A Path to strength (2)

Chapter 6: A Path to strength (2)

Griffin's feet sank into the soft, uneven soil as he followed Arthur into the vast, oppressive expanse of the Founder Forest. The trees loomed over them like ancient sentinels, their roots stretching deep into the ground as if they were part of the planet's very soul. But it wasn't the trees that made Griffin's stomach churn—it was the invisible force pressing down on him.

"Welcome to the Founder Forest," Arthur announced, his voice unbothered as he glanced at Griffin, who was struggling to keep his balance. The gravitational field was intense, and each step felt like a battle against the very ground beneath him. For every inch Griffin tried to take forward, it felt as though the earth itself was pushing back, attempting to pull him down.

Griffin stumbled, his legs trembling, his body weighed down by the sheer intensity of the gravity. Sweat poured down his forehead as his arms trembled with the effort of staying upright. The weight on his body was crushing, and he could barely breathe, let alone walk.

Arthur, in stark contrast, stood tall and unaffected. "This," he said with an air of casual nonchalance, "is where you will train."

Griffin glared at him, his teeth gritting in frustration. "I can barely stand here, let alone train!"

Arthur's expression softened for a moment, though only just. "You'll get used to it. But it will take time. This forest was where I trained, and it's where you'll learn the true meaning of power."

Griffin glared at the ground beneath him. Great, he thought bitterly. More suffering. Just what I needed.

Arthur didn't seem to care much for Griffin's internal complaints. He began detailing the training regimen, each task sounding more absurd than the last.

Morning: Stab Technique Practice

"You will start each morning with the stab technique," Arthur explained. "You'll stab the air while maintaining your aura for five hours. If your aura falters or you stop, you start over from the beginning."

Griffin blinked. "Five hours? Stabbing air?"

Arthur gave a nod. "Correct. But don't get any ideas. I'm not talking about a casual stab here. You'll have to maintain focus, control your aura, and work through the pain."

Griffin was about to protest, but Arthur's sharp gaze stopped him. "Don't question it. It'll make you stronger."

Griffin sighed heavily. "Wonderful."

And thus began the first day of what Griffin would soon come to refer to as "hell." The stab technique was as brutal as it sounded. His body, already strained by the gravitational field, grew weary under the effort of keeping his aura constant while repeatedly stabbing at nothing. By the time the first hour had passed, his arms felt as though they were about to fall off. By hour three, his focus had started to slip, and he nearly lost his balance. The only thing keeping him going was the thought of finishing and finally collapsing onto something soft.

After five hours, when Arthur returned to check on his progress, Griffin was barely standing, his knees shaking like jelly. "You've done well," Arthur said, though there was no trace of sympathy in his voice. "You can rest now. Three hours. Then we begin again."

Afternoon: Running the Gravitational Field

Griffin's exhaustion was mounting. After the grueling stabbing session, he was given a three-hour break. It wasn't long enough for him to recover fully, but it was enough for Arthur to prepare the next grueling task.

"You'll run around the perimeter of the gravitational field," Arthur instructed, his tone as sharp as ever. "For five hours."

Griffin stared at him, his heart sinking. "Run? You want me to run in this place?"

Arthur didn't so much as blink. "Yes. Don't expect it to be easy. The forest is relentless. But you must push yourself. Endurance is key."

With a grunt, Griffin set off, each step heavier than the last. The pull of gravity felt like a vice, trying to crush him with every stride. But the thought of his sword mastery, of improving, kept him moving forward. And so, he ran. Slowly, painfully, but with determination. Five hours later, when he finally stopped, he was gasping for air, his legs like lead.

Arthur, of course, was unaffected, standing tall as if he hadn't just been on his feet for the same five hours. "Good job," he said flatly. "Time for a break. Three hours. Then we move to the evening session."

Evening: The Mountain-Slicing Challenge

As if the previous two sessions weren't enough, the evening training was by far the most bizarre. Arthur led Griffin to the foot of a massive boulder. "This is the final test for today," Arthur said, eyes gleaming. "You will use your aura to slice through this rock in the dark."

