Forty-five minutes later…
Sweat dripped from Dylan’s chin onto the reinforced floor, his breathing growing noticeably heavier.
I never thought body tempering in the gravity chamber would be this agonizing, he thought, Mana surged through his meridians in searing waves, each pulse dragging fresh agony through his veins, the pain compounding with every passing second until it became almost impossible to bear.
Once, Dylan had believed climbing the peaks of Ashveil Summit was the greatest physical ordeal he could endure.
Every step had tested his stamina, his determination, and his will to keep moving.
He had survived its treacherous forests and towering cliffs, convincing himself he understood hardship.
Now, that experience seemed almost merciful.
He who had once known death now trembled before it once more.
The crushing force amplified by the gravity pressed down on his body while torrents of mana surged through his mana meridians that were never meant to withstand such strain.
External pressure and internal refinement collided pushing his body past it’s natural limits.
A sharp crack echoed from somewhere deep within his body.
Crack!
Then another, sharper this time.
Crack!!
“Ahk…” The sound tore from his throat before he could stop it, teeth clenching down hard, refusing to let it become a scream.
Pain exploded through his limbs.
His jaw clenched instinctively, so tight his teeth sank into his own tongue before he even registered the pain.
Blood bloomed across his tongue, metallic and warm, mixing with the sweat pooling at the corner of his mouth.
A moment later, both dripped together onto the reinforced floor, dark red staining the pale metal beneath him.
This is insane, he thought, vision blurring at the edges, the world tilting and swimming as if the chamber itself was collapsing inward.
How is anyone supposed to survive this?
I fucking died a few weeks ago.
The thought tore through his mind like a blade, cutting through the white-hot agony consuming his flesh, his bones, every fiber of him.
Hell no.
His jaw clenched, blood and spit dripping from his chin.
I didn’t transmigrate just to die a second time.
Outside the Gravity Chamber, Professor Diana Everhart had been silently observing him for the past forty-five minutes.
One of her brows rose ever so slightly.
“…Impressive.” She muttered, impressed by his grit and determination.
When she had first seen Dylan sitting cross-legged in meditation, she had assumed he would abandon Body Tempering within ten minutes.
Most first-years did.
Even if Dylan had abandoned the technique after the first ten minutes, Diana’s opinion of him would have remained favorable.
The fact that a first-year had chosen to practice Body Tempering on his very first day already set him apart from the vast majority of new students.
Most dismissed it as tedious or unnecessary, believing they could grow stronger simply by chasing more powerful techniques.
Very few understood that every great Awakener was built upon an unshakable foundation.
Body Tempering was far from a harmless introductory exercise, it wasn’t fast, it wasn’t painless.
It was slow, brutal, and merciless.
It was indispensable and Dylan had recognized that from the very beginning.
It was one of the most demanding cultivation techniques in existence, requiring absolute control over one’s mana while every cycle relentlessly refined the body from within.
A single mistake could damage the meridians, rupture muscles, or fracture bones.
Even veteran Awakeners approached it with caution.
Yet Dylan Harrow had endured for forty-five minutes inside a Gravity Chamber, and he still refused to stop.
“…He’s better than I expected,” Diana murmured quietly.
Of course, he was nowhere near the academy’s elite.
Students like Leonard Caesar, Megha Roy, Kalen Barthalemou, and Clarice Ventrova had been raised by influential Awakener families, receiving years of specialized training long before setting foot inside Nexus Academy.
And then there was Ethan Walker.
A once-in-a-generation genius.
Despite growing up as an orphan with no prestigious family to guide him, his natural talent eclipsed every other freshman by an overwhelming margin.
Comparing Dylan to Ethan would be like comparing an ant to a bahamut.
Even so…
Dylan Harrow had proven to be a far more interesting student than she had initially assumed.
With a flick of her wrist, Diana activated her Inventory Bracelet.
A translucent blue screen materialized before her, displaying the student’s academy profile.
Dylan Harrow
Age: 17
Current Rank: 886 / 1500
Potential: C-Rank
Recommended by: Father Samuel Francis Athanasius.
Background: Orphaned at a young age.
His parents are deceased.
Abandoned outside a missionary orphanage at the age of four, where he was subsequently taken in and raised.
Left the orphanage upon turning fifteen.
Admitted to Nexus Academy through a recommendation from Father Samuel Francis Athanasius, an SS-Rank Awakener of the Healer Path who has attained the Saint Realm and serves as the Father of the Leviticus Church.
She clicked her tongue softly.
“…If only his Potential were a little higher.” Her gaze lingered on Dylan’s profile for a moment longer.
In this world, Potential determined almost everything.
Talent could be nurtured.
Skill could be honed.
Experience could be earned.
But Potential…
Potential set the ceiling that no amount of effort alone could overcome.
