Ren didn’t even have time to prepare.

  “Guard up, I said.”

  Kellan’s voice cracked sharply.

  Ren adjusted his arms—just a little too slowly.

  An irritated sigh answered him.

  “…Yeah, we’re starting from far back.”

  Then Kellan moved.

  Not at full speed.

  Not yet.

  But for Ren, the difference was still brutal.

  The first strike came straight into his guard.

  Impact.

  His arms immediately vibrated from the shock.

  — Ngh—

  “Too stiff.”

  Second strike.

  This time diagonal.

  Ren tried to follow.

  His foot pivoted—clumsy, but in the right direction.

  The blow partially slid off.

  Kellan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  “Hm.”

  But he didn’t slow down.

  Third combination.

  Cleaner.

  Faster.

  Ren felt the pressure rising in his skull.

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  That familiar sensation was returning.

  Distant.

  Ancient.

  [Passive Echo — resonance increasing.]

  His field of vision tightened slightly.

  Not the world slowing down.

  Not really.

  But Kellan’s movements were becoming… more readable.

  Just a little.

  Ren moved.

  His shoulder pivoted.

  His torso followed—

  The strike passed a few centimeters away.

  A real evasion.

  A brief silence formed around the ring.

  Kellan frowned slightly.

  …

  Then he accelerated.

  This time, Ren took the hit.

  Full force.

  — GH—!

  His body was shoved back violently.

  His heels slid across the ring.

  His breathing broke.

  [Warning: physical overload.]

  The migraine spiked.

  Ren gritted his teeth.

  Damn…

  Kellan stepped in again.

  Not cruel.

  Not mocking.

  Just methodical.

  “You’re too slow on recovery.”

  And he struck again.

  Ren tried to follow.

  His body protested.

  His muscles were already burning.

  But something… was holding up better than before.

  Subtle.

  But real.

  [Behavioral analysis confirmed.]

  Autonomous initiative validated

  Bonus applied: +3.7%

  Ren’s heart skipped.

  The pressure in his skull shifted slightly.

  As if an internal lock had slipped open by a millimeter.

  Echo Compatibility updated: 6.0%

  His pupils contracted.

  …It jumped.

  Not huge.

  But enough for the sensation to return clearer.

  Heavier.

  More present.

  A fragmented image flashed through his mind.

  Crushing heat.

  Dusty ground.

  A massive silhouette holding a spear.

  Then—

  Back to the ring.

  Kellan was already coming.

  Ren moved.

  Cleaner instinct.

  His foot slid better.

  His torso turned earlier.

  The strike brushed his guard instead of crushing through it.

  Kellan’s eyes widened just slightly.

  “…Oh?”

  But Ren was already shaking.

  His vision pulsed violently.

  [Warning: synchronization unstable.]

  The next blow still landed.

  Full chest impact.

  — KH—!!

  This time he folded.

  Hard.

  Clean.

  His knees hit the ring.

  Breathing chaotic.

  Body on fire.

  The silence around the ring grew heavier.

  Kellan watched him for a few seconds.

  A long moment.

  Then exhaled through his nose.

  “…Yeah.”

  Not mocking.

  Not impressed either.

  Just clear-eyed.

  “You’ve got something.”

  Ren’s heart was pounding too fast.

  His head was throbbing.

  But his fingers tightened against the mat.

  He forced himself.

  Again.

  As always.

  He stood up.

  Slowly.

  Unsteady.

  But standing.

  Kellan’s eyes narrowed further this time.

  “But your body still can’t keep up.”

  Direct.

  Blunt.

  True.

  Ren was breathing hard.

  Every muscle screaming.

  Every nerve burning.

  But behind the pain—

  …something had solidified.

  Very slightly.

  His voice came out low.

  Rough.

  “…I know.”

  And for the first time since the training began—

  The corner of Kellan’s mouth moved.

  Not a smile.

  But close.

  [Evaluation updated: subject in active progression.]

  In the heavy silence of the boxing room…

  Unlimited Evolution Human Potential continued to observe.

  With growing interest.