The three rented a private training facility—accessible only to VIP patrons of the Sunflower—for an entire day.
It wasn’t for leisure.
It was to ensure no one else could enter.
Zane and Shelby stood across from each other in a tense standoff, while Erlin stood between them like a referee.
"I’m ready. Use your Spark Law and attack me," Zane demanded.
Shelby sneered. In the next instant, a violent, crackling ball of spark energy formed at the tip of his forefinger.
"I’m coming," he warned—though he had already closed the distance, launching a power punch straight at Zane.
Just like before, Zane’s body felt immobilized under the Spark Law’s influence.
But unlike last time, when he had experienced this against the masked lady, Zane remained calm.
At his whim, the Solar Thread appeared at the tip of his finger.
Thinner than a strand of hair, yet dazzling with a brilliant yellowish light, the Solar Thread radiated defiance.
The moment it flared to life, it clashed with the Spark Law’s suppressive force—freeing Zane from its hold.
"Luminous Step," he murmured.
His body flickered, narrowly dodging the incoming punch.
"Oh, not bad," Shelby commented, eyeing the Solar Thread with interest.
"It’s a good thing you followed my advice. So this is why you were able to form a law within a day. Yes... when developing a Law, one must begin from something basic—something small."
In truth, he had originally intended to create his own Law of the Sun, but what emerged instead was the Solar Thread.
Still, he couldn’t help but nurture it.
One day, this law... it will become a sun of my own.
"Shelby, can your Spark Law develop further?" Zane asked.
"Of course. The deeper I comprehend it, the more it evolves." The most update n0vels are published on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
He grinned. "Here, let me show you a new technique I’ve invented using my Spark Law."
The white spark hovering at his fingertips suddenly detached and spread into the air, forming a comb-like electric mesh.
"Don’t move. It’s a motion-guided spell."
He clapped his hands, and an electric bullet fired into his palm.
Then, pulling out a package of fried potato balls, he tossed hundreds into the air.
The electric mesh flared—
Dozens of bullets shot out in rapid succession, disintegrating every potato ball mid-air into ash.
"See? This technique is still in its early phase," he said, waving his hand as the web-like spark mesh dissolved into the air.
"Shelby," Zane said, "Let’s fight. I’ll go all out."
Shelby beckoned with a smile, signaling him to come.
Zane activated Luminous Step, and in a flash, he appeared next to Shelby, aiming a flick toward his temple.
Shelby caught his finger effortlessly between his own.
"Boy... I’m disappointed."
He released the finger and launched a ruthless kick toward Zane’s waist.
But Zane, having mastered Luminous Step to near perfection, dodged smoothly.
"Don’t be," Zane replied steadily.
"I’ve trained with my flicks so much, they feel more natural than fists or kicks."
"Boy," Shelby’s voice cut in sharply as he appeared behind him with a sudden helicopter kick, "you don’t fight to get comfortable. You fight to win. You fight to kill. Never forget that."
Zane side-stepped and countered with a kick.
Shelby didn’t bother to parry—he took the hit square in the chest and stood there unfazed.
"The power behind that kick is pathetic," Shelby said, brushing dust from his shirt. "You’ve got to come at me like you mean it. Every strike should force me to retreat or defend. Right now, you’re doing neither—physically or strategically."
They resumed their spar. Zane unleashed every technique he knew, while Shelby calmly parried and punished every opening with precise, bone-jarring counters. From time to time, he pointed out flaws in Zane’s form or timing, guiding him even while striking him down.
Hours passed. The two fought without rest, a testament to their monstrous stamina. After all, both were carrying immense training loads.
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, Shelby finally stepped back.
"That’s enough. You’re not even close to landing a serious hit on me."
"But I’m still not done!" Zane protested, breathing hard, his body steaming from the effort.
"Kid, how long’s it been since your Awakening?" Shelby asked seriously.
After a pause, he added, "Fighting me for this long is already impressive. I awakened five years ago. You’re still new to all this—still wet behind the ears."
Zane knew Shelby was holding back during their fights. He knew the old man was right... but something deep inside him, a voice of pride or maybe his Alter Ego, refused to accept that truth. It wanted to win. It wanted to fight Shelby at full force—and beat him.
Years. I need years to catch up to him...
Zane lay down on the cold floor, trying to calm his burning muscles and silence that reckless monkey mind.
"How strong are you really?" he asked, eyes on the ceiling.
"Stronger than you can imagine," Shelby chuckled.
"No, seriously. By star rating—how strong are you? And what about a Dean? Like the masked lady who attacked me?"
"I’m currently at Five-Star Mana Core. The Sixth Star isn’t far." Shelby took a deep breath. "As for Deans, they’re at least Seven-Star Awakeners. That masked woman? Early Seven-Star level."
Zane whistled. "You fought a Seven-Star Awakener with just five stars? Old man, you’re way cooler than I thought."
Shelby shrugged. "Sure, I deserve some praise. The gap between each star gets wider the higher you go. But I also got lucky—and that special skill I picked up helped a lot. Thanks to you."
"I heard you beat a bunch of seniors even before getting your skill... and before meeting me. Is that true?"
"Yeah. Beat a few cocky six-star punks."
"Wait—you’ve beaten people a whole realm above you?"
"Of course," Shelby said, grinning. "You forget we train under heavy loads that constantly increase. If we ever fight without suppressing that weight, our fists and kicks would turn most awakeners within our same Star Rating into blood mist."
He reached for a water bottle, chugged it in one go, then tossed another at Zane.