The days that followed were relentless—a cycle of searching, training, and enduring. Aurel moved through the forest of the Border Lands with unbroken determination, each day pushing deeper, each day evading the dangers that lurked in the shadows. The Stone Tortoise remained elusive, and despite the hours he spent combing through the winding paths and darkened woods, he still hadn't caught a single glimpse of the beast.
But he wasn't wasting his time.
Every morning, Aurel would slip into the depths of the forest, using Sixth Sense and Mana Sensitivity to avoid dangerous monsters, his steps careful and calculated. The search for the tortoise had become a grueling routine, an exercise in patience, a test of his resilience.
But when his search came to an end for the day, he didn't simply go home to rest. Instead, Aurel would head to the gym—a small facility a few blocks from his apartment, open 24/7 and mostly empty during the late hours when he went. It had become his sanctuary, a place where he could push his body to its limits, where he could see just how far his new power would take him.
The moment he walked through the gym's doors, the world outside seemed to fade away. It was just him and the weights, the machines, the strain of muscles working against resistance. Each day, he would push harder—more weight, more reps, no breaks, no hesitation. He lifted until his muscles burned, until the veins in his arms bulged, until he could feel every fiber of his body straining, tearing, and healing.
Regeneration worked overtime, healing the damage as fast as it was inflicted. Unlike a normal person who would need days to recover from such a workout, Aurel could feel his muscles knitting back together, stronger, denser. There was no rest between sets, no need for days off. Every moment in the gym was an opportunity to grow, to become faster, stronger, more capable.
He pushed himself to the edge, moving between heavy compound lifts and explosive agility drills. He sprinted on the treadmill, his speed surpassing what he'd thought possible, his feet pounding against the belt with a rhythm that felt almost supernatural. He worked on his endurance until his lungs burned, until sweat poured down his body in rivulets, soaking his shirt, his skin.
Every night, after hours spent searching in the Border Lands, he would push his body to the absolute limit in that gym, with only Regeneration to keep him going.
Once back in his apartment, Aurel would dedicate even more time to consuming mana stones. Each night, he would swallow a stone, feeling the raw, untamed energy flood his system. The pain was still intense—an inferno that raged through his veins, setting every nerve alight. But Aurel embraced it. His Super Digestion trait had reached a point where it could absorb the mana with an efficiency that bordered on incredible—turning the dangerous stones into fuel that drove his evolution.
He had lost track of how many stones he had consumed over the past three days—how many times he had felt his body burn, reshape, adapt. The fire mana from the flower had been a one-time experience, but the raw mana from the stones continued to push him forward. His Flame Resistance had not grown, but the rest of him had become stronger, leaner, more powerful.
It wasn't until the third evening, as he sat on the floor of his apartment, catching his breath after another grueling session, that Aurel finally took a moment to check his progress.
He tapped the watch on his wrist, the screen flickering to life, displaying his stats in sharp, glowing numbers.
Strength: 99
Agility: 99
Endurance: 99
Perception: 99
Mana: 99
Aurel blinked, his breath catching in his chest. All 99s. Every single stat. He had known he was growing stronger—he could feel it with every movement, every step—but seeing the numbers, seeing just how far he had come, was something else entirely. He had almost reached the limit—pushed every stat to the edge of what was possible for someone with a single genetic lock actualized.
He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers, feeling the strength in them, the power that thrummed beneath his skin. He had grown so used to the constant training, the endless cycle of pain and adaptation, that he hadn't even noticed how much his body had changed.
Aurel pushed himself to his feet, crossing the small room to stand in front of the cracked mirror hanging on the wall. The reflection staring back at him was almost unrecognizable.
His body was muscular, his frame broader, every inch of him carved with lean, powerful muscle. His arms were thick, his chest solid, his stomach a series of ridges that spoke of strength earned through pain and struggle. He looked like a bodybuilder—a far cry from the boy he had once been, the boy who had started this journey with nothing but a single-room apartment and a burning desire for power.
His eyes were different too. The irises, once a dark, almost black shade, were now a vivid red, the color seemingly intensified by the fire mana that had become part of him. They glowed faintly in the dim light of the room, a reminder of the changes he had undergone, the traits he had gained.
He ran a hand through his hair, the silver strands catching the light, shimmering like molten metal. His face was sharper, the angles of his jaw more pronounced. The reflection staring back at him was someone new—someone stronger, more capable. Someone who had left behind the weaknesses of his past.
Aurel couldn't help but smile, a small, satisfied grin spreading across his face. He had come so far, had pushed himself to the brink, and had emerged stronger each time. The Adaptability trait was unlike anything else—allowing him to evolve, to grow, to overcome every challenge that came his way. Each trait had brought him closer to his goal, each one had made him more formidable.
But as he stared at his reflection, a thought crossed his mind—an idea that had been lingering in the back of his consciousness, growing stronger with every challenge, every moment of pain. Just how far can I push this?
He had already gained Legendary traits, had pushed his body to the edge of what was possible, and yet, he couldn't help but wonder. What were the limits of his Adaptability? How much further could he go? How much more power could he gain?
The university exams were approaching, and Aurel knew that they would be his chance to prove himself—to show everyone, including Yujiro Lang, just how powerful he had become. But it wasn't just about proving a point anymore. It was about testing himself, about seeing how far he could push the boundaries of what was possible.
Aurel turned away from the mirror, his gaze shifting back to the watch on his wrist. The numbers still blinked back at him, a testament to his progress. But they were just numbers. What mattered now was action. He had trained, he had adapted, but there was still one thing left undone.
He still hadn't found the Stone Tortoise.