The Ascendant Mortal: Beyond Divine Boundaries

As dawn broke, Aamir awoke with a renewed sense of purpose, ready for the next challenge. Dharam had instructed him to meet at the eastern section of the training grounds, a secluded area reserved for advanced drills. Carrying his training manuals, Aamir felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing on his shoulders as he walked. When he arrived, he found Dharam waiting amidst an intricate setup.

The training grounds had been transformed. Wooden dummies zipped along hidden tracks, balancing platforms teetered with the breeze, and glowing orbs floated eerily in midair. A faint mist swirled at the edges, giving the area an almost mystical quality. Other students practiced nearby, but Dharam had carved out a private space for their session.

"Today's focus is synergy," Dharam began, his voice firm and unyielding. "You've learned the fundamentals of the Dragon Blade and Garuda's Glide. Now, we'll merge them into combat scenarios."

Aamir's chest tightened at the thought. The Dragon Blade required power and precision, while Garuda's Glide demanded speed and grace. Melding these opposing techniques seemed like an impossible task.

"We start simple," Dharam said, pointing toward the dummies. "Your task: eliminate them all. Use the Dragon Blade for offense and Garuda's Glide for movement. Flow seamlessly—hesitation will cost you."

The dummies whirred to life, their erratic movements mimicking seasoned fighters. Aamir unsheathed his blade, adrenaline energy coursing through him. Activating Garuda's Glide, he darted forward in a blur, the world around him slowing as he struck. The first dummy crumpled under a diagonal slash. But before he could celebrate, another dummy lunged at him from the side. Aamir twisted, activating the gliding step to evade before countering with a sweeping strike.

"Faster!" Dharam barked. "Stop overthinking! Trust your instincts!"

Gritting his teeth, Aamir pushed harder. Slowly, the rhythm Dharam spoke of emerged. The power of the Dragon Blade and the fluidity of Garuda's Glide began to intertwine, runes etched into the ground faintly glowing in sync with his movements. One by one, the dummies fell, their destruction leaving only silence.

Breathing heavily, Aamir turned to Dharam, who gave a curt nod. "Better," he said. "You're beginning to trust yourself."

Dharam gestured to the balancing platforms next. "This exercise will test your stability under pressure. Your opponent will be me."

Aamir hesitated briefly but stepped onto the narrow platform opposite Dharam. It wobbled under his weight, testing his balance before the fight even began. Dharam wasted no time, striking with a ferocity that caught Aamir off guard. He barely deflected the blow, the force nearly toppling him.

"Control your energy flow!" Dharam commanded. "Use Garuda's Glide! Stability comes from control, not brute force."

Aamir adjusted, centering his energy and activating the gliding step. His movements smoothed out as he began to counter Dharam's attacks, each strike flowing naturally into the next. When Dharam feinted low to sweep him off the platform, Aamir instinctively leapt, twisting in midair to land gracefully on another platform. Dharam paused, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

"Not bad," Dharam admitted. "But you're still holding back. Trust your instincts fully."

The training continued for hours, pushing Aamir to his physical and mental limits. By the end, his body was exhausted, yet he felt a surge of pride. The techniques were becoming second nature.

That night, back in his quarters, Aamir began a meditative practice to deepen his mastery. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he focused on his breathing, channeling adrenaline energy through his meridians. The human body, he had learned, contained 362 meridians, pathways that allowed energy to flow and amplify a warrior's strength. Unlocking these meridians was the foundation of the Adreno Arts.

Rookie Level: Energy flows through 20–35 meridians.

Apprentice Level: Energy flows through 35–50 meridians.

Master Level: Energy flows through 50–100 meridians.

Grandmaster Level: Energy flows through 100–150 meridians.

Legend Level: Energy flows through 150–250 meridians.

Conqueror Level: Energy flows through 250–300 meridians.

Limit Breaker Level: Energy flows through 300–355 meridians.

World Slicer Level: Energy flows through 356–362 meridians, the pinnacle of mastery.

Aamir focused on his energy, guiding it through the pathways he had already unlocked. At 50 meridians, he was at the peak of the Apprentice level. With steady breaths, he visualized his energy breaking through the next barrier. Slowly but surely, his energy began to flow through the 51st meridian, then the 52nd, and onward. With each unlocked pathway, Aamir felt a surge of strength and clarity. By the time he reached the 63rd meridian, he stopped.

He knew better than to force the flow. Overextending could lead to irreparable damage, severing his connection to his meridians and destroying his strength. For now, he had achieved enough. He had reached the third level. He had become a master level enargy controller.

A Master-level adrenaline energy controller exhibits mastery over 50–100 meridians, achieving heightened speed, strength, and reflexes. This level of control allows for precise energy manipulation, enabling advanced techniques such as generating destructive shockwaves and executing rapid evasive maneuvers. Their power is sufficient to destroy small buildings, endure powerful assaults, and dominate groups of elite adversaries. On the battlefield, they are tactical powerhouses, capable of shifting the tide of skirmishes and holding their ground against overwhelming odds. And He had Reached this level

As Aamir rose from his meditation, he felt rejuvenated. His body seemed stronger, his vision sharper. Looking out into the darkness, he could see individual leaves on the trees at the edge of the training ground, their details crisp even under the faint moonlight. He smiled faintly.

"Well," he murmured to himself, "time for a bath and some well-deserved rest."