Chapter 14
To live meant to stand. To stand meant to show resolve.
Come midday, a fine misty rain began to fall.
Returning to the storeroom, vin prepared his meal, greeted the elder, grabbed some food, and
secluded himself in the hills behind the warehouse. There, amidst the jutting rocks and entangled
ancient trees—ces unnoticed and unvisited by most—he found his secret training ground. Here,
his smile was reced by a grim seriousness.
From noon to the deep of night, vin absorbed the Restoration Aether of the world around him,
rejuvenating his spirit and easing his wounds. Perhaps it was because he had begun the second
phase of the Restoration Mantra, but his recovery was notably quicker this time.
"Novice Mage Stage VI is clearly beyond my current reach. Strength, I need more strength," he
murmured.
vin gently touched the palm-shaped scar on his chest, knowing full healing would take more
time. He was too weak; he had to be stronger, much stronger.
After years of trials, he had finally achieved his dream of bing a Novice Mage. It was time to
strive for a breakthrough, to work harder than ever before.
"Senior Protégé! Elite Protégé! Golden Protégé!"
vin recited the ranks of the Cobalt Strike in his mind. With each rank came different privileges
and influence. Bing a Golden Protégé would nearly grant him the status of an Elder. Once
merely an Apprentice, he couldn''t dare to dream of status, but now, as a Novice Mage, his primary
goal was to shed his Freshman Protégé identity. Only with a higher status could he ess more
Combat Magic, grow stronger faster, and perhaps secure greater benefits for the people of
Stormcast.
"For myself, for my kin, and for Stormcast," vin leaped up, his mind was calm and focused, his
feet were positioned slowly, and his hands flexed. He began a mysterious opening stance.
Who would say he knew no Combat Magic? This was the opening stance of “Goliath Force,” a
Combat Magic mastered by Brunn, an Elite Protégé of Cobalt Strike.
The strict rules of the Cobalt Strike stated that Combat Magic must never be taught privately. Any
Protégé borrowing Combat Magic scrolls from the Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls had to register and
mark the return date. Even Elders teaching Combat Magic to Protégés had to be formally recorded.
vin had never officially studied any Combat Magic scrolls. Instead, he had covertly learned by
observing Brunn''s every battle and trial, memorizing each move, and studying Brunn''s exterior to
understand the interior. After years of relentless practice and refinement, vin had, in effect,
created his own variant of Goliath Force.
This martial technique could amplify a person''s explosive power by up to five times. Its potency was
formidable against armor. However, it demanded an extremely resilient physique, requiring one''s
body to be as strong as iron and bone to wield without self-injury.
vin had secretly learned many Combat Magics, like Elite Protégé Fradaley''s Wind-Split Sword,
Elite Protégé Lartel''s Stormsky Spear, and Elite Protégé Maxarcush''s Hexaforce Fist. Yet, vin
had decided to focus solely on mastering the Goliath Force.
His constitution was unique, and after years of tempering with the Restoration Mantra, he far
surpassed others, easily harnessing the Goliath Force that many dared not attempt.
Goliath Force was divided into five phases, and vin had deciphered the first three. The final two
were elusive, too profound to master. But the first three were enough to unleash his full potential.
"First phase, Iron-d Tiger!" vin dashed through the woods, agile and fierce, his fist thundering
into a giant tree.
Crack! The ancient tree, wide enough to be embraced by two men, trembled violently. A dark hole
was now punched through by vin''s Goliath Force.
At his peak, vin''s punch weighed over six hundred pounds; this blow surely exceeded a
thousand.
Dust flew, and leaves danced as he moved, stirring up a howling gale.
Boom! Thunderous roars echoed through the secluded hillside as vin unleashed his full might,
immersed in the arduous practice of Combat Magic. Giant trees and bizarre rocks—all targets for
his strikes. Many of the massive boulders were brought here by his own hands.
Denied the privilege of training in the Arena, he had fashioned his own battleground.
"Second phase, Colossus Power!"
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"Third phase, Mountain Mover!"
...
As he sprinted, vin''s body shook, and his strength tripled, shattering a boulder as tall as two
men. Dust clouds billowed, stones scattered, and the darkness trembled unceasingly.
Each phase doubled his power, bringing intense strain to his body. By the third phase, thick veins
covered him, and his skin flushed red with exertion.
vin had honed the first three phases of Goliath Force with a fervent purity, but his aspirations
soared higher. He aimed to infuse his own lightning power into the technique, to further amplify the
might of the Goliath Force.
Crack!
Boom!
Muffled thuds resounded one after another, asionally punctuated by the shrill sound of
converging electric sparks.
In the heart of the dense forest, vin toiled, his sweat merging with the earth as he surrendered
himself to the vigorous training of his inner energy.
Guidance and help were foreign to him; he sought his path alone, through trial and error.
He practiced until the midnight hour had long passed. viny upon the cold stone, gazing into
the murky night sky. The gentle patter of rain cooled his fevered skin. Normally, he could wield the
might of the Goliath Force for no more than two hours, but today, he had pushed beyond his limits
by an additional half hour. The formidable power caused his body to radiate with heat, as if his very
blood were boiling.
As he watched the sky, two figures seemed to appear amidst the gloaming, smiling down at him.
vin smiled back, though tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. In a hushed whisper, he
spoke.
"Father... Mother..."
"My heart... aches for you..."
"Where are you..."