The midday sun filtered through the windows of the combat training hall as Avince and his classmates gathered for their next class. The space was vast, with padded floors and walls designed to handle the intensity of the lessons. It was time for their physical training under Professor Leo, the formidable instructor known for his beast-like transformation ability.

Avince felt a mix of excitement and tension as he entered the room. Combat class had always been a double-edged sword for him. While his magical prowess usually set him apart from the others, this class forced him to rely on something else—his body. No conjuration magic, no elemental manipulation, just raw strength and mana-enhanced physical abilities.

Professor Leo stood at the front, arms crossed, his imposing frame a reminder of the power he held within. Despite his casual stance, there was a predatory energy about him. His eyes swept over the class, assessing each student with the sharp gaze of a hunter sizing up its prey.

“Alright, class,” Professor Leo’s deep voice reverberated through the hall, commanding everyone’s attention. “Today’s lesson is simple but important. All the mana in the world is useless if your body can’t handle it. Tempering your body is just as crucial as honing your abilities.”

He began pacing slowly, his movements fluid and controlled despite his bulky build. “We’ll start with basic exercises to stretch and warm up your muscles. Then we’ll move into sparring. No conjuration magic. Only mana enhancement and the weapons provided.”

Blunted weapons were laid out on a rack near the edge of the room—swords, staffs, spears, and other training tools. But Avince’s eyes stayed on his own fists. He had always preferred close combat with his hands, a personal challenge to push his physical limits without relying on magic.

As the class began with stretches and a series of basic exercises, Avince’s mind was already preparing for the sparring session. His muscles warmed up, and he could feel the subtle hum of mana flowing through his body, enhancing his strength and agility. Today, he was determined to prove that even without magic, he could hold his own.

Once everyone was ready, Professor Leo clapped his hands, signaling the start of sparring. “You’ll be paired off. Remember, this is a controlled environment. No killing blows, but don’t hold back either. This is about pushing your limits.”

Avince was paired with Marco, a broad-shouldered guy with short, bristly hair and a cocky grin. Marco’s ability to turn his muscles into steel made him a formidable opponent in physical combat, and while he wasn’t the strongest in their class, his hardened body gave him a significant edge in close-quarters fights.

Marco smirked as they squared off in the center of the room. “Ready to get flattened, Avince? Steel muscles, remember?”

Avince rolled his shoulders, giving him a measured look. “We’ll see.”

They faced each other, fists raised, both of them with mana thrumming beneath their skin. Marco’s body shimmered briefly as his muscles hardened, taking on a metallic sheen. He was stronger and more durable, but Avince had a different plan.

The match began.

Marco charged forward, his steel-enhanced fists swinging heavily through the air. Avince dodged to the side, his movements fluid as he let the mana flow into his limbs, enhancing his speed. Marco’s strikes were powerful, but they were slow and predictable—an issue with his ability that Avince had noticed early on.

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“Not bad,” Avince muttered under his breath as he sidestepped another blow. “But steel muscles aren’t exactly flexible, are they?”

Marco grunted in response, his attacks becoming more frustrated as Avince kept slipping out of reach. With every dodge, Avince was analyzing his opponent—seeing the gaps in Marco’s movements, the stiffness in his arms as he overextended with each punch.

“You’re durable, sure,” Avince continued, weaving through Marco’s assault. “But you sacrifice a lot of mobility for that hardness. Steel’s great for defense, but without flexibility, your attacks are easy to read.”

Avince saw his opening. As Marco lunged again, Avince ducked low and slammed his fist into Marco’s exposed side, mana surging through his muscles. The impact sent a shockwave through Marco’s hardened body, the force reverberating through the steel-like muscles that were too rigid to absorb the blow.

Marco staggered back, clutching his side in surprise. His steel muscles had protected him, but the strike had hit harder than expected.

“Higher-level users with your ability can make their muscles more malleable without sacrificing strength,” Avince explained, circling Marco. “But you’re not there yet.”

Before Marco could recover, Avince moved in again, his fists a blur of motion as he struck at Marco’s weak points—his joints, his abdomen, anywhere the steel muscles couldn’t harden completely. Each punch was precise, and each impact chipped away at Marco’s defenses.

With a final burst of speed, Avince landed a heavy blow to Marco’s chest, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the floor. The match was over.

Panting, Marco looked up at Avince with a mix of frustration and grudging respect. “Damn… didn’t think you’d hit that hard.”

Avince offered a hand to help him up. “It’s not just about hitting hard. It’s about knowing where to hit.”

Marco took his hand, standing with a groan. “Yeah, yeah. You win this time.”

Professor Leo nodded from the sidelines, clearly satisfied with the match. “Good. Both of you showed restraint and control. That’s what I like to see.”

As the rest of the class continued their sparring matches, Avince walked over to where Erica had just finished her bout. She looked as calm as ever, barely winded from her fight. Her opponent, however, was bent over, catching his breath.

“You won again, didn’t you?” Avince asked, grinning as he approached her.

Erica shrugged modestly, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow. “I outlasted him, as usual. Regeneration has its perks.”

Avince chuckled. “Yeah, makes it hard for anyone to keep up with you in these physical matches.”

She smiled, but there was something a bit distant in her expression. “Speaking of that... I wanted to tell you something.”

“What’s up?”

“My dad’s taking me on a training trip next week,” Erica said, glancing away for a moment before meeting his eyes. “It’s going to be a long one—he’s pushing for some intense training, and... I won’t be here for your birthday.”

Avince blinked, the words sinking in. Erica had always been there for him, especially on important days. The news stung more than he expected. “Oh... That’s, uh, that’s too bad,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.

“I know,” she said, her voice soft with apology. “I really wanted to be there for your awakening, but this training session—it’s something I can’t miss.”

Avince nodded, forcing a small smile. “Hey, it’s okay. I get it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. We’ll celebrate when you get back.”

Erica looked relieved, though the guilt was still clear in her eyes. “Thanks, Avince. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“Just be sure to come back stronger,” Avince teased, giving her a playful nudge.

She grinned. “Oh, I will. You’d better be ready to keep up.”

As the class wound down and the students began to leave, Avince couldn’t help but feel the weight of his upcoming birthday pressing down on him again. Erica wouldn’t be there. And with everything about his awakening still uncertain, it was one more thing to add to the growing pile of worries.

But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. There was still training to be done, and he wasn’t about to let his own doubts slow him down.