If Dylan Harrow had been born with greater Potential, Diana had little doubt he would have become one of humanity’s finest Awakeners.
His discipline and willingness to build a proper foundation were qualities she valued far more than flashy talent.
Even so a C-Rank Potential was far from worthless.
If he continued to work hard, he could still become a capable Awakener, perhaps even earn a place within the Bureau of Authority, protecting humanity in his own way.
“…That wouldn’t be such a bad future,” Diana thought, her expression softening ever so slightly.
Diana’s gaze paused on the final line of his profile.
Recommended by: Father Samuel Francis Athanasius.
Her sapphire-blue eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
“…Father Samuel?”
That was unexpected.
Few names carried as much weight within humanity as his.
An SS-Rank Awakener who walked the Path of Healing, he had saved countless lives throughout his career.
Having reached the Peak Saint Realm in his chosen Path, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest healers in human history.
He had become the Father of the Leviticus Church four years ago.
The reason Diana was so surprised by the recommendation was simple.
Father Athanasius was not a man who handed them out lightly.
His endorsement carried immense weight, and he reserved it for only the rarest of individuals.
Every recommendation bearing his signature had been personally written.
Every student he endorsed had first earned his trust.
“…Interesting.”
Diana quietly reread the profile from the beginning.
An orphan.
Recommended by Father Samuel himself.
Yet ranked only 886th among this year’s applicants.
The pieces didn’t seem to fit together.
Either Father Samuel had seen something the academy’s entrance examinations had failed to measure…
Or there was another reason entirely.
Her gaze drifted back toward Dylan’s Gravity Chamber.
The young man remained seated, silently enduring the relentless pain of Body Tempering without complaint.
“…Perhaps,” she murmured to herself, “there’s more to Dylan Harrow than his file suggests.” she decided to keep a closer eye on him.
Inside the individual Gravity Chamber…
The mana flowing through Dylan’s meridians suddenly surged out of control.
A violent pulse erupted from his Mana Core, flooding every meridian with overwhelming force.
The circulating mana began compressing at an alarming rate, growing denser and purer with each passing heartbeat.
Soon, brilliant strands of azure light seeped from his body, swirling around him like a luminous cocoon before completely engulfing him.
Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, mixing with his saliva as it stained the reinforced floor beneath him.
Yet Dylan never cried out.
Somewhere amidst the relentless agony…
He had accepted it.
Then his eyes snapped open.
“Kh…!”
A violent coughing fit overtook him.
“Cough…! Cough! Cough!”
Dark, viscous blood spilled from his mouth, splattering across the floor.
It wasn’t ordinary blood — it was impure blood.
Mixed within it were the impurities his body had forcibly expelled during the tempering process the accumulated toxins and imperfections that had been driven out as mana relentlessly refined his flesh, bones, and meridians.
“My… body’s purging its impurities…?” Dylan said, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, breathing heavily.
His throat burned, and his chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, but he could already feel the difference.
Despite the pain something had changed.
His body felt lighter.
His breathing smoother.
Every movement seemed more natural than before and then he felt it.
A warm current coursed through his body, weaving through his muscles, bones, and every fiber of his being.
It wasn’t mana.
Mana flowed through his meridians, confined to invisible pathways within his body.
This force was different.
It spread naturally through his flesh, strengthening it from within, as though every breath carried newfound power.
It was faint little more than a flicker but there was no mistaking what he was feeling.
Aura…
A smile rose on his face as he felt the unmistakable difference in his body.
Then a faint, translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations]
[You have awakened F-Rank Aura.]
He whispered, “Status.”
A full status window appeared before him.
Name: Dylan Harrow
Age: 17
Race: Human
Awakener Rank: F-Rank
Potential: C-Rank
Path: Swordsmanship
Mastery Realm: Initiate
Titles: None
Parameters
Strength: F+
Agility: D-
Stamina: E+
Intelligence: E-
Spirit: F+
Mana Capacity: G+
Mana Circulation: F+
Mana Meridians: E+
Luck: G-
Charisma: D+
Innate Ability
[Refraction]
Remaining Charges: 3 / 3
Cooldown: Charges replenish every 24 hours.
Unique Skill
[Plagiarize Lv.1]
Skill Slots: 1 / 3
Copied Skills:
• Camouflage Lv.1 (E-Rank)
Aura
Status: F-Rank (Awakened)
Bloodline: None
Magic: None
Armament
Rain (Jian Sword)
Type: Growth-Type Armament
Status: Bonded
Combat Scripture:
Nine Bends Flowing River Sword Art
– Scripture Mastery: Early Stage
A soft laugh escaped Dylan’s lips.
“…Finally.”
For the first time since arriving in this world…
His efforts had produced visible results.
The parameters that had stubbornly refused to budge had finally begun to rise.
He wiped the blood and sweat from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand before glancing at the dark stains scattered across the reinforced floor.
