1 MONTH LATER
Ash moved with fluidity, his body almost gliding through the air. He shifted from one triangle shape to another, his movements sharp and exact.
From a distance, it looked like he was a boy drawing invisible triangles on the ground with his feet—clean, precise, and somehow... cool.
The way he shifted from one position to the next was effortless, like a graceful dance. He could change direction at any moment, and while it wasn't exactly unpredictable, it was the kind of footwork that made people stop and watch.
He was mastering the basics, and he looked good doing it.
"Alright, boy, stop," Aelion called out, a smile of satisfaction curling at the corners of his mouth.
Ash froze in place, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
''HUFF... HUFF... HUFFF...''
"Now what, Master?" Ash wheezed, struggling to catch his breath.
The past month had been torture. Running around the mountains without mana, training in enhanced gravity, and enduring endless hours of footwork drills had been nothing short of hell.
Even now, as he practiced, he was surrounded by extra gravity that made every movement feel ten times harder.
He was pissed off, frustrated, and probably on the verge of losing his mind. But he kept his mouth shut. He knew better than to complain. Aelion's way was harsh, but it was the fastest path to improvement.
"Now that you've got the triangle down with mana, it's time to level up. Use the air element to flow through your meridians, and reduce the resistance while running. Then, incorporate lightning mana to increase your speed as you perform the second part of the footwork—the square formation," Aelion instructed.
Ash grinned smugly. "I see. So, I've mastered the triangle. Am I a genius or what, Master?"
"GENIUS?" Aelion snorted. "I mastered that in a week, kid."
"Well, you created it. So, of course, you'd be faster," Ash shot back, his smirk never fading.
"Yeah, yeah. Start practicing already."
Ash walked to the area where the squares were drawn on the ground. He stood there for a moment, mentally preparing himself. This is it. Time to level up.
Taking a deep breath, he summoned his mana and directed it through his chest, legs, and nervous system. Since he wasn't a mage yet, he couldn't manipulate the mana in the air, but he could create a cone of air mana in front of his chest to reduce resistance.
Then, he infused his legs and nervous system with lightning mana to speed up his reactions.
He started moving—jumping from one square to the next. But when he hit the third step, his foot slipped, and he went tumbling forward with a loud THUD.
"What the f*ck! This is impossible! Four elements at once? No way! Can't I just stop supplying mana to the bracelet?" Ash growled, rubbing his bruised body.
"Nope," Aelion replied flatly. "Mastering this will improve your mana manipulation. So shut up and get back to it."
"Fine, old man," Ash muttered under his breath.
IN THE EVENING
THUD!
Huff... Huff...
'Again.'
THUD! THUD!
'Again.'
The rhythmic sound of Ash repeatedly falling echoed through the mountains. Each time, he got up with determination, even as frustration threatened to take over. His legs burned, his lungs screamed for mercy, but he kept going.
The "Square formation footwork" was harder than he thought.
Finally, after hours of practice, Aelion called out, "Stop, kid. That's enough for today. Rest up and recover your mana. Then, we're moving on to something more fun—your sword."
Ash straightened up, eyes lighting up. Finally! Time for some sword training!
"My sword art isn't the flashiest, but when it comes to speed and destruction, nothing beats it," Aelion continued. "It's called Zephyr's Judgment, and it has five moves. I'll teach you the first Move today."
Ash's heart skipped a beat. Yes! Sword training!
Aelion explained, "The first move of Zephyr's Judgment is called Wind's Whisper. It uses the air element, and when you master it, your opponent will think a breeze just passed by... until their head is detached from their body."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "A breeze? Seriously?"
Aelion gave him a smirk. "Yeah, it's that fast. Here's how you do it: channel mana into your leg meridians, starting with your hips to keep your movements stable, then your thighs, and finally your ankles. It's all about rhythm—two short bursts for your hips, one long burst for your thighs, and a final short burst for your ankles. Keep the bursts in order and rhythm as you move forward to move fast enough that no one even sees it coming."
Ash nodded, taking mental notes. "Okay. That sounds... simple."
"Once you've got the leg movement, the swing is the next challenge. You need to channel a short burst of mana to your shoulder, followed by a long burst to your elbow. The strike will be so fast, you'll only be able to hit one person with it, that is until you master the movement as you are walking" Aelion explained, his tone serious.
Ash couldn't resist a sarcastic thought: Yeah, sure. No problem. I'll just move like a gust of wind. But he knew better than to say it out loud. This was going to be tough. But he was ready.
Without wasting a moment, Ash started practicing. He planted his feet in a stance, closed his eyes for a moment to gather his focus, and then—
THWACK!
The sound of his sword slicing through the air was followed by a less-than-graceful stumble as he lost his balance. "Ah, crap," he muttered under his breath. Guess I need more practice.
