I stretched my body slowly, feeling the tightness in my muscles ease bit by bit. There was no time to waste. My mind was already working, piecing together a plan. It wouldn't be long before I was officially transferred to the Academy. A few months, at most.
Despite the memories imprinted in this body, I'd never truly wanted to attend the Academy. Not really. That desire had belonged to the boy who once lived in this flesh, not me. I had my own methods of becoming stronger—ways that had nothing to do with formal education or hollow prestige.
Still, upon reconsideration, perhaps the Academy wasn't entirely useless. It could be the perfect cover, a safe haven where I could secretly grow stronger without drawing unnecessary attention. If fortune favored me, I might even be able to live a somewhat normal life—just once.
But that time had not yet come.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock, followed by the sound of a voice—gentle, firm, and unmistakably hers.
"Sophia."
She opened the door with silent elegance, gesturing for me to follow her without a word.
The mansion was vast, filled with lavish halls and intricate marble designs, but what stood out most were the people—servants scattered throughout the estate, their hushed whispers trailing behind us as we walked. I could feel their eyes, filled with curiosity and thinly veiled disdain.
I no longer wore the arrogant, smug expression that once begged to be punched. No. That version of me was dead and buried. In his place was someone new—calmer, colder, and indifferent to their judgments. I bore no hatred toward them. They were simply pieces on the board.
The halls were quiet save for the murmur of footsteps and whispers. I gazed outside the large windows and felt a faint smile tug at my lips. The scenery was far from what I remembered—vivid green trees swaying in the breeze, flowers blooming with vibrant color, and sunlight filtering through the leaves. Peaceful. For the first time in centuries, I allowed myself to breathe in the serenity.
Eventually, we arrived at a heavy set of doors. Sophia pushed them open and led me into a grand study, where the air grew thick with authority and power. Seated at the center was my father—Austin, Head of the Ashton family.
He radiated strength. His beard was long and white, his hair equally so, flowing past his shoulders like a lion's mane. His aura pressed down on me like a mountain, a 17-Star Knight whose very presence demanded submission. If I still had my former power, I'd see him as nothing more than an ant. But now… I needed to tread carefully.
I knelt before him, unshaken by the pressure he deliberately exerted, choosing to wait for him to speak.
"You have two choices," he said, his voice booming with authority that left no room for argument. "Leave the family… or join the Academy—and never set foot in the Ashton estate again."
His words were cold, absolute. My heart remained equally frigid. I didn't care for this family, not anymore. I replied with a calm, indifferent tone.
"I will go to the Academy, Father," I whispered.
As I glanced toward Sophia, I was surprised to see that she hadn't flinched in the face of my father's suffocating aura. She stood still, composed—eyes sharp and unreadable. There was strength in her, more than I'd realized.
My father scoffed and waved his hand, dismissing me without another word.
I stood, posture unwavering, the chill in my expression not going unnoticed. Sophia's gaze lingered longer than before. She had sensed the shift in me. In the past, I would have cowered before my father—trembled under his gaze. Not anymore.
He hadn't noticed the difference. But she had.
I dismissed her with a simple gesture. "Don't follow me," I said.
And surprisingly, she obeyed. Or so it seemed.
I was well aware she hadn't truly left. Her gaze still lingered, her presence subtle but watchful. She was trying to discern the truth—had I truly changed?
I didn't care. I returned to my chambers, shut the door, and sank to the ground in a lotus position. The room fell into silence as I turned my attention inward.
My body—this mortal shell—was in complete disarray. The network of nerves around my core was tangled, broken in places, and barely functional.
"This is… troublesome," I muttered to myself.
But I wasn't helpless.
I had once been a god. Knowledge beyond mortal comprehension coursed through my mind. I possessed countless skills—techniques from an era long lost to time. And right now, I needed to repair every part of this broken vessel. If I attempted to use mana or cast even the simplest spell in this state, I risked permanent damage—or worse, death.
I grit my teeth and began the painful process of realignment.
Two hours passed. Agonizing, excruciating hours. But finally, progress.
The tangled nerves were untangled, slowly reconnected one by one. The broken ones, however, remained beyond easy repair. Still, it was a start.
Outside, Sophia continued to observe me. A silent stalker in the shadows. When she checked on me earlier, she had seen the state of my body—shocked by its condition. Now she remained ever vigilant, curiosity turning to suspicion.
Eventually, she knocked on the door. It was time for my evening meal.
Exhausted, I forced myself up, stretched my aching limbs, and threw a weak punch into the air. It drained what little strength I had left.
I opened the door. She stood there with the tray, expression unchanged. I said nothing—just took the food and shut the door without a word.
Let her think what she would. As long as she posed no threat, I didn't care.
I ate slowly, methodically. My body was gradually recovering. But I had to be cautious. Forcing rapid progress without a stable foundation would be a mistake. I'd been down that road before—pushing my body too far, too fast, only to hit a wall that even gods could not break through.
Among my memories was a technique—a Legendary Tier body-refinement art known as Golden Body. It had twelve layers, each more difficult than the last. But once completed, it could reshape the very limits of one's physical form.
There were many tiers of skills and spells in this world:
Bronze Tier
Silver Tier
Golden Tier
Diamond Tier
Legendary Tier
Ancient Tier
Each rank brought power beyond measure. I had over thirty Ancient Tier skills stored in my mind, but my body—this body—was nowhere near ready to handle them. For now, I would start small.
Golden Body would be my foundation.
But there was a catch—it required immense nourishment. I would need more food. A lot more.
I would have to ask Sophia.