《The Indomitable Martial King》 Chapter 0 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 0: Prologue The heart of the Grand Palace of Great Demon Palace, the Hall of Abyss. Inside this grand hall, boasting the greatest magnificence on Earth, a group of men and women were gathered. Transcending gender and age, they were all formidable figures renowned throughout the continent. Tesron, the middle-aged man with a muscular physique possessing a body of unbreakable steel, known as the Martial King. Cyrus, the continent¡¯s strongest swordsman who could split even souls with just a single sword, known as the Sword Saint. Elin, the saint of the god Seiya, possessing infinite divine power. Jade ArcLight, the great Mage blessed by the mana of light. And standing before them, a blond youth with a sword and magic, proficient in both and in divine power, hailed as a hero by the world, Prince Alex von Halarin of the Halarin Kingdom. Their gazes were all directed towards the opposite staircase. A middle-aged man with an arrogant demeanor, clad in crimson robes like blood, looked down at them with indifferent eyes. Alex shouted towards him. ¡°Your reign of evil ends now, Demon King Rifenhardt!¡± Demon King Rifenhardt. The Emperor of the Abyssal Empire Antares, the strongest and most evil Mage in human history, unparalleled. Wielding the forces of darkness with an army of millions, he had burned half the continent and slaughtered millions, truly a demon god descended upon humanity. In order to overthrow this wicked Demon King, countless armies sacrificed their lives, cutting through the forces of darkness. They shed blood like rivers and gave up their lives like mere chips, yet they never regretted their own lives. Based on the countless heroic sacrifices of these heroes chosen by humanity, the strongest were successful in infiltrating the Grand Palace of Gaerak and finally stood before the Demon King after a fierce battle. The hero chosen by humanity, Alex von Halarin, with a full heart, shouted on. ¡°The time has come for you to return to the darkness! O wicked Demon King!¡± In truth, Demon King Rifenhardt wasn¡¯t looking at them with indifferent eyes. He naturally had a cold demeanor, so it wasn¡¯t obvious, but he was actually looking down at Alex and his companions with a deeply disheartened gaze. Cyrus, the Sword Saint, drew his blue-glowing longsword, Illuminator, and shouted. ¡°Demon King Rifenhardt, I will vanquish you and put an end to the history of this Abyssal Empire!¡± It was unfair. The empire they had built with so much effort and struggle. After agonizing for three days, they even came up with the splendid name of Antares for their empire. So why call it the Abyssal Empire in such a derogatory manner? It¡¯s just a place where the sun rises in the morning and the moon rises at night, isn¡¯t it? Tesron, the Martial King, clenched his fists and spoke. ¡°If you disappear, the influence of the corrupt monsters will vanish as well!¡± Disappear? Nonsense. They were always like that. Orcs, goblins, ogres ¨C No, do you think that people like ogres, gnolls, and goblins used to live good lives, but became corrupted because of Rifenhardt? They only refrained from attacking humans before because they were too weak to do so. And what he did was merely to harvest them and teach them the ¡°tactics used by humans.¡± Rifenhardt, with a weary voice ¨C though Alex¡¯s party surely thought it was a suitably sinister and wicked tone ¨C spoke. ¡°¡­Have all my Four Heavenly Kings fallen?¡± The powerful beings from his four tribes who followed him. His precious subordinates who had faithfully served him with loyalty and trust for a long time. He was concerned for their safety. Cyrus proudly wielded his sword and replied. ¡°Yes. That filthy orc was no match for my sword.¡± Thinking of the valiant orc warrior Tashid, Rifenhardt sighed. Why should the orc, a race of warriors who live by hunting and gathering in tribal units, be treated as monsters? They may seem barbaric and primitive, but they are pure in their loyalty and know nothing of betrayal. They fight fiercely in the harsh wilderness, protecting the weak and standing against the strong with pride. Well, I can¡¯t deny they¡¯re a bit dirty, considering they rarely bathe. Martial King Tesron clenched his fist and spoke. ¡°That ugly monster troll paid for his sins.¡± S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The most wise and knowledgeable shaman, Guru Atika, seems to have returned to the earth¡¯s embrace. Honestly, I admit trolls can look a bit frightening. With their lumpy blue skin and protruding ivory-like teeth, even I would be startled if I met one on a dark night, so I understand. But calling them vile monsters is unfounded. Trolls, who live deep in the mountains under the belief of shamanism, only use what nature provides minimally. They cultivate their souls instead of possessing material things. Although they may seem primitive, they are a race with a superior spiritual culture. There is no reason to call them monsters. Elin, the saint, spoke quietly. ¡°The wicked dwarf who served the Dark God has also returned to the natural cycle.¡± It seems even the High Priest of Al-Fort, Markelin, has finally died. Rifenhardt clicked his tongue. I didn¡¯t know when the dwarves¡¯ tribal god, Al-Fort, became the wicked god of darkness. Such arrogance to treat all beings except the divine Seiya and the twelve gods as evil! Jade, the Mage of light, smiled faintly and said. ¡°I fought the fallen dark elf.¡± A fallen dark elf¡­ Yes, her skin was a bit rough. Because humans dug up and cut down all the forests where the elves originally lived, they were chased and chased and eventually ended up living in the desolate wasteland, so they got scorched by the scorching heat of the wilderness. Are you going to treat a pure-blooded high elf as a dark elf just because she got a tan? ¡°And my magic¡¯s nemesis. Hehehe.¡± At Jade¡¯s continued words, Rifenhardt finally closed his eyes. Ah, Siris¡­ Even you, in the end¡­ ¡î ¡î ¡î [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Originally, Rifenhardt was an ordinary Mage. Well, he couldn¡¯t be called ordinary from the perspective of a Mage, but he certainly wasn¡¯t capable of outrageous magic beyond common sense like he is now. He changed when he sought the realm of new magic and turned his eyes to races other than humans and their cultures. How long had it been since the Supreme God Seiya created humanity? The world already belonged to humans. The races that once vied for dominance on the continent, the elves, trolls, dwarves, and orcs, had all lost their power and declined. Humanity had incorporated these races into its system, and the result was harsh. Humans didn¡¯t see these races as equals. Elves, called forest fairies, were popular for being pretty and long-lived servants. The sturdy sons of the earth, the dwarves, were useful as skilled craftsmen who could dig the land and had good hands. The proud warrior race, the orcs, were suitable as strong and ignorant laborers. Fortunately, trolls were spared from becoming slaves due to their remarkable regenerative abilities. Instead, they were captured and repeatedly harvested for the ingredients of healing potions. Descending into a state of lost dignity and pride, they became a slave race. Rifenhardt had been astonished to realize how much great potential lay hidden within their forgotten culture. Soon, he began to trace the ancient footsteps of the other races. Fortunately, not all of these other races had become enslaved by humanity. Despite being a minority, there were those who gathered in remote, untouched regions, striving to preserve their culture. As he met them, learned about their cultures, and combined elven spirit magic with troll shamanism into his own magic, Rifenhardt was able to pioneer a new level of magic, becoming the first Mage in history to wield 10th circle magic. Continuing his interactions with these races, Rifenhardt¡¯s values naturally evolved. He no longer saw the other races as slaves. Consequently, he couldn¡¯t stand by and witness the atrocities rampant in human society. So, whenever the opportunity arose, he rescued the enslaved members of these races, providing them with paths to live freely. Over time, hidden villages of these races grew, becoming too large for humans to ignore. Former slaves now boldly adorned their villages, catching the attention of human kings and nobles. They immediately raised their swords and led the knights forward into battle. Upon being attacked, retaliation was inevitable. Rifenhardt¡¯s powerful magic, which had already