Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

Rui's breath came in steady, controlled rhythms as his body moved fluidly through the training grounds. His muscles burned, but the familiar ache was different now—more like a reminder of his progress than a challenge. The bone hardening elixirs had worked wonders. His body was no longer an afterthought in his training, it was a fortress. His bones felt denser, each movement was grounded in a strength that hadn't been there before. It was as if his very skeleton had become an anchor to the storm of power that churned within him.

He stood alone in the vast training arena, the ground around him cracked from his earlier warm-ups, each step reverberating with raw energy. The sensation of mana coursing through his veins was overwhelming—so much power, so much potential, yet it no longer felt as volatile as before. He could feel the smooth flow of his aura now, more like a natural extension of himself than the chaotic tempest it had once been.

His aura and mana were no longer fighting each other, but working in harmony. He felt like a vessel overflowing with energy, and yet, for the first time, he wasn't afraid of spilling over. The discipline he'd learned over the past few months was paying off. He had control now.

But the question that lingered in his mind was one that haunted him constantly: How powerful am I now?

His silver eyes gleamed in the low light, narrowing as he looked toward the distant mountain peaks, barely visible in the haze. He imagined them crumbling under the sheer weight of his power, crushed beneath his will. The thought thrilled him. The raw destruction he had unleashed when his powers first spiraled out of control was nothing compared to the precision he felt now. He wasn't just strong anymore—he could shape his strength, wield it with purpose.

Could he obliterate a mountain with a single strike? Could he pulverize it to dust, as he had done with his test before?

Rui clenched his fists, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The thought of testing himself again was tempting, but he knew better. His training wasn't just about raw strength—it was about control, about being able to direct that force when and where it mattered. He would need more time to fully master his abilities, but with each passing day, he felt closer to the answer.

But just as the thought of his next test started to form, he heard it—the sound of footsteps approaching.

His senses, now sharpened to an extraordinary degree, picked up the approaching figures long before they appeared at the edge of the training ground. He straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow, and turned toward the sound.

Rui's gaze immediately sharpened, his senses acutely aware of every movement around him. He could hear the faintest rustle of fabric, the soft thud of boots on the ground, and the subtle shift in the air. As the figures emerged from behind the training ground's distant trees, his silver eyes narrowed, observing them carefully. There was no mistaking the aura they carried—a controlled, focused energy that spoke of years of experience. These were cultivators, powerful ones. The subtle tension in Rui's shoulders hinted at his readiness, but he did not rush to greet them. Instead, he stood still, his posture relaxed but alert, waiting for them to reveal their purpose.

The group consisted of three individuals. At the front was a man who stood taller than the others, his stride confident and purposeful. His dark eyes locked onto Rui with an intense focus, as if sizing him up, calculating what kind of threat or opportunity he might pose. Behind him, two others followed: a woman with sharp, calculating eyes and a man whose expression remained neutral, but there was an undeniable air of authority about him as well. The way they moved together suggested this was no random gathering—they were a unit, seasoned and composed.

Rui straightened, wiping a thin layer of sweat from his brow. He had just come from an intense session of training, and although his body had grown accustomed to the strain, the presence of these strangers sent a ripple through his senses. Something about them felt different—more refined, yet somehow familiar. There was power in their presence, but it wasn't the chaotic, raw force that he had learned to control in himself. This was something calculated, purposeful. These were not mere passersby.

The man at the front stopped a few feet away from Rui, his dark gaze lingering on him for a moment before he spoke.

"I take it you are Rui?" The voice was deep, commanding. There was no hostility in it, but it carried a weight of authority that was difficult to ignore.

Rui tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I am. And you are?"

The man's lips curled into a faint, approving smile. "I am Fenrir," he replied, his voice still calm but filled with an edge of intensity. "We've been following the rumors surrounding your... abilities."

Rui raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. He had expected someone to come looking for him, but the force of this group was something else. "Rumors?" he echoed. "And what rumors would those be?"

Fenrir glanced briefly at his companions, as if to ensure they were on the same page before turning back to Rui. "We've heard of a power emerging from these lands—raw, unrefined, but immense. The destruction left in its wake has reached even the ears of the Central Continent. And we've come to see for ourselves what it is."

Rui's silver eyes flickered with subtle amusement, but he said nothing. He didn't need to; Fenrir's words alone had already told him everything he needed to know.

The woman beside Fenrir spoke next, her voice cool and precise. "The energy you've exhibited, the tremors, the intensity—something unlike anything we've seen. It doesn't match anything in this region's cultivation. You're no ordinary cultivator."

Rui stood still, his posture unaffected. "And what exactly do you want with me?" His tone was calm, betraying no sign of the curiosity he felt brewing within. These people were from the Central Continent, a land known for its superiority in strength. To be noticed by them meant something, but Rui wasn't about to let them think they could intimidate him.

Fenrir's eyes remained locked on him, studying him. There was no arrogance in his gaze, but rather an odd mixture of respect and caution. "We've come to test you," he said finally, his voice steady and devoid of malice. "We need to know if your power is truly as great as the reports suggest, and if it poses a threat."