Chapter 3: The Earth Breathing Technique
As soon as Hutson opened the door, he was met by the stern face of Old Henry—but standing behind him was someone far more imposing.
A young man clad in heavy armor, radiating a presence of authority.
Hutson recognized him instantly.
Sir Emil, the captain of the castle's guards.
A figure of power and respect, and one of the most formidable warriors in the castle. If he had come seeking Hutson, then something significant was about to unfold.
"You are Hutson?" Emil asked, his sharp eyes scanning him from head to toe.
"Yes, Sir Emil." Hutson replied respectfully.
"AI chip, scan Emil's stats."
[Scan Complete.]
Strength: 2.1Agility: 1.6Constitution: 2.2Mental Power: 1.1Unknown energy detected within the body.
For the first time, Hutson gained a direct understanding of a knight's strength.
At first glance, Emil's stats only seemed slightly higher than his own, but in real combat, the difference was monumental.
One additional point in strength wasn't just an incremental improvement—it translated to a tenfold increase in combat effectiveness.
And then there was the unknown energy lingering in Emil's body.
Hutson could only assume—this was the true power of a knight.
If this mysterious force was added into the equation, then Emil's true battle capabilities were immeasurable.
"I've heard you're a good shot," Emil stated plainly. "Show me."
Old Henry gave Hutson a look of encouragement.
There was no room for hesitation.
Without a word, Hutson turned back inside, grabbed his longbow, and returned.
Emil scanned the surroundings before pointing at a towering pine tree in the distance.
"Can you shoot down the highest pinecone?"
Hutson didn't even blink. "Yes."
"Then do it."
Without delay, Hutson drew back the bowstring, activating AI chip's aim assist.
His arms no longer trembled—his increased strength allowed him to pull the bow to its full draw effortlessly.
Swish!
The arrow cut through the air, striking its mark with unerring precision. The pinecone tumbled to the ground.
Emil nodded in satisfaction.
"You are a born marksman.
You have the skills to join the castle guard. Follow me to the training grounds."
Hutson had no right to refuse.
With Old Henry grinning in the background, Hutson followed Sir Emil into the heart of the castle's training grounds.
The castle training grounds were vast and teeming with activity. Dozens of soldiers and guards were undergoing intense drills, their weapons clashing against each other.
As Emil led Hutson through the area, many of the trainees glanced in their direction.
But none dared to ask questions—Emil's presence alone kept them focused on their training, pushing themselves even harder.
Finally, Emil led Hutson to an open space, turned to him, and asked:
"Do you know why knights are so powerful?"
Hutson hesitated. He had no answer.
He shook his head.
"Because of the Breathing Technique." Emil's voice was steady, firm.
"Breathing technique?" This was **the first time Hutson had heard of such a thing.
"Yes," Emil continued. "It is the key to unlocking the hidden power within us. By practicing the breathing technique over time, we can strengthen our bodies and, if we are fortunate, awaken the Life Seed. Those who awaken it… become true knights."
Hutson's mind raced. "Then… can I awaken a Life Seed?"
Emil's expression remained unchanged.
"Perhaps. But only a rare few possess the talent. Most people will never become knights, no matter how hard they try."
After a pause, he added:
"But you have talent in archery. I will teach you the Earth Breathing Technique. Train hard—Lord Buck expects his warriors to be strong."
Hutson immediately placed his right fist over his heart in a knightly salute.
"Thank you, Sir Emil. I am grateful to the Baron's generosity."
Emil's lips curled into a small, approving smile.
"Good. Never forget—all power comes from the Baron."
Hutson nodded, but his mind was already working on something else.
"AI chip, record everything Emil does—especially the Earth Breathing Technique."
"Recording initiated."
Standing before him, Emil began his demonstration.
"Breathing is something every person is born with, but the Earth Breathing Technique follows a specific rhythm. It allows us to circulate energy throughout our bodies, strengthening our muscles and bones over time…"
"Earth Breathing Technique recorded successfully."
After explaining the fundamentals, Emil stepped back.
"Now, try it."
Hutson studied the movements. The technique required not only precise breathing but also a series of specific postures.
For a beginner, these movements were extremely difficult—one mistake, and the breathing rhythm would be disrupted.
"AI chip, enable assisted training."
Immediately, holographic guides appeared in Hutson's vision, showing exact corrections for his posture.
"Adjust right hand upward by 1 centimeter. Lower left hand by 0.5 centimeters."
Hutson followed the real-time instructions, refining his form with each adjustment.
Emil's eyebrows lifted slightly—he hadn't expected Hutson to pick up the movements so quickly.
The Earth Breathing Technique contained fifteen complex movements, each demanding precision.
But with AI chip's assistance, Hutson painfully pushed through every single one.
By the end, his body was trembling, his muscles on the verge of collapse. He could barely stand.
Then, a system notification appeared before his eyes.
"Effective training detected. Repeating this sequence 100 times will increase Strength by 0.2, Agility by 0.5, and Constitution by 0.3."
Despite the exhaustion, a fire ignited in Hutson's eyes.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
This was about power.
And he was just getting started.
"A hundred times… that doesn't seem like much."
Seeing AI chip's notification, Hutson felt a surge of determination.
The hardest part of training wasn't the effort itself—it was the lack of visible progress. But with real-time feedback, every breath, every movement had a tangible result, fueling his relentless motivation.
Throughout the entire process, Emil remained silent, his gaze watchful. Only when Hutson completed his first full cycle of the Earth Breathing Technique did the knight finally speak.
"You have talent," Emil said, his tone even but unmistakably impressed. "I will be watching your progress."
With those parting words, he turned and left, drawn back into his myriad responsibilities.
"AI chip, how long will it take to complete a hundred cycles?"
"Based on your current physical state, you can perform the training twice per day. After seven days, your body will adapt, increasing your training capacity to six or seven cycles per day. Estimated completion: twenty-three days."
Hutson's eyes gleamed. This was faster than he had expected.
After that fateful day, Hutson's status within the castle shifted dramatically.
No longer a lowly servant, he was now a member of the castle guard.
A monthly salary of five silver coins.A set of armor and a longsword.Upgraded meals—two full meals per day, with meat served once every three days.
But to Hutson, this meant little.
He could hunt his own food. What truly mattered was Emil's favor.
His only task? Train.
No guard duties, no patrols—only cultivation.
Thus began his relentless cycle:
Hunt. Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
"Earth Breathing Technique – Stage One: Completed."
Current Physical State:
Strength: 1.6Agility: 1.1Constitution: 1.7Mental Power: 1.2
A notification followed.
"Earth Breathing Technique – Stage Two available. Repeating the technique 1,000 times will increase Strength by 0.4, Agility by 0.5, and Constitution by 0.5."
A genuine smile spread across Hutson's face.
His efforts over the past three weeks had not been in vain.
Each day was rigorous but fulfilling—he lived with a clear purpose, his time divided between hunting, training, eating, and resting.
But tomorrow, his routine would expand.
Tomorrow, Emil would begin teaching him swordsmanship.
Though Hutson's body had grown stronger, he lacked a proper means of close combat.
His archery was formidable, but in a world where cold steel dictated survival, the real battles were fought up close.
It was time to master the blade.