The Ascendant Mortal: Beyond Divine Boundaries

Aamir's days had turned into an endless cycle of practice and improvement. For the past week, he had been wholly consumed by mastering the Hastraksham Technique. Every day, he fought imaginary battles against Rekha in his mind, replaying their spar over and over again. At first, the outcomes were disheartening—he couldn't dodge her strikes or block her attacks. He constantly found himself outmaneuvered, her movements too fluid and precise for him to counter.

Each loss left him frustrated but even more determined. "If I can't handle an imaginary opponent, how will I face real threats?" he often muttered to himself.

Gradually, the tide began to turn. Each imaginary battle taught him something new. He started noticing patterns in Rekha's attacks, subtle gaps in her defense. By focusing on his rhythm and flow, Aamir found ways to counter her strikes. Slowly but surely, he started to see the openings in her moves.

By the seventh day, he had done the unthinkable—he defeated her in his mind. Though the victory might seem trivial to others, Aamir understood the significance. Mental training was not just a game; it was sharpening his instincts, honing his flow, and building his confidence. "One step at a time," he thought, "every victory counts, no matter how small."

Feeling ready to push himself further, Aamir decided it was time to test his progress in a more challenging environment. He made his way to the private training room. This facility was a privilege reserved only for the academy's best students. Ordinary students couldn't afford the reputation points required to train here, but Aamir, having secured a spot in the rankings, had free access.

As he approached the entrance, the sheer prestige of the place struck him. Stories about the private training room had circulated among students—rumors of its immense challenges and the elite skills required to survive inside.

"Let's see if it lives up to the hype," Aamir thought, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Standing before the seemingly plain door, Aamir was unimpressed by its exterior. However, as he stepped inside, he was taken aback. The room was massive—far larger than it appeared from the outside. Advanced spatial magic had been used to expand the interior, creating a space that felt like an entirely new dimension.

Next to the door, Aamir noticed a sleek machine embedded in the wall, powered by glowing mana crystals. Beside the machine was a rack filled with weapons of every kind imaginable—swords, spears, maces, and even exotic weapons he'd never seen before.

Though he already had his trusty sword, Aamir decided to experiment with something new. His eyes landed on a sleek dagger. Its lightweight design intrigued him, and he felt it would challenge his agility and precision.

Equipped with the dagger, Aamir approached the machine. A glowing screen flickered to life as he touched it, presenting three difficulty options:

Adranova Zone (Beginner Difficulty)

Tertavayne Abyss (Intermediate Difficulty)

Eclipseron Crucible (Expert Difficulty)

Since it was his first time here, Aamir opted for the Adranova Zone to familiarize himself with the training mechanics.

As soon as he selected the option, the room began to shift. The plain walls dissolved, replaced by a lush jungle that stretched endlessly around him. The hum of insects and distant roars of beasts filled the air.

The air grew heavy, and Aamir felt the gravity change. While it was noticeable, it wasn't enough to hinder him significantly. "A little extra weight," he mused, rolling his shoulders, "nothing I can't handle."

Suddenly, a shadow darted toward him. Aamir reacted instantly, sidestepping the attack. The creature revealed itself—a Lumivex Stalker, a predator-level beast. Its sleek, feline form and glowing eyes radiated danger.

Aamir recognized it immediately; he had faced a similar beast during the Dungeon Trials. But this time, he was different. With a single swift move, he sidestepped its lunge and sliced it down with his dagger.

"Still as fragile as ever," Aamir muttered, wiping the dagger clean.

More beasts emerged from the dense jungle—packs of predators and ambushers. They came from every direction, their coordinated attacks testing his reflexes. Despite their numbers, Aamir dispatched them with ease. His movements were precise, his strikes lethal.

After dealing with wave after wave, he sighed. "These beasts are too weak. This isn't the right difficulty for me."

He returned to the machine and selected the Eclipseron Crucible, the expert-level difficulty.

The moment he made his choice, the room transformed again. The jungle disappeared, replaced by a dark, chaotic environment. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the air felt suffocating. The gravity multiplied, pressing down on Aamir with crushing force. For a moment, he struggled to move, his legs trembling under the immense pressure.

"This is more like it," he thought, gritting his teeth.

The first beast appeared—a Cyclorid Warden, towering over him with its single glowing eye. Its massive frame and impenetrable armor made it a formidable foe. Aamir studied its movements, noting the slight hesitation in its left leg. Exploiting the weakness, he feinted right before delivering a powerful strike to its exposed side.

As hours passed, more beasts emerged, each more challenging than the last. Aamir faced a Spindralis Skimmer, dodging its webs and illusions to land a decisive blow. Then came a pack of spectral wolves, their ethereal forms making them difficult to target. Despite the odds, Aamir fought relentlessly, relying on his raw strength and technique without tapping into his adrenaline energy.

Finally, a massive, werewolf-like beast charged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. Aamir dodged at the last second, delivering a devastating punch to its torso. Seizing the opening, he leaped behind it and plunged his dagger into its neck, slicing cleanly through. The beast collapsed, and the room began to shift back to normal.

Exhausted but satisfied, Aamir exited the training room. As he stepped out, he noticed the receptionist staring at him, wide-eyed and pale.

Unbeknownst to Aamir, the receptionist had been watching his session on a magical screen. Initially, he had scoffed when he saw Aamir select the beginner difficulty, dismissing him as a weakling. But as the session progressed, his opinion changed drastically. He was stunned as he witnessed Aamir obliterate the expert-level beasts in the Eclipseron Crucible with nothing but his raw strength and a dagger.

"How is that even possible?" the receptionist whispered, his hands trembling.

When their eyes met, the receptionist froze. To him, Aamir was no longer a mere student—he was a monster.

Aamir, oblivious to the man's thoughts, was confused by his reaction. "What's his problem?" he wondered. Shrugging it off, he left the area, his mind already focused on the next step in his training.