BOOM!!
An explosion rippled around Hugo as he took in a deep, satisfying breath.
He had been cultivating here for the past thirty hours — which, in the real world, amounted to barely ten.
And it seemed he had just made another breakthrough.
"Congratulations on advancing again, Master," Randalf said, his small furry body glowing faintly as he hovered nearby.
Hugo opened his eyes slowly.
He could feel the change — not just in his energy, but in the weight of his presence. It was like his body had been reforged from the inside out.
His heartbeat was steady, powerful, almost synchronized with the rhythm of the surrounding Eon flow.
He was still a little speechless at how fast cultivating felt inside this strange void.
So far, humans had only discovered three known stages of cultivation, though there were rumors of more.
The Initiate Stage, the Harmonic Stage, and the Paramount Stage.
And within each stage were the familiar sub-divisions — Minor, Mid, and Late Phase.
Normally, progress between these phases was painfully slow.
The average human could spend years clawing toward a single step of advancement, each breakthrough requiring precise control and exhausting effort.
According to what Hugo had read online, even those blessed with an A-Rank Resonance needed at least two months to step out of mortality into Initiate Minor Phase, and nearly a full year to reach the Mid Phase.
Yet here he was… achieving all that in two days.
It felt absurd. Unreal.
He exhaled slowly, watching the faint trails of light swirl around his arms and vanish into the air.
"So this is the difference between normal cultivation and… whatever this space is."
Randalf chuckled. "It's honestly not that special master. For people of your world it might be considered tressure, but it's actually pretty common for cultivators out there. They create their sub-space where Eon is denser, purer, more obedient. It reacts directly to your will. That's why your progress feels effortless."
"Effortless, huh?" Hugo muttered, shaking his head. His body still ached faintly from the breakthrough — his muscles hot, his veins tight, his bones feeling like they'd been stretched and reforged. "Doesn't feel effortless to me."
Randalf floated closer, his tone softening. "That's because your vessel is still human. You're absorbing Eon faster than your body was built to handle. But it's adapting — faster than I expected. Your resonance harmonizes with the Eon perfectly."
"So what now?" Hugo asked, glancing around the shimmering void. "Do I just keep pushing?"
"For now, no," Randalf said. "Any further and your body might rupture from too much energy. Rest. Let the new energy settle before you resume. Cultivation isn't only about absorbing — it's about balance. Expansion and stabilization."
Hugo nodded slightly.
He could feel that truth deep inside him. The storm of Eon energy within his chest pulsed faintly, like a second heart. It felt powerful, yes, but also volatile — too much movement, and it could collapse.
He lowered himself to a seated position inside the space and closed his eyes again.
He focused again, and this time instead of pulling in more Eon, he focused on letting his breathing synchronize with it. Inhale — the Eon condensed.
Exhale — it spread through his body evenly, smoothing the jagged currents left by the breakthrough.
For a while, silence reigned. Only the soft hum of power filled the space.
Then, after what felt like hours, Hugo opened his eyes again.
The dizziness of the breakthrough had finally faded, and his mind was clear.
He clenched his fist — the air rippled faintly, disturbed by the mere movement. The difference was obvious.
He wasn't just stronger. He was refined.
Randalf tilted his head, tail flicking lazily. "You've stabilized nicely, Master. Your control is improving fast. That's a good sign."
"I guess that means I'm getting the hang of this," Hugo said, standing up.
He let out a quiet laugh, half disbelief, half pride. "Just two days ago I couldn't even lift a metal rod properly. Now…"
"Now," Randalf interrupted gently, "you're beginning to see the truth of cultivation. Every step forward is a rebirth. And the future possibilities are endless."
Hugo smirked faintly. "You really like your poetic speeches, don't you?"
"I'm a lich," Randalf said proudly, puffing out his furry chest. "We tend to have dramatic flair."
After another stretch of quiet, he finally sighed and said, "Alright, I think I'm done for today. If I keep going, I might just explode like you said."
Randalf nodded. "A wise decision. Let your body and soul rest.."
The void dissolved around him like mist, and the feeling of gravity returned all at once.
When he opened his eyes again, he was siting in his dimly lit room. The weak morning light leaked through the curtain, painting golden stripes across the floor. The clock on his desk read 6:47 a.m.
He stretched his arms and winced slightly as his muscles cracked.
They felt heavier, fuller — but not in a bad way.