Strength Forged Through Exhaustion

After instructing Diana what to do, Victor turned away without another glance at the unfolding spar behind him. The clash of steel and the low hum of dark energy had already begun to shape the air, but his focus had shifted.

There were other pieces on the board.

More fragile ones.

He walked toward the two beginner-level mages—Sana and Livia.

The moment his shadow fell over them, both girls stiffened.

It wasn’t just fear.

It was something deeper.

A strange mix of awe... tension... and something they didn’t dare name.

Normally, they would never react like this. Men—no matter how powerful, how arrogant, how dangerous—were simple creatures in their eyes. A smile, a soft glance, a subtle shift of hips... and they could bend most of them without effort.

That was how the world worked.

But Victor—

Was not part of that world.

Their eyes lingered on him for a second longer than necessary.

Black hair, smooth and sharp.

Golden eyes that didn’t wander.

Didn’t linger.

Didn’t care.

His fitted black shirt clung lightly to his frame, the golden jacket catching the sunlight in a way that made him stand out—like something carved apart from the rest of reality.

And yet—

Not once...

Not even for a moment—

Had his gaze drifted to their bodies.

Not to their curves.

Not to their legs.

Not even to their breasts.

Nothing.

That... was what unsettled them.

Even Brinda—whose beauty could shake the underworld of Fantom City—hadn’t earned more than a passing glance.

What kind of man... ignores everything?

Their thoughts tangled.

And before they could settle—

Victor spoke.

"The two of you will be training to first increase your mana capacity..."

His voice was calm, even.

No warmth.

No harshness.

Just... direction.

"...basically making your mana pool grow larger."

The wind shifted slightly, brushing against their robes.

Victor continued.

"Usually, one must wait for the mana pool inside oneself to gradually grow."

A small pause.

His golden eyes narrowed slightly—not at them, but at the idea itself.

"...Yet there is a way to forcefully strengthen your mana pool, at the beginning stages... before you reach the high-end level."

Now—

He looked directly at them.

And both girls felt their throats tighten.

"You just need to exhaust your mana reserves... until you faint."

Silence.

"...After that, once you wake up, I want you to do it again."

Their expressions froze.

"...You will repeat this until I say otherwise."

A breath.

Heavy.

Slow.

"Do you two understand?"

The weight behind those words—

Was absolute.

"Yes!"

The answer came immediately.

Too fast.

Too sharp.

But neither of them dared hesitate.

Because the look he gave them—

Was not cruel.

Not violent.

But final.

If you’re useless... you don’t belong.

They felt it without him saying it.

And that—

Was enough.

Victor studied them for a moment.

Then gave a small nod.

Approval.

Simple.

Clean.

He turned—

And walked away.

But just as he did, he paused.

Slightly.

"...And don’t try to hold back."

His voice came without turning.

"If you faint too slowly... I’ll make sure you faint faster."

Sana swallowed.

Livia straightened.

"...Yes."

A softer answer this time.

Victor moved on.

As he left—

The tension around them lingered for a second.

Then—

Sana exhaled sharply.

"...He’s terrifying."

Livia nodded quickly.

"...But..."

She hesitated.

Her fingers tightening slightly around her staff.

"...Did you notice?"

Sana blinked.

"Notice what?"

Livia’s voice dropped.

"...He didn’t look at us. Not even once."

Sana froze.

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"...Yeah."

A pause.

Then, unexpectedly—

A small smile.

"...He’s kind of... different."

Livia let out a breath.

"...He’s really handsome."

Sana gave a quiet laugh.

"...That’s an understatement."

They both glanced toward Victor’s back.

Walking away.

Effortless.

Unreachable.

"...I think I get why everyone follows him," Livia whispered.

Sana nodded slowly.

"...Yeah."

A beat.

"...Let’s not die during training."

"...Agreed."

Meanwhile—

Victor approached Eon and Brinda.

The two stood side by side, though the energy between them was far from calm.

Eon’s grip on his axe tightened slightly.

Brinda leaned casually, but her eyes flicked toward Victor the moment he arrived.

Always watching.

Always aware.

Victor stopped in front of them.

"You two... I’m unsure on how to train you."

He said it honestly.

Which, somehow, felt more insulting than anything else.

Eon frowned slightly.

Brinda raised an eyebrow.

Victor continued.

"I guess for Eon, I could teach you the basics of my swordsmanship..."

His gaze flicked briefly to the axe.

"...but with your incredible strength, I guess using blunt weapons like a warhammer is a better option."

Eon grunted softly.

That... made sense.

"For now—"

Victor turned slightly and pointed toward the forest nearby.

Tall trees.

Thick trunks.

Roots buried deep into the earth.

"...how about trying to cut down those trees over there."

Eon blinked.

"Huh? Is there any point in doing that? I could do that easily."

Without waiting—

He stepped forward.

Grip tightening.

Muscles flexing.

He raised the axe with both hands—

And brought it down.

CRACK.

The sound echoed.

Wood splintered.

A massive chunk flew off.

Two more swings—

And the tree collapsed.

Heavy.

Loud.

Dust rising.

Eon turned back with a smirk.

"See—"

He pointed at the fallen tree.

Victor didn’t even look impressed.

"No."

Simple.

Flat.

"I don’t want you to cut down the tree that way."

Eon’s smirk faded slightly.

"I want you to cut it down using one hand... and in a single motion."

Silence.

Eon blinked.

"...What?"

Victor extended his hand.

"Here. Give me your axe. I’ll show you."

Eon hesitated.

Then handed it over.

The moment Victor held it—

Something shifted.

Not power.

Not aura.

But control.

Perfect.

Absolute.

Victor adjusted his grip.

Then—

Without anyone noticing—

He suppressed himself.

Matching Eon’s strength.

Exactly.

No more.

No less.

He lifted the axe with one hand.

Light.

Effortless.

His stance changed.

Feet apart.

Left foot forward.

Body lowered slightly.

His waist twisted—

His shoulder aligned—

His arm moved—

Not like brute force—

But like a single flowing motion.

Then—

He swung.

No roar.

No wasted strength.

Just—

Precision.

The blade cut through the air.

Clean.

Silent.

And—

The tree split.

Perfectly.

In one motion.

The upper half slid off—

As if it had simply been separated from reality.

For a moment—

No one spoke.

Victor lowered the axe.

Turned slightly.

Golden eyes landing on Eon.

"That’s how I want you to cut down a tree."

A pause.

The wind carried the scent of fresh wood.

"Don’t tell me it’s impossible..."

He handed the axe back.

"...since I did it with the exact same strength you have."