Chapter 49: Second Core
Back in his room, Nero decided to take a shower. The water cascaded down like perfect rain, warm and steady, awakening his skin in all the right ways. After enjoying a refreshing bath, he changed into just his boxers, placing his uniform neatly on the bed. Unlike Adam, who should have been sleeping by now, Nero didn’t feel the slightest bit tired.
"Not only has my physical strength grown stronger, but my stamina has evolved as well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be bursting with energy after such intense training," Nero remarked as he settled into a meditation pose. His stamina had increased significantly, allowing for rapid recovery. Even after enduring Balrog’s grueling drills, his muscles were only slightly sore, and he felt far from exhausted. In less than half an hour, and after his bath, he had bounced back remarkably.
He didn’t immediately enter meditation; he knew that in the upcoming class, their teacher would likely ask them to spar against each other—a mock battle, to say the least.
"I should give my all and secure victory against whoever my opponent turns out to be," He had no intention hiding the fact that he became able to use a Law, even though he could use a Law different from his bloodline inherent Law.
Nero smiled thinking about the incoming mock battle, his blood boiling in anticipation, a fierce desire for a fight surging within him, almost clouding his mind, he almost lost himself.
"That won’t do. I must not let this desire swallow me, turning me into its slave," Nero affirmed, reigning in his emotions as his battlelust threatened to overwhelm him. Ever since he had become capable of wielding a law, particularly the Law of Fire after inheriting Igneel’s flame, he felt something had shifted within him. He found himself easily excited at the thought of fighting, and if he didn’t keep his emotions in check, they would explode. It was almost as if he had become hot-tempered, much like the Law of Fire itself.
"Eh! I mustn’t let this happen," Nero sneered, vowing to gain better control over his emotions and not allow the Law to influence him.
He was not the only one facing this challenge; everyone dealt with it in their own way. Some succeeded in mastering their law to perfection, remaining largely unaffected, while others struggled and failed. There were special cases, such as Khione, who willingly fused with her law, adopting its inherent personality. In the first case, one could exhibit their law flawlessly, while in the second, they risked being controlled by it unable to fully display their law full capacity. In Khione’s case, it could be said that her situation was similar to the first, except she had taken a shortcut early on.