What kind of grudge did this man have against the gods?
Questions raced through Hiro's mind, but they were drowned beneath a far stronger feeling.
Hunger.
Not the kind caused by an empty stomach. This hunger came from somewhere deeper. It was as if every part of his body ached for power. His very existence was being pulled toward strength itself.
And this man…
Theo radiated power.
It surrounded him like an invisible storm, pulling Hiro in like a black hole. For the first time in his life, Hiro wanted to become something others would be drawn toward. He wanted to create his own gravity.
This man could give him what he desired above all else.
Power.
"What should I call you?" Hiro asked.
"Hm…" The man smiled faintly. "Theo will do."
Theo looked down at Hiro's battered body.
"But first, I need to fix those wounds. I can't have my new weapon dying before I've had the chance to use it."
Theo raised a hand over Hiro.
His eyes began to glow.
A massive surge of energy exploded into Hiro's body, illuminating the forest like a falling star. The power pouring into him was overwhelming. Hiro felt his broken leg snap back into place instantly while every cut, bruise, and ache vanished.
But the energy didn't stop there.
It continued flooding through him, reaching deeper and deeper into his body. Every muscle, bone, and nerve felt different.
Stronger.
Something inside him was changing.
"Is this…" Hiro stared at his hands in disbelief. "Magic?"
His body suddenly rose from the ground.
Power radiated from him in waves unlike anything he had ever experienced before. For a brief moment, Hiro felt invincible—as if he could conquer the world itself.
Then the feeling vanished.
Hiro dropped back onto the ground and stared at Theo.
"What did you just do to me?"
Theo lowered his hand casually.
"My boy, that was magic. All I did was forge your body into something more durable."
Hiro's eyes narrowed.
"Am I still human?"
Theo chuckled.
"Yes. Very much so. I merely gave you a spark."
His expression darkened slightly.
"What you become from here onward depends entirely on you."
Theo turned and began walking deeper into the forest.
"Come. We have much to discuss, and we need to reach the training grounds before sunrise."
Hiro blinked.
"Training grounds? What do you mean by training?"
Theo glanced over his shoulder.
"Did you honestly think I would hand you power without teaching you how to use it? That would be foolish. You'd die before you figured anything out."
A grin spread across Hiro's face.
"Then why are we standing around, old man? Let's move."
For the first time in his life, Hiro felt unstoppable.
His body felt light. Unbreakable.
He wanted to test his limits.
Could he really use magic now? The same magic humans spent entire lifetimes trying—and failing—to master?
Hiro sprinted through the forest faster than he had ever moved before. The world itself seemed slower around him. His body felt stronger, sharper, more agile.
Then—
CRASH!
Hiro slammed directly into a massive tree.
The impact blasted the air from his lungs.
The tree cracked apart and collapsed on top of him.
"…Ghk!"
Hiro coughed violently beneath the enormous trunk. Yet despite the weight crushing down on him, he felt no pain.
Only pressure.
"I need help!" Hiro shouted. "I'm stuck!"
Theo didn't even turn around.
"This world is full of situations no one can save you from," he said calmly. "If you're alive enough to call for help, then you're alive enough to find your own way out."
Hiro scowled.
"Has anyone ever told you that you make terrible company?"
Theo smiled faintly.
"Once or twice."
He continued walking.
"You should hurry, though. Goblins roam these forests at night."
Theo's smile widened.
"And trust me, they make even worse company."
Hiro stared at the massive tree pinning him down.
"What does he mean, 'find my own way out?!' This thing weighs as much as a giant, an ogre, and an orc combined!"
Logically, Hiro knew the tree should have crushed him.
But strangely…
It didn't feel heavy enough to do so.
Creeeak…
Snap.
Hiro's eyes widened.
"If I'm not crushed… then maybe…"
Power surged through his arms.
"I'M NOT AS WEAK AS I THOUGHT!"
With a roar, Hiro lifted the enormous tree off his body.
The trunk that should have required dozens of men to move now felt weightless in his hands. Hiro hurled it aside with monstrous force, smashing it into another tree hard enough to splinter both apart.
Hiro stared at his trembling hands.
"What… is this power?"
It rushed through his body like a raging storm.
"This strength is insane… What did you do to me?"
Theo finally stopped walking.
"That," he said, "is Vital Magic."
"One of the most fundamental forms of magic."
Theo turned toward him.
"Your body has been enhanced by it. You are now far stronger than any ordinary human."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"If I had to estimate… your body is probably as durable as a high-ranking demihuman. Somewhere around the level of an elf or perhaps even a young giant."
Hiro stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you absolutely sure I'm still human?"
Theo's smile returned.
"If you weren't human anymore, you wouldn't be capable of becoming stronger."
"I don't understand what that means."
"You will."
Theo resumed walking.
"Everything will become clear once we reach our destination."
Hiro hurried after him.
"I thought you left me behind."
"I did."
Theo spoke casually, as if abandoning him beneath a tree had been perfectly reasonable.
"If I had stayed, you never would've discovered your own strength."
Hiro's eye twitched.
"So the goblin thing was a lie?!"
Theo shook his head.
"No. That threat was very real."
Hiro froze.
"…So if I couldn't lift the tree, I would've died?"
Theo glanced back at him with a devilish grin.
"If."
"You're insane!"
"I never claimed otherwise."
Theo looked toward the dark horizon.
"Now hurry. Sunrise is only a few hours away, and I'd prefer to reach the training grounds before the dragons awaken."
Hiro nearly tripped.
"Dragons?! Did you just say dragons?!"
"Move, boy."
Theo suddenly accelerated through the forest like a phantom.
Hiro grit his teeth and chased after him, using his newfound strength to leap across fallen trees and race through the wilderness at impossible speed.
An hour later, they finally arrived.
A massive clearing stretched before them, surrounded by ancient stone pillars covered in glowing runes. The air itself felt heavier there, overflowing with ancient power.
Theo crossed his arms.
"We made good time. I'm surprised you managed to keep up."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You may actually have some talent after all."
Hiro tried to respond—
—but his vision blurred.
The exhaustion finally hit him all at once.
His body collapsed forward at the entrance to the training grounds.
Theo laughed quietly.
"So he finally dropped."
He lifted Hiro effortlessly and carried him to the center of the clearing before placing him gently onto the stone ground.
With a wave of his hand, a powerful magical barrier surrounded the entire training ground.
Theo then sat down and closed his eyes.
He entered a deep meditation, allowing Hiro to sleep peacefully beneath the rising sun.
Because Theo already knew something Hiro did not.
This would be the last peaceful sleep of his life.