“…Thanks, Body Tempering,” he muttered with a tired smile.
“I hate you… but thanks.”
The pain had been unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Every second had felt as though his body was being torn apart from the inside.
Yet, it had been worth it.
Taking a slow breath, Dylan raised his right hand.
A faint current stirred around his clenched fist.
Invisible at first…
Then wisps of mana began circling around his knuckles, spiraling gently as Aura gathered beneath his skin.
It wasn’t powerful, nor was it stable, but it was undeniably real.
A grin spread across his face.
“So this is Aura…”
The sensation was completely different from mana.
Mana flowed through his meridians.
Aura was born from the body itself.
He slowly unclenched his fist, watching the wind disperse into the air before lowering his hand.
“…One step closer.”
His gaze shifted toward the translucent status window floating before him.
Every improvement was small.
Every increase insignificant on its own.
Yet together they represented the first tangible proof that he was moving forward.
Then his eyes settled on a single line.
Awakener Rank: F-Rank
The smile on his face faded ever so slightly.
“…Still F-Rank.”
He clicked his tongue before shaking his head.
“…Only a matter of time.”
His eyes drifted over his parameters once more.
Strength had already reached the upper limits of F-Rank.
His agility had entered D-Rank territory.
His stamina, meridians, circulation, and spirit had all improved considerably.
The foundation was there all that remained was the final push.
“Be patient,” Dylan murmured to himself.
“As patient as possible.”
He closed the status window with a quiet wave of his hand.
Although the System still recognized him as an F-Rank Awakener, Dylan had already reached the upper limits of the rank.
With his current foundation, breaking into E-Rank was only a matter of time.
Leaning back against the chamber wall, Dylan let out a long, exhausted breath.
He had wanted to experience Aura ever since arriving in this world.
Now that he had finally awakened it he had no intention of using it.
Not yet.
His body was still trembling from the effects of Body Tempering.
Every muscle ached, his meridians still burned, and the lingering pain hadn’t completely subsided.
Pushing Aura in his current condition would only place unnecessary strain on a body that had already reached its limit.
“…Later,” he murmured.
Even so, he couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Aura was indispensable.
Unlike mana, which flowed through the meridians to cast techniques and magic, Aura was the embodiment of physical prowess itself.
It could reinforce the body, dramatically increasing strength, speed, and durability.
It could be woven around weapons to enhance their cutting power and resilience.
Skilled Awakeners could even release it as pressure alone, intimidating weaker opponents before a battle had even begun.
Its versatility was precisely why every combat-oriented Awakener pursued it.
“…Worth every second of that torture.”
Dylan slowly closed his eyes.
There was another reason he wasn’t about to experiment with it.
Professor Diana was still outside.
He couldn’t see her.
The selectively translucent walls made sure of that.
Yet he knew she hadn’t left.
Not because he possessed some extraordinary perception but because he knew Diana Everhart better than anyone.
He had written her.
After witnessing someone attempt Body Tempering on their very first practical lesson, there was no chance she would simply walk away before seeing the outcome.
More importantly…
She wasn’t bothering to conceal herself completely.
A faint thread of Aura lingered outside the chamber.
Not enough to overwhelm.
Not enough to threaten.
Just enough to quietly remind the student inside that an instructor was watching.
“…Still scary,” Dylan muttered.
Outside the Gravity Chamber…
Diana Everhart remained standing before Dylan’s chamber, her sapphire-blue eyes fixed upon the young man inside.
“…He actually did it.” There was a trace of genuine surprise in her voice, “He awakened Aura.”
Awakening Aura during one’s first serious attempt was uncommon, but by no means unheard of.
She herself had done so.
Many exceptional Awakeners throughout history had achieved the same feat.
That wasn’t what surprised her.
What astonished her was the amount of time it had taken.
Less than an hour.
On his very first day.
Inside a Gravity Chamber.
After choosing one of the most demanding foundation techniques an Awakener could practice.
Her gaze drifted toward the student profile still hovering above her bracelet.
Recommended by: Father Samuel Francis Athanasius.
“…Perhaps this was what Father Samuel saw.”
The old saint had spent decades guiding people.
If someone of his stature had personally recommended Dylan Harrow…
Perhaps his potential couldn’t be measured by numbers alone.
Diana dismissed the holographic profile with a flick of her finger.
“…Interesting.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“I’ll be watching your progress, Dylan Harrow.”
Inside the Gravity Chamber, Dylan slowly lay back against the reinforced floor.
Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
A tired smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“…Worth it.”
His eyelids grew heavier with each passing second until, unable to fight the exhaustion any longer, they finally drifted shut.
Clarification: In Chapter 20, I forgot to clarify Dylan’s Path and Mastery Realm when I showed his Status Window.
I’ve corrected that now and updated his current Path and Mastery Realm in Chapter 21.