The hidden strength behind strengthening magic.

Being targeted by a giant red bird, I had no choice but to use my fire-type strengthening magic to fight back.
I used strengthening magic on my left leg, not for jumping, but for dodging the bird.
The bird went directly for my head, but I dodged at the last second. Then, I immediately turned off the strengthening on my left leg and focused on my right leg. If I kept switching like this while holding back as much as possible, then there was no chance the bird would hit me with its giant beak.

But I still needed to figure out how to actually land a hit.

The bird came at me again; I narrowly dodged it while swinging my short sword with the intention of at least scratching it.
Even if the sword hit the bird, it probably didn't cause any damage.

Faylinn: LEO! USE THE BLINDING PUNCH!

Blinding punch? There was no way I was gonna do it without practice. I was going to fail.
I needed a different strategy.
The bird came down again, and I used my strengthened left leg to dodge it.
Pain was slowly accumulating in my leg.
I couldn't keep dodging forever.
So I took a different approach.
I wasn't going to simply dodge.
This time I used strengthening magic on both of my legs and on my right arm.
The bird once again tried to attack me. I dodged at the last second, using my right leg to dodge and then my left leg to cancel the momentum generated by dodging the enemy. Then, while the flying enemy was still next to me as a result of its missed attack, I quickly used my strengthened right arm to pierce the creature's neck with my sword before the bird could fly past me.
Well, I guess it was technically a success if we ignore certain little issues.
As soon as I stabbed the creature's neck—because the creature was still flying forward while I was firmly holding the sword—the blade ended up breaking in half.
The creature flew away with half the blade in its neck. Eventually, we saw the giant bird going down in a free fall.
Technically, I defeated it. But my sword was now broken, and the same thing happened to my wrist despite having used strengthening magic...

Astra was quick to notice my broken wrist and quickly started casting a healing spell.

Astra: This is worse than when you damaged your ankle. We are going to be here for a while. I'm sorry I'm so slow at healing.

Leonel: It's fine, Astra. Slow healing is better than no healing at all.

Faylinn: Well, that was something I never expected to see. I never thought you would do something that stupid. You really need to take into account your physical weakness and the strength of your enemies, especially when the enemy is huge and it's moving at full speed toward your body. That was just dumb.

Astra: Faylinn! There is no need to be rude when I'm trying to heal his wrist. We can scold him later.

Leonel: Well, she is right. I have no experience dealing with these creatures; I really thought my wrist was going to hold just fine.

Faylinn: Even with fire-type strengthening, you are still a weak human, so you need to be smart when you fight large enemies.

Astra: She is right. You will probably need to learn a few more techniques and skills and then come up with different strategies to deal with different kinds of enemies. And for the record, those red feathers are unique to that kind of giant bird. Those feathers are extremely flammable. If you had used the blinding punch, even if you had failed to blind the bird, you would have been able to set it on fire. And no bird can fly without feathers. It would have turned into a battle against essentially a ground enemy.

Leonel: I didn't know that...

Faylinn: If you had used the blinding punch as I had told you, then you would have found out about the flammability of its feathers right away.

Leonel: Fine. I'll listen to you next time...

Astra: As hard as it may be to believe, Faylinn can be a good teacher, considering she has acquired a lot of experience fighting for the past two years.

Faylinn: Leo, wanna hear a secret? While I was training in the use of my fire magic, Astra was wasting her time making clay dolls! Faylinn said in a very cute and energetic voice.

Suddenly, Astra put on a forced smile and spoke in a soft and yet scary voice.

Astra: Faylinn. There is no need to reveal that kind of information. Do you understand?

Faylinn retreated a few steps. Her face definitely showed that she was terrified of someone.

Faylinn: Uhmmm, yes. Don't worry, Astra, I'll never do it again!

After approximately ten minutes, Astra finished healing my wrist.

Astra: I'm sorry it took so long, but it's healed now. Try to be more careful next time.

Leonel: I will try to use my brain next time I'm fighting. Don't worry.

Just after Astra had finished healing my wrist, Faylinn decided to "strike" again.

Faylinn: You sure seem to be doing great for someone who is cursed, said Faylinn in a voice one would associate with mischievous goblins from my world...

Leonel: What!? I'm cursed!?

Astra: Actually, you were cursed. Not anymore.

Leonel: Oh, so you got rid of the curse? Thanks, Astra, but when did I even get cursed?

Astra: Actually, it wasn't me who got rid of the curse.

Faylinn: It was you, Leo.

Leonel: Eh? I don't understand what's going on anymore...

Astra: The pink apple that exploded in your hand not only left a stench, it also placed a low-rank curse on you. It essentially lowered your stamina.

Faylinn: And the curse from those fruits usually lasts for an entire day.

Leonel: Then how and when did I get rid of it?

Faylinn: Fire-type strengthening magic usually has the added effect of getting rid of poisons and curses, although, in your case, since you can't go too far with your magic, only low-rank curses and poisons can be eliminated.

Leonel: OHHHH, that sounds very useful!

Faylinn: It's particularly useful in forests and swamps, where almost everything can poison you.

Leonel: Let's see. So far, I have strengthening magic, immunity against low-rank poisons and curses, a "blinding punch" if I ever get to learn it, and a dangerous fireball that can destroy my arm. Those are all my options in combat. I might need to learn a few more things in the future.

Astra: There is no need to rush. Take your time learning things at your own pace.

Faylinn: Yeah, it's not like you can learn a lot of things with your weak body. In the end, most of your options in combat will be related to the use of magical items.

Faylinn was essentially saying I was always going to be weak. Damn...