Chapter 4: The Breaking Point

Joshua had never known pain like this before.

His entire body ached—not the dull soreness of a workout, but the deep, bone-grinding agony of muscles that had been pushed beyond their limits. His arms refused to move, his legs were like lead, and even breathing felt like a chore.

The sun was setting over the village of Irene, its golden light casting long shadows over the training ground. Joshua lay motionless in the dirt, sweat soaking his clothes, his fingers twitching involuntarily as if his nerves had forgotten how to function.

Amador stood over him, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the disappointment in his voice.

"You have the heart of a warrior, but not the constitution."

Joshua barely managed to turn his head toward the chief.

"Our younglings start training as soon as they can walk," Amador continued, his tone heavy with finality. "You cannot catch up."

Joshua felt something inside him break.

He had tried. He had endured. He had pushed himself beyond exhaustion, but it wasn't enough.

He wasn't enough.

Not in the real world. Not in this world.

His vision blurred—not from physical strain, but from the weight of failure crushing him.

The Spiral of Self-Doubt

He lay there, unmoving, as the warriors of Irene quietly dispersed, their interest in him fading.

He could hear their whispers.

"He won't last."

"Too weak."

"Not even worth training."

Joshua clenched his teeth.

It was happening again.

No matter where he went, no matter how much he tried, he was always just… average.

In school, he had been brilliant at math, but it hadn't mattered—there were always others who stood out more.

In job hunting, he had been qualified, but it hadn't mattered—his credentials weren't enough.

Now, in this world, he had guts, but it didn't matter—his body was too weak to keep up.

"Why did I even try?"

He wanted to scream, but his body wouldn't let him.

He wanted to get up, but he couldn't.

A deep, crushing sense of despair settled in his chest. He had thrown himself into this world hoping to be more than what he was before, but all he had found was the same bitter disappointment.

Maybe I really am just mediocre… everywhere.

Then—

A faint glow.

At first, he thought it was a trick of the sunset, but the glow wasn't from the sky.

It was coming from him.

A soft, pulsing aura enveloped his exhausted body, flickering like a dying ember.

Joshua barely noticed at first, too lost in his misery. But then—

A sharp gasp.

"Father!"

The urgency in Maydee's voice cut through Joshua's despair like a blade.

"He has the gift!"

Joshua's tired mind barely registered what she had said. But he saw the way Amador's eyes widened, saw the brief moment of shock that crossed the warrior-chief's usually stern face.

Maydee stepped closer, eyes filled with awe and something else—excitement.

"It took him to his limit… but his body is responding!"

Joshua tried to speak, but his lips were dry, his throat too raw to form words.

Maydee knelt beside him, studying the faint glow around him.

"This changes everything."

Amador let out a slow breath, his sharp gaze locked onto Joshua. His expression had shifted from disappointment to curiosity.

"Get some rest." His voice, though gruff, held a newfound weight. "Tomorrow will be a different kind of training."

Then, to Joshua's surprise—

"I will be your master," Maydee said.

Joshua, still barely conscious, stared at her in confusion.

Before he could even begin to process what had just happened, exhaustion finally pulled him into the depths of sleep.