A few days passed. Astro sat deep in thought.
I have to become stronger than the people my age. After all, I've been reincarnated…
"Oi, idiot! Look at this!" Lucas shouted. He stretched out his hand dramatically. "Oh fireball, come forth!"
A small flame burst into the air.
"See? See this magic, you dumbass?" he bragged with a smug grin.
"Shut up, you dumbass genius," Astro muttered.
Lucas continued to taunt him a few more times until Astro snapped. He clenched his fist and slammed a punch right into Lucas's face, sending him flying.
That was all it took for the two of them to start brawling. Punches, kicks, hair-pulling—nothing was off-limits.
After a while, both collapsed on the ground, panting heavily. Their stomachs growled.
"I'm going to die from hunger," Astro groaned.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to hold a funeral for you, dumbass," Lucas replied with a smirk.
"Do you want to die?"
"Let's just eat, you idiot."
Astro dragged himself up and pulled out the food bag. Both of them opened it eagerly… only to find it empty.
"You ate all the food, idiot!" Astro shouted.
"Oh, I was eating food? Then what were you eating, Mr. Idiot?" Lucas said innocently.
They grabbed each other's collars, ready to throw another punch—but collapsed again, too weak from hunger.
"Haa… I think, Astro, you should go get us dinner," Lucas suggested.
"He finally uses my name… just to make me do the work," Astro thought bitterly.
"I can't steal food like you, Lucas," Astro replied.
"Fine. Wait here. I'll bring something."
Lucas left the tent. Three long hours passed. Astro lay on the floor, half-dead.
"Lucas, my friend… it seems this is my final goodbye to the world…"
"Idiot! I brought food!" Lucas yelled, bursting into the tent.
Astro, with the last ounce of strength in his body, leapt onto him and devoured the food instantly.
"Were you cooking this, dumbass? Why so late?"
"Nope. It just took a while to steal."
Astro froze mid-bite. So this bastard already ate his share, and left me starving for hours…
Still chewing, Astro asked, "Hey dumbass, is fire the only magic?"
"No, idiot. Let me explain," Lucas said, putting on a teacher's tone. "There are four basic elements—Fire, Water, Earth, and Thunder. Of course, more might still be undiscovered. Around 70% of people can use magic, but only 10% of them can handle more than one element. And out of all that, only 20% have enough mana to blast a hole through a giant rock."
Astro's eyes lit up. "So that means I could use another element!"
"Nah. You can't. Because you're an idiot."
"Shut up, dumbass. Watch this!"
Astro closed his eyes and imagined water. Nothing happened. He tried earth. Still nothing. Thunder. Still nothing.
"I told you, you can't, idiot!" Lucas burst into laughter.
Astro slumped in the corner, tears streaming down his cheeks. Why don't I have any mana…?
The Next Morning
"If I can't rely on magic," Astro thought, "then I'll build up my physical strength!"
He clenched his fists. "Alright, let's do the One Punch Man routine! 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run every day!"
He dropped down and began his push-ups.
"One… two… three…"
By the tenth push-up, he collapsed face-first onto the ground, his muscles screaming in pain.
But with determination burning in his eyes, he forced himself back up.
From afar, Lucas watched him. A giggle escaped his lips, and for once, a small smile formed.