The hallway outside Combat Theory filled quickly as students poured into the corridors between classes. Voices overlapped, lockers slammed, and boots echoed against the metal flooring.
Soren checked the schedule on the wall display.
Applied Aetherion Cultivation
He followed the stream of second-year students down the corridor toward one of the academy's cultivation chambers.
The room was large and open, covered with circular training mats arranged in neat rows. Unlike the sparring arenas, this space was quiet and controlled. Cultivation required concentration.
Instructor Halren stood at the front of the room with his hands folded behind his back.
"Find your positions," he said calmly.
Students spread out across the circles.
Soren sat cross-legged on one of the mats and rested his hands lightly on his knees.
Cultivation classes had always been peaceful compared to the rest of the academy. There was no shouting, no competition, just controlled breathing and steady focus.
As he closed his eyes, Soren's thoughts drifted to the familiar theory behind the practice.
Aetherion.
The energy that every human martial artist relied on.
Unlike Immortal Life Source, which was divine energy tied to cosmic law, Aetherion was natural. It existed in the air, the ground, and inside every living body.
Through cultivation, fighters absorbed that energy and refined it inside themselves.
Over time it built a reservoir inside the body known as the Aetherion Core.
The stronger that core became, the more energy a fighter could circulate through their Aether Channels, strengthening muscles, reflexes, and endurance.
It was the foundation of every martial rank.
Soren already knew the structure by heart.
Awakened.
Forged.
Ascendant.
Dominion.
Sovereign.
Mythic.
Awakened fighters had just begun cultivating Aetherion. They could reinforce their bodies and perform basic techniques.
Forged fighters had denser cores and much stronger bodies.
Ascendant fighters stepped into the realm of true superhuman capability.
Beyond that, very few people in the world had ever reached the higher ranks.
Instructor Halren's voice drifted through the room.
"Begin cultivation."
Soren inhaled slowly.
Then began circulating energy through his channels using the Twin Pulse Method.
Two streams of energy moved through his body at once, spiraling along different pathways before converging in his core.
Warmth gathered in his chest.
Ambient Aetherion drifted into his body like invisible mist.
Suddenly the system flickered to life.
---
[Energy Detected]
Aetherion energy entering the body.
Unknown energy system identified.
Would you like the system to track Aetherion cultivation progress?
YES / NO
---
Soren selected YES.
Another panel appeared.
---
Aetherion Cultivation Tracking Enabled
Previous cultivation detected.
Current Core Capacity: 47 Units
Current Aetherion Stored: 42 Units
Martial Rank: Awakened — Initiate
---
That confirmed what he already knew.
He had been cultivating for two years before his awakening. The system simply hadn't detected it until now.
Soren returned to his breathing.
Inhale.
Circulate.
Refine.
The two streams of energy spiraled smoothly through his channels before settling inside the core.
Twenty minutes later the instructor clapped.
"Stop cultivation."
Students slowly opened their eyes.
The system updated briefly.
---
Cultivation Session Complete
Aetherion Refined: +2 Units
---
Class ended shortly afterward.
Soren stepped back into the busy hallway and began walking toward the cafeteria for lunch.
Students moved in clusters around him.
Then someone slammed into his shoulder.
Soren stopped.
The student turned around with a smug look.
"Watch it."
Soren glanced at him calmly.
"You walked into me."
The boy crossed his arms.
"Are you talking back to me? You're just a weakling. The differnce in our ranks proves it. You should watch what you say. Or are you trying start some kind of problem?"
Students nearby slowed down, sensing trouble.
Soren activated Target Assessment.
---
Name: Garret Vane
Race: Human
Attributes
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Vitality: 10
Perception: 7
Intelligence: 6
Influence: 7
Skills:
Iron Breaker Strike — Lv2
Aether Guard — Lv2
Flow Step — Lv1
Academy Rank: 54
---
Soren's rank was 68.
Garret smirked.
"If you've got something to say, say it."
Soren shrugged.
