ash wasn't immune to that.
Ash's lungs burned. Sweat ran down his face, steam rising faintly as raw mana surged within him. It had already been an hour—an hour of relentless dodging, circling, striking, and narrowly escaping death.
He hadn't landed a decisive blow yet.
The Grizzly's thick hide resisted most of his lightning-enhanced strikes, and its endurance seemed inhuman. Despite its size, it moved with terrifying speed, mirroring his own enhanced movements.
Ash's legs ached. His arms trembled slightly. But he didn't back down.
The forest around them, though, was less fortunate.
Scorch marks streaked across broken trees. Deep claw gouges split thick trunks. The earth had been torn up in wide swaths where Ash had dodged or been knocked back. Lightning strikes had left trails of charred vegetation, and shattered bark lay everywhere like fallen shrapnel.
What had once been a peaceful clearing now looked like the aftermath of a battlefield.
And still the Grizzly advanced.
Ash narrowed his eyes. This wasn't going to be a quick fight.
But maybe… it didn't have to be a direct one either.
He exhaled sharply, shifting his stance. The beast roared—and Ash's thoughts cleared.
Ash grounded his foot, gritted his teeth, and began channelling more mana, twice the usual amount.
His body tensed instantly.
A surge of lightning burst from within him, crackling along his limbs and wreathing his figure in violent arcs. His speed spiked, each step now a blur, but his muscles began to ache under the strain. Veins lit faintly with bluish-white energy, and he could feel the burn, not just physical, but internal, in his very mana pathways.
Still, he remained calm. Focused.
He launched forward, striking again—this time with greater force.
The bolt hit home. The Grizzly howled as the impact scorched its thick hide, leaving fried fur and blackened scars in its wake. Its massive body jerked from the force, stumbling slightly.
But it didn't fall.
Instead, it grew more aggressive.
Roaring with fury, the beast's attacks came harder, faster—claws swiping like steel guillotines, each swing leaving trenches in the ground. Its eyes gleamed with primal rage, foam forming at its mouth.
Ash dodged again, barely.
The pressure was growing. The beast had dozens of burns and deep cuts now, but none were fatal. The scent of ozone and burnt fur hung heavy in the air.
And Ash knew one thing:
If he didn't end it soon… his body might not keep up.
And then he made a mistake.
Focused on the Grizzly's charge, he didn't notice the sudden break in the underbrush—a clearing hidden by thick foliage.
His foot slipped.
Ash stumbled forward and crashed down, rolling hard over exposed roots and loose stones. Before he could recover, a shadow loomed above him—the beast had seen its chance.
The Grizzly roared and lunged.
Ash barely twisted his body in time, lightning flaring around him. The claws missed direct impact, but the force of the strike slammed into the ground beside him, hurling him like a ragdoll.
He was launched through the air.
And landed hard—splat—into a low, marshy basin of thick, clinging mud.
His back hit first. Water and mud splashed around him as the swamp swallowed part of his form, and the cold of it shocked through his bones.
"F-fuck…" he gasped, half-muffled.
The mud clung to his limbs, slowing his movement. The once-smooth flow of mana became shaky, erratic.
And above the ridge, the Grizzly roared again, charging straight for the swamp.