transcended common knowledge, could easily obliterate armies and demolish city walls. The intruders were swiftly dealt with, flying away in utter defeat. He felt no remorse; it was their own fault for daring to attack first and facing the consequences. There was no reason to pity them. After eliminating the enemies, the land they had possessed lay vacant. As a result, he expanded the village and relocated the other races there to live. They kept coming, kept breaking, kept vacating land, and kept moving. Eventually, the village began to resemble more of a nation. As Rifenhardt¡¯s reputation spread across the continent, other orc, troll, elf, and dwarf tribes who had been hiding in remote areas came forward, requesting to settle and live under his rule. Of course, Rifenhardt didn¡¯t hesitate; he welcomed them all with open arms. And so, four years passed. The kingdoms of Basili, Tekan, and Rastil fell, and in their place arose the Antares Empire. Rifenhardt found himself unexpectedly founding a nation of other races, but he didn¡¯t harbor any particular hatred toward humans. He simply believed in the equality of all sentient beings. Therefore, he refrained from enacting retaliatory policies such as enslaving humans. Instead, he treated them as equals alongside the other hybrids. Instead, he treated them equally alongside the other races. However, people didn¡¯t see it that way. They believed Rifenhardt harbored a hatred towards humans and intended to conquer the world with his dark forces. Despite the fact that the citizens of the Antares Empire actually felt that their lives had improved, there were still claims that Rifenhardt had deceived the people with dark magic. As the empire expanded, Rifenhardt found himself fending off invading forces more frequently. At first it was one country, then two countries united, and then the allied armies of three countries invaded. Each time, Reppenhart defeated the invading army with powerful magic. As the number of human forces increased, it became difficult to deal with them. With human armies growing stronger, he turned to the supposedly ¡°monster¡± races like ogres, trolls, goblins, whom people labeled as such due to their primitive nature and lack of control. Through extensive mental control magic and ample food provision, Rifenhardt successfully incorporated them into his army, despite their inherent fierceness and difficulty to manage. The combined forces of these races bolstered Rifenhardt¡¯s military might, escalating conflicts to larger scales. And before he knew it, Rifenhardt found himself branded as the ¡°Demon King¡±, the target of fear and hatred from all humans across the continent. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 1 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 1 Rifenhardt opened his eyes. Five pairs of eyes, tense yet unwavering, fixed on me with a determined gleam. Truly, it was an upright gaze. To others, it might have seemed like a gaze full of conviction. But to Rifenhardt, it was a gaze of stubborn arrogance and unyielding self-righteousness. The blond youth, Alex, drew his sword, aiming the ornate royal sword of the kingdom towards me as he shouted. ¡°With this sword, I will appease the spirits of those who died because of you!¡± Rifenhardt responded with a somber voice. ¡°Then who will appease the souls of the elves and orcs who died? Who?¡± Alex shouted in frustration. ¡°You¡¯re despicable, Rifenhardt! If it weren¡¯t for your wicked power, they wouldn¡¯t have fallen into corruption! They could have lived peacefully according to their own kind! You¡¯re the one who killed them!¡± It was futile. There was no room for dialogue. In their eyes, Rifenhardt was nothing but a wicked Demon King. To dare liberate the races from the yoke of slavery was to be steeped in the corruption of dark forces. A glimmer of anger rose in Rifenhardt¡¯s black eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± A violet aura began to emanate slowly from his blood-red robes. ¡°¡­Then so be it. I shall become the Demon King you desire.¡± Rifenhardt gathered his mana throughout his body. A formidable aura swirled around him like a vortex, and pillars of violet mana pierced through the sky. Simultaneously, Alex and his companions assumed combat stances. Aura of blue and golden radiance emanated from the Martial King and the Sword Saint. Jade also channeled his magic, and Elin emitted a divine aura to envelop the group. With a battle cry, Alex charged towards the Demon King, brandishing his sword. ¡°Taaah!¡± The fate of the continent hung in the balance as the decisive battle began. The onslaught of powerful magic shattered the surroundings, as blue and golden flashes clashed like a storm. The aftermath alone caused the ceiling to collapse, the sturdy granite walls to crumble like sand, and flames erupted from the magical aftermath, spreading scorching heat. After what seemed like half an hour, Alex, unable to evade an attack, was the first to fall, coughing up blood. It might seem odd for a renowned warrior like him to fall first, but upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t so strange. People admired Alex for his prowess with the sword, his proficiency in magic, and even his possession of holy power, bestowing upon him the title of a Hero. But in truth, it wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. To put it plainly, he was a jack of all trades but a master of none. In tales of heroes, knights often stand till the end, defeating the Demon King in the final breath, but in reality, it¡¯s the one who honed their craft who prevails. Even with Alex fallen, the remaining fighters continued the battle. As expected of those who dabbled in various fields, Rifenhardt found it challenging to defeat them. The battle dragged on, with the sun setting and the moon rising. s?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Each of them showcased their utmost skills, relentlessly attacking Rifenhardt. But Rifenhardt did not falter. Shielded by infinite mana, he calmly endured all attacks and delivered fatal blows in return. Eventually, the saint Elin fell, the light mage Jade fell into unconsciousness, and even the Sword Saint Cyrus¡¯ sword broke, leaving only two standing. Martial King Tesron, with his robust physique and stamina, stood alone but refused to give up, continuing the battle against Rifenhardt. His body was indeed a marvel, and his will was terrifying. He tirelessly dodged endless ultimate magics, evaded blows, occasionally taking hits and shedding blood but never faltering. Eventually, as the first light of dawn broke, Rifenhardt¡¯s endless mana reached its limit. And with that, the fate of the continent was decided in the battle to end all battles. No longer protected by mana, Rifenhardt was just like any ordinary person, while Tesron, though near death, still had the strength for one final blow. *Cough, cough¡­* Rifenhardt coughed, his lungs burning with pain as he coughed up a mixture of blood and phlegm. He was dying. Tesron¡¯s fist was enough to incapacitate most of his bodily functions. Though he delayed death with magic, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t last long. Leaning against the crumbling wall, gasping for breath, Rifenhardt looked up at the dawn sky with regretful eyes. ¡®Am I going to die like this¡­?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t regret for aiding the other races; that fact still didn¡¯t bother him. The regret was for his own foolishness. He had been too passive, reacting only to invasions without ever making proactive moves. Because of that, he inadvertently created enemies out of other nations and allowed them to prepare for his downfall. He had optimistically believed that they would eventually understand, but the price he paid for that was this. If he had wanted to help, he should have done it properly. He should have anticipated the backlash from humans and the hostility of the entire continent. Instead of founding a nation, he should have planned from the beginning to establish a strong country to protect the other races. If he was called a Demon King, then he should have acted like one! ¡®Well, it¡¯s useless to regret now¡­¡¯ In Rifenhardt¡¯s eyes, tinted with a faint smile, he saw Tesron leaning against a pillar, his body covered in wounds and blood. Yet, he was alive. He wasn¡¯t dying away like himself. Tesron spoke solemnly, wiping his bloodied lips. ¡°It¡¯s our victory, Demon King Rifenhardt.¡± Yeah, you won. Good for you. Victorious. Rifenhardt had no energy to scoff. He simply closed his eyes, wanting to find comfort in this state. Then Tesron spoke again. ¡°¡­Now, the others will also break free from the demonic influence and return to their true selves.