The combat chamber remained frozen in shocked silence, everyone still processing what they'd witnessed.
Vaelor didn't spare Darius's crumpled form a single glance. Instead, he turned toward Instructor Mordain with complete composure.
"Instructor, the Martial Aptitude Examination is approaching rapidly. I'd like to request leave to train independently at home."
Instructor Mordain blinked, still somewhat dazed. "I... yes. Approved."
Vaelor nodded once and strode toward the exit.
The moment the door sealed behind him, the classroom erupted into absolute chaos.
"What the hell just happened?! How did Vaelor suddenly become so ridiculously powerful? He's supposed to be E-Rank!"
"Did he secretly consume enhancement drugs or something?"
"Are you stupid? His family can barely afford basic supplements!"
"Then explain what we just saw! His talent and vitality measurements are inferior to Darius's, yet he demolished him in seconds. It makes zero sense!"
Multiple students turned toward Cade simultaneously. "You're his best friend—you must know something!"
Cade spread his hands helplessly, his expression genuinely bewildered. "I... honestly have no idea. This is news to me too."
The Skyrail hummed smoothly along its elevated track as Vaelor gazed through the transparent window at the familiar cityscape. Thornhaven's steel spires gleamed in the afternoon light, a testament to humanity's resilience against the Eternal Abyss.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Vaelor felt truly unburdened—like invisible chains that had constrained him for seventeen years had finally shattered.
Primordial Origin talent. Mythical-tier profession. Divine-tier comprehension.
It felt surreal, like waking from a fever dream to discover you'd actually been granted superpowers.
Yet the overwhelming strength coursing through his meridians—the vitality surging with every breath—provided undeniable proof.
This wasn't a dream.
This was reality.
"Become a legendary warrior. Achieve fame and glory. Provide my family with security and prosperity."
These aspirations that once seemed impossibly distant now felt within reach—tangible goals rather than desperate fantasies.
His watch vibrated against his wrist. "Incoming message, nya~" Nyx's cheerful voice announced.
Vaelor tapped the interface. A message from his father appeared.
Thorne Draeth:Son, hope academy hasn't been too rough on you lately. How did the job awakening ceremony go?
Even through plain text, Vaelor could sense his father's anxiety. Thorne had probably been checking his communication device obsessively all day, desperate for news but trying to appear casual.
If Vaelor told the truth—that he'd manifested a Primordial Origin talent exceeding SSS-rank and awakened to a mythical profession with no recorded precedent—his father would probably suffer cardiac arrest on the spot.
Vaelor smiled slightly and composed a careful lie.
Vaelor:E-Rank origin talent. Job awakened as Shadow Reaper.
Several minutes passed before his father responded.
Thorne Draeth:E-Rank isn't ideal, but don't let it discourage you. A warrior's true strength isn't determined solely by talent classification.
The examination is coming soon. Don't slack off now. Use this final period to refine your physique and perfect your martial techniques.
I received my salary payment today and transferred some funds to your account. Use it to purchase quality beast meat for supplementation.
You're at a crucial growth stage—your vitality needs proper fuel. Don't hesitate to spend what's necessary. If you need more, just ask.
Warmth spread through Vaelor's chest. His father earned a modest salary as a Tier 1 border sentinel, yet he never hesitated to sacrifice for his son's future.
Vaelor:Understood. Thank you, Dad. Stay safe out there.
Thorne Draeth:Of course! Your old man's tougher than he looks (◠‿◠)
Vaelor laughed quietly. His father had clearly been learning internet emoticon usage again—probably from younger soldiers at the garrison.
He should probably update his mother too.
The apartment was empty when Vaelor arrived. Aunt Mira must still be at work, and his cousin would be attending her academy classes for another few hours.
Perfect. He needed privacy for what came next.
Vaelor locked his bedroom door, settled cross-legged on his bed, and mentally summoned his status panel. Time to examine the Trial Spire's completion rewards.
[Supreme Treasure Chest opened]
[Reward obtained: Support Skill - Analyze]
[Reward obtained: Rare Equipment - Crimson Vambraces]
[Reward obtained: Contracted Spirit Beast Egg x1]
Vaelor examined each acquisition carefully.
[Analyze](Active Skill)
Reveals detailed attributes of unbound equipment, creatures, and items.
Cooldown: 10 minutes
[Crimson Vambraces](Rare Equipment)
Attack Power: +15 Defense: +10
Attack Speed: +20%
[Contracted Spirit Beast Egg]
Upon hatching, yields a spirit beast permanently soul-bonded to the contractor. The beast's power scales automatically with the contractor's level advancement.
Current incubation period remaining: 50 days
"Not bad at all," Vaelor murmured with satisfaction as he equipped the vambraces. The crimson metal bands materialized around his forearms, adjusting perfectly to his proportions.
Rare-tier equipment typically sold for over a million currency on the open market. The Analyze skill was equally valuable—normally only professional Appraisers could learn identification techniques, and changed-profession warriors frequently paid substantial fees for their services. Appraisers were consistently in high demand.
As for the spirit beast egg, he transferred it to his system inventory where it would incubate passively. Whatever emerged might prove useful.
Vaelor's mind turned to strategic planning. What were his priorities now?
Option One: Hunt Abyssal Spawn to gain experience and level up rapidly. Combat would also refine his techniques and accumulate practical battle experience. However, entering Abyssal Rifts or dimensional dungeons required minimum Tier 1 Warrior status—a legal restriction he couldn't bypass.
Option Two: Train independently, enhancing vitality through supplements and rigorous exercise. A slower but steady path to strength.
