"Haa!" Kiernan breathed out heavily. His body was trembling, and he was sweating profusely.
"What did you do…" Azer said in shock. "Did you just advance?"
"Yeah…" Kiernan struggled to reply. "During the fight against Dominic, I felt strange. I felt like I could unleash much more power than I originally could.
"Now, I had the same feeling. So, I just pushed through the feeling, and it felt like I was opening a door. Behind that door was a reservoir of power I had never tapped into before."
'What crazy instincts!' Azer exclaimed inwardly. 'I thought he had advanced just recently, and he was again advancing? What about the bottleneck?'
Everyone suffered from the bottleneck. It was called the Bottleneck of the Weak. It was what stopped every person from advancing further.
Some would suffer from the bottleneck for several years. Every day, they try to break through, only to fail. Then, one day, they would wake up and notice that they had advanced when they were asleep.
The bottleneck worked in strange ways.
Some would try to brute force through the bottleneck. Some would succeed, but almost everyone fails.
It was impossible to advance if the person wasn't strong enough to face the bottleneck.
Now, Kiernan has made a complete mockery of the bottleneck.
Brr!
At that moment, Kiernan felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.
He pulled it out and checked the message. His father was asking whether he was coming home as he was about to finish making dinner.
"Ah, I'll have to leave." Kiernan quickly stuffed his backpack with his clothes and slung it over his shoulder.
"Tomorrow, Karuza High's team for the tournament will gather in the gym." Azer said. "The team's coach will also be there. They will train for the upcoming representation match. You can skip classes and be there."
"Alright, I'll be there." Kiernan replied with a smile, hopped off the bench, and headed out of the locker room. He walked past Julia, whose keen eye was on him the whole time.
"I know I am not wearing a shirt, but watch where you're looking." He said to her: "I am quite shy."
"Hmm." Julia walked behind him with her arms behind her and asked, "Who are you?"
"What?" Kiernan looked at her with a frown. "Kiernan, who else?"
"Hmm…" Julia hummed with a suspicious look. "Are you a skinwalker?"
"Skinwalker?" Kiernan's eyebrow twitched. "What's that?"
"You know, those creatures that can copy a person's appearance."
"I can't say I am." Kiernan opened his backpack and put a t-shirt on.
"Were you serious about participating in the nationals?" She asked. "You might've defeated Dominic, but there're different kinds of beasts there."
"I'll try." Kiernan said while rummaging through his backpack. He took out his shoes and put them on clumsily while still walking down the hallway as if he were in a hurry to return home.
"You know the ranks, right?" Julia asked.
"Ranks?" Kiernan frowned, zipped the backpack, and slung it over his shoulder after putting his clothes on. "Sort of."
"First, it's Unranked. It was a rank where you were only days prior. Then, Martial Recruit, where you're currently. Then, Martial Soldier. It is where the top five ranked students at Karuza High are.
"Then, beyond that, Martial Fighter. Those are as common as rice in the nationals. Without Martial Fighter in your ranks, the chance of making it through the first round is slim!"
"Oh, that sounds powerful." Kiernan smiled in excitement. 'I truly feel like I am 16 years old. I feel so excited, and I am full of energy. I guess my mind has truly immatured to match my current age!'
Julia sighed. "I have also heard rumors that there is one student who has reached Low Stage of Martial Champion. It is rank above Martial Fighter!"
"Is that good?" Kiernan asked.
"It is amazing." Julia said. "That kind of talent can only be found in Tier 1 and Tier 2 countries. It is unheard of in Tier 4 countries like ours."
"I guess I have some preparing to do then." Kiernan said and then waved his hand. "Anyway, I gotta go. I gotta tell my father good news!"
Julia watched as the black-haired young man ran off, his backpack swinging behind him. It was a strange feeling, but for some reason, his figure seemed unfathomable.
…
Irio High, Class 2-C.
Jonathan sat on his chair with an open book on his face. It looked like he was napping.
A few of his classmates were cleaning the classroom as it was their turn. It was also Jonathan's turn, but instead, he was taking a nap. They didn't dare to disturb him.
At that moment, another young man entered the class and patted Jonathan's head.
"Wakey wakey.
"Mgh…" Jonathan removed the book and looked at his friend with a tired look. "Kai, what'cha want?"
Kai's face was heavily bandaged. He had several fractures after yesterday's fight.
As he looked at his friend, Jonathan, he had to stiffen his laughter. There were three circular marks on his face—one on the forehead, one on the nose, and one on the chin.
It made Jonathan look pretty silly.
"I heard some interesting news from Karuza." Kai said. "Dominic apparently lost."
"Dominic…" Jonathan repeated the name. "He is pretty strong for a first-year. I suppose he lost to higher-ranked ones?"
"No, he lost to another first-year." Kai said with a serious look. "Apparently, a person named Kiernan defeated him. Is that the guy who also…"
Before he could finish, Jonathan grabbed him by the face and coldly said, "Do not say it."
"Mm!" Kai mumbled and nodded rapidly.
Jonathan let go of his face and scoffed. "It was him. It is not that surprising that he defeated Dominic then. I just don't understand. He is an anomaly. I defeated him in the tournament, so… why is he strong now?"
"What if he joins Karuza's team?" Kai asked. "Won't our team be in danger?"
"Hahahah!" Jonathan laughed and stood up. "As if. He might've defeated me, but there's no way he would beat our fighters!"
Jonathan had reached the Martial Soldier rank, and he was only a second-year. In a year, he would reach the Age of Growth and would become a force to be reckoned with.
However, at the current moment, he was only Irio High's reserve fighter. There were three people with greater strength than him. They were all third-year students and had reached the Age of Growth.
…
Creak—a door opened and closed immediately after.
Kiernan removed his shoes and hung his backpack on the rack by the door. He immediately smelled the scent of food. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw his father putting utensils and plates on the table.
The food looked eatable but slightly rough. It was clear that Karma wasn't that great at making food, but still, Kiernan was hit by a wave of nostalgia.
It had always been him and Karma. As far as he could remember, his mother was gone.
He did his best to raise Kiernan with the little knowledge he had.
"Oh, welcome back." Karma said and sat down at the end of the table.
"Mm." Kiernan took a seat on the table and filled the plate with food. "By the way, I won a fight."
"Oh, is that so?" Karma's lips curled into an honest smile. "That's good. Now, eat up; you must be hungry."
"Mm." Kiernan grabbed a fork and dug into the food with enthusiasm.
Without him being aware, the two memories started to transform into one. He was turning slowly into just one being—the past and new memories mixed up together in a perfect mix.
It also made him stronger.
There was only one Kiernan Hunter now.