Cursed Energy Swelled and Shrunk, Toho Tetsu Drew Near and Far

Though she had expected it, seeing him manipulate cursed energy so easily still left Utahime Iori somewhat impressed. The next second, however, she returned to a serious expression.

"Good. Now control that mass of cursed energy. Let it gradually increase while keeping it as stable as possible. Don't let it fluctuate too much."

"In actual combat, Sorcerers always have to adjust their cursed energy output according to the target's strength. If you can't control it precisely, it'll be easy to either overdo it or fail to use enough force to break through their defenses. I don't need to tell you what that could lead to, do I?"

Toho Tetsu nodded, then turned his gaze to the cursed energy in his hand and began gradually increasing its output. The dim blue flame slowly expanded, but it also began to flicker and shift unstably.

He could only do his best to keep it from losing control.

Gradually, the mass of cursed energy grew to around twice its original size. By then, however, it was on the verge of collapse, constantly changing shape as though it might explode at any moment.

Seeing the unstable cursed energy, Utahime was visibly more tense than before, even unconsciously taking a step back.

Then she realized what she had just done. Her expression stiffened slightly before she immediately resumed her stern tone.

"Now, maintain it and control that portion of cursed energy as you channel it back into your body!"

Seeing that, Toho Tetsu actually wanted to laugh, but he truly could not spare the attention right now. He had to give it his all, slowly compressing the cursed energy back down as though guiding a raging river back into its riverbed.

This was no easy task.

After all, if it really exploded, he might injure himself. Then he would have to make a trip to the infirmary, and if anyone asked, he would have no way to explain it.

Was he supposed to say he had accidentally blown himself up while controlling cursed energy? That would be far too embarrassing.

Fortunately, the thing he feared most did not happen. The mass of cursed energy soon safely shrank back down, but Utahime did not end the exercise there. Instead, she gave him a new requirement.

"Very good. Now we'll rest for thirty seconds, then repeat this process over and over until you can control it freely."

As time passed, his control over cursed energy grew increasingly proficient. At first, he had barely been able to keep it stable, but later he could increase and decrease it with ease.

The whole process took only two or three hours. The pace of his progress was so fast that even Utahime Iori found it hard to believe, wondering whether he was some kind of monster.

Of course, if he knew what she was thinking, he would probably only feel helpless. The reason was the same as before—she had never seen a true cheating powerhouse.

In the original work, there was a powerhouse who had gone from an ordinary person to a Grade 1 Sorcerer in just over ten days. Though he did not know exactly how that person had grown so quickly, something this minor should have been effortless for him.

Besides, the reason he was progressing so rapidly now might also have had something to do with the Black Flash he had landed before. Although he had passed out at the time and had not felt that special state, his body should have retained some impression of it, more or less.

Utahime also summarized this segment of training.

"From the looks of it, you've more or less completed the initial static control."

Halfway through speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something. She set the book in her hand aside, picked up the chalk she had specifically requested earlier, and drew a long straight line from Toho Tetsu's position toward the other side of the training ground. She marked five points along the way.

Noticing his curious gaze, she explained.

"This is the next stage of training. You need to move along this line while maintaining the increase and decrease.

"At first, you'll walk, then you'll run. Each stretch between the marked points represents one cycle you must complete."

Compared to the previous exercise, this stage was clearly much more difficult.

Movement and stillness were fundamentally different. Once he began moving, not only his breathing but even his accelerated heartbeat would affect his control over cursed energy.

Walking was fine at first. Toho Tetsu could maintain his cursed energy perfectly through several trips back and forth. But when he changed from walking to a light jog, he could no longer control it as steadily. It began to swell and shrink, and he could no longer keep it perfectly stable.

Although Utahime said nothing and merely watched quietly, he was somewhat unwilling to admit defeat. So he repeated the process again and again.

Until the sun set behind the western hills and the sky began to turn dusky yellow.

At this point, Toho Tetsu's entire focus was concentrated on the mass of cursed energy in his hand.

So far, he had done everything perfectly. He had already run past the first three markers, leaving only the final two stretches. Though he faintly felt it was becoming difficult to control, he could still barely maintain it.

Utahime Iori, observing him from the side, slightly held her breath as well.

Though he felt that he had not done well enough, Utahime thought this was already remarkable. She could not even remember how long it had taken her back then just to complete the first and second stages.

About half an hour or an hour earlier, she had wanted to call an end to the training for the day and let this junior go back and rest, adjust himself, and continue tomorrow.

But when she saw the unwillingness to concede in his eyes, she gave up on the idea and silently permitted him to practice over and over.

Because the persistence and earnestness overflowing from that gaze even made her think:

With this level of perseverance, even if his talent isn't outstanding, he should still become a very reliable Sorcerer in the future.

In the past, she had always wallowed in self-pity, yet she had never tried as desperately as this junior or pressed forward with such unwavering resolve. Thinking about it now, she really had been outdone.

Though she sighed inwardly, she immediately focused her attention on Toho Tetsu.

Because he had already maintained the expansion and contraction of his cursed energy as he ran past the fourth marker. Only the final stretch remained before him.

This time, the cursed energy in his hand did not feel as though it was about to shatter or slip out of control as it had before. At this moment, he instead felt that his mental state was exceptionally good.

And indeed, no drastic changes occurred in the process of controlling his cursed energy this time. When he stopped at the end of the route, he turned back to look at the path he had traveled, somewhat unable to believe it.

After several hours of his running, the white chalk line on the ground had been rubbed away until it was almost impossible to see.

The result of all that effort was undoubtedly worthwhile.

Watching him stand there lost in thought, Utahime Iori fell silent for a moment before speaking again. Her tone had returned to that of a strict instructor.

"To reach this point, it seems you really took my words to heart. Although you were able to expand and retract it while running, there were still a few moments in the middle when it became slightly unstable. You felt that too, didn't you?"

Toho Tetsu did not deny it.

Because at certain moments, he had indeed felt as though he was about to lose control. Though he had suppressed it in time, there had still been slight fluctuations.

Seeing that he did not argue and instead readily admitted it, the corner of Utahime's mouth twitched slightly, as though she were satisfied—or perhaps holding something back.

"Achieving this today only proves that you didn't slack off. It doesn't mean you've fully mastered it. You are not allowed to become arrogant, understand?"

When she said "arrogant," her voice rose slightly, as if emphasizing it deliberately. Yet there was also a hint of lightness in her words that even she had not noticed.

Toho Tetsu knew she was saying it for his own good, so he smiled and nodded. That only made her dissatisfied.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing."

He wiped the smile from his face and stood straight.

"Understood, senpai. I won't get arrogant."

Utahime Iori snorted, then turned around as though preparing to end the conversation and leave. But after taking two steps, she tilted her head slightly and spoke softly in an exceptionally gentle voice.

"...You did a little better than I expected. Just a little."

After saying that, she left the training ground. Toho Tetsu watched her receding back, lowered his head to look at his palm again, then raised his head to look at the sky before turning and leaving the training ground as well.

Today's training had truly been a little exhausting. He needed to get some proper rest.