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± He had been ready to give up everything, but upon hearing those words, he just couldn¡¯t. Demonic influence? True selves? Was living as slaves their true selves? Snap. Rifenhardt snapped. From his eyes, once filled with resignation, now flickered an indescribable fervor, igniting with intensity. His thoughts changed. He couldn¡¯t die. It was unfair, and he was too angry to die like this! Gathering the last of his strength, Rifenhardt reached into his cloak and retrieved a small gem. This was an artifact containing powerful magic discovered in a forgotten ancient ruin, so potent that even he hadn¡¯t fully deciphered its abilities. Space Time Regression Spell. A magic that twisted time, sending the caster back to the past against the laws of fate, a magic not even sanctioned by the gods, disturbing the very origins of the world. Because it transcended the concept of circles, there was no certainty it would activate properly. If it failed, there was a possibility that the fabric of space-time would rupture, potentially destroying the entire continent. So, even as he was dying, he hadn¡¯t dared to use it. But¡­ ¡®Well, might as well go all in¡­¡¯ Sharpening his resolve, Rifenhardt slowly began to chant the incantation. ¡°La Ferte dem Isted Saffia¡­. I shall twist the sacred laws to deceive the eyes of fate¡­¡± Tesron¡¯s expression contorted. He hadn¡¯t expected Rifenhardt to pull off a stunt like this in the midst of everything. ¡°¡­And linger under the auspices of reverse destiny¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible, you bastard!¡± Tesron, desperate, launched himself forward, pounding the ground and propelling his body. Rifenhardt grew frantic. A blow from that brute force would surely be the end of him. Rushing to conclude the spell, Rifenhardt muttered urgently. ¡°¡­I shall become the one who warps time itself!¡± A brilliant light erupted from the gem. Simultaneously, Tesron¡¯s might pierced through the light, tearing through Rifenhardt¡¯s magical barrier. ¡°Taaah!¡± The immense mana and the golden aura merged, creating a colossal shockwave. The magic, which should have flowed smoothly, erupted uncontrollably due to the interference of the aura. Enveloped in mana, slowly losing consciousness, Rifenhardt repeated to himself. ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t die. I absolutely can¡¯t die like this!¡± The dormant consciousness gradually rises to the surface of sleep. Disconnected senses awaken once again. Rifenhardt opened his eyes. The dark vision brightened, and faintly, the outlines of objects came into view. Chirping birds faintly tickled his ears. The warm morning sunlight gently brushed his face. The sensation of the warm cloth enveloping his body felt vivid. This sound, this warmth, this coziness¡­ ¡®Am I still alive?¡¯ Rifenhardt blinked. He felt peculiar. It felt like he had just slept deeply and awakened normally. But moments later, as his mind cleared, everything became apparent. He was supposed to be dying, drained by the power of the Fist King Tesron. There was no way he should be brimming with vitality like this. It was certain. He was alive. ¡®Oh my god, did I really succeed?¡¯ It was the time reversal spell that he hadn¡¯t fully deciphered. He had cast it recklessly, knowing that nothing ventured, nothing gained, but even Rifenhardt himself hadn¡¯t expected such magic. Yet, considering the situation, it seemed quite successful! ¡°Wow, even though I¡¯m a genius, I really didn¡¯t expect to succeed¡­.¡± Uttering an ambiguous line between arrogance and humility, Rifenhardt rose from the bed. And he looked around. He needed to confirm how far back he had gone. But¡­ ¡°Where on earth is this?¡± Rifenhardt¡¯s expression hardened as he looked around. Everything around him seemed excessively unfamiliar. In a spacious room built of logs, there was nothing but a wardrobe, a desk, and the large bed Rifenhardt was lying on. It might have seemed like just a simple bedroom, but what was peculiar was that the furniture brought in was all luxurious. Both the wardrobe and the desk were luxurious items suitable for nobles, and the bed, made of sturdy oak with finely woven linen and splendidly gilded, was a luxury item. Even the glass mirror, which was so expensive that only nobles used it, was hanging on one side of the wall. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Rifenhardt was perplexed. No matter how much he thought about it, he had no memory of this place. If the time reversal spell had succeeded, he should have returned to some point in the past. Whether it was in his childhood or youth, if he had returned, that place should have been in his memory. It was certain that he had never lived in such an unbalanced interior. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Rifenhardt rubbed his temples. His head was spinning. Amidst the confusion, he got up and walked towards the mirror. At any rate, it seemed that the spell had worked¡­ Then the problem was how many years he had regressed, and what age he was now. And the moment he stood in front of the mirror. ¡°Keuk!¡± Rifenhardt¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°Wh-what, who is that?¡± [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 2 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 2 On the other side of the mirror, a sturdy boy with short brown hair was standing, facing him without a shirt. He must have been around sixteen years old? Although his face was too rugged to be called handsome, in fact, looking at his build alone, he seemed like a tough young man. His height seemed to tower over others, and his whole body was covered in sturdy muscles. Rough hands with plenty of calluses. Thick biceps and triceps were as hard as rocks, and his abs were so clearly defined that it seemed unrealistic whether it was really a human belly. Even if you carved it out of marble, dividing the six-pack so clearly would seem unrealistic. Moreover, despite being so muscular, he didn¡¯t look fat or anything, but rather maintained a well-balanced body of an eight-headed figure. It was truly an ideal physique, wasn¡¯t it? Of course, to Rifenhardt, who pursued the ideal wizard, he only looked like a simple, ignorant, and rough body. Rifenhardt absentmindedly raised his hand to his cheek. The boy in the mirror also raised his hand to his cheek. ¡°Ha¡­ haha¡­.¡± Rifenhardt, panicked, let out a bitter laugh. The boy in the mirror also laughed bitterly. There was no doubt. He had to admit it. That muscular boy was none other than himself! Rifenhardt muttered blankly with a shocked expression on his face. ¡°Who are you¡­you¡­.¡± ¡î ¡î ¡î Rifenhardt continuously touched his face in front of the mirror. The muscular boy with a naive expression in the mirror mimicked him. A sigh escaped him involuntarily. ¡®How on earth did this happen¡­.¡¯ As a child, he had been the owner of black hair and black pupils, with a cold demeanor. And he had also been quite a handsome young man. Even in his old age, he had exuded a dignified charm that had captivated many elf maidens¡¯ hearts. Whether young or old. There had never been a time when he had such a ridiculous face! Well, if you really thought about it, the boy in the mirror wasn¡¯t really ugly. He was just not a pretty boy, more like a tough guy type? But compared to the high beauty standards that Rifenhardt, who had always been highly attractive, had, he just looked like a servant. Rifenhardt scratched his head in frustration. What on earth had happened? Was the time reversal spell a failure after all? So, instead of his past self, had he entered someone else¡¯s body by mistake? No, then maybe this isn¡¯t the past at all? Could it be that only his soul has changed places with someone in the future? No matter how much he tried to deduce, without any clues, there¡¯s no way to find an answer. As he was pondering, Rifenhardt¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡®Come to think of it, why does this face seem somewhat familiar¡­?¡¯ Strange. Somehow, it feels like I¡¯ve seen this face somewhere before. It¡¯s definitely a face I¡¯ve never seen before, yet there¡¯s something strangely familiar about it. Those thick brown eyebrows, sturdy eyes, and stubbornly closed lips. Yeah, if that figure gets bigger, if the muscles swell more, and if a steel-like beard covers the chin¡­ ¡°Fist King Tesron?¡± Then it happened. The door burst open, and a majestic voice solidified his deduction. ¡°Tesron, you rascal! The sun is already at its zenith! Why aren¡¯t you out yet?