"Either way, I need to reach Tier 1 Warrior classification first," Vaelor concluded.
"But conventional training is painfully slow."
"Purchasing genetic enhancement serums would accelerate the process, but..." He grimaced. Those drugs cost a fortune—far beyond his current resources.
Vaelor sat in contemplation, arms crossed, brow furrowed—
Then his eyes suddenly widened with realization.
Of course!
Cultivation methods!
The alternative path to power beyond simple monster hunting and leveling. Every warrior knew the fundamental trinity: Body Forging Methods, Breathing Methods, and Visualization Methods!
These three disciplines represented the complete cultivation of body, vitality, and spirit. Only by continuously pushing past limitations in all three areas could one achieve genuine life-level evolution!
Countless Body Forging Methods circulated on the commercial market. Every private martial gymnasium advertised their signature techniques, available to anyone willing to pay tuition fees. Most were relatively low-grade but functional.
Breathing Methods for vitality cultivation and Visualization Methods for spiritual refinement commanded much higher prices. Advanced versions rarely appeared for sale, typically reserved as family or organizational secrets.
The academy had provided all students with foundational techniques: the Flowing Stream Breathing Method for vitality cultivation and the Mountain Stone Body Forging Method for physical refinement. Plus the basic martial arts forms, naturally.
Foundation-level techniques weren't inherently inferior—they represented accessibility. Simple to understand, minimal restrictions, low difficulty threshold, suitable for the widest possible population. Students could always transition to advanced methods after achieving warrior status.
"I can't afford premium techniques," Vaelor mused, "but my Absolute Insight comprehended basic martial arts to perfect mastery in mere moments..."
His pulse quickened with excitement.
"What if I applied the same principle to the foundational Breathing Method and Body Forging Method? Could I use Absolute Insight to analyze their core principles and create optimized versions perfectly suited to my physiology?"
The more he considered the possibility, the more viable it seemed.
Why not try?
Vaelor took several deep, centering breaths. He reclined on his bed, gaze fixed on the ceiling, and allowed his consciousness to enter a meditative state.
His brown-black pupils gradually shifted, color bleeding away until they shone with prismatic rainbow radiance.
[Ding! Absolute Insight activated - analyzing Body Forging principles]
[Mountain Stone Body Forging Method proficiency +100]
[Mountain Stone Body Forging Method proficiency +100]
[Mountain Stone Body Forging Method proficiency +100]
...
[Ding! Mountain Stone Body Forging Method advanced to Minor Mastery!]
...
[Ding! Mountain Stone Body Forging Method advanced to Major Mastery!]
...
[Ding! Mountain Stone Body Forging Method achieved Perfect Mastery!]
From initial comprehension to absolute perfection—less than three minutes elapsed!
But Vaelor's enhanced cognition didn't stop there. His mind continued processing, deconstructing, analyzing fundamental truths...
[Body Forging principle comprehension deepening...]
[Body Forging principle comprehension deepening...]
[Essence of physical cultivation comprehended - initiating original technique creation]
[Custom Body Forging Method development: 1%]
[Custom Body Forging Method development: 2%]
[Custom Body Forging Method development: 5%]
Hours passed in what felt like minutes. Vaelor's consciousness remained completely immersed in the intricate mental architecture of cultivation theory. Outside his window, afternoon light gradually faded to dusk, then deepened into night.
[Analysis complete - total elapsed time: 6 hours, 13 minutes]
[Mountain Stone Body Forging Method analyzed]
[Flowing Stream Breathing Method analyzed]
[Fundamental principles synthesized and optimized]
[Creation successful: SSS-Grade Body Forging Method - Immortal Titan Foundation]
The system notification echoed through Vaelor's exhausted mind.
"Finally..." he whispered hoarsely. "It's done."
The rainbow luminescence faded from his eyes as mental and physical exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave. His enhanced cognition had been operating at maximum capacity for over six hours—even his transformed body had limits.
His eyes slid closed, and consciousness fled immediately.
Late that night, Aunt Mira dragged herself through the apartment entrance, shoulders sagging with fatigue. She carried several bags of groceries despite the late hour.
"I'm home," she announced to the quiet space, voice rough with exhaustion.
"The hospital was absolutely swamped today. Too many emergency cases..." She set the groceries on the kitchen counter and glanced around. "Vaelor? You here?"
Silence answered her.
Mira walked quietly down the hall and eased Vaelor's door open just enough to peek inside. Her nephew lay sprawled across his bed, fully clothed, clearly having collapsed from exhaustion.
She smiled softly and closed the door with barely a whisper of sound.
In the kitchen, she tied on her apron and began preparing a proper meal. The boy would be ravenous when he woke.
The apartment door opened again perhaps an hour later.
"We're back!" A cheerful female voice announced the arrival.
A pretty girl with a high ponytail bounced into the living space—Vaelor's younger cousin, Lyanna.
"Mom! Is Vaelor home? How did his awakening ceremony go?!"
"Shh!" Mira pressed a finger to her lips. "Keep your voice down. He's sleeping—must have pushed himself too hard training. Ask him tomorrow."
Lyanna deflated slightly but nodded, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Do you think he awakened something good?"
Mira's expression turned thoughtful as she stirred the pot on the stove. "I suppose we'll find out tomorrow. But whatever happened, we'll support him regardless."
What neither woman knew was that the sleeping young man in the next room had achieved something that would eventually shake the foundations of their entire world.
For now, though, Vaelor Draeth simply needed rest.
Tomorrow, the real training would begin.