The clang of training weapons and the hum of circulating mana filled the academy's hall as students fumbled through basic exercises. Most were confident, relying on their mana as if it were all that mattered. Kaelen Ryn, however, had other plans.
"Stop!" he barked, halting the students mid-swing. Silence fell instantly. "Today, you will learn a technique that tempers not just your mind, but your body. Many of you believe mana alone will make you strong—but raw power is fleeting. A body cultivated properly is your foundation. Without it, even the most potent spells or abilities will crumble your frame."
He waved his hand, and a holographic display of the human body appeared, veins glowing, muscles highlighted, and energy channels illuminated. "This is the Body Cultivation Technique. It works in realms, just like mana. As you strengthen your body, you progress through levels:
Seed Realm – The body adapts to minimal output; basic endurance and resilience.
Sprout Realm – Muscles, bones, and reflexes start to harmonize with internal energy.
Growth Realm – The body can sustain high mana usage and physical exertion without strain.
Blossom Realm – Exceptional agility, speed, and strength manifest, capable of coordinated attacks with mana output.
Peak Realm – The body achieves perfect synchronization with energy; even rare and elite techniques can be performed without physical risk.
Arthur's System interface blinked rapidly as he read the details. His mind immediately ran calculations. "Body cultivation… improved over the last 500 years… Seed, Sprout, Growth… yes, the foundations are the same, but the efficiency multipliers have been refined. I've trained like this in my past lives. This will be fast."
The instructor continued: "Each realm requires focus, control, and endurance. You will temper your body through exercises, meditation, controlled exertion, and techniques designed to integrate your muscles, bones, and energy channels. Those who neglect this will find their mana destructive, but their body fragile."
Students groaned. "This is nonsense," whispered one noble. "I don't need to train my body. Mana is enough."
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "Fools! Mana is destructive, like water overflowing its container. The more you use it without conditioning, the more it erodes your body. Body cultivation is not optional—it is the difference between survival and failure. Those who master both mana and body will rise above the rest."
Arthur walked to the front, observing the demonstration carefully. His past life memories flashed—hundreds of battles, both as a student and as a leader of a Darkness faction. Every injury, every error, every moment of weakness he had experienced gave him a mental blueprint of how the technique worked. Even though the cultivation had improved since his time, the principles remained the same.
Kaelen moved through the hall, demonstrating a series of exercises: precise footwork, muscle tightening and release, coordinated breathing with mana pulses, and controlled energy flow through the limbs. "Feel your body as an instrument. Every strike, every dodge, every motion must harmonize with your internal energy. Only then can you unleash true potential."
Arthur began the exercises silently, his body already remembering motions he hadn't performed in centuries. Every movement, every channeling of energy, felt familiar yet enhanced by the new century's refinements. His System calculated optimal breathing, balance, and force distribution, allowing him to advance faster than anyone else in the hall.
By the end of the session, most students were exhausted, muscles burning, mana flickering in uneven pulses. Arthur, however, felt an unfamiliar calm and precision. His body had adapted faster than the rest, and his System quietly displayed:
Current Realm: Sprout (Advanced Efficiency)
Potential Breakthrough: Growth Realm in half the normal time
Kaelen's gaze swept across the hall, lingering on Arthur just long enough to notice his composure. "Interesting…" he muttered under his breath, already noting the young man as someone to watch.
As the students left the hall, whispers erupted. "Did you see Frederick? He barely broke a sweat…"
"Must be some noble prodigy or secret talent."
Arthur, walking quietly at the back, smiled faintly. "Let them whisper. They don't know I've lived a thousand lifetimes. This is only the beginning."