"I don't. Why would I speak to someone weaker than me?"
Garret cracked his knuckles.
"Then let's make it interesting."
A challenge.
Students immediately began whispering.
Garret leaned closer.
"If I win, you apologize."
"And if I win?" Soren asked.
Garret grinned.
"You take my rank."
The sparring ring filled quickly with spectators.
Instructor Halren arrived moments later.
"Begin."
The system activated instantly.
---
[Combat Quest Issued]
Duel: Garret Vane
Difficulty: Moderate
Objective: Win the duel.
Rewards Pending
---
Garret attacked first.
His punch cut through the air with brutal force.
Soren sidestepped.
Garret followed immediately with another strike.
Fast.
Aggressive.
And slightly faster than Soren.
Garret's fist grazed Soren's shoulder.
---
HP: 48 / 50
---
Garret grinned.
"Too slow."
Soren's mind raced.
Garret's Agility was 9.
Even after assigning his point earlier, Soren's agility was 8.
Which meant Garret still had the speed advantage.
But speed…
Could be traded.
Soren inhaled and reached into the flow of energy inside his body.
He gathered a portion of his Aetherion.
Then activated the law that defined his existence.
Equivalent Exchange.
Inside his mind he shaped the trade.
Aetherion energy… in exchange for temporary agility.
The system responded instantly.
A silver flash appeared.
---
Exchange Initiated
Trade:
3 Aetherion Energy → Temporary Agility Boost
Duration: 20 seconds
Condition Fulfilled: Equivalent Exchange
+4 Immortal Life Source Gained
---
Power surged through his legs.
Garret lunged again.
But this time—
Soren moved first.
He slipped past the strike effortlessly.
Garret blinked.
"What—"
Soren circled him faster than before.
Another attack.
Another miss.
Garret swung wildly.
Soren dodged with ease.
Now he was faster.
Much faster.
Garret's frustration grew.
"Stand still!"
Soren stepped inside Garret's guard.
One strike to the ribs.
Garret staggered.
Another strike to the shoulder.
Garret tried to counter—
Too slow.
Soren pivoted behind him and swept his leg.
Garret crashed to the mat.
Silence filled the ring.
Instructor Halren stepped forward.
"Match over."
The system appeared again.
---
[Combat Quest Completed]
Opponent Defeated: Garret Vane
Performance Rating: High
Rewards:
+1 Skill Point
+1 Attribute Point
Ranking Updated
New Rank: 54
---
Students erupted into chatter.
Soren stepped out of the ring calmly.
The temporary boost faded as the exchange ended.
But the result remained.
Rank 54.
---
Later, inside the academy cafeteria, Soren sat down across from Kaedin with a tray of food.
Kaedin stared at him.
"…You're kidding."
"What?"
"You jumped fourteen ranks today."
Soren shrugged.
"It happened."
Kaedin leaned back in his chair.
"I leave you alone for one morning and you start climbing the rankings like a maniac."
Soren smiled faintly.
Kaedin shook his head in disbelief.
"That's insane."
"Maybe."
Kaedin leaned forward.
"Okay, but more importantly…"
His eyes lit up.
"The book."
Soren nodded.
"Four thousand credits."
Kaedin whistled.
"That's a lot."
They both sat quietly for a moment.
Then Kaedin's expression changed.
Slowly.
Into a grin.
"Oh."
Soren raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Kaedin leaned closer.
"I might know a way to get that money."
Soren waited.
Kaedin's grin widened.
"Underground fights."
Soren frowned slightly.
"Explain."
Kaedin's voice lowered.
"A while back I heard about a place that runs brawls."
"Illegal fights."
"Exactly."
Kaedin tapped the table.
"People bet on them."
"And the fighters get paid."
Soren considered the idea.
Fast money.
Real fights.
More exchanges.
More ILS.
And possibly more rankings.
Kaedin leaned back.
"So…"
He pointed at Soren.
"You in?"
Soren thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Let's find out where they are."