Ash practiced over and over, his swings getting faster, but his precision still lacking. Every time he messed up, he'd get up, shake off the failure, and try again.
His legs burned, his shoulders ached, but he knew that soon enough, the technique would be second nature. The wind might whisper, but Ash would be the storm.
**
Time passed, and before Ash knew it, two years had gone by.
2 Years Later
Ash had reached an impressive milestone in his training after 2 years.
He could now run 100 laps around the mountains without the aid of mana. His stamina had skyrocketed thanks to his rigorous training, and he had unlocked the stamina section in his status.
Ash could now hold a horse stance for two hours under 10x gravity.
It wasn't easy, but it certainly made him stronger. His body had adapted, and he always carried a gravitational field around him—except when he was sleeping.
It was like living in constant resistance training.
While it might seem like a small thing, his relentless efforts had paid off.
Ash's Mana Manipulation level had increased to Level 5, and he'd reached the Master stage.
Not only that, he had mastered the square formation footwork.
Now, he could seamlessly switch between the square and triangle formations, moving with deadly precision. To anyone watching, it was like seeing a well-organized military unit, balanced and swift—if you looked closely, it was clear just how lethal Ash had become.
Today was a big day. He was incredibly close to reaching level 10, and he felt certain that today would be the day.
Once he reached level 10, he could awaken his second core and begin hunting beasts to level up. It was the next step in his journey.
'Status'
**
STATUS SCREEN
Name: Ash Burn
Age: 8
Level: 9 (8993/9000)
Class: Swordsman (Partially Locked)
**
Strength: 20
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 20
Vitality: 20
Magic Power: 20
Stamina: 20
Charm: 20
**
Affinities: Light, Air, Lightning, Fire.
**
‣[Skill Creation]-(Unranked)
Description: The ability to create new skills from imagination per level. The more diverse and unique the imagination, the more powerful the skills created.
‣[Mana Manipulation] (Level 5) - (C Rank)
Description: The user's mastery over mana has reached the MASTER stage, allowing for flawless absorption and precise control. At this level, the user can detect and sense magical energies around them, further honing their combat and magical awareness.
‣[Sword Mastery] (Level 3) - (E Rank)
Description: The user has developed a foundation in swordsmanship, mastering basic techniques and stances. At this level, proficiency with the sword increases, enhancing the user's precision, control, and effectiveness in battle. The user gains a deeper understanding of timing and tactics, improving their ability to execute swift, accurate strikes and fluid defenses.
‣[Inspect] (Level 4) - (D Rank)
Description: The user can now analyze objects, places, and people with greater precision, uncovering hidden details and secrets. In addition to identifying points of interest, the skill reveals the emotional state of individuals, allowing the user to sense feelings and intentions. Environmental anomalies, patterns, and subtle magical influences also become more apparent, offering critical insights for both combat and strategy.
‣[Harmonic Convergence] (Passive) - (SS)
Description: Fusing the Rune of Stability and the Rune of Balance, this passive skill grants flawless movement and unshakable poise. The user can traverse any terrain effortlessly, perform acrobatic feats, dodge attacks with precision, and slip through tight spaces—all while maintaining perfect equilibrium.
‣[Elemental Manipulation] (Passive) - (SSS)
Description: It is the ability to control and shape natural forces, using them for attack, defense, and utility. It requires focus, energy, and precision, offering immense versatility and power when mastered.
Skills(5/9)
**
Today wasn't just about training—it was a milestone.
Ash had also mastered the 1st style of Zephyr's Judgement, and was eager to show it off. He was going to perform it in front of Aelion, his mentor, and ask for a break so he could undergo his second awakening.
The training ground, once a beautiful garden, was now a battlefield—footprints and sword marks covered the ground like a warrior's diary.
Ash's muscles were well-developed for his age, and he always trained without a shirt to show off those chiseled abs—six packs, of course.
His abyss-colored hair, tied up in a band, had grown past his shoulders, and his crimson-and-gold eyes? Let's just say, they were the type of eyes that could suck your soul if you stared for too long. His presence alone could make even the toughest warriors question their life choices.
Upon reaching the training ground, Ash spotted Aelion waiting for him, looking ever so skeptical.
"You have gotten more handsome, Ray. Are you sure you're human not a Vampire?" Aelion asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course I'm human. If I wasn't, I would've sucked all your blood long ago," Ash replied, grinning mischievously.
Spending two years together had created a bond between them, even if Aelion still didn't quite believe Ray(Ash) was a normal 8-year-old. To Aelion, Ash was like a walking mystery wrapped in muscle and magic.
"So, can I get a day off if I perform the 1st style perfectly?" Ash asked eagerly.
"Yeah, sure, but only if you do it without any mistakes," Aelion replied, crossing his arms.
"Alright, get ready for the surprise," Ash said, cracking his knuckles like he was about to drop the hottest dance move of the century.
***