Chapter Twenty-Nine: On the Edge of Instinct

This time, the voice wasn't instructional—it was more like a whisper from within.

Marcus was kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat, his hands resting on his knees, his face lowered. His breath came in shallow bursts, like someone who had just survived a hundred battles. Still, Shilad said nothing. He simply stood there, eyes half-lidded, watching in silence.

"Repeat the reinforcement," he finally said.

Marcus slowly raised his head. "I've done it... twenty times."

"And now you'll do the twenty-first. The difference between those who fall and those who rise is what they do after breaking point."

His voice was sharp, yet calm—like he had lived through this before. As if this wasn't just training… but a rite of passage.

Marcus closed his eyes. And began.

Slowly, energy stirred within him, flowing from his chest to his limbs, then concentrating in his right hand. This time, it felt different… purer, clearer.

And suddenly—

A flicker of memory broke through his focus.

That chaotic escape in the forgotten district… running from some thug, the metal chain in his hand glowing faintly with something strange.

Back then, he had felt this same surge.

Reinforcement?

Had he used it unknowingly?

His eyes snapped open. "I've… done this before."

Shilad didn't look surprised. "Instinct knows. But you weren't trained to listen."

Marcus stood, slowly, his hand trembling slightly—but he was smiling.

For the first time, he didn't feel like he was running from something… but toward something.

"Ready for the next step?" Shilad asked.

"No," Marcus said, then chuckled softly. "But I think I'll step forward anyway."

Shilad smiled. A rare smile—one that carried weight.