--
'Is this what it feels like to be a gym rat? I feel like I could bench press my whole house! '
In his previous life, Ren used to mock gym rats, thinking that they're sacrificing most of the brain cells in exchange for muscle mass and well-defined abs. In truth, he was just envious of their great physique because his depressed ass won't let him do anything that requires actual commitment.
So, feeling so strong right now, and seeing the immediate changes in his body...the irony truly wasn't lost on him.
Ren felt like a casual punch of his could shatter a large rock, and it wouldn't even hurt him. His jumps had reached some impressive height, and his entire body felt incredibly light. He felt like he could continue training all day long.
The most important part is the feeling of the chakra seed settling in his core. Its presence was accompanied by a comfortable warmth that flowed through his entire body. Each time it pulses, it releases wisps of chakra that nourished his whole body, and his body absorbed these like a man starved and parched for years.
Entering the Foundation Strength Stage, the 1st Stage of the Human Realm of Martial Arts, meant that Ren officially entered his rapid development period.
So long as he remains constant and works seriously hard in his training, his chakra seed will continue to grow and release pulses of chakra that will nourish his entire body. This is exactly what he needs right now.
The enhancement was pretty scattered and uneven at this stage. His body certainly wasn't picky either; it will absorb and devour the chakra that his chakra seed releases no matter whether it's neutral or charged with something else.
It's because of this that beginners have to be incredibly careful in their practice. Because whatever it is that they feed their bodies now will inevitably leave a mark on their physique. For now, the influence wouldn't show itself, but the higher they climbed the martial ladder, the more obvious this became. Any mistakes or inconsistencies will be highlighted by then and might seriously affect them moving forward.
Most people are unaware of this, especially beginners, which is weird since he clearly remembers the teachers in the prep school constantly reminding everybody to be careful to the point that they started sounding like a broken record. It's like those warnings were never taken seriously, which will become a point of regret when time comes.
However, for Ren, who knew the story intimately, there's no way he'd ignore this. Especially with his incredible talent, gifts, and advantages.
The moment he started his practice, he was already locked in. He swore to pursue perfection in every step of the way, not only because it's expected out of him, especially for his Limitless Martial Physique, but also because it's what he wanted for himself.
He won't settle for anything less.
But aside from his earnest martial arts training now, Ren also expressed interest in contributing to the clan.
The Banished Arms clan has a few businesses that kept them afloat. One of which was their medical and healing services.
The curse of the Banished Arsenal Physique limits them from wielding anything that is labeled as a 'weapon,' forcing them to basically rely on just their limbs and their body to fight.
Martial artists must fight, after all.
But on the other hand, this also made them more familiar with the human physique, which gave them enough qualifications to pursue medicine.
The clan created healing arts and sells potions as one of their livelihoods. This was one of the main reasons why they could continue to afford staying in the Central City and hold on to their meager territory.
Of course, they're not the best at it, but they're not so bad either.
Ren wanted to learn this side of the clan too so he could contribute. With his enhanced memory and intelligence, it shouldn't be too hard for him.
And Mikel, his uncle and the clan leader, heard his request. But although Alex could serve as a temporary trainer for Ren, he was not qualified to teach Ren about the clan's healing arts and medicine, simply because Alex never really learned it himself.
He thinks that the subject was boring and is more fond of bashing faces in, instead. So, he couldn't teach Ren even if he wanted to.
Yet at the same time, Mikel has too much on his hands and is simply too busy to personally tutor Ren. And Ren doesn't even have a knowledge basis to start his apprenticeship just yet. So, what Mikel did instead was send reading materials to Ren and instructed him to do a self-study for now.
Nothing crazy just yet. Just enough for Ren to familiarize himself with the human anotomy and how it should function under ordinary and healthy circumstances. This doesn't include any manuals that taught him healing arts either. Just pure foundational knowledge.
Mikel then said that after three days, he'd send an exam for Ren to take, and depending on his results, he'd start his apprenticeship sooner or later.
Ren was okay with this, even though he could finish this introductory course overnight. He doesn't mind following the schedule because he's not in a hurry either.
His priority was increasing his strength, not learning medicine. Medicine, healing arts, making potions and elixirs...these were all secondary to him. What he needs is power, and with his qualifications and gifts, he has an incredible advantage to pursue it.
Ren sounds obsessed, but if you're like him and knew the truth about this world, you'd do the same.
He wasn't preparing for the rainy days; he's doing this to survive because if he faltered, he would die. It's as simple as that.
Ren hasn't even begun enjoying this new life of his, so he's incredibly reluctant to die so soon. Sure, he dreaded being sent to this world instead of many other fantasy worlds out there, but this was his reality now.
No amount of crying or begging will change that.
**
"How was it? What's with that look on your face? He couldn't have been that bad, right?" Mikel asked his firstborn son, who now wore a wry smile as he entered his office.
Usually, Alex only wears this expression when he's disappointed. So seeing him like this gave Mikel a foreboding feeling.
"What!? No! Wait, we're talking about my cousin, right? Ren?"
"Yeah, we are. Is it because of him that you're like that? What did he do?"
"Well...yes, I'm like this because of him. But it's not what you think," Alex sighed, then he collapsed on the couch nearby and stared at the ceiling, looking as if he just lost his way.
"Ren's a freak, Dad," Alex blurted out after a bit. "He's already entered the Foundation Strength Stage."
"What!? So soon?" Mikel was shocked, and nobody could blame him.
Usually, beginner martial artists take at least a whole week before entering the 1st stage of the martial arts ladder. His nephew entering within the same day he started his official practice was, of course, incredibly shocking.
"Hah! Get this, Dad. It took me three days, three whole days, before I managed to produce a decent mix of chakra. Ren, on the other hand? Took him 15 minutes."
"What?" Mikel was speechless. He looked at his son, searching for signs of lies, deceit, or pranks, but he found nothing.
How Alex sounded so smug yet also defeated at the same time completely eluded Mikel, yet hearing this, he felt like it made a lot of sense.
After all, Alex could be considered a good talent, despite his tendencies and volatile temper, of course. But now that he witnessed his own cousin's talent, well, that would certainly shake his confidence about himself and his own talents.
"Crazy, right?" Alex laughed hollowly. "I made an excuse saying that I have something to do and would leave him to practice on his own. But in truth, I never left at all. I just hid myself and continued watching him."
"From what I've seen? You don't have to worry about Ren being reckless. Any martial arts master would be satisfied with his diligence and discipline."
"He didn't try to practice anything else other than the Basic Combat Technique. And his comprehension is seriously insane."
"He already mastered the technique to perfection by the end of his practice. Hell, he even uses it better than me now. And it's probably why he entered the Foundation Strength Stage so soon."
"His chakra volume, flow, and pulsation are all high—higher than most beginners at the same level as him."
"He's...he's really talented, smart, and diligent, Dad. He's incredible. Make sure that no one ruins those qualities in him. If he continues on like this, reaching the Inhuman Realm isn't just a chance for him; it's almost guaranteed."
Mikel remained silent about that heartfelt praise of his own son for his cousin. Alex, although young, had already experienced and learned a lot. After all, Mikel was grooming him to be the next Clan Leader.
Alex learned how to judge someone's character and talent from Mikel. And for Alex to say this much towards his cousin, it's clear that he wasn't exagerrating at all.
"He's destined for something great, Dad. Seriously."