20:The Test of Endurance

A cold gust brushed against my skin, carrying the familiar crisp scent of the northern winds. My breath came out in steady, controlled exhales, faint mist curling in the air as I stood in the open training field.

Across from me, Elowen Verdantia watched in silence, arms folded, her piercing blue eyes studying my every movement.

"Today, we test your endurance."

Her calm yet firm voice carried the weight of expectation.

I tightened my grip around the wooden training dagger in my hand. My body was no longer weak like before, but compared to Elowen—compared to a true Spirit Tamer—I was still far from strong.

Still… I had no intention of backing down.

---

Mana and Spirit Energy Endurance Training

Elowen gestured toward a row of thick wooden posts behind her, each carved with deep scratches from years of training.

"Your task is simple. Maintain Spirit Armament while continuously attacking the posts for as long as possible."

I furrowed my brows.

Spirit Armament was still new to me. Channeling my spirits into a weapon wasn't as simple as enhancing my own body. The mana flow was unstable, and the energy loss was far greater.

"I'll be timing you," Elowen added. "Once your energy control falters, we stop."

A deep breath.

I extended my senses—

The Frost Raven's chilling aura wrapped around me like a shadow.

Ignis's warmth pulsed, eager and restless.

I reached for them, letting their energy flow through me.

『 Spirit Armament – Frost Infusion Attempting… 』

Cold energy surged into the wooden dagger. A thin layer of frost spread along the blade's surface, coating it in a faint sheen of blue.

CRACK.

The frost splintered in an instant.

Too unstable. The mana dissipated before I could even land a strike.

I bit my lip and tried again, this time calling upon Ignis instead.

『 Spirit Armament – Ember Infusion Attempting… 』

This time, faint embers flickered to life along the dagger's edge, glowing with a weak, unstable heat.

It wouldn't hold for long.

I stepped forward and struck.

The first slash cut into the wooden post.

The second left behind a faint scorch mark.

The third—

Fwoosh!

The flames sputtered out.

"Tch."

I stumbled back, my breathing uneven. Holding the infusion for even ten seconds was already draining.

"You're forcing it," Elowen said flatly. "You're trying to overpower the technique instead of maintaining it. Efficiency over raw power, Averis."

I clenched my fists.

She was right.

I had been trying to maximize output, but at my current level, my body couldn't handle the drain.

I exhaled, calming my thoughts.

This time, instead of forcing a full infusion, I focused on maintaining a weaker but steady channel.

『 Spirit Armament – Ember Infusion Active… 』

The flames returned, weaker than before—but stable.

I moved.

Slash.

Step.

Slash.

The dagger cut into the posts repeatedly, ember-traced strokes searing the wood.

『 Spirit Energy Efficiency +5% 』

『 Minor Spirit Stamina Boost Acquired 』

Two minutes passed.

By the time the flames finally flickered out, my breath was ragged, sweat trickling down my forehead.

Elowen nodded approvingly.

"Better."

---

Combat Simulation – Elowen's Challenge

"Now," Elowen said, "let's see how you perform in an actual fight."

She took a step forward, the space between us instantly shifting from student and teacher to combatants.

I swallowed.

I had dueled against training dummies. I had sparred against guards with dulled weapons.

But facing Elowen was something else entirely.

"The rules are simple," she continued. "Land a clean hit on me within ten minutes. I will not attack first, but I will counter. If you stop moving, fall, or waste too much mana, you lose."

I tightened my grip on my dagger.

This wouldn't be easy.

『 Duel Start. 』

The moment the countdown began, I moved.

I kicked off the ground, activating Wind Step.

『 Wind Step (Basic Spirit Technique) Activated. 』

A burst of speed surged through my body, Sylphiel's wind guiding my movements.

I closed the distance instantly—

SLASH!

My dagger sliced through the air—

Miss.

Elowen had already shifted, her movement so fluid that I barely registered her dodge.

"Tsk—!"

I twisted mid-step, pivoting on my heel, launching another attack—

Miss.

Again. She was too fast.

No…

She wasn't fast.

She was predicting me.

I gritted my teeth.

If direct attacks wouldn't work, then—

I flowed into Spirit Armament.

『 Spirit Armament – Frost Infusion Activated. 』

Cold energy coated my dagger, and I lunged again—

But then—

WHOOSH!

Elowen vanished from my sight.

A blur—!

Before I could react, a light tap landed against my shoulder.

"You're relying too much on speed," Elowen murmured from behind me.

My breath hitched.

She had countered before I even registered her movement.

『 Time Remaining: 7 Minutes. 』

I spun around, exhaling sharply.

She wasn't even breathing hard.

I forced myself to calm down.

Speed alone wasn't enough. Power alone wasn't enough.

I needed fluidity.

Instead of fully committing to one spirit, I let my senses open—

Sylphiel's wind.

Teraval's stability.

Instead of forcing synchronization, I flowed between them.

Elowen shifted slightly, and the moment she moved—

I reacted.

『 Wind Step → Earth Step Transition. 』

My footwork changed mid-motion.

Elowen's eyes widened slightly.

I twisted my body, shifting my weight seamlessly, using the wind's lightness before grounding myself with Teraval's strength.

Then—

SLASH.

A faint breeze brushed against Elowen's shoulder.

A shallow scratch.

『 Hidden Feat Achieved: First Duel Victory Against a Master. 』

『 Spirit Flow Proficiency +10% 』

Silence.

Then, a quiet chuckle.

"Not bad," Elowen murmured.

She reached up, lightly touching the scratch on her arm before turning back to me.

"You learn fast. But don't get cocky—it only gets harder from here."

I let out a slow, relieved breath.

It wasn't a true victory.

But it was progress.

And for now, that was enough.

---

End of Chapter 20