Chapter 6 – Path of Mortal God
The colonel's estate loomed ahead, an imposing estate that reflected both, Lionheart Empire's wealth and militaristic authority.
The colonel's estate was surrounded by six-meter-high, one-meter-thick stone walls, reinforced with metal plating at key structural points, especially the corners.
The main gates, fortified with steel and lined with sharp spikes, were guarded by 4 soldiers, each armed with flintlock muskets in hand, with a short sword strapped to their left waist.
Above them, more guards patrolled the ramparts and watchtowers, armed with long rifles and scanning the surroundings with trained eyes. The Lionheart crest, a proud lion, was stitched onto every uniform, a bold symbol of authority and control.
It looked less like a home and more like a military outpost, an unspoken threat to anyone who dared to rebel.
Vector, as a gardener, passed through the gate after a routine inspection. His expression was neutral, but his mind worked ceaselessly, memorizing patrol patterns, identifying blind spots between sentries, mapping every structural crack in this estate.
His face remained calm, but his mind was alert and ready for action if they had any suspicion about him.
The estate's security was tight. But no fortress was without its cracks.
Vector passed through the estate road towards his gardener's shed.
Vector didn't sense any suspicion directed at him. Everything appeared routine—guards at their posts, workers going about their duties. No one gave him a second glance.
It seemed his cover remained intact.
He made his way straight to the gardener's shed, a small building behind the servant's wing. Inside, neatly arranged tools hung on iron hooks– shears, trowels, a pruning saw and other tools.
Grabbing what he needed, he headed toward the main garden area that bordered the colonel's private wing.
He began trimming the hedges near the Colonel's private wing, carefully trimming the excess leaves. His posture was relaxed, but his mind was alert, he wasn't here just to tend plants.
He pondered the means of obtaining the critical information that the Lionheart Empire is concealing— for which the traitor commited suicide for it.
Since his baptism by Chaos Energy, Vector's five senses had become razor-sharp. He could now hear whispers through brick walls and detect footsteps from distances far beyond the range of ordinary humans.
While trimming the hedges near the Colonel's private wing, he focused his heightened hearing on the nearby murmurs.
He hears their conversation to find an opportunity. Most conversations were mundane, servants gossiping or discussing chores, but if anything of importance reached his ears, he would quietly commit it to memory.
Then, a voice caught his attention.
It was the head butler, speaking in a low, commanding tone to one of the Colonel's personal attendants.
"The Colonel rides out tomorrow at dawn for his hunt. Make sure the guards and servants are prepared. No delays and… make sure execution is perfect."
Vector's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Colonel's hunting trips were regular, almost weekly.
Ever since the Lionheart Empire had secured control over Elaris State, the Colonel's superior, the General of Lionheart stationed in Elaris, hadn't issued any major orders or deployment plans.
Reason being that the Empire focused on consolidating its power in the state, large-scale military action seemed unlikely for now, though minor skirmishes were still expected.
With no immediate orders from above, the colonel enjoyed a rare freedom, time he chose to spend hunting wild beasts and maintaining his combat skills.
Yes, the colonel also practices martial arts, and Body Refinement. Without it, he wouldn't hold such a high-ranking position. In this world, authority within any force demands not just strategy, but real power and strength.
Being a higher ranking also means that he has his own loyal retainers.
It means that most of the staff here weren't locals. The Colonel had brought his trusted men from the Lionheart Empire itself. They spoke in quiet tones, acted with discipline, and rarely let anything slip.
That's why he will have problems infiltrating and finding the critical intel that the traitor died protecting. But now…
Fate has given him a chance… Now, Vector has an opportunity, an opening to know the movement that the Empire has planned.
The colonel's upcoming hunt meant one thing, access to restricted areas would briefly open.
It was the perfect chance to search the colonel's private wing. And if such an opportunity didn't present itself naturally… Vector intended to create one… but fate has helped him to create the chance.
He continued his duty as gardener till evening and nothing new happened.
Vector returned to his rented apartment.
…..
Later that night, Vector sat cross-legged in his small rented apartment.
He is going to practice Body Refinement technique. He had withheld the Body refining in the morning due to constraint of time… but now he has the whole night to complete the first simulation training.
The blue screen hovering before Vector as he stared at it.
