Zaraf slowly opened his eyes.

  The ceiling looked familiar.

  White.

  Wooden beams.

  Soft morning light coming through the window.

  He tried to move—

  Pain shot through his body.

  Bandages were wrapped around his arms… chest… legs.

  “…Right,” he muttered.

  Yesterday.

  Yesterday

  Zaraf charged toward Ben without hesitation.

  Ben didn’t move.

  He simply stood there.

  Then—

  He threw one punch.

  Not flashy.

  Not dramatic.

  Just one punch.

  Zaraf raised both arms to block.

  The impact shattered his defense instantly.

  Crack.

  He heard it clearly.

  His bones.

  Tiny fractures spreading through his arms.

  His body flew backward and crashed into the ground.

  Silence.

  Zaraf slowly stood up.

  His eyes were fierce.

  Ben looked at him… and grinned.

  Then the real beating began.

  Punch after punch.

  Not as strong as the first one.

  Slower.

  Controlled.

  But relentless.

  Zaraf tried to dodge.

  Tried to block.

  Tried to read the pattern.

  But he couldn’t avoid them all.

  When Ben pulled his arm back for another heavy punch aimed directly at his face—

  Time slowed.

  Zaraf reacted.

  He lifted his leg and blocked.

  The punch connected.

  Pain exploded in his leg.

  Another crack.

  He almost collapsed.

  Through that fight, Zaraf noticed something.

  His weak points.

  His bad balance.

  His slow reaction time.

  His fragile defense.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  He understood something clearly—

  With pure physical strength alone… he could not counter Ben.

  So he gathered wind.

  The air began to swirl around him.

  He jumped back, creating distance.

  Wind spiraled into a small tornado.

  Not massive.

  But strong enough to destroy trees.

  He launched it forward.

  The wind roared toward Ben.

  Ben stepped forward calmly.

  And punched it.

  Boom.

  The impact shattered the tornado completely.

  The wind scattered like dust.

  The punch itself carried more force than Zaraf’s entire attack.

  That was the moment Zaraf realized—

  How weak he truly was in the creators’ world.

  But he didn’t feel depressed.

  Instead—

  His blood burned.

  His heart pumped harder.

  “I will reach that level,” he thought.

  But when Ben noticed the spark in his eyes—

  He cooked him.

  Completely.

  Present

  Zaraf blinked.

  Back in the room.

  He slowly sat up.

  “…That was rough.”

  He paused.

  Then frowned.

  His body didn’t hurt.

  He looked down.

  The bandages were still there—

  But underneath…

  No pain.

  He flexed his arm.

  Perfect condition.

  He stood up carefully.

  Fully healed.

  On the table, breakfast was prepared neatly.

  Warm.

  Fresh.

  He looked around.

  “…Who did this?”

  He shook his head.

  No time to think.

  Training.

  He ate quickly and prepared to leave.

  As he reached the door—

  A soft sound came from behind.

  He turned.

  Antie was sitting on the couch, sewing clothes.

  She looked up at him gently.

  “Where are you going, Zaraf?”

  “…To training.”

  Her eyes widened slightly.

  “So… how was your first day?”

  Zaraf paused.

  “It was good. I learned my weaknesses.”

  He clenched his fist lightly.

  “And I’m ready to work on them.”

  Antie smiled warmly.

  Her eyes softened.

  “Then I wish you success. And remember… don’t work yourself to death. I’ll tell him to go easy on you.”

  Zaraf immediately shook his head.

  “Thanks for worrying about me. But don’t ask him that.”

  She blinked.

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to be trained the way he wants to train me.”

  His eyes were steady.

  “No easy going.”

  Antie stared at him for a moment.

  Then smiled again.

  “…Alright. I won’t tell him.”

  She paused.

  “We’ll be waiting for you.”

  Zaraf smiled faintly.

  “I’ll come back.”

  Then he left.

  Training Ground

  Ben wasn’t there yet.

  Zaraf didn’t care.

