By the time Nolan turned six, he had already established a strict daily routine centered around physical training. Every morning, without fail, he dedicated himself to strengthening his body, preparing for the future he had envisioned.
Though he possessed all the knowledge from his past life—martial arts, intricate hand seals, cultivation techniques, and the manipulation of natural elements—his body had yet to reach a true cultivation stage. Still, he was undeniably more developed than an ordinary child his age.
"Nolan, breakfast is almost ready!" his mother called from the kitchen.
"I'll eat when I get back, Mom. I want to start training early today," Nolan replied without hesitation.
Lily wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to him, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
"You're growing up too fast, my little warrior," she murmured fondly.
Bending down, she wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Be careful, Nolan," she said, her voice laced with both love and concern. "Don't wander too far. And if you see anything suspicious or feel even the slightest bit of danger, come straight home, okay?"
Nolan met her gaze with quiet confidence and gave a small nod. "I will, Mom," he promised.
Even with all the strength and knowledge he carried from his past, he knew there was one person he would never allow himself to worry—his mother.
Nolan set off from the house, his small frame carrying a backpack that was heavier than it looked. Inside, neatly packed, were weight bars and a wooden sword—simple but essential tools for his self-imposed training regimen.
His destination was the same as always: a secluded spot at the base of the hill near the river.
The city wall, though meant to protect its residents, was barely guarded. Years of peace and the absence of monster attacks had made the officers lax in their duties, allowing people to come and go freely as long as they looked like locals.
Reaching his usual training ground, Nolan took a deep breath. The place was quiet, untouched by the city's distractions. The river's gentle flow provided a rhythmic backdrop, blending seamlessly with the rustling leaves in the morning breeze. It was the perfect setting for his training—isolated, peaceful, and undisturbed.
He shrugged off his backpack and placed it on the ground before starting with a series of basic stretches. Though his body was still that of a child, he had no intention of treating it as one. Every movement was calculated, every motion precise, as he worked to prepare his muscles for the strain ahead.
Once warmed up, he moved on to strength training, gripping the weight bars with small but determined hands. Each lift tested his endurance, but he met the challenge head-on, pushing his limits with unwavering resolve.
After some time, he shifted to his sword training. With a steady grip, he swung the wooden blade, each strike carrying the precision and control of someone far beyond his years. The repetition of movement, the sharp focus in his eyes—it was all a testament to his past life's discipline, now being reforged in this new body.
In this new world, there exists a force known as the Gaia Force. It was the essence of life, a powerful and invisible energy that flowed through every part of the natural world. From the towering mountains that scrape the skies to the tiniest of flowers that dot the meadows, everything is infused with the essence of the Gaia Force.
There were individuals known as Gaia Cultivators. These were people who had discovered the secret to harnessing the Gaia Force, drawing it into themselves to nurture and refine. By absorbing this energy, they can transcend their mortal limitations, gaining strength, wisdom, and abilities far beyond those of ordinary humans.
Cultivators progressed through levels, with every ten marking a breakthrough to a new stage: Gaia Novice, Gaia Apprentice, Gaia Guardian, Gaia Master, Gaia Grand Master, Gaia Champion, Gaia Archon, Gaia Sage, Gaia Mystic, and finally, Gaia Transcendent.
Nolan sat on the riverbank, his usual place of solitude and focus. The steady flow of water, combined with the peaceful embrace of the hillside, made it the perfect setting for meditation. As always, he closed his eyes, reaching out in an attempt to connect with the Gaia Force.
Yet, no matter how much he focused, the energy remained distant, unyielding to his call.
If I was reincarnated for a purpose, shouldn't I have something unique? A gift or a power? he wondered, frustration creeping in.
The thought crossed his mind that whoever had reincarnated him might have overlooked something crucial—had they simply forgotten to grant him a special ability?
Lost in thought, he continued his meditation until a sudden shift in the air caught his attention. Instinct kicked in. With a swift movement, he dodged just in time as a rock flew past his head, landing in the river with a loud splash.
Who the fuck is that?!
Turning around, Nolan saw five children approaching—three boys and two girls, some around his age, others slightly older. Their loud laughter shattered the peaceful quiet of the riverside as they ran toward him.
"Hey, look at the cake seller's kid. What's he doing here?" one of the boys sneered.
Nolan sighed quietly. He recognized one of them—a red-haired girl with big, expressive eyes. Ruby.
Unlike the others, Ruby looked genuinely concerned as she hurried closer. "Nolan, I'm sorry about them. Are you okay?"
She was well-known in their town, a prodigy who had awakened her Gaia Force at just five years old. Now, at six, she was already nearing a breakthrough, sitting at level 9 Gaia Novice—a remarkable feat for someone so young.
But Nolan barely reacted. Instead of responding, he turned back toward the river, closing his eyes once more. He let their words wash over him, refusing to let them disturb his meditation.
Ruby, however, wasn't as patient. She spun on the other children, her voice sharp. "You guys are just trying to bother Nolan on purpose, aren't you?"
One of the boys smirked. "He's the cake seller's kid. He's always messing around in our training spot."
"Yeah, let's just throw him out. This place is for real training, not for some wannabe meditating like an idiot," another added.
Ruby narrowed her eyes. "Let it go. Nolan was just meditating quietly. He wasn't bothering anyone. Robert!"
But Robert, the boy leading the taunts, only scoffed. "Hey, stupid, why even bother meditating? Someone like you will never achieve anything, no matter how much you try." His smirk widened as he crossed his arms. "You'll just end up as a low-level officer, while we will be registered Hunters, fighting Demons and Monsters."
Nolan remained still, but inside, irritation simmered at these spoiled brats who clearly needed to be taught a lesson. If they weren't the children of important people in this town, he might have already thrown a rock back at them.
Such spoiled brats.
The situation escalated when one of the children picked up another stone and hurled it at him. But this time, before it could hit, Nolan's hand shot out, catching the stone effortlessly.
The group fell into stunned silence.
"How… how did he catch that?" one of them muttered.
"You must've thrown it too weakly!" another quickly added.
Robert, his pride wounded, clenched his fists. "I'm a level 4 Gaia Novice! I won't be underestimated!" He grabbed another rock. "I'll throw it again—"
"Hey, stop it!" Ruby shouted. "Come on, let's go. You guys have gone too far!"
Nolan met their gazes with a cold, unwavering stare. For a brief moment, he considered putting them in their place, but then he thought of his mother—her kindness, her desire for a peaceful life. He couldn't risk causing trouble for her over something so petty.
Without another word, he picked up his bag and walked past the group.
"Hey, coward, why don't you come and face me?" Robert taunted. "Show us your sword skills!"
"Yeah, loser! You've been training your body, haven't you? Let's see how strong you really are!"
Nolan ignored them, keeping his pace steady as he put distance between himself and the group.
Then—
"Monster!"
A scream tore through the air.
"Why is there a monster here?!"
"Run! We need to get out of here!"
Nolan's body tensed as he spun toward the direction they were pointing. His sharp eyes scanned the area, quickly locking onto the threat.
A wolf monster stood there, its body as tall as a grown man's waist, black fur matted with fresh blood.
Tier 2.
His expression darkened. This was bad.
Monsters in this world could only be killed using Gaia Force. Without it, a person was completely helpless. And these children? They didn't stand a chance!
But then again, so was he!