Chapter 21 – No Mercy, No Shortcuts

Kalen barely had time to breathe before the training began. The moment he accepted Li Zhi as his master, the warlock wasted no time.

"If you want to be strong, you must first break."

With those words, Kalen found himself facing an onslaught unlike anything he had ever imagined.

Li Zhi didn't believe in explanations—only in action. The first lesson came in the form of pain.

Endurance Beyond Limits

Li Zhi had Kalen run through an endless gauntlet of physical trials. He was forced to sprint across rocky terrain with weights strapped to his back, climb jagged cliffs with his bare hands, and stand under waterfalls where the crushing force threatened to break his bones.

"Your body must be as unyielding as your will," Li Zhi said as he watched Kalen collapse for the fifth time that day.

But there was no room for weakness. The moment Kalen hit the ground, Li Zhi would force him back up, either by sheer command or by launching an attack that forced Kalen to dodge or be struck down.

The Art of Combat

Once his body was battered and exhausted, Li Zhi introduced the next phase—combat.

Kalen was made to fight nonstop. Against Li Zhi. Against illusions. Against wild beasts summoned by warlock magic. Each battle was a brutal test of his reflexes, instincts, and ability to adapt.

Every time Kalen hesitated, he was punished. A strike to the ribs. A cut across the arm. A jolt of magic that sent his body convulsing.

"There is no hesitation in battle. Only death."

There were no wooden practice swords, no dulled blades. Li Zhi fought Kalen with real weapons, forcing him to understand that every mistake could be fatal. His knuckles bled from parrying. His arms screamed in protest from defending against relentless strikes. His entire body burned, but he clenched his teeth and refused to yield.

Awakening Strength

Kalen's warlock bloodline stirred in response to the relentless training. At times, when he was pushed to the brink, he felt flickers of power—an unnatural burst of speed, a flash of instinct before an attack landed. But the moment he tried to grasp it, the sensation slipped away like sand between his fingers.

"You are not ready to command your bloodline. It must first be forged."

Li Zhi pushed harder. Kalen's vision blurred from exhaustion, but he fought on. His breaths were ragged, his body broken, but still, he stood.

When he collapsed again, chest heaving against the dirt, Li Zhi gave a single nod of approval.

"Pain is your teacher. Suffering is your forge. If you survive this, you may one day be worthy of your bloodline."

Kalen didn't reply. He was too exhausted to speak. But deep inside, beneath the bruises and blood, a fire burned hotter than ever before.