The sun hung low over Kyushu, casting long shadows across the city skyline.
Reiji stood on the rooftop of Hawks' agency, arms crossed, watching the bustling streets below.
Behind him, Hawks stretched his wings lazily, looking as relaxed as ever. But Reiji wasn't fooled.
That man didn't do anything without a reason.
"So, Birdman," Reiji smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "You gonna tell me what we're actually doing here, or am I just supposed to stare at the skyline all day?"
Hawks chuckled. "Impatient, huh? Good. You'll need that energy. Because from this point on, you're gonna be moving—a lot."
He turned to face Reiji, his golden eyes sharp. "I told you before, you rely too much on brute force. You have speed, but you don't use it efficiently."
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "You're saying I'm slow? I kept up with you earlier."
Hawks grinned. "You kept up with my warm-up."
Reiji's smirk twitched. "Tch. Alright, fine. So what's the first lesson?"
Hawks stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. "Simple. You're gonna learn how to read movement before it happens. Because speed without foresight? That's just running blindly into punches."
Reiji cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Sounds fun. Who am I practicing on?"
Hawks' grin widened. "Me."
Lesson One: Predict and React
The moment Hawks finished speaking, he moved.
Reiji barely had time to react before a red feather shot toward his face.
SWOOSH!
He twisted his head, dodging at the last second—but before he could counter, Hawks was already behind him.
A sharp wind rushed past his ear.
"Too slow."
Reiji gritted his teeth, pivoting quickly and sending a flame-coated punch toward Hawks' chest.
Miss.
Hawks wasn't there anymore.
Instead, Reiji felt a sharp tap against the back of his head—
THWACK!
He stumbled forward, growling. "Dammit!"
Hawks chuckled. "See? Speed is meaningless if you don't know where I'm gonna be."
Reiji exhaled sharply. "Alright. Fine. Again."
Hawks nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit."
Then—he attacked again.
For the next three hours, Reiji was put through hell.
Hawks never stayed in one place. He moved like the wind, attacking from every possible angle.
Feathers zipped through the air, forcing Reiji to dodge, block, or counter at impossible speeds.
And for the first hour—he failed.
Every time he tried to counter, Hawks vanished.
Every time he thought he had a rhythm, Hawks changed it.
[He's playing with me.]
Reiji gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. If he couldn't match Hawks' speed, then he had to predict it.
His golden flames flickered.
[Read his movements. Look for patterns.]
Hawks' wings flared—he shifted left.
Reiji swung—but Hawks baited the move and dodged right instead.
THWACK!
Another hit landed.
Reiji stumbled but grinned.
"Alright," he muttered. "I see what you're doing."
Hawks raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do you now?"
Reiji exhaled.
Instead of attacking blindly, he took a different approach. He let Hawks move first.
He watched his footwork.
The way his shoulders tensed before shifting.
The way his wings adjusted a split second before a dodge.
[There it is.]
The next time Hawks lunged—Reiji moved first.
He dodged before the attack came.
Hawks' eyes widened slightly.
[Oh?]
Then—Reiji countered.
BOOM!
His fist grazed Hawks' jacket, the first real hit he'd landed all day.
Hawks hovered back, rubbing his chin. "Huh. Would you look at that? You're learning."
Reiji grinned. "Tch. Took me long enough."
Hawks chuckled. "Took you exactly as long as I expected."
System Notification
As Reiji caught his breath, a familiar blue screen flashed before his eyes.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
✔ "Training Mode Updated – Speed Adaptation Progress: 40% Complete."
✔ "Reflex Improvement: Achieved."
✔ "Continue Training for Further System Unlocks."
Reiji's smirk widened.
[Oh? So the system's keeping track of my progress now?]
That was new.
And it meant one thing—he was on the right path.
Hawks stretched. "Alright, that's enough for today. You did good."
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
Hawks smirked. "For today, yeah. But tomorrow? You're gonna learn how to fight mid-air."
Reiji's eyes narrowed. "Mid-air? You do realize I don't have wings, right?"
Hawks chuckled. "Exactly."
Then, with a single flap of his wings, he disappeared into the night.
Reiji watched him go, rolling his shoulders.
[Mid-air combat, huh?]
His golden flames flickered.
He had a lot to learn.
But one thing was certain—
By the time he was done, no one would ever be faster than him again.
End of Chapter 52.
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