He navigated through the glowing menus until he reached the Void Body Refinement Manual. Diagrams of musculature and internal flows hovered in the air, showing the stages of development.
Vector begins to study the Void Body Refinement Manual.
Vector's eyes narrowed as lines of texts and animated diagrams floated across his vision, bodies in various stances, pressure points glowing, muscle fibers flexing under heavy resistance.
"So this is the Body Refinement Manual of the Void…" he whispered. "Before any kind of energy… the foundation of everything begins here."
"It's time I begin refining my body, I can't find any more suitable refinement than this and time is also enough"
"System, Start the Body Refining: Stage One."
---
>[System Notification]
[Void Body Refinement Manual – Stage 1: Flesh Foundation]
[Mode: Manual / System Simulation]
[Requirement: Void Body Physique]
[Estimated Time (Manual): 90 days]
[Estimated Time (Simulation): 8 hours]
Note: Pain intensity remains at 70% realism. Proceed with caution.
[Would you like to proceed with System Simulation?]
[Yes / No]
---
Vector took a deep breath. Three months in the real world was too long, he didn't have that luxury.
If anyone could hear his internal thoughts, they'd probably vomit a pool of blood.
Three months? That felt like an eternity to him. What are we—snails? The same would take a normal human seven to ten years! Is he even still human?
"Yes, Begin simulation."
Just as the simulation of the Void Body Refinement Path – Stage 1: Flesh Foundation starting, a sudden notification interrupted–
---
>[System Notification]
[Alert: Host has not yet fully awakened control over Blood Energy.]
[Blood Energy is the foundational energy required to undergo Body Refinement.]
[Estimated time to learn Blood Energy Manipulation: 1 hour, (added to simulation).]
[Would You like to continue the Simulation?]
[Yes/No]
---
Vector frowned slightly, but he wasn't surprised by the notification.
"Original Vector has also awakened the Blood Energy, and is practicing Body Refining Manual 1st stage, but his body evolved."
After Vector's body was evolved by the Chaos Energy, the Blood Energy needed to be reawakened and harmonized with his new physique.
Blood energy is the foundation of Body Refinement and without awakening it no one can progress in it.
"System," he muttered, "let's continue."
---
>[System Notification]
[Acknowledged. Initiating Blood Energy Training Module.]
---
The space around him shimmered, and his body vanished from the room.
In Simulation space…
Suddenly, the world around Vector vanished, replaced by a strange empty space glowing with cold blue light.
In the void of the simulation space, he saw an endless space around him. He didn't see the boundary of space.
The system surged with Chaos Energy, pouring it directly into his body and started the process of Blood Energy awakening.
He began to feel the blood in his vessels, the subtle rhythm beneath his heartbeat, and the pulse of Blood energy that ran through every vein.
From his memories he had some initial idea what blood energy is.
He slowly started sensing the blood energy through the help of the system.
For the next hour, Vector focused entirely on sensing and guiding the energy. Slowly, his control sharpened, like a blacksmith shaping iron into a blade. He began to control the Blood Energy like it is his extension of limbs.
Vector has grasped the Blood Energy—and is now able to control the Blood Energy.
Next moment system also affirmed his learning of the Blood Energy at basic mastery.
---
>[System Notification]
[Blood Energy– Basic Mastery Acquired.]
---
With the Blood Energy control method learned… System resumed the Body Refining Manual.
What followed could only be described as hell.
His body levitated midair as invisible forces tore through him, guiding Chaos Energy and Blood Energy through every cell.
The system began its deep refining process. That's when the real pain started.
Muscle fibers tore and were rebuilt, denser, stronger.
Skin peeled layer by layer, reformed into a flexible, armor-like surface.
Tendons snapped, realigned, and were reborn as steel cords of power.
The system guided the Chaos Energy to every cell of his body, using the destruction and creation power of it every cell is refined. It feels that every refined cell contains infinite energy.
Every destruction and creation felt like being squeezed by molten iron and frozen at once.
His cardiovascular system expanded, breath capacity increased, every beat of his heart like a drum of war.
It was a war within his body—a brutal reconstruction that would have broken the minds of ordinary men.
But Vector didn't scream.
Didn't flinch.
He endured.
Vector spent 8 hours in this Hell, he endured the hellish pain of evolution, his body transformed due to this hellish body refinement.
[To be Continued…]