Axel realized something on the fifteenth day.
The pain was still there.
But it no longer scared him.
He woke up before dawn again, muscles aching, joints stiff—but his mind was clear. Calm. When he stood, there was no dizziness. No tremor in his hands.
Just weight.
Real, grounded weight in his body.
The system appeared quietly this time.
[Training Phase: Adaptive Pressure]
Objective:
Introduce external stress
Force efficiency under observation
Condition:
System concealment absolute.
"So now you're upping the difficulty," Axel murmured, rolling his shoulders.
[Affirmative.]
Host no longer classified as mentally fragile.
He paused.
"…Good."
TRAINING GROUNDS — MORNING
The atmosphere felt different today.
More people.
Higher-ranked Hunters lined the outer platforms, some stretching, some sparring casually—each movement releasing controlled bursts of mana that made the air hum.
Two weeks ago, Axel would have felt crushed just standing here.
Now?
The pressure was heavy—
—but manageable.
Cross noticed immediately.
Axel didn't flinch when an A-rank passed by.
Didn't stiffen.
Didn't lower his head.
He just… adjusted his breathing.
Cross narrowed his eyes.
ADAPTIVE DRILLS
"Pair training," one of the instructors called. "Low output only."
Axel was assigned to a C-rank Hunter—broad-shouldered, confident, visibly annoyed.
"Tch. Why am I paired with this guy?" the Hunter muttered.
Axel said nothing.
They took positions.
The moment the drill started, the other Hunter lunged—fast, efficient, expecting Axel to fold.
Axel moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
But right.
He slipped just outside the strike, shoulder brushing past instead of colliding. His footwork was tight. Minimal. Clean.
The Hunter blinked and swung again.
Axel blocked—arms straining—but held.
The impact jolted his bones.
[Stress load acceptable.]
[Micro-adjustment applied.]
Axel redirected the force instead of resisting it head-on.
The Hunter stumbled half a step back.
Silence.
"…Huh?"
Cross straightened.
That wasn't strength.
That was efficiency.
The drill continued.
Axel didn't win.
But he didn't lose badly either.
And when it ended, the C-rank Hunter was breathing harder than Axel was.
"…You been hiding something?" the man asked, confused.
Axel wiped sweat from his brow.
"No."
Which was true.
DAY 17
The whispers started.
Not loud.
Not official.
Just comments.
"He's moving better."
"Recovery's faster than last week."
"Wasn't he barely E-rank?"
Cross didn't shut them down.
He didn't encourage them either.
He just kept watching.
That afternoon, Axel was instructed to enter a controlled mana-pressure chamber—normally used to acclimate mid-rank Hunters.
The door sealed.
The pressure ramped up.
Slowly.
Two weeks ago, this would've crushed him.
Now, Axel planted his feet and exhaled.
The weight pressed against his skin.
His heartbeat accelerated.
But his mind didn't fracture.
[Host adapting.]
[Endurance stat responding.]
He bent his knees slightly. Adjusted posture. Let the pressure settle instead of fighting it.
Minutes passed.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
Outside the chamber, Cross stared at the timer.
"…He should've tapped out by now."
Axel finally dropped to one knee—not from fear—
But from fatigue.
When the pressure shut off and the door opened, he stood up on his own.
Sweaty.
Shaking.
But upright.
Cross met his eyes.
Axel held the gaze this time.
No challenge.
No submission.
Just quiet acknowledgment.
NIGHT
Axel lay in bed later, staring at the ceiling.
His body hurt.
But his chest felt… steady.
The system appeared one last time.
[Training Progress: Satisfactory]
Note:
Host threat perception reduced by 43%
Confidence stabilization confirmed
Next Phase:
Threshold Break Preparation
Axel closed the window.
"…I'm not strong," he said quietly.
Then, after a moment:
"But I'm not helpless either."
Outside, the awakened world continued to move—dangerous, merciless, vast.
And for the first time since stepping into it—
Axel Kaiser felt like he could stand inside it without being crushed.