¡± As he turned his head, Rifenhardt froze in place. ¡®Huh!¡¯ The one who shouted at him was an old man he had never seen before. With a height of 2.5 meters and muscles that looked like they would burst, whether that creature could be called a human or whether it was a stone statue painted with flesh-colored paint was debatable. The old man approached briskly. Rifenhardt was terrified by the clouds of muscles covering his field of vision. Even though he had dealt with giant monsters like ogres or minotaurs, this old man seemed different. The bodies of those brutes, which were somewhat fat and had a beer belly, at least had some humanity despite their large size. In contrast, this old man looked truly rectangular, with well-defined muscle lines and no unnecessary fat. If those brutes looked like rough sandstone, then this one looked like solid granite. The physique that Rifenhardt had thought was impressive and robust now seemed like that of a weak and delicate boy compared to this old man. That¡¯s how terrifying relative evaluation could be. The old man laughed heartily, his dazzling white hair and silver beard fluttering. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start the day joyfully again, shall we? Hehehe!¡± Once a synonym for terror that stained the continent, the demon king Rifenhardt trembled like a mouse in front of a cat as he asked with a trembling voice. ¡°Wh-who are you?¡± Little did he know, but the identity of the old man was none other than Gerald Crom Protheus, the master of the young Tesron, the strongest martial artist on the continent at the time. ¡î ¡î ¡î Today, as usual, Gerald was preparing for the day to train Tesron. However, for some reason, Tesron didn¡¯t crawl out to the training ground as usual. Angrily, he ran to grab the disobedient disciple. Time is precious, how can even a minute be wasted? As he burst into the disciple¡¯s room and stepped inside, he saw the disciple looking at himself in the mirror. Gerald¡¯s mood immediately improved. It was truly gratifying to see him checking his entire muscular body from head to toe so diligently in the morning. It was admirable to see him so focused on cultivating a more beautiful physique. So he cheerfully exclaimed. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start the day joyfully again, shall we? Hehehe!¡± But something seemed strange about the disciple¡¯s expression today. It wasn¡¯t the intimidating glare and the fiery gaze that usually pierced like flames. ¡°Wh-who are you?¡± ¡°Hmm? For some reason, you seem to be looking at me like you don¡¯t know me today?¡± Gerald chuckled. The disciple spoke again. ¡°I-I¡¯m really asking because I don¡¯t know¡­.¡± Gerald nodded as if understanding. Then kindly said. ¡°Tesron, Tesron. Haven¡¯t you used the excuse of amnesia twice already? You should know by now that it won¡¯t work. Ts ts.¡± The disciple¡¯s mouth fell open. It seemed like he was amazed. This time, his expression seemed quite vivid, and it felt quite realistic. It seemed like his acting skills had improved significantly. Gerald clicked his tongue. But he didn¡¯t want to blame the disciple. Gerald, too, understood well enough that their martial arts, Unbreakable Gym¡¯s training methods were harsh. After all, he himself had used all means and methods to escape when he was training under his master. However, once you reached the level of enlightenment, you couldn¡¯t help but feel moved by the profound meaning of your master¡¯s teachings, experiencing the effects of these training methods firsthand. Until then, it was the master¡¯s responsibility to forcibly lead the disciple to the pinnacle of ascension! Gerald reached out and grabbed the disciple¡¯s neck. Although the disciple already surpassed the stature of an adult, to him, who was 2.5 meters tall, he was still a small boy. Holding the back of his neck ¡®with one hand,¡¯ Gerald cheerfully said. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go to the training ground!¡± ¡î ¡î ¡î Deep in the mountains, amidst various deciduous trees, there are two log houses and a large open space located halfway up the mountain ridge. Although not well known to the public, it is the place where Unbreakable Gym, the lineage that produced the strongest martial artist on the continent for generations, is situated. Rifenhardt was hanging in midair, his neck grabbed by the muscular old man, Gerald. That posture was how he was being carried to the open space. Floundering desperately, Rifenhardt struggled, acutely feeling the emotions of a kitten being taken by its mother. But it was useless. This muscle old man was easily suppressing all his struggles with just one hand. Of course, Rifenhardt¡¯s mouth never stopped moving. He was a wizard, and wizards had a deeply ingrained habit of dealing with everything with their mouths. ¡°Wh-whoa, old man!¡± ¡°Hey, old man!¡± ¡°Excuse me, sir!¡± ¡°Please, just listen to me for a moment¡­¡± ¡°Hey! Are you deaf? When someone speaks, you should respond!¡± It was futile. The muscular old man ignored every word, as if it were the most natural thing to do. Upon reaching the training ground, Gerald released Rifenhardt and abruptly tied him to a giant wooden stake in the middle of the field. ¡°Huh? Wha-what?¡± With his arms bound behind him, Rifenhardt blinked in confusion. His posture looked ominously familiar. Wasn¡¯t this the position used when executing prisoners? Rifenhardt was about to shout in panic. ¡°Quiet.¡± With a brief word, Gerald gagged him. ¡°Mmm?¡± With his mouth blocked, Rifenhardt looked at Gerald in terror. Gerald grinned warmly and went to the other side of the field, returning with a large bamboo stalk. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin the training!¡± Then, Gerald clenched the bamboo stalk and spat on both hands. Rifenhardt¡¯s fear intensified. ¡°Ugh!¡± Gerald struck Rifenhardt¡¯s abdomen forcefully with the bamboo. Thud! ¡°¡­.!¡± It hurt like hell. Unable to scream, it felt even more painful. Trembling, Rifenhardt stared at the old man before him. ¡®What the hell is going on?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t understand the situation at all. And there seemed to be no chance of understanding. The beating continued mercilessly. The bamboo struck his thigh. It hurt even more. This time, it hit his side. It hurt so much that tears welled up. Known for its strength and elasticity, the southern bamboo was renowned for its viciousness. Gerald began to beat Rifenhardt¡¯s entire body with it relentlessly. Thud! Thud! Thud! ¡°¡­Aaargh!¡± With the gag in place, Rifenhardt screamed continuously and desperately. The beating was relentless, targeting every part of his body with high intensity. All thoughts of unfairness, confusion about the situation, or wondering how this happened vanished from his mind. ¡®Th-this. Maybe¡­I should just¡­¡¯ S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, Rifenhardt saw an apparition beckoning him from beyond the blue sky, urging him to come quickly. But he gritted his teeth. It felt too pathetic to think that he would die just after gaining a second chance at life. With a lingering sense of attachment to life, he struggled to clear his foggy mind. ¡®I can¡¯t die! Not like this!¡¯ Meanwhile, Gerald was puzzled. The sensation of defeating his disciple felt slightly different. It felt more satisfying than usual, like there was a bit more resistance? If he were just training his body as usual, there wouldn¡¯t be such a feeling. ¡®Is he really suffering from amnesia?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t particularly surprising. Since the training methods of Unbreakable Gym were often simple, brutal, and aggressive, temporary amnesia occasionally occurred. Gerald himself had experienced the loss of memory a few times during his training. [TL/N: BRO?? ] And as an experienced person, he knew the solution well. ¡®Sometimes, a good beating can jog the memory.¡¯ With that in mind, Gerald¡¯s strikes became even more severe. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The booming sound of the beating reverberated loudly under the clear sky. It was a soulful drum sound that truly touched the heart. And of course, given that the drum was imbued with a soul, the inevitable result followed. ¡®S-save meee!