Year 1139, After the Fall of Virelion
Location: Imperial Martial Academy – Outer Division
The training grounds reeked of sweat, smoke, and scorn.
A sea of students sparred in synchronized combat, blades ringing, qi flaring, and voices roaring across the marble courtyard like thunder. Among them stood one boy — quiet, still, ragged.
Ashen Vale.
Dressed in patched robes and worn-out sandals, he looked more like a wandering beggar than a martial student. His black hair hung over dull gray eyes that lacked any spiritual glow. He held no weapon, carried no artifacts, and exuded no aura.
And that made him the favorite target.
"Move, dirtblood!"
A punch struck his ribs.
Ashen grunted, not dodging.
Another kick knocked him sideways.
"Still pretending you belong here?" sneered Gareth Vann, a noble son and proud Vein Opener. His golden sash glittered under the sun. "You should be polishing my boots, not training next to real martial artists."
Laughter followed.
Ashen coughed but stood. "You've said that line three days in a row. Try harder."
The courtyard paused for a moment. Gareth's smirk tightened.
"You don't even have your first vein opened," he spat. "Are you hoping your dead kingdom will rise and carry you?"
Ashen looked down at his bruised fists. They shook slightly, not from fear — but from effort.
[Body Tempering Stage: Iron Body – 87% Complete]
[Muscle Resistance Enhanced | Microtears Accelerating Healing]
The scroll inside his cloth bag — wrapped tightly in linen — pulsed faintly against his back. Only he could feel its ancient hum, like a heartbeat buried under mountains.
His grandfather's voice echoed in his head:
"When they beat you, let them. Bones break. Bones grow stronger."
"Let the pain become your teacher. The manual will only open when your body truly awakens."
Ashen got back into stance. "Again."
Gareth raised a brow. "What?"
Ashen's eyes lifted — calm, unreadable.
"I said hit me again."
Gareth roared and charged, lightning qi wrapping around his fist. "You asked for it—!"
The moment the punch came, Ashen didn't move.
Crack.
His forearm took the full blow, absorbing the force. Bone cracked — but didn't break. His knees buckled slightly. But he didn't fall.
[Iron Body Completion: 100%]
[UNLOCK CONDITION MET]
Page 1 of the Worldbreaker Manual has been revealed...
Time slowed.
The linen bag on his back ignited in a pale red glow. A page inside the manual burned open — veins of light crawling across it like roots beneath skin. His spine went stiff. Heat surged into his chest, then down his arms.
He heard it again — the same voice from ten years ago.
"You did not fall. So now, rise."
Bone-Hardening Stance — UNLOCKED
"Let the marrow burn. Let the body harden. Stand against the impossible."
Ashen's arm suddenly felt… dense.
His cracked bone no longer ached. It glowed faintly under his skin.
Gareth stepped back. "Wh-What the hell—?"
Ashen exhaled slowly.
Then stepped forward.
Boom.
His punch wasn't fast. It wasn't flashy. But when it connected with Gareth's chest, the sound echoed like a gong. The noble boy flew backward, crashing through a stone bench.
Silence consumed the courtyard.
Even the instructors looked up from their high tower.
Ashen lowered his fist, rubbing his knuckles, now lightly steaming.
"I'm done pretending."