Griffin stared at the boulder. "Are you serious? Slice it? With my aura?"

Arthur's smile was something of a twisted grin. "Yes. In the dark. Your aura will guide you. But only if you've trained your focus."

Griffin didn't have time to argue. The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, he was forced to try. His aura flickered and flared, lighting up the surrounding forest, but the mountain was as unyielding as ever. He struck again and again, but nothing happened. The rock remained untouched, a massive wall of stone mocking his efforts.

For what felt like an eternity, he struggled, his aura nearly exhausted. But in the end, sheer willpower—mixed with a good deal of rage—sliced through the boulder. The moment the stone cracked, a rush of satisfaction flooded him. He had done it.

Arthur, who had been watching from a distance, finally nodded. "Good work. You've completed your first training session."

Griffin collapsed, his entire body screaming in protest. "Never again," he muttered under his breath, eyes fluttering shut. But even in his exhaustion, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of accomplishment. He had survived.

Training Results:

By the end of four brutal days, Griffin's body had transformed.

• Sword Mastery: A-rank

• Aura: 1200

• Stamina: 289

• Strength: 318

• Agility: 322

• Intelligence: 301

• New Skill: Stabbing (A-rank) (Once this skill reaches S-rank, it will evolve into Sword Blast.)

Griffin couldn't quite process the stats in front of him. He stared at the Kaido System's notification, overwhelmed by his newfound strength.

Arthur was equally impressed. "You've done well, Griffin. It usually takes weeks for someone to reach this level."

But just when Griffin thought he could relax, Arthur's second training began.

Second Training:

Arthur's next challenge was something Griffin hadn't anticipated. "You will resist Silvanna's killing intent for three hours," Arthur said, a strange gleam in his eye.

Griffin's stomach dropped. Silvanna, Arthur's pet dragon, had a killing intent that could rival Arthur's own. To resist it for three hours? It sounded impossible.

But somehow, Griffin made it through in two days. His body ached, but he gained a new skill—Mana Resistance (A-rank)—that would help him withstand mana-based attacks in the future.

Arthur, clearly impressed, nodded approvingly. "Two phases of training completed in just six days. Your progress is nothing short of extraordinary."

The Founder Forest's high-gravity environment had taken its toll on Griffin, but he had completed his intense training regimen in a record time of six days. Arthur had been impressed with his progress, and now, as a reward, he decided to take Griffin to the royal warehouse where weapons were stored.

Griffin was exhausted, his muscles aching, but Arthur insisted on the trip. "You've done well, Griffin. It's time for a reward. We'll pick a weapon for your expedition tomorrow."

As they made their way to the warehouse, the people inside immediately straightened when they saw their emperor approach. The warehouse was a place of significant importance, where relics and weapons of the highest caliber were kept. It was rare for the emperor to visit, let alone someone of his standing to enter. The attendants greeted him with respect, bowing deeply as he passed.

Griffin couldn't help but feel the weight of their stares. His presence in the warehouse wasn't a usual occurrence, and he could sense the nervous energy in the air. Arthur, ever the commanding figure, nodded at the attendants, signaling that they were free to proceed.

"You may pick any weapon you like," Arthur said, his voice more casual than usual. "You've earned it. Choose wisely, as you'll need it for the upcoming expedition."

Griffin's eyes scanned the room filled with rows of gleaming swords, axes, and spears, each one more formidable than the last. His gaze wandered over the weapons, but none of them seemed to call to him. Not until he noticed one sword tucked away in the far corner of the room.

It was long and slender, almost like a katana, with a dark gleam to its blade. The hilt was wrapped in intricate black leather, and the aura around it was unlike anything Griffin had ever felt. It was as though the sword itself was calling out to him.

Arthur noticed Griffin's interest. "That one?" he asked, a slight curiosity in his tone.

Before Griffin could respond, a low hum filled the air. The sword seemed to pulse with energy, as if alive. The attendants in the room exchanged confused glances, sensing something they couldn't quite place.