¡¯ [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 3 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 3 Unbreakable Gym had the most peculiar philosophy among all the martial arts schools on the continent. Usually, regardless of whether practitioners were warriors, knights, or martial artists, the basic principles of training remained the same. It involved refining breathing techniques, training the body, and mastering various techniques to increase overall proficiency as a martial artist. Although the methods varied greatly, resulting in different styles, the basic approach was generally similar. However, Unbreakable Gym¡¯s philosophy denied these basics. ¡°First, build a perfect body!¡± Shouting mercilessly as he beat Rifenhardt, Gerald declared. ¡°Humans use weapons because they are weak. They wear armor because their bodies are weak. They wield swords, spears, and axes because they lack claws and teeth. How foolish!¡± Even as he was being beaten, Rifenhardt was puzzled. Wasn¡¯t it normal for humans to use tools? Gerald immediately provided the answer. ¡°That is cowardice! It is the pathetic evasion of those who have not overcome their weaknesses! For a martial artist, it is imperative to train and overcome their weaknesses!¡± Rifenhardt¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment. In his fifty years as a Mage, he had never encountered such a simple and ignorant way of thinking. Fortunately, he was gagged, so his surprise was not apparent. Gerald continued speaking. ¡°So, first of all, we must create an unbreakable, perfectly indomitable body.¡± While relentlessly swinging his club, Gerald leisurely explained the philosophy of Unbreakable Gym. He repeated familiar stories because he judged that it would help Rifenhardt regain his memory more quickly, given his amnesia. Unbreakable Gym, like other schools, refused to combine physical training with technical training. Human life is short, and the state to be achieved is high and high. Going through this and that, when would one reach that state? ¡°It is said that the man who digs only one well will eventually succeed.¡± So, first, perfect the body. And when you train with that perfect body, since the body is in its prime state, you can easily acquire any skill, and you can also reduce the time it takes to correct bad habits, Unbreakable Gym argued. And the first step in creating that perfect body was to turn the body into steel. ¡°Human beings are like iron. When iron is hammered, it becomes stronger and tougher over time.¡± ¡®Why are humans like iron! From the start, there¡¯s a serious flaw in your logic!¡¯ Rifenhardt exclaimed, but Gerald¡¯s words were not entirely wrong. Indeed, human bones become stronger and muscles thicker and more durable with repeated impacts. Of course, there are limits to this. Most people would succumb to bone disease before reaching that point. However¡­ ¡°You are my chosen disciple. Trust me. Your body has no limits! It can become as strong as steel!¡± Not every human can become strong through training like this. Just as only high-quality iron can be forged into steel, one must be a person supported by the material to transform into a steel-like body. And this disciple was the possessor of the perfect material that Gerald himself had searched for throughout the continent for 30 years. With bones and muscles that easily surpassed human limits, he was truly a beastly creature. How happy Gerald must have been to discover this boy! ¡°Imagine. You are an immovable force. No force can shake you.¡± ¡®Ugh, what nonsense¡­¡¯ With a hearty shout, Gerald continued. ¡°Imagine yourself as unyielding. Nothing can shake you. The vast ocean accepts everything but changes not at all. It flows on, displaying its fierce power. That ocean is within you. Extract the ocean. Thus, obtain an unchanging body!¡± ¡®O-ocean¡­ the ocean¡­¡¯ Initially dumbfounded, Rifenhardt¡¯s mind became blank from the relentless beating, leaving him no room for complaints. In his subconscious, he followed Gerald¡¯s instructions and imagined the ocean. With no other choice, the pain somewhat subsided. After about three hours, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Gerald¡¯s beating finally came to an end. With a satisfied smile, Gerald untied Rifenhardt and removed the gag. ¡°Rest now. I¡¯ll prepare for the next step.¡± As soon as the rope was untied, Rifenhardt collapsed to the ground. In the past, such a fall would have surely resulted in a bloody nose, but with his resilient body, he barely left a mark. Even the pain was barely felt. Leaving Rifenhardt behind, Gerald strode confidently towards his log cabin. Watching his retreating figure with a blurry gaze, Rifenhardt breathed a sigh of relief. ¡®I¡¯m not dead. I didn¡¯t die even after such a beating!¡¯ So Rifenhardt felt grateful to Tesron, who had killed him. ¡®Thank you for being so sturdy. I¡¯m really grateful! Hehehe¡­¡¯ It had not even occurred to Rifenhardt that he would not have ended up like this if he had not had a body like this in the first place. Once inside the house, Gerald retrieved an item from the storage shed. It was a giant bathtub made entirely of marble, large enough to comfortably accommodate an adult. He filled the tub with water. Filling the tub with water was indeed a satisfying task. While ordinary people would fetch water with a bucket and laboriously transfer it to the tub, such a tedious process was unnecessary for this muscular old man. He simply carried the entire bathtub to the nearby pond, submerged it, and lifted it out again. With that huge, solid marble bathtub treated like a basin, he effortlessly poured water into it. Then, he poured a liquid and various herbs into the water. And then, he returned to Rifenhardt. Rifenhardt, who had been watching Gerald¡¯s actions intently, trembled in fear and asked, ¡°Wh-what are you doing?¡± ¡°What am I doing? Well, if you¡¯ve hammered iron, you need to cool it down.¡± With a nonchalant reply, Gerald grabbed Rifenhardt by the back of his neck. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Once again, it was that familiar ¡®mother cat carrying her kitten¡¯ gesture. It seemed like this old man only knew this method of handling people. Well, if a muscular old man like him were to carry his muscular disciple like a princess, it might be a horror story in its own right. ¡°Well then¡­¡± While holding onto his disciple¡¯s neck, Gerald activated his aura. The golden aura surged and rose before swiftly permeating Rifenhardt¡¯s entire body, turning him into a lump of metal. ¡°Ugh?¡± Feeling a strange sensation, Rifenhardt groaned. But even amidst the pain, he felt his body advancing at a terrifying speed. Since he had experienced a similar effect through previous magic, he could understand it better. It felt as if his body was being activated, his regenerative abilities were amplified, and his misplaced bones, stretched tendons, and swollen muscles were returning to their original positions. In simple terms, Gerald was currently healing and massaging his disciple¡¯s entire body with aura. Gerald¡¯s unique aura, typical of Unbreakable Gym, boasted the strongest efficacy in manipulating the body, hence possessing such effects. After briefly letting the aura flow and taking care of Rifenhardt¡¯s body, Gerald completely stripped his disciple¡¯s body and placed a large stem in his mouth. Of course, he still paid no attention to his disciple¡¯s consent. Rifenhardt, now too beaten to even protest, obediently bit the stem. Well, he had vaguely guessed what Gerald was doing when filling the bathtub with water. ¡®Why bother when I can undress myself?¡¯ But when he thought about it, he was currently in no condition to even lift a finger, let alone undress. Gerald did not have a hobby of undressing young male disciples for no reason. There was no energy left for rebellion; Rifenhardt just bit the stem obediently. Well, he had some idea when he filled the bathtub with water. ¡°Oh well, let¡¯s see each other in an hour.¡± Gerald grabbed Rifenhardt by the nape and dunked him into the bathtub up to his head, covering the lid. There was a hole in the lid just big enough for the stem to breathe through. Floating in the water, he looked around blankly. At first, he didn¡¯t realize, but on closer inspection, the contents of this water were no joke. ¡®Oh my god, healing potion, Gerel candel, gelatin, petals¡­¡¯ A healing potion was an item that required at least ten silver coins per bottle and could only be purchased at most Mage guilds. And to fill a bathtub with it? Although he had diluted it quite a bit with water, considering the amount of healing potion in it, it was truly an enormous quantity. There was a tale of a queen bathing in milk for skin beauty, but if that queen saw this, she could proudly boast of her frugality. Moreover, the herbs added were also expensive. In any case, immersing in it, he felt the wounds healing and his body recovering at an astonishing speed. At the same time, he keenly felt how strong he had become. ¡®It wasn¡¯t such an unreasonable training method¡­.