Forging the Vanguard

The training grounds of the Huaxia military base had transformed into a battlefield of controlled chaos. Explosions of elemental energy erupted in bursts, the air crackled with power, and the ground trembled beneath the sheer force of the soldiers' awakenings.

Su Chen stood at the highest point of the field, observing with sharp eyes as hundreds of elite soldiers pushed themselves beyond their limits.

Tier 4 was no longer the goal.

Many had already reached it. Some had even broken into Tier 5, and the gap between the elites and the average awakened fighters was becoming more apparent. It was no longer just about raw power—it was about refinement, control, and adaptation.

A New Challenge

Su Chen raised his hand, and instantly, a surge of golden energy spread across the field. Those who had already reached Tier 4 and beyond felt an immense pressure descend upon them, their bodies locking up as if they were submerged in a gravitational field a hundred times stronger than normal.

Gasps echoed across the training ground.

"Y-young Master Su!" One of the commanding officers gritted his teeth as he struggled to stay standing. "What… is this?!"

Su Chen's voice rang out like thunder.

"You've broken into Tier 4, some of you into Tier 5. But do you think that makes you powerful?" He scanned the exhausted soldiers. "No. It simply means you're slightly better than cannon fodder."

The brutal honesty sent shivers down their spines.

Su Chen's aura intensified. The sheer weight of his presence pressed down on the troops, forcing them to circulate their energy to resist.

"Right now, none of you can survive in battle against even a lesser god. You may have the power, but your control is lacking. Against an enemy that has ruled for thousands—maybe millions—of years, raw strength is useless."

The soldiers clenched their fists, their pride wounded but their resolve burning even brighter.

Su Chen waved his hand.

Suddenly, illusory figures began to form in the air.

Not just any figures.

Gods.

Towering figures wreathed in divine energy, their eyes glowing with ancient power. These were projections of the very enemies they would face.

The soldiers sucked in sharp breaths. Even though these were illusions, the sheer pressure they exuded was oppressive, their auras so dense that some Tier 4 warriors instantly fell to their knees.

Su Chen's voice cut through the tension.

"If you cannot defeat these illusions, then you have no hope against the real thing."

A Battle Against Illusions

A soldier named Wang Jian, one of the top-ranking fighters, gritted his teeth and surged forward, his fists wreathed in flaming energy. He launched an explosive punch at one of the godly figures—

BOOM!

The illusion didn't even flinch.

Instead, with a casual flick of its hand, a massive energy wave sent Wang Jian flying backward, crashing into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.

Coughing up blood, he struggled to rise. "Damn… it…"

Su Chen shook his head.

"This is the difference between you and a god. They do not fight like humans. They do not struggle. They do not hesitate."

He stepped forward, eyes glowing with an overwhelming golden radiance.

"If you want to stand a chance, you must learn to transcend your limits. Not just in power, but in technique, in control, in precision."

The Next Stage of Awakening

Su Chen then gestured toward the few who had already broken into Tier 5.

"You've reached Tier 5," he said, "but you're still thinking like mortals. To fight a god, you must wield power like one."

With that, Su Chen demonstrated what true mastery looked like.

He extended a single finger.

A simple movement.

Yet, the world responded.

The air around his fingertip warped and twisted, a vortex of pure elemental power condensing into a terrifying singularity of destruction.

It wasn't fire. It wasn't lightning. It wasn't just raw mana.

It was an absolute force—a level of control that blurred the line between magic and divine authority.

"This is what awaits those who reach Tier 6 and beyond," Su Chen said, letting the energy dissolve into nothingness. "This is the power you must strive for."

The soldiers stared in awe.

A weighty silence fell upon the training ground as they absorbed his words. The illusions still loomed over them, a challenge left unanswered.

Then, without warning—

One of the soldiers, Luo Feng, who had been among the first to reach Tier 5, stepped forward.

He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead, but his eyes burned with defiance.

"Let me try again," he said.

Su Chen's lips curled into a rare smile.

"Good," he said. "Now fight like you mean it."

The battle was just beginning.