Suddenly, the sword's aura flared, and a surge of dark mana erupted from the blade. It was so intense that Griffin took a step back in surprise, his heart racing. He had no idea how or why the sword had chosen him, but the reaction was unmistakable. The energy in the room shifted. Everyone—the attendants, Arthur, and Griffin himself—felt it.

Kaido's voice, ever present in Griffin's mind, chimed in, startling him.

"You have been chosen by the sword Remus, the last Transcendent Sword of Virenna."

The notification felt strange, surreal, but the energy from the sword was undeniable. Griffin couldn't help but stare at the blade in awe. This was no ordinary weapon.

The people in the warehouse, those who had seen countless weapons pass through their hands, were stunned. They knew the stories of Remus—the legendary sword that had never chosen a wielder, not even in the long history of Virenna. And now, it had chosen Griffin, the emperor's son.

Arthur stood frozen, a look of shock on his face. He'd known of Remus's reputation, but to see it choose Griffin was a surprise even for him.

"How?" Arthur murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Griffin slowly reached out to grasp the sword's hilt. The moment his hand touched it, a surge of dark mana shot up his arm, filling him with an overwhelming power. It was unlike anything he had felt before, and he could sense the sword's blessing—Domain Expansion: Absolute Darkness—coursing through him.

Kaido's voice echoed again, its tone neutral but informative.

"Aura increased by 300. Due to the user's unprecedented accomplishment, the probability of awakening a second blessing has increased."

Griffin blinked in disbelief. He had never expected this. His heart raced with the realization of what had just happened. But then, Kaido's next message struck him like a lightning bolt.

"This sword uses dark mana to evolve. Lack of dark mana detected. The user must fight high boss-level threats (S-rank) to obtain a dark mana core to activate its full power."

Griffin stared at the sword, now even more confused. He didn't even know how to gather dark mana, let alone face an S-rank threat. His mind was racing, but it was then that he noticed Arthur's stunned expression.

Arthur had heard the notifications too, and he was at a loss for words. He had never expected Remus to choose anyone, let alone His son.

"Impossible…" Arthur muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "This sword hasn't chosen anyone, not in generations. It hasn't even moved… until now."

Griffin, still processing the magnitude of what had just happened, was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps. His mother, Elizabeth, stormed into the warehouse, her face flushed with anger. She had heard what had transpired and was not pleased.

"What is this nonsense?" Elizabeth demanded, her gaze locking onto Arthur. "Why did you take him to the warehouse? This is too much! This sword, this training… You're pushing him too hard!"

Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but Elizabeth was already on him, her voice rising in a heated exchange. The attendants in the room shifted uneasily, not knowing how to react to the royal drama unfolding before them. Arthur, normally unflappable, was suddenly on the defensive, his posture slightly bent as he tried to calm his wife.

"I didn't mean for it to—" Arthur began, but Elizabeth cut him off, her arms crossed as she glared at him.

"You didn't mean for this? Arthur, you pushed him through hell, and now this? A cursed sword chooses him, and you didn't even warn him?"

Arthur sighed and lowered his head, as though admitting defeat. "I didn't expect this to happen either. But Sebastian's stronger than you think. I believe he can handle it."

Elizabeth shook her head, her frustration palpable. "He's my son, Arthur. He's not a pawn for your games."

Griffin, who had been watching the exchange with growing amusement, finally spoke up, his voice dry. "Mom, I'm fine," he said, his tone light but firm. "I can handle this."

Elizabeth's expression softened, though there was still worry in her eyes. "I just don't want you to be hurt."

Griffin smiled faintly. "I'm ready for this. Really. I'm prepared for tomorrow's expedition."

As he turned to look at Remus, the sword pulsed with dark energy, as if acknowledging his words. A sense of determination settled over him. He was ready for whatever came next.

But even as the words left his lips, he couldn't shake the feeling that his path was about to take a far more dangerous turn than he had ever imagined.

(TO BE CONTINUED…..)