¡¯ Training the entire musculoskeletal system to the point of not dying, then quickly healing the whole body with aura and healing potion. By doing so, the body would regenerate before bone diseases set in, becoming even stronger. ¡®Well, this must have been what kept the boy Tesron going all this time. In fact, this level might kill even a troll.¡¯ There was certainly a rational aspect to it, although he didn¡¯t want to admit it emotionally. No, why do you have to go this far to get stronger? Others can become stronger just by acting normally. ¡®Perhaps Tesron has been repeating this practice for the past few years?¡¯ He understood the power of Tesron, who was able to withstand his magic, much better now. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± A deep sigh passed through the hole. As the healing potion caressed his whole body, the pain gradually faded. Now that he could think a little, he had the leisure to grasp the situation. Immersed in the water, Rifenhardt calmly pondered. ¡®First of all, it¡¯s clear that this is the past¡­¡¯ Based on Tesron¡¯s age, it seemed to be about 30 years ago. Why he was reborn as Tesron¡¯s body was also a hypothesis. At the moment the time regression spell was activated, Tesron¡¯s attack pierced through the magic space and magical energy erupted. It must be the aftermath of that. ¡®Let¡¯s be quiet. Then what happened to me in this time period?¡¯ Rifenhardt¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. So, is there also a young Rifenhardt in this time period? Can two identical souls exist in the same time and space? According to the common sense of magic, that is impossible. But, breaking through time with magic is impossible as well. Already, from the point where Rifenhardt defied time, even that common sense became an unbelievable thing. ¡®In that case¡­¡¯ The brain of the Mage, who once sought the pinnacle of magic, began to spin rapidly. S?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 4 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 4 ¡®I can make two hypotheses.¡¯ The first is that the body possesses the soul of Rifenhardt from the future, and the current boy Rifenhardt coexists. And the second is¡­ ¡®Maybe the soul of Martial King Tesron has entered my body now?¡¯ Rifenhardt pondered. Even if he had reached the extremes of magic, he couldn¡¯t decisively determine which was more likely. Anyway, both were beyond the common sense of magic he had learned. ¡®The question is what impact this will have now.¡¯ He thought about it once again, considering another version of himself. No one knows what will happen when two identical souls come into contact. The identity of the soul is an immutable law that makes up the world. Unfortunately, there is also a possibility that one of the souls will disappear if things go wrong. As a wizard, Rifenhardt knew he had to consider even this worst-case scenario. But the boy Rifenhardt becoming an official wizard would not happen until at least 10 years later. Reflecting on the past, the current him was at a time when he was studying tirelessly at the Delfia Tower. ¡®At least for a while¡­ There shouldn¡¯t be any influence on each other.¡¯ And the second case. If Tesron had taken over Rifenhardt¡¯s body now? If Tesron had also regressed, he would likely remember the past and could deduce Rifenhardt¡¯s situation. Then, there was a high probability that he would target himself. ¡®Well, this side doesn¡¯t seem to be a big problem for now.¡¯ Tesron¡¯s strength originated from his body, but now his body was controlled by Rifenhardt. Even if Tesron remembered his prime, as long as his base body belonged to the frail young boy Rifenhardt, he wouldn¡¯t be able to return to power immediately. ¡®At least it¡¯ll take a few years. No, given the way he¡¯s training here, it might be impossible for a lifetime.¡¯ Unbreakable Gym¡¯s training method absolutely requires the assistance of a master. It¡¯s not a way to practice alone. ¡®No, if it¡¯s at Tesron¡¯s level, he might be able to figure out the practice on his own.¡¯ As he thought, his head became muddled. Anyway, it seemed necessary to confirm either way to properly devise a coping strategy. ¡®Anyway¡­ for now¡­ escaping from this hell¡­ seems urgent¡­¡¯ Rifenhardt¡¯s consciousness began to fade. Continuing to think was too exhausting for his body. Unconsciously, he fell into a deep sleep. Exactly an hour later, Gerald pulled Rifenhardt out of the bathtub. Then he threw dry clothes at him and shouted, ¡°Disciple! Let¡¯s eat!¡± Even after his physical body was healed, Rifenhardt was feeling a crazy hunger. So he smiled, put on his clothes and ran to Gerald. Escape was one thing, but right now, he needed to put something in his stomach urgently or he felt he couldn¡¯t hold out. And when Rifenhardt entered the room, despite expecting nothing more to be surprised about, he was surprised once again. ¡®Food? This?¡¯ Gerald¡¯s cooking was generous. It was truly a man¡¯s cooking. He simply chopped up a whole pig, threw it into a pot with various vegetables and grains, and roughly stewed it. Tossing a ladle at him, Gerald said, ¡°Get a spoon.¡± Looking at the merciless combination of liquid and chunks inside the pot, suspiciously resembling stew or something, Rifenhardt seriously struggled. Did he really have to eat this? ¡®No, more importantly, is this supposed to be a single serving?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t even two people eating the contents of this huge pot together. Gerald had already prepared a separate table for himself. It was a typical meal with bread, soup, meat, and vegetables all mixed together. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The portion was just enough for three or four average adults. Well, it was indeed a huge amount, but still within reasonable limits. Given Gerald¡¯s size, no one would complain about that amount. In contrast, the pot in front of Rifenhardt was on a different scale altogether. At this rate, it seemed like it could easily feed a whole squad of orc soldiers under the Antares Empire. Did he really have to finish all of this? Wasn¡¯t it a waste if he left some like earlier? ¡®Well, let¡¯s just eat it for now¡­¡¯ Astounded, Rifenhardt picked up the ladle (!). But after eating, it was surprisingly delicious. It didn¡¯t necessarily mean Gerald¡¯s skill was good. If the term ¡°side dish¡± were multiplied several hundred times, it could explain the current situation. A kind explanation from Gerald followed for his memory-impaired disciple. ¡°Your body is at its limit of exhaustion. So, you need to replenish it accordingly.¡± Rifenhardt ate the stew absentmindedly. At first, he wondered how he could eat it all alone, but once he started using the utensils, the food just kept going in. He couldn¡¯t believe how much food he was consuming endlessly. ¡®No, does this make sense? The law of conservation of mass?¡¯ Rifenhardt felt the breaking of the Mage¡¯s common sense as he emptied the pot. It was as if digestion was happening simultaneously as he ate. Then, Gerald cleared the pot and kindly suggested, ¡°Now, let¡¯s go for a light jog to aid digestion.¡± And the afternoon training began. Even to Rifenhardt, a Mage, the afternoon training seemed quite normal. First, he carried a heavy iron lump around his body for about an hour, then followed by ambiguous physical training such as push-ups with fingers, lifting weights, sitting down with a rock on his back, and getting up. Although the intensity was brutal, it was still understandable training, so this time, Rifenhardt obediently followed Gerald¡¯s instructions. Of course, he felt like he might lose consciousness several times in between. But even if his arms and legs felt like jelly, one word from Gerald immediately boosted his energy. ¡°Hmm? Tired, disciple? Shall we just continue with the morning training?¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± Rather than being beaten to death, lifting rocks was a hundred times better. Rifenhardt¡¯s enthusiasm soared. ¡î ¡î ¡î The sun set, and the grueling day finally came to an end. After tossing Rifenhardt, who had turned into a lump of lead, into the room, Gerald bid him a satisfied goodnight. ¡°You worked hard today, disciple. See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah, goodnight¡­ master¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡± Rifenhardt stared blankly at Gerald closing the door with a warm expression. It was a truly affectionate look, full of love for his disciple. ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person when I see that¡­¡¯ But no matter how good a person was, what did it matter? His head was filled with such malicious ideas! ¡®I¡¯m getting out of here right now! I¡¯ll escape by any means tonight!¡¯ Rifenhardt lay quietly on the bed for now. And he waited only for Gerald¡¯s room light to go out. Despite his body being reduced to mush, it demanded sleep fiercely, but he endured with his indomitable willpower. He was a Mage, after all, a race whose mental strength was unparalleled. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] The light in Gerard¡¯s room quickly went out. But Rifenhardt did not move right away. ¡®I can¡¯t move recklessly before he falls asleep deeply.¡¯ After forcibly keeping his eyelids open for about an hour, he finally moved. Carefully, he opened the window and cautiously made his way through the yard until the building was completely out of sight. He moved cautiously, aware of Gerald¡¯s exceptional senses. And finally, at the moment he crossed a hill. ¡®Let¡¯s run!¡¯ Rifenhardt ran fiercely towards the foot of the mountain. Thanks to his well-trained body, despite being exhausted and on the brink of collapse, once he started running, his speed quickly picked up. At a terrifying speed that would make most mountain animals cry, he ran through the mountain path frantically. To him, the seemingly crude training was not rational at all. Anyway, he had no intention of becoming a barbarian. His mind was filled with the most powerful magic of the time. He has to become the ultimate Mage of the 10th circle once again and rebuild the Antares Empire. Is this the time for him to build up his muscles? How long did he run? A light of unbridled joy shone on Rifenhardt¡¯s face as he ran tirelessly. ¡®Ah! Freedom! Finally escaped!¡¯ Just as the sense of relief was about to overwhelm him, ¡°Disciple, where are you going?¡± An elderly man was sitting on a rock in front of him, smiling broadly. ¡°Oops!¡± That monstrous old man! When did he come here in advance! Rifenhardt screamed inwardly as Gerald chuckled. ¡°You didn¡¯t run away for a month or two, but you finally did. Is this the ninth time? If you run away one more time, you¡¯ll fill two spots.¡± His expression showed no surprise at all that his disciple ran away. Apparently, Tesron had run away frequently too. Rifenhardt¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± It seemed hopeless. It just wouldn¡¯t work out like this. After a moment of contemplation, Rifenhardt raised his head. ¡°Excuse me, sir. I have something serious to say.¡± Gerald responded casually. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°In fact, I¡¯m not Tesron. My name is Rifenhardt. I¡¯m a Mage.¡± Rifenhardt then earnestly told his story of how he came to inhabit this boy¡¯s body and why. In fact, it was a story that should never be revealed. But Rifenhardt, who had already tasted hell, no longer cared. All he thought about was escaping from this place, nothing else. ¡°This is how it happened. So, I cannot be your disciple¡­¡± After finishing his story, Rifenhardt looked at Gerald and swallowed hard. Would the old man believe this story? And if he did, how would he accept the existence of an evil Mage who had usurped his disciple¡¯s soul? However, surprisingly, Tesron didn¡¯t seem surprised this time either. He just squinted his eyes and smirked. ¡°Oh, is that the story this time?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Last time, you said something about coming from another dimension. And before that? You were a master who was active on the legendary continent, and you were reborn here. Something like that, right?¡± [PR/N: 100% they were saying the truth but this old man¡¯s training ACTUALLY killed them .] And then, taking a step back, Gerland turned around abruptly and grabbed Rifenhardt by the back of his neck. Even though the 2.5-meter giant moved, he didn¡¯t seem to be visible at all. It was truly a terrifying and arrogant display of power. ¡°But this time, the setup is a bit more detailed. It¡¯s grown quite a bit. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to play the role of a poet as a hobby, disciple.¡± Rifenhardt despaired, hanging in the air. Even this was useless! Gerald kept chuckling. It seemed that Tesron had told many similar lies before. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go back and rest. You need a good night¡¯s sleep to endure tomorrow¡¯s training, don¡¯t you?¡± The expression on the old man¡¯s face as he walked away with his student in a pompous manner did not show the slightest suspicion that Rifenhardt might not be the real Tesron. And in fact, it didn¡¯t matter to Gerald. All he wanted was a sturdy body to endure Unbreakable Gym¡¯s training method. That was all that mattered. Whatever the content was, it didn¡¯t matter! ¡®This¡­ damn it!¡¯ Realizing this fact, Rifenhardt despaired. There seemed to be no way out of this hell. The world was all darkness. It was only natural, considering it was midnight. Hanging limply, returning to hell, Rifenhardt changed his mind. Although it was only a day of meeting, it taught him painfully that there was no way to communicate with this old man. Those words were useless. Quietly returning to the log cabin, Rifenhardt clenched his teeth and resolved, again and again. ¡®I failed today, but I will definitely escape tomorrow!¡¯ Yes, today¡¯s escape (?) failed. Admit it. But don¡¯t think about living trapped here. Even as he was thrown onto his bed, Rifenhardt didn¡¯t give up on escaping. He was so resilient that he would be called a demon king. But he couldn¡¯t give up so easily! And the next day. Once again, the morning in hell dawned. ¡°Arraaaghhh!¡± The boy¡¯s scream echoed painfully through the clear mountain sky. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 5 [Translator ¨C Night][Proofreader ¨C Gun] Chapter 5 Rifenhardt¡¯s daily routine was simple. When he woke up in the morning, he ate first. On the first day of his reincarnation, Gerald starved him and started training as a punishment because Rifenhardt¡¯s attitude was very strange, but once Rifenhardt became obedient, he took care of his disciple¡¯s body faithfully. Originally, meals were also an important part of Unbreakable Gym¡¯s training method. The meals here were nutritionally perfect, rich in high protein, high calorie, and various nutrients. The problem was that there was no consideration for taste. Once he ate breakfast, which he couldn¡¯t tell whether it was food, pig slop, or vomit from ruminating, he started getting hit. He got beaten to death. And then, after putting the healing potion and herbal cocktail in the bathtub like he was a dead body, he eats lunch like crazy again. That was the end of the morning training. Then in the afternoon, after intense muscle training, it was time for the dumb dinner. Evening training was the same as the morning. He got beaten to death, took a bath, and collapsed as if dead when night fell. It was a time of unimaginable hardship for Rifenhardt, who lived as a wizard. Of course, Rifenhardt tried to escape whenever he could. It was better to be called a demon king than to live here in this harsh hell. But it was completely useless. No matter what tricks Rifenhardt tried, the damn man would always find out and block his escape. And he said this. ¡°Disciple, I¡¯ve tried everything when I was a disciple under the master. I¡¯ve tried everything, so why wouldn¡¯t I know how you feel? But if you endure a little more, you¡¯ll see how you¡¯ll be rewarded.¡± In fact, there was know-how on ¡®preventing disciple escape attempts¡¯ accumulated over 130 years in Unbreakable Gym. Since there have been great martial arts masters among the past students, none of whom haven¡¯t cheated or tried to run away, they have all tried something different at least once. It was a great text on disciple education methods, reflecting 130 years of know-how, so no matter what Rifenhardt tried, he couldn¡¯t escape. Two months later. The man who was called the demon king for never giving up, Rifenhardt eventually gave up on escaping. Gerald¡¯s surveillance network was so persistent that even his beliefs built up over a lifetime were abandoned. And even if he escaped by some stroke of luck, with that man¡¯s personality, he would surely chase him to the ends of the continent. Anyway, he would end up being caught and brought back¡­ ¡®It¡¯s better to get permission and leave formally.