Inside the training hall, Zen said, "First, we need to activate your power to use your secondary abilities, like physical strength. Try it."
Piers concentrated, and a huge black smoke, like a whirlwind, started coming from his body. His red eyes flashed, but just as quickly, he collapsed to the ground. "Ahh, my body is aching, Master," Piers groaned.
Zen looked at him. "You must have overexerted your body." He took out a herb. "Eat this. It will enhance your regenerative powers and recover your stamina." Piers ate the herb, and after an hour, his body felt better. "You need to lower your power," Zen instructed. "Let's try it at 0.3 percent, too."
"I can't seem to control the power," Piers said, frustrated.
"I think you might need some time before you can control it to its fullest," Zen said. "Just remember, even using the power a little might injure your whole body. While you have the power of regeneration, it won't be strong enough to heal you completely."
"Yes, I understand," Piers said.
"Okay, let's start with your fire for now. You said you can control it. Why don't you use your body like that?" Zen asked.
"It's not that similar," Piers explained. "With the fire, it's like lighting a token. If the light is dim, I get a weak fire, and if the light is bright, I get a strong fire."
Zen thought to himself, "I see. For fire, he has a point of reference—he's seen fire used in camps. But there's no framework for body strength." He said, "Okay, follow me."
Piers followed Zen. "Where are we going?" he asked.
"We are going to strengthen your body." Zen and Piers left the mansion and went to a nearby mountain. "There's a week before the competition," Zen said. "I can see your body is already on the verge of the Mid Awakened Stage. All you need is a little push. I want you to punch this cliff non-stop for the next seven days until you break your body to the Mid Awakened Stage."
Piers was surprised. "But what about food?" he asked.
"You can live without food for a week," Zen said.
"But please—" Piers started to plead.
Zen cut him off. "No buts. Start now."
Piers slumped, knowing he couldn't back down. He started punching the cliff, each punch leaving a deep fist mark. On the first day, he didn't feel exhausted. However, with each punch, his hands started to go numb. He was getting exhausted and was just using whatever strength he could find. By the third day, Piers felt all his strength leave his body, and he fell.
"What are you doing?" Zen asked. "Look at you, all weak and vulnerable. Do you want to stay like this?" He took out a whip and slashed at Piers. "Get up, or I will keep whipping you."
Piers gritted his teeth. "You don't need to say that to me," he said. He got up, his legs wobbling, and started punching the wall, mustering all his strength. By the fifth day, he was digging his nails into his fists just to stay awake. Suddenly, Piers's face took on a menacing look, and he started punching the cliff with newfound ferocity.
"So he finally reached the Full Calling," Zen said to himself.
By the sixth day, Piers was conjuring strength out of thin air. He felt his whole body go numb. "I don't have any energy left," he thought. "I need energy! I need energy!" Suddenly, a storm of black wind came from his body. He used his fist and with a surge of strength, he destroyed not just the wall but half of the entire cliff. His hands were shredded and torn, and in front of him, there was nothing but a gaping hole. His skin looked smoother and shinier, a sign that he had reached the Mid Awakened Stage. He then fell down, unconscious.
Zen went to him. "You did great, conjuring up the Full Calling and breaking through to the Mid Awakened Stage," he said. He made Piers drink some water and eat some food before laying him down to sleep on a bed of leaves. Zen sat in the center of the clearing and looked at Piers. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know you were far away from the Mid Awakened Stage, but I had to make you reach it for my plans."
The next day, Piers woke up. "It's good that you're awake," Zen said. "Now we can talk about your exam."
Piers's head was still reeling. He looked at his hands, remembering how badly they were shredded, yet they were completely healed.
"It seems that because of Mephisto's recovery powers, you can recover from even the most dangerous injuries within days," Zen said.
"By the way, what exam were you talking about?" Piers asked.
"The exam to place you in a branch," Zen explained. "You need to be very careful. I want you to be in the main branch, the Devil Hell Branch."
"But do I have the power to enter it?" Piers asked.
"Yes, Piers, you do. Listen to me: during the exam, you need to keep fighting no matter how strong the opponent is."
"Yes, I will," Piers said.
Zen smiled. "I believe you." He thought to himself, "He has exceeded all my expectations so far. However, as we go further, the challenges will get tougher. I hope he can make it out alive."
"Okay," Zen said. "I don't know what the test will be, but let's practice your control over your body strength while we still have time." With that, Piers began to practice controlling his newfound strength.
Inside the Midgard, Tenko sat in a room, looking at a book. Rei had once told him to sign the book, and Tenko had put his paw in ink and pressed it onto the page. Rei had chuckled and showed him how to sign. Tenko thought about his time with Rei. No matter the season, they were always together. Tears welled up in Tenko's eyes. He clenched his teeth and promised himself he would bring Rei back, even if it cost him his own life.