The door closed behind him with a dull thud.
Astraeus’s boxing room was smaller than the main arena, but the atmosphere was denser. Rougher. Rows of punching bags hung in neat lines, several training rings occupied the center, and the air smelled of leather and dried sweat.
Ren stood still for a second to adjust.
Then he spotted him.
Kellan Dross.
Leaning against a heavy bag, hands already wrapped, striking at a steady rhythm. Not warming up—no.
Working.
Every punch was clean.
Compact.
Efficient.
Ren watched in silence.
Timing.
Structure.
Controlled breathing.
Everything he lacked.
His fingers tightened slightly.
…That’s clean.
The bag was still swaying when Kellan suddenly stopped.
Without turning, he said:
“You planning to stare all day?”
Ren’s heart skipped.
Spotted.
Of course.
He stepped forward anyway.
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Not too fast.
Not too slow.
Kellan finally turned.
His eyes swept over Ren from head to toe, briefly pausing on his still-stiff posture, then on his slightly tense shoulders.
One eyebrow lifted.
“…Seriously?”
Ren stopped two meters away.
He felt the tightness in his throat.
But he spoke anyway.
Direct.
“Train me.”
The silence that followed was… brief.
Then Kellan let out a short laugh.
“Hah.”
He shook his head, almost amused.
“You take a hit too hard or something?”
A few students at the back of the room threw curious glances their way.
Ren didn’t move.
His hands were clenched.
But his voice stayed steady.
“I’m serious.”
Kellan’s gaze shifted slightly.
Less mocking.
More… attentive.
He took one step forward.
Then another.
Stopped right in front of Ren.
Close enough for the difference in build to be obvious.
“And why would I do that?”
Simple.
Blunt.
Not mean.
Just honest.
Ren’s heart was beating faster.
He hadn’t prepared some grand speech.
No miracle argument.
Just the truth.
“Because I need to close the gap.”
No detour.
No excuses.
Just that.
Silence passed between them.
Kellan stared at him longer this time.
His eyes briefly dropped to Ren’s hands.
Then to his posture.
Then to his shoulders, still marked by recent fatigue.
Something in his gaze tightened slightly.
…
He exhaled softly through his nose.
“You even realize what you’re getting into?”
Ren didn’t answer right away.
But he didn’t look away.
…That was enough.
Kellan ran a hand over the back of his neck.
Clearly annoyed.
Then he sighed.
Long and slow.
“Damn…”
He stared at the ceiling for a second.
As if already regretting what came next.
Then his gaze dropped back to Ren.
Harder.
Sharper.
“Alright.”
Ren’s heart jumped.
But the rest came immediately.
Cold.
“But we set the rules.”
The air tightened.
Kellan raised one finger.
“One: I don’t go easy on you.”
A second.
“Two: you complain, I stop.”
A third.
“Three: if you can’t keep up… I don’t waste my time.”
Each word landed clean.
Sharp.
Unambiguous.
Ren’s heart pounded.
But this time…
No fear.
Something steadier.
He nodded slowly.
“I’m good with that.”
Kellan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
As if still testing him.
Then he cracked his neck.
“…You’re seriously weird.”
But he was already heading toward the training ring.
“Get in.”
Ren’s breath hitched for a fraction of a second.
Then his legs moved.
One.
Then two.
When he stepped through the ropes, a familiar tension returned to his chest.
Not the same as before.
Heavier.
More aware.
Kellan made a brief gesture.
“Guard up.”
Ren raised his arms.
Imperfect.
Rigid.
Kellan was already sighing.
“Yeah… this is gonna hurt.”
And somewhere, deep within Unlimited Evolution Human Potential…
…the system calmly recorded the change in trajectory of subject Ren Aster.
[New variable detected: external training.]
[Evaluation in progress…]
