In the training ground where Shion Lan sat, a faint aura was emanating from his body, stirring the curiosity of several soldiers who had been watching him from the beginning.
"He was strong just a moment ago… what happened to him now?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to know. He's scary even though he's just a kid."
Despite all the chatter, Shion paid them no attention. He thought to himself:
'The fire techniques here are nothing compared to the ones I possess… but they're still useful for understanding certain ideas.'
Shion stood up, unsheathed his sword, gathered his fire aura, and began demonstrating his movements.
"(Cutting Flames)!"
Tongues of fire wrapped faintly around the blade. Shion moved swiftly, his sword slicing through the air. He continued swinging for a while, and when he began to feel tired, he looked at the blade:
'This technique isn't easy to learn… According to what I read, it's at least an intermediate technique. Even though I've gathered many ideas, I still haven't grasped the true insight.'
Then he switched techniques and shouted:
"(Raindrops)!"
His dim aura erupted again like a flood engulfing everything. Shion swung his sword with destructive, overwhelming movements, sending strikes in every direction, causing devastation on top of the previous destruction.
He felt refreshed and thought:
'I forgot that techniques don't only need knowledge and movement—they need a certain mental state. The technique influences the mind, and the mind influences the technique. So… should I be wild? Excited? Or angry?'
He set these thoughts aside and entered the Veins Realm to seek guidance from Shi Yun Lan, although the torturing. In that ominous place where he had met that smiling man, Shion discussed fire techniques with him.
"So you want to know how to activate the fire element easily, but you're confused about the mental state you need to be in?"
"Yes."
Shi Yun Lan told him:
"You're asking the wrong person for advice. Every warrior has his own interpretation. Even if two people agree on most things, there will always be a point where they differ."
"I'm not here for your advice. I already understand that. I just want your opinion. All you're obligated to do is give me an answer, you idiot."
Shi Yun Lan looked at him with a terrifying yet smiling expression.
"I suppose you haven't recovered from the last time I killed you, hmm?"
He released his destructive aura—the (Aura of Death)!
But Shion froze for a second as if something struck him. Before Shi Yun Lan could reach him, Shion pulled himself out of the Veins Realm and returned to reality.
"This bastard!!"
'He can use the (Aura of Death) while still alive… So what happens if I use the full power of the fire element while being protected by the water element?'
But he felt frustrated again.
'I forgot—I still can't draw power from two stars at once. But maybe… if I use star force instead? My power increased before due to the star force, not because of using the same element.'
Then he remembered something else:
'Shi Yun Lan doesn't have a Life Technique to protect himself from a Annihilation Technique… yet he can use it and even immerse himself in it without losing himself.'
Shion formed an idea, stood up, and prepared for another training session.
---
That evening, Shion was alone under the moonlight in the empty training field. His body trembled from exhaustion, but a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Just like with the water element… I must feel the flow without flowing. And with fire… I must feel the burn without burning myself. Now I can gather star-dust for this technique."
After resting, Xion went to have dinner with the soldiers. The tents around the camp reminded him of the camp he used to visit before.
As he sat there, he overheard soldiers talking about famous warriors.
"What do you think of the Spear Duo in Zone 13?"
"Yeah, both are fourth-level, but they managed to kill five fifth-level warriors! Can you believe that?!"
"But I heard about someone in Zone 15—the one with the Steel Fists—who crushed the skull of a level-seven warrior while being only level six!"
"Yes, his name was Festel. That guy is more brutal than anyone, and he almost reached the title of Hero."
Shion listened, slightly amused, until they mentioned him.
"Yeah, but have you heard of the student in Karath Academy? He's more savage than anyone I've ever heard of."
"But he's just a student—what did he do? Beat the sons of the Six Great Families?"
"No, something even crazier!"
Shion paid full attention.
"That kid, despite his age, defeated a four-circle witch! And the craziest part? He only has one star and one circle!"
Everyone paused—then burst into laughter.
One soldier turned to Shion:
"So, little lord, have you seen this boy before?"
Shion thought of a reply, then asked:
"Do you have any other information about him?"
The soldier looked surprised.
"How haven't you seen him? He's your classmate, isn't he?"
"Just speak. I heard something extraordinary happened, but I don't know the details. Maybe I'll recognize him if you describe him more accurately."
