The Path of Growth

The past month had been a period of relentless training for Rehan. Ever since his awakening to spirit energy, he had devoted himself completely to cultivation, pushing his limits every day. His breathing technique had become second nature, drawing cosmic energy into his body as smoothly as breathing itself. His muscles strengthened, his bones became denser, and his spirit power grew to astonishing levels.

Rudra, who had once tormented him at school, no longer dared to provoke him. The memory of being sent flying with a single punch was still fresh in his mind. Though he burned with resentment, he wasn't foolish enough to challenge someone who had already surpassed him. Rehan, on the other hand, paid him no mind. His focus was elsewhere—on growing stronger.

Seven days into his training, Rehan felt it—another breakthrough. A surge of power flowed through his body, filling every fiber of his being with an exhilarating sense of strength. He clenched his fists, feeling the energy coursing through his veins. His body had ascended to the next stage—Level 2.

However, this time, he refrained from rushing to the Alliance Hall. His previous growth had already raised enough eyebrows. If he continued to break through at an absurd pace, people would inevitably start asking questions. He wasn't ready to draw unnecessary attention—yet.

Instead, he tested his newfound abilities in private. His spirit power had extended to a range of 200 meters, and his telekinetic strength had grown to six times his warrior strength. If his raw physical power was now 5 tons, then his spirit energy allowed him to exert a staggering 30 tons of force. It was unbelievable.

It was the equivalent of a nearly Level 4 warrior—before even officially becoming a Level 2 warrior.

But power wasn't enough. He needed control.

For the next few days, Rehan focused on refining his telekinesis. He practiced with small objects at first—a knife, a stone, a wooden block—before moving on to heavier ones. The more he practiced, the more seamless his control became. His ability to wield spirit energy felt as natural as moving his own hands.

One evening, feeling the need for fresh air, Rehan stepped outside and made his way to the city park. The artificial lights flickered in the distance, illuminating the paved paths and the sparse greenery that had been preserved despite the harsh world outside the base city.

As he strolled through the park, he ran into a familiar face—John.

The Level 4 warrior was sitting on a bench, enjoying a brief moment of relaxation. Upon seeing Rehan, he smiled and gestured for him to sit down.

"How's the training going?" John asked, taking a sip from a metal flask.

Rehan hesitated for a moment. He had already decided to keep his full progress a secret. It was best to move cautiously.

"Not bad," he said with a casual shrug. "I think my punching power is around 3 tons now."

Even though he had significantly downplayed his strength, John's eyes still widened in shock.

"Three tons? Already?" John exclaimed. "You're growing way too fast, kid. If you keep this up, you'll reach 5 tons by the end of the month. That means you'll already be a Level 2 warrior before you even get your license!"

Rehan simply smiled, letting John believe what he wanted. In truth, his real power was even more ridiculous.

After a few more minutes of casual conversation, Rehan bid John farewell and headed home. He had no intention of wasting time. Every moment was another opportunity to grow stronger.

Fifteen days passed in a blur of relentless cultivation. Rehan pushed himself harder than ever, refining his breathing technique and expanding his mastery over spirit energy.

Then, it happened again. Another breakthrough.

His body surged with power, his cells absorbing cosmic energy at an even greater rate. This time, his warrior strength reached Level 3, and his spirit energy had grown even more terrifying.

His telekinetic range expanded to 300 meters, and his amplification ability increased to seven times his base strength.

Rehan paused, stunned by the implications of his progress. Spirit Masters weren't just stronger because of their amplification. Their true power lay in their ability to control multiple weapons at once.

If one weapon granted a 7x amplification…

Then what would happen if he controlled ten weapons at once?

Seventy times amplification. The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.

But for now, he had a long way to go. He had tried controlling multiple knives, but he could barely manage three at most. Still, that was more than enough for now.

For the next fifteen days, Rehan refined his abilities further.

Though he didn't experience another breakthrough, he could feel the vast reserves of power building inside him, waiting to erupt. His spirit range extended to 600 meters, allowing him to manipulate objects from a distance that should have been impossible.

Most astonishingly, he had increased the number of weapons he could control to five.

If these had been ordinary knives, it wouldn't have meant much. But if he got his hands on specialized spirit flying knives—weapons specifically designed for Spirit Masters—his true combat potential would be terrifying.

Rehan knew he had reached an entirely new level.

His warrior strength had reached 30 tons, almost on par with a Level 4 warrior.

The realization made his heart pound with excitement. If others knew the extent of his growth, they would call it impossible. Even Nick, the Spirit Master who oversaw Base City 17, only had a 5x amplification ratio at Level 7.

Rehan's potential was already exceeding that.