CHAPTER 47: GOING BEYOND A SECOND

Chapter 47: Going Beyond a Second

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Dawn had just begun to creep in, casting a soft, yellow light over the academy grounds. Arios woke with a start, a familiar warmth on either side of him. He opened his eyes and was met with the sight of Lucy and Liza, both of them fast asleep, their bare naked bodies relaxed on his bed. A simple, comfortable blush crept onto his cheeks. This was about to become a routine, a strange but not unwelcome part of his new life. He gently slid out from under the covers, careful not to disturb them.

He quickly put on his school uniform: a crisp white shirt, a black tie, a navy blue blazer, and a matching pair of trousers. He checked his school-issued tablet. The time was 6:30 am. He had to be quick. He quietly and quickly slipped out of his dorm room, making his way toward his chosen training spot. The academy was eerily silent at this hour, a stark contrast to the lively chaos of the day.

Arios made his way to the bridge that connected the two main sections of the academy buildings. The bridge was a masterpiece of magical architecture, a soaring stone archway suspended over a deep ravine. He had scouted the area since early last week, and the space beneath the bridge was perfect. It was a secluded and rarely visited spot, hidden from prying eyes. The stone arches and buttresses provided perfect cover, and the rushing wind below was a great natural sound to mask his movements.

He materialized the Azurine Blade from his system, its dark navy-blue blade shimmering into existence in his hand. The blade was a short dagger, curved at its left edge, with ancient runes glowing faintly along its surface and a deep red hilt. He had to master its ability to instantly teleport, or ’blink’, a short distance. He closed his eyes and focused, channeling a small amount of his refined mana from his uncondensed core into his hand and into the hilt of the blade. The moment his mana touched the dagger, a low hum resonated through the hilt, and the runes on the blade began to glow a brilliant, shimmering azure.

He took a deep breath, focusing his will, and instinctively activated Flash Step, his body blurring into a faint azure light. He reappeared a few feet to his left, but the movement was rough and unrefined. The activation took a full second, a lifetime in combat. He shook his head in disappointment, his goal was to infuse mana into the blade’s runes and activate Flash Step in less than a second, an impossible feat for most cultivators in his realm. He didn’t want people to know that the skill came from a sword treasure, which definitely wouldn’t be allowed on academy grounds, since it wasn’t issued by the school’s Treasure Hall.

He trained relentlessly, attempting the same action over and over again. He would materialize the blade, then channel mana and activate the runes, and then blink. But each time, the process felt clunky and slow. He couldn’t get the timing right. His mind was faster than his body, and his body was faster than the mana flowing from his core. The lack of established spirit veins was a major hurdle. He couldn’t circulate mana smoothly throughout his body; he had to force it.

He tried a different approach. He would channel mana into his free hand, holding it like a primed vessel. Then, he would materialize the blade with his other hand. The idea was to create a direct link, a seamless transfer of mana that would activate the runes the moment the blade appeared. He tried it, but the mana in his hand dissipated before he could materialize the blade. Frustration quickly mounted, and sweat began drip down his face, he was clearly exhausted.

He took a break, sitting on a rock under the bridge, his chest heaving. He had to get this right. The combat test was just a few hours away. His Seven Winged Physique gave him a boost to his agility, a trait that made this goal even remotely possible— a feat someone at his cultivation base wouldn’t dare think of trying, but it wasn’t enough. He had to find a way to bridge the gap between his mana and the blade.

He closed his eyes, visualizing the mana flow. He imagined a stream, a river, flowing from his uncondensed core, down his arm, and pooling in his palm. He held that concentration, feeling the heat of the mana in his hand. Then, with a fierce focus, he materialized the Azurine Blade directly into that hand. The mana surged into the dagger at the exact same moment it appeared. The runes lit up, and he activated Flash Step.

His body blurred, but it was still too slow. The whole process took almost a second. He was making progress, but he was not there yet.

He tried again. And again. And again. Each time, he pushed his mental and physical limits. He wasn’t just training; he was forcing his body to adapt, to bend to his will. His hands shook with exertion, and his vision blurred from fatigue. The sun was rising higher in the sky, a clear indication that time was running out.

He took one last deep breath, pushing every ounce of focus he had into the action. Mana flowed, the blade materialized, the runes glowed, and he blinked. The movement was instant, a seamless transition from one point to another. He hadn’t just moved; he had jumped, a perfect, instantaneous jump that was a fraction of a second faster than his previous attempts. He had done it, he had perfected the trick.

A wave of euphoria washed over him. He had achieved it. If he had a bucket list, this would have been at the top. He had taken that unique ability and made it his own, a silent, deadly weapon that no one would see coming.

Then’

A soft female voice whispered from behind him, startling him, "How did you do that?"

He quickly turned, his body suddenly tensing, the Azurine Blade still shimmering in his hand.