¡¯ Fortunately, he remembered what state the future Tesron reached in the future. He even confirmed that the future Tesron was definitely alive. So, this body could surely endure this absurd training method and survive. And not just survive, but become the strongest martial artist of the time, a goal worth pursuing. It wasn¡¯t a bad deal at all when you thought about it. Knowing for sure that he would reach the highest level in the future, enduring this level of hardship wasn¡¯t so bad, was it? Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he was giving up on the path of a magician¡­ ¡®Well, wouldn¡¯t it be better to be a muscular and healthy magician rather than a frail magician?¡¯ Changing his mind, Rifenhardt resolved to take Gerald¡¯s teachings seriously. Well, to be honest, there wasn¡¯t much seriousness or self-righteousness. He just closed his eyes and endured the beating to death. ¡®And besides, that old man isn¡¯t a bad person.¡¯ Another reason Rifenhardt changed his mind was Gerald¡¯s attitude towards him. Gerald sincerely, truly cherished and loved his disciple. He was really full of affection and concern for Rifenhardt. His eyes were always filled with love and concern for his disciple. This devoted affection was something Rifenhardt had never experienced before. For a magician, teaching a disciple magic and showing extreme affection was absurd. Even to learn the most basic 1st circle spell, you had to live like a slave for at least three years, enduring your master¡¯s beatings. In contrast, Gerald even did his disciple¡¯s chores. He cooked his meals (whether you could call it cooking or not) and cleaned (if he had any energy left to clean, Gerald¡¯s opinion was that he should be beaten to death one more time and made to carry more rocks.) He didn¡¯t even charge tuition fees. He poured out astronomical amounts of money for his own expenses to educate Rifenhardt. It was too strange, so he even asked Gerald directly. Why would you do so much for me? Gerald answered with a puzzled expression. ¡°A master is like a parent. Isn¡¯t it natural for a master to do everything for a disciple who is like a child?¡± It was something unimaginable for a magician in a master-apprentice relationship. Growing up as an orphan without parents and spending his childhood under a magician, Rifenhardt felt awkward but strangely good about this affection. So even though he tried to run away later, he remembered Gerald¡¯s gaze and expression and folded himself. Well, to be honest, Gerald had his reasons too. He had finally found his successor after 30 years. This damn Unbreakable Gym had so many disciples who were beaten to death in the beginning that they were over two-digit numbers. So it was natural for him to cherish his disciple so much. The excessive violence was Rifenhardt¡¯s sadness, but there was no doubt that Gerald genuinely loved his disciple. That was something he didn¡¯t doubt at all. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. And so two years passed in the ¡®hell of overflowing love.¡¯ ¡î ¡î ¡î [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun] Today, Rifenhardt was tied to a stake, being beaten as usual. Slowly shedding his boyishness, his body was now completely different from two years ago. Now, being hit felt refreshing even with bamboo. There was no need to bite on a bit anymore. His jaw strength, trained as it was, was in a state where it could chew up any bit. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean the current beating training wasn¡¯t painful. Currently, Gerald was pounding his disciple with an iron mace instead of bamboo. ¡°Uh, ugh! Uh-huh!¡± Grinding his teeth, Rifenhardt conjured up an image. The image of strengthening the body, and his unique breathing technique. Enduring this relentless training was the only way to alleviate some of the pain. As he continued to take the beating, a strange sensation he had never experienced before suddenly surged through his whole body. ¡®Gasp!¡¯ A powerful energy surged from his lower abdomen, flowing through his limbs a hundredfold. He felt the energy filling his entire body, and the trained strength in his jaw was felt to the point where any bit could be chewed up. Rifenhardt unconsciously twisted his body. Crack! The thick iron chains that bound him (they were already unable to withstand Rifenhardt¡¯s brute strength) shattered, freeing his arms. Rifenhardt looked at his arms in disbelief. A faint golden aura hovered over his strong muscles. ¡°W-what is this?¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Gerald laughed heartily, patting Rifenhardt¡¯s shoulders with evident joy. ¡°Congratulations, my disciple. You have finally awakened your aura.¡± Aura, the essence of life. Those who reach a certain level can sense the world¡¯s energy, absorb it into their bodies, and transform it into their own power. Known as aura, this power can give enhanced strength to the body, capable of breaking rocks and leaping over fortress walls with ease. Furthermore, depending on how aura is manipulated, one can even regenerate the body or unleash long-range attacks, displaying powers akin to magic. The continent is vast, and martial artists are numerous, but those who reach the level of mastering aura are few and far between. Even basic aura manipulation, just enhancing the body using aura, could earn one the treatment equivalent to a knight-commander of a small country¡¯s knights. That¡¯s how esteemed and powerful aura users are. ¡®Goodness, is this the aura I¡¯ve only heard about?¡¯ Rifenhardt couldn¡¯t believe it himself as he scanned his entire body. He had only heard that even Cyrus the Sword Saint only awakened his aura in his late twenties. And that was considered an unprecedented leap forward, earning him praise as a genius. Yet here was Rifenhardt, not even twenty years old, awakening his aura? But Gerald¡¯s expression seemed to take it for granted. ¡°Why are you so surprised? With our training method at Unbreakable Gym, this is only natural. I¡¯ve been thinking it¡¯s about time.¡± Indeed, unless the effects were this good, there would be no need to undergo such brute training. Silently acknowledging this, Rifenhardt nodded his head. But suddenly, Gerald struck Rifenhardt¡¯s abdomen with the steel mace he was holding. Boom! Rifenhardt just watched blankly as a destructive force that could crush even a rock pounded his abs. Something did hit him, but¡­ Gerald chuckled. ¡°How is it? It shouldn¡¯t hurt anymore, right?¡± ¡°Yes, master¡­¡± Rifenhardt replied with a hoarse voice. ¡°Wow, all the suffering was worth it.¡± All the suffering up until now flashed through his mind like a spark. If this was the reward he could get from such horrible hell, then it was worth it. He thought he would be grateful to Gerald when he reached the level in the future, and it seemed like Gerald wasn¡¯t just making empty promises. Gerald proudly shrugged his shoulders. ¡°By striking the entire body, you continue to train the body while stimulating the survival instinct. The strong will to live enhances one¡¯s vitality, and that increased strength ultimately manifests as aura. Although the process is painful, there is no more efficient way to awaken aura on the continent! What do you think, my disciple? Do you now understand the excellence of this training method?¡± Gerald threw the steel mace to the ground. There was no longer any need for such a thing. ¡°It¡¯s about time to finish the striking training.¡± Finally, the painful days were over! Rifenhardt smiled with joy. He was happy to have awakened his aura, but he was even happier to realize that there would be no more beatings. Gerald grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next stage. It¡¯s time for technical training.¡± Ah, now he would learn some normal martial arts. That meant he could soon retire, right? For the past two years, he had done nothing but build muscles and take beatings. He hadn¡¯t properly learned how to punch or kick. Rifenhardt, burning with enthusiasm, asked. ¡°What is technical training, master?¡± Gerald raised his fist with a smirk. ¡°A free spar with me.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Speechless, Rifenhardt looked up at his master¡¯s fist. The two fists, reminiscent of a dwarven steel hammer, were emitting a faint golden aura. It seemed different in quality from Rifenhardt¡¯s faint aura. ¡®How painful would it be to be hit by that?¡¯ Rifenhardt soon felt the answer firsthand. ¡°Aaaah!¡± Rifenhardt despaired as he felt Gerald¡¯s ¡®hawk of love¡¯ frantically digging into his vital areas. ¡°The hell of overflowing love¡± was not over. It was just beginning. [Translator ¨C Night] [Proofreader ¨C Gun]