  He knew what to do.

  He started running.

  Push-ups.

  Balance drills.

  Breathing control.

  He pushed himself until sweat soaked his clothes.

  Until his muscles trembled.

  Afternoon came.

  Ben finally arrived.

  He observed silently.

  Zaraf was tired.

  But standing straight.

  Ready.

  “You’re not tired today?” Ben asked.

  “I just took a short break,” Zaraf replied. “So I won’t waste time on wind training.”

  Ben’s eyes flickered slightly.

  “…Then let’s start.”

  He stepped forward.

  “This time, focus the wind around you. Circulate it. Don’t let it hurt you.”

  Zaraf nodded.

  “I will do my best.”

  Wind began to gather around him.

  Not outward.

  But inward.

  Circulating around his fists.

  Like invisible armor.

  Controlled.

  Stable.

  Then came the third round.

  Ben looked at him.

  “So. Are you ready?”

  Zaraf bowed deeply.

  “Thank you for this training, Master. I won’t waste your time or effort.”

  His eyes burned with determination.

  “I will become capable enough to call myself your student.”

  Ben froze for a second.

  Those words…

  Felt familiar.

  His fist tightened unconsciously.

  “…Then prove it.”

  Later

  Zaraf opened his eyes again.

  Bandages.

  Ceiling.

  Same room.

  He blinked slowly.

  “…I’m getting déjà vu.”

  A small portal opened beside him.

  Bell floated out lazily.

  “So,” she said with a smirk, “how is your beating going?”

  “I am not getting beaten,” Zaraf replied immediately. “It’s called training.”

  Bell crossed her arms.

  “That’s what you think. But reality says you get beaten every night.”

  Zaraf frowned.

  “…Maybe I am getting beaten. Though I’m not.”

  He pointed at the floor.

  “But one day, I’ll walk back here on my own feet.”

  Bell raised an eyebrow.

  “Then let’s see when that day comes.”

  Days Passed

  The cycle repeated.

  Training.

  Beating.

  Healing.

  Again.

  And again.

  But each time—

  He improved.

  One day—

  Ben threw a punch.

  Zaraf focused wind in front of him.

  A compressed defense.

  The punch hit.

  And stopped.

  Blocked.

  For the first time.

  Zaraf’s eyes widened slightly.

  But he made a mistake.

  He became careless.

  Thinking he had caught up.

  Ben shifted his stance.

  One leg grounded firmly.

  Power transferred from foot… to waist… to shoulder… to fist.

  He punched again.

  The wind defense shattered.

  Pierced completely.

  But—

  Zaraf was already moving.

  He stepped on compressed wind platforms.

  One step.

  Two steps.

  He ran in mid-air.

  From above—

  He launched a wind blade.

  Sharper than before.

  Faster.

  Stronger.

  It sliced downward.

  Ben dodged.

  Flames burst from his body.

  He moved using fire.

  That was the first time—

  Ben used his element in training.

  Zaraf smiled.

  He didn’t expect it.

  But he didn’t expect the counter either.

  A fire punch erupted from below.

  It struck him directly.

  And once again—

  He was cooked.

  HQ

  Shin stood near the window.

  “So,” he murmured, “they’ve started to move.”

  Lucy looked at him.

  “Who? The visitors?”

  “Yes.”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “They were hiding for a long time. But after hearing about Abeth’s power… they began moving.”

  Lucy’s expression turned serious.

  “…Are you going to use her as bait?”

  Shin blinked.

  “?! No.”

  He chuckled lightly.

  “They got attracted on their own. I didn’t do anything.”

  Lucy crossed her arms.

  “Why not? I know how you think, Shin.”

  He laughed.

  “Looks like I can’t lie to my fellow friend.”

  She sighed.

  “Just don’t let her get hurt.”

  Her voice softened.

  “I know you’ll do what’s best for everyone.”

  Shin’s smile faded slightly.

  “…I will.”

  He looked outside.

  “As always.”