The soldier sighed.
"A seventeen-year-old with an aura full of nobility and strength. A powerful figure admired by everyone. His distinctive silver eyes and striking appearance make the prettiest girls fall for him. With his right hand he wields a sword that splits rivers, and with his left he commands waves of the sea. He is the best in Karath Academy—Shion Lan!"
Several soldiers who recognized Shion turned toward him. He was stunned.
"That's… not me at all!"
The soldier turned to him.
"Of course it's not you. He's promising and—"
"I am Shion Lan."
The soldier froze. Everyone stared at him as if he were an idiot. Shion continued, trying to shift attention away from the poor soldier:
"The most I did was shatter part of the shield created by that witch. And I'm not a womanizer as you think. And I'm not nearly that handsome. I think Kin Light or Glass Sano would win that comparison."
The embarrassed soldier scratched his head and left.
Xion looked at the raging campfire. It was huge and burning, and he watched it, hoping for inspiration.
After a while, a senior soldier approached him. Having heard about how Shion had handled the man who provoked him earlier, he smiled and said:
"Shion Lan, right?"
Shion looked at him questioningly.
"I want a light spar with you—ten moves. What do you say?"
"Sorry, but I exhausted myself with training today."
The man looked disappointed and walked away.
Shion continued his training throughout the week, studying the complex fire magic required to form a powerful magic circle like before. Every time that man came to spar with him, Shion was already too drained, which greatly frustrated the man.
---
At the beginning of the fourth week, Xion stood before the fire, contemplating it.
'I've observed ignition, burning, and heat all this time—igniting candles to study, the fire in the camp that keeps burning, and the heat I feel while training under the sun. But I still haven't reached the perfect mental state to enter the technique and draw out its true power…'
'The book said that any emotion can ignite the fire technique—anger creates a blazing sword, calmness maintains a longer burning flame… yet I still haven't found the burning I seek.'
Despite his frustration, he continued observing the flames.
'Inspiration can strike in a moment—or take time. It may never come no matter how hard one tries… but one must continue training and searching for the answer.'
"Shion Lan! Still not ready to spar with me?!"
The man's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I'm tired today."
"Don't you have a better excuse?!"
"I do."
Shion stood with a displeased expression.
"I don't even know who you are, yet you insist on sparring with me. Let me give you the best excuse possible…"
He turned his back.
"I'm simply not interested in sparring with you."
As he walked away, the man mocked him:
"Just like Sano's son said—you're a kid who uses others for fame, then backs off when things get real!"
Shion stopped.
"You're right. I do back off from serious situations. Like fighting a four-star swordsman while I only have one star.The little cub shouldn't back down when facing a full-grown lion… right?"
Soldiers gathered around the two.
Shion continued:
"As for real situations where I supposedly backed down—I don't recall retreating from the level-seven Dark Crow, or standing like a coward before the Cactus Field, or withdrawing from the hordes of Wolf Spiders, or leaving the Golden Serpents to someone else because I was scared."
The man began sweating.
"Oh, and I forgot to tell you—when I saw how eager you were to face me, I decided to investigate what kind of soldier you are. Turns out, you're just a loser who hides his weakness by blaming others and circumstances. And when you finally got stronger, you only tested your power on people weaker than you."
The soldiers murmured. The man's expression tightened.
"You don't represent a real challenge to me—you're a walking joke. Aren't you ashamed of trying to pressure someone who's three whole stars weaker than you?"
Shion pressed harder and harder.
"You're so insignificant that I forget your name every time we meet. You're a disgrace. And the amazing thing is that you're still in the army. Despite your strength, you're still just a soldier—not a unit leader like your peers."
He lifted his sword.
"Are you truly a four-star swordsman? You're unbelievably pathetic. Fine—I'll spar with an idiot like you just to prove my point."
The star aura wrapped around Shion, his silver eyes turning starry. His features grew even more striking, refined like a noble king untouched by the world.
The man backed away.
"You're acting all high and mighty—but you forget yourself! You're the son of a maid!"
Shion froze for a moment, stunned. Then he replied:
"My mother worked as a maid—and she is now free. But what about you, son of the brothel?!"
And everyone fell silent.