The locker room air was heavy.

  Humid.

  Thick with the smell of sweat and metal.

  Ren Aster slowly sat down on the bench, his back finally touching a stable surface after the fight. His muscles still protested with every movement, a dull ache pulsing through his arms and side.

  He kept his eyes lowered as he removed his training gloves.

  Around him, conversations were in full swing.

  — …He lasted longer than expected.

  — Yeah, but he’s still Aster.

  — Still gotta admit… that second dodge was clean.

  Ren pretended not to hear.

  But he was listening.

  Of course he was.

  His fingers tightened slightly on the fabric of his gloves.

  Not compliments.

  Not really.

  But it wasn’t pure contempt anymore either.

  …That was new.

  Footsteps stopped near his bench.

  Ren slightly raised his eyes.

  Kellan.

  The boy grabbed his towel without looking at him at first.

  Then, after a second of hesitation, he said:

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  “You better work on your endurance.”

  Ren blinked.

  Surprised.

  Kellan vaguely shrugged.

  “Your timing isn’t terrible… but your body can’t keep up.”

  Direct.

  Blunt.

  But not mocking.

  Then he was already walking away.

  As if the conversation were over.

  Ren stayed still for one second.

  Then two.

  His fingers slowly tightened.

  …Timing.

  Body.

  He was right.

  Completely.

  By the end of the day, rain had started falling again when Ren left Astraeus.

  Fine.

  Persistent.

  The city seemed drowned in a permanent gray haze.

  He walked in silence until he reached his building.

  Old.

  Worn down.

  Very far from the academy’s prestige.

  His wet shoes left faint marks on the narrow stairwell as he climbed to his floor.

  The apartment was silent when he entered.

  Too silent.

  Amane wasn’t there.

  Just the low hum of the old refrigerator.

  Ren set his bag near the table.

  Then stood in the middle of the living room for several seconds.

  Motionless.

  Thinking.

  The image of the fight replayed in his head.

  Again.

  And again.

  The impact.

  Kellan’s speed.

  The gap.

  Too big.

  His hands slowly clenched.

  “…My body can’t keep up.”

  The words slipped out on their own.

  A breath left his lips.

  Then he moved.

  Without overthinking.

  A few minutes later, Ren stood in the center of the room.

  Barefoot on the cold floor.

  He hesitated.

  One second.

  Then two.

  He had never really done this seriously.

  Never needed to.

  Never had the discipline.

  But now…

  …he had no choice.

  He took position.

  Awkward.

  Imperfect.

  Then—

  He began.

  One squat.

  His legs trembled almost immediately.

  “…Damn.”

  His muscles were already burning.

  Ridiculous.

  Pathetic.

  But he kept going.

  A second.

  Then a third.

  His breathing grew heavy very quickly.

  Too quickly.

  His body protested with every movement.

  But this time…

  Ren didn’t stop.

  [Observation: autonomous initiative detected.]

  The system window briefly appeared.

  Silent.

  Attentive.

  As if—

  For the first time—

  The subject was moving forward on his own.

  Sweat began to bead along the back of his neck.

  His legs were shaking badly now.

  But he forced himself again.

  One more.

  Then another.

  His breathing became uneven.

  His heart pounded too fast.

  His muscles were already screaming.

  And yet—

  The corner of his mouth tightened slightly.

  “…I see.”

  Weak.

  Yes.

  Still far behind.

  But for the first time in a long while…

  Ren Aster had just laid his first real stone.

  [Evaluation: behavior aligned with evolution parameters.]

  In the silence of the apartment…

  …Unlimited Evolution Human Potential calmly continued to observe.