The morning sun filtered softly through the arched windows of the Walker estate, bathing the marble halls in golden light. Birds chirped faintly outside, but inside the training room, the air was tense,still, like a coiled string ready to snap.
Alex stepped in slowly, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders. Though his body still ached from yesterday's intense session, there was a calm determination in his gaze.
Vonn was already waiting, seated cross-legged in the center of the hall. His eyes opened as i approached, sharp and assessing. "You're getting used to the pain," the elder noted.
"Not like I have a damn choice," I muttered under his breath, settling into a stance.
Vonn stood up in a smooth motion. "Good. Because it's time to escalate."
He raised a finger. A sharp hum filled the air as the space behind him distorted—thin lines flickered, forming into countless shimmering strands of mana in the shape of runes.
"Today we begin with mana augmentation. Controlling the energy within you, spreading it around your body through your mana veins, empowering it."
He pointed to a training ring etched into the stone floor. "Get in."
I stepped inside, heart beginning to pound.
"You won't be using techniques. You won't be using weapons. Just pure mana control and augmentation."
With that, Vonn's foot tapped the floor,and a wave of pressure surged forward, wrapping around me like a crashing tide causing him to fall to a knee. It wasn't violent. It was worse—precise.
"let it flow around your body," Vonn commanded.
Alex gritted his teeth. The mana inside his core stirred,thick, gaseous and pure. He reached in, drawing it up like a stream, spreading it across his body. It trembled, slipping through my control because of the pressure.
"Too slow," Vonn said. "faster."
I focused, my forehead already beading with sweat. I tried again. This time the mana spread faster around my body with most of it actually filling my body with less dispersing,but only barely. I lost control as Vonn flicked a strand of his own mana against it.
The old man walked in circles around him. "Mana isn't just power. It's intention. Flow. Pressure. Speed. Learn to breathe with it. Match its rhythm—or you'll never improve."
And so the morning passed in a blur of drills.
Releasing mana as streams around my body. Let it flow, then dissipate it. Then maintain a steady stream while moving. Over and over again.
When i collapsed to my knees by noon, gasping for air, Vonn didn't even look winded.
But he gave a small nod.
"Better," the elder said. "Still trash. But better."
I chuckled weakly. "That unexpected,almost sounded like praise."
Vonn smirked. "Don't get used to it. Tomorrow, we make you fight with it."
I groaned and fell flat on the stone floor, breathing hard as he stared at the ceiling.
"This must be what death feels like. Lucky me—it's just Tuesday."
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
My limbs protested against me as i rolled out of bed, muscles sore from the unending cycle of training. The crystal embedded in my palm pulsed faintly as if mocking me, absorbing its steady trickle of mana while remaining completely inert. A week had passed since it had been pierced into him, and still, it showed no sign of transformation.
I flexed my fingers, watching how the stone almost looked like part of his flesh now. The faint traces of the purple-red runes had long since vanished inside, swallowed deep within. I had no idea what effect the Primordial Energy would have on the weapon-to-be… but i suspected it would be far from ordinary.
By the time I arrived at the training hall, Vonn was already waiting, arms folded behind his back.
"You look half-dead," the elder said without looking at him.
"Thanks alot to you," I muttered, stepping forward.
"Good," Vonn replied. "You'll be using mana augment while In a fight. Let's see how long you last."
I barely had time to react before the elder was upon me.
"shit!!"
A swipe of wind. A palm strike aimed at my shoulder. stumbling back, I instinctively coating my arms in a thin layer of space-enhanced mana. The block held—for a second.
Crack.
My feet skidded back from the impact, the sound of snapping mana resounding in my ears. But i didn't fall.
"Don't use it as a shield, empower your hand with it and not to your arms alone. Guide it around your body," Vonn barked.
I adjusted my stance. I could feel the mana within my core rushing through my mana veins in response. I drew a bit of it into my legs and moved, faster than ever,vanishing and appearing to Vonn's left in a flash.
I struck with a punch to the rib.
Vonn deflected with ease, but raised an eyebrow. "You're learning."
He retaliated with a kick to my side. I winced and tried to step side away but it was a beat too late. The blow sent me tumbling, breath knocked out of my lungs.
I coughed, catching my breath, i got up again.
This time, Vonn came slower—almost like he was teaching through movement.
"Push your mana before you move. Let it follow your intent."
I moved forward again, but this time I was listened, mana flowed from my core and augment my fist, guiding the force of my strike as i ducked and threw a punch upward. Vonn blocked it, but he didn't counterattack.
Instead, he gave a quiet nod.
"Yes… Like that. Shape it with thought. Fight with purpose."
The duel continued. Again and again. Sweat poured down from my skin.legs trembling. But i didn't fall.
Mana streamed more efficiently around my body now—slightly steadier. Slightly more refined.
I felt it. mana bending to my will.
When the final blow came—a harsh backhand to his ribs—i hit the floor hard, groaning, but grinning all the same.
Vonn looked down at him, silent for a moment.
"You've still got a long way to go," he muttered, turning to walk away.
"But I'll admit…" He glanced back. "For a boy not even yet four—you have the combat powess of an average adult.
My grin widened as I lay flat on the floor, letting my mana settle.
Excited at my rate of improvement.
---
The day passed fairly quickly as Alex lay still on the ground for a moment, catching his breath as the dust settled around him. Sweat dripped from his brow, and every inch of his body ached with fatigue and pain.
I pushed himself up, wincing as my ribs throbbed, and finally stood. The crystal in my palm pulsed faintly, almost as if responding to the residual flow of mana within me. My breathing steadied, and thoughts drifted to the sensation i had just experienced—how the mana had surged from the core, slipped into the limbs, wrapped around his muscles, and lent weight and re-enforce his strike.
It wasn't just raw power—it had moved with him, protecting him.
I looked down at my hands, slowly curling my fingers into a fist.
"So this is… body augmentation," i murmured.
The term had been mentioned before in passing, but now he felt it—mana used not to cast spells or summon flashy abilities, but to amplify the body itself. Strength, speed, durability. Like forging armor within your blood and wearing it over your bones.
I could still feel faint traces of mana traveling along invisible pathways beneath his skin—his mana veins. He hasn't paid much attention to them thinking they were only used for cultivating but now he sees the importance they held. Today's lesson had opened his eyes.He had tasted the flow—and more importantly, learned to guide it.
"It's pretty much about hitting harder," Alex said quietly, "more painful"
He took a step forward. knees still shook, but the understanding in his eyes was firmer than ever.
Wishing a joyful and blessed Eid Mubarak to all my readers! May your day be filled with love, peace, and countless happy moments."
🎉🎉