Chapter 135: The final stretch

(Rodova Military Academy – Physical Training Grounds)

There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere among the first-year students after receiving their fourth Genetic Awakening Shot, as the race toward the Circuits selection officially began.

With no other major events scheduled between now and the start of the selections, every student seemed to enter a hyper-focused clutch mode, pushing themselves harder than ever in the hopes of squeezing out every bit of improvement possible in the seven weeks remaining till the selection day.

Lately, whispers had been circulating across the class—rumors that Su Yang was on the verge of becoming a Grandmaster-tier fighter.

Having already fulfilled the physical, mental, and skill requirements for a breakthrough, he now only needed to raise his mana concentration to the threshold, with most expecting his advancement to occur sometime within the next two weeks.

And it was this unexpectedly rapid timeline that sent ripples through the rest of the class, as murmurs of disbelief, anxiety, and awe grew louder by the day.

"He’s going to break through. I’m telling you—within the next two weeks, Su Yang’s becoming a Grandmaster."

"Ooof— A Grandmaster in just five months of joining the academy?

That’s insane!

Meanwhile, most of our second year seniors are still crawling at Master-tier, barely making progress. With even the more talented ones yet to make a breakthrough."

"It’s insane. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up. I mean, I’ve been working my ass off since day one, and I’m still stuck trying to stabilize my mana flow.

Let alone reaching the Grandmaster tier as a first year, I’ll be lucky to reach it two years after graduation."

"Yeah, the difference in talents is just insane. And borderline unfair.

What takes us years is possible for them in months—*sigh*,"

"It was always my dream to make it to the Circuits. Ever since I was a kid… I used to watch those broadcasted fights with my dad and swear I’d be on that stage one day.

Because that’s where you get your first real shot at money and fame.

That’s where the elite notice you.

The best weapons smiths want to make custom weapons for you.

The best gear smiths want to make custom body armor for you.

The best business conglomerates want to sponsor your career.

And organizations like the six big clans or the best adventurer guilds in the universe try to rope you in as a young talent.

It’s like your whole life changes. And you instantly become famous and rich, which is why I must make it there!"

"Yeah, well, good luck dreaming when you’re standing next to walking disasters like Su Yang and Skyshard. How the hell are we supposed to compete?"

"We’re not. That’s the thing. This year, we’re not competing—we’re surviving. I’ve already made peace with it. I’m aiming for the next year’s summer camp. They say the top five students who don’t make it into the Circuit team get auto-qualified for it, and honestly? I think I’ve got a shot."

"With those two on the team, and Mu Shen, Mu Ryan, and Doku basically locked in for three of the next year’s summer camp slots, there’s two spots still left up for grabs and I think I can clutch onto one of them."

"Exactly. It’s sensible to start planning for the next year, as realistically your chances of making it to the team this year are slim to none.

But if this year, you can’t be in the top five newbies? Then your dreams of ever appearing in the Circuits are as good as dead.

Because then you’re just… cannon fodder. You train. You bleed. You get passed over. That’s the game."

The students discussed while stretching before today’s morning training, as everyone seemed super motivated to do their best for the upcoming selections.

As even if they could not make it to the team this year…. A good performance could confirm their seat for next year, which was crucial if they wanted to keep their dreams of ever appearing in the circuits alive.

—--------

(Leo’s POV)

As Leo stretched before the start of physical training, his thoughts drifted back to the conversation he had shared with Su Yang the previous day, while the two of them were recovering side by side in the medical ward.

It had come rather unexpectedly, however, it was a much welcome reality check for Leo.

"I think I’ve finally hit the physical and mental thresholds I need to attempt the next tier, Skyshard.

This fourth shot has given me that last push I was missing.

And with me already having mastered the five skills necessary to break through, I feel like I’m close to touching the limit."

"The only department I’m lacking in now is the mana concentration needed to break through.

My body still can’t store enough mana to facilitate a breakthrough.

But my goal is to hit the required concentration within the next two weeks—so I have enough time to train with my new strength before the Circuit selections begin."

"I suffered a lot of humiliation last time... and I need to repay all of it—with interest this time.

Because, that’s the only way I’ll reclaim my confidence in myself and in my bloodline."

"So try to keep up, Skyshard. You may have the better fighting style right now, but I’m about to leave you in the dust."

Su Yang had warned, as Leo did not take those words lightly.

Just like him, Su Yang had been grinding obsessively ever since his defeat against Minerva.

As a thoroughbred noble, he had hit his life’s lowest point when he was humiliated and defeated by Minerva and ever since then he had been training like a maniac.

Unlike his previous self, who was accustomed to riding on talent alone, this changed Su Yang pushed himself relentlessly for every bit of progress he could make.

And now, with a breakthrough within his arm’s reach, he was about to get the rewards for his hard work, which would increase his battle strength by leaps and bounds, and mount significant pressure on Leo who would be suddenly left behind.

Because unlike Su Yang, who was expected to break through in the next two weeks, Leo still needed five to six more weeks to get there himself.

His mana concentration was almost at the necessary level, as the Complete Marrow Meditation Manual showed he had already completed over 90% of the cellular replacement process.

With him now needing just four more weeks of six-hour meditation sessions to finally meet the threshold required to advance.

But unfortunately that wasn’t the only requirement.

He was still lacking in the physical, mental, and skill categories— which were all critical pillars of progression that couldn’t be overlooked.

[Celestial Veil] and [Thousand Phantom Strikes] still needed to be pushed from Advanced to Perfect mastery.

And [Parallel Processing], which didn’t follow any traditional grading system, also had to be sharpened through constant repetition, until it also hit [Perfect] grade and became instinctive under pressure.

’I’m not too far behind… but I’m behind,’ Leo analyzed, as deep down he knew that he wasn’t miles away from Su Yang, and was very much on pace to become a Grandmaster before the selections.

However, there still remained some significant roadblocks that he needed to iron out, before he could catch up to Su Yang once again.