Two years passed in the academy like flowing water.
When I first arrived, I was completely lost—wandering through unfamiliar paths, asking directions for everything: the library, the cafeteria, even the teachers' dormitories. Every step felt uncertain, like I didn't belong.
Now… I could walk the entire academy with my eyes closed.
Every path, every corner, every training ground—I knew them like the back of my hand.
Over these two years, I didn't just memorize routes—I built a foundation.
I focused my studies on gentle-type spirit beasts. Most students chased aggressive, high-attack beasts, dreaming of explosive power. But I chose differently.
Because I understood something early—
My Dimensional Door wasn't meant for brute force.
It was a spirit of space… control… and survival.
With it, I could travel between worlds, avoid danger, and cultivate in ways others couldn't even imagine. I didn't need reckless strength—I needed stability.
Peaceful growth.
Careful planning.
And absolute control.
After two years of steady cultivation, my spirit power finally reached Rank 10.
The threshold of a true Spirit Master.
But I knew one thing clearly—
my spirit might be special, but my body was still weak.
So while others rested, I pushed further.
I requested extra physical training from the teachers, enduring grueling routines that most students avoided. Pain became familiar. Sweat became constant.
Still… it wasn't enough.
A strong spirit without a strong body was like a weapon that would break in its user's hands.
That's why, after two years of careful saving and resource gathering, I made my move.
I spent nearly everything I had…
To purchase two pieces of hundred-year-old whale glue.
A rare and valuable treasure.
Something most students wouldn't even. Think of obtaining.
As I held the dense, faintly glowing substance in my hands, I could feel the energy sealed within it—thick, fiery, and violent.
This wasn't just a resource.
It was a carefull decision.
If I succeeded, my physique would undergo a qualitative transformation.
I exhaled slowly, steadying my thoughts.
"This is just the beginning."
Behind me, faintly—almost imperceptibly—
A dark, silent door-shaped shadow flickered in the air.
After leaving the academy, I didn't return to the dorms.
Instead, I found a cheap inn on the outskirts of the city—quiet, unnoticed.
Perfect for what I was about to do.
I booked a room for two days.
No interruptions. No risks.
Inside the dimly lit room, I carefully prepared everything. The two pieces of hundred-year whale glue rested in front of me, heavy with dense energy.
I lit the spirit plant charcoal.
A faint green flame rose, steady and controlled.
Slowly, I placed the whale glue over it.
At first, nothing happened.
Then… it began to soften.
Melt.
The solid mass turned into a thick, golden liquid, releasing a strange fragrance—rich, warm, almost intoxicating. The scent alone carried a surge of energy that made my blood stir.
I narrowed my eyes.
"This is it…"
Without hesitation, I lifted the container and drank it in one go.
The moment the liquid entered my body—
Boom.
A violent heat exploded within me.
It felt like molten fire spreading through my veins, crashing into every part of my body. My muscles tensed, my heartbeat surged, and my vision blurred for a second.
I moved instantly.
Stepping into the prepared bathtub, I submerged myself in the cold water.
Hiss—
A faint mist rose as the icy water clashed against the burning heat inside me.
But it wasn't enough.
The heat didn't fade—it grew stronger.
It rampaged through my body like a wild beast, slamming against my bones, tearing through my muscles, forcing them to break… and rebuild.
I clenched my teeth, forcing myself into a meditative position.
"Calm… control it…"
At that moment, my Dimensional Door silently appeared behind me.
A dark, illusory door.
It didn't open—but space around it began to distort.
The raging energy inside my body… slowed.
Not weaker—
But controlled.
As if the chaotic force had been pulled into an invisible boundary.
The pressure was still immense, but no longer uncontrollable.
Time passed.
Minutes… or hours—I couldn't tell.
The pain never truly disappeared, but gradually, it changed.
From destruction…
To tempering.
From chaos…
To refinement.
My muscles grew denser. My bones felt heavier, stronger. Every fiber of my body was being reforged under this brutal energy.
The cold water in the tub had long since turned lukewarm.
Then—
Crack.
A faint sound echoed within my body.
My eyes snapped open.
A sharp, clear sensation spread from within, replacing the burning pain.
I exhaled slowly, steam rising from my skin.
"I broke through…"
Not in spirit power—
But in physique.
And this was only the beginning.
Behind me, the shadow of the door flickered once more…