Chapter 67: Will

Neolan took his stance at his father’s words, swallowing hard as he recalled the warning. ’In my previous life, I had never faced Father’s attacks because I had been disowned by the family, just like every Noble family does to a son or daughter who fails their Awakening.’

He had only witnessed the destructive power his father possessed from a distance, back when he had grown into the Shadow Sword. Now, he was finally going to face that same man, no, the same Monster, and he needed to prepare himself with everything he had.

Without hesitation, his remaining Astrine Energy surged from his abdomen, enhancing his physical strength severalfold. Bifrost disappeared from his hand as he stood with focused eyes, preparing himself to endure whatever his father was about to unleash.

’This will help me with my cultivation foundation very well’, He knew that facing such overwhelming pressure would be dangerous, but it was also an opportunity to improve himself.

With that, his father removed his hand from the sword hilt at his waist and remained silent for a long moment. He simply stood there with his eyes closed, making no movement as Neolan waited for him to begin.

The silence lasted only briefly, but it was enough for Neolan to gather his concentration and prepare himself for the pressure he was about to face.

Then... his father’s eyes snapped open, and the moment that happened, an unimaginable pressure descended upon the entire training room. The platform beneath both Neolan and Ranson shattered in an instant, unable to withstand the force bearing down upon it. Neolan, on the other hand, was already down on both knees, his teeth clenched as he struggled to comprehend how such pressure could be his father’s weakest.

"KHUG! COUGH!"

Neolan’s eyes widened as he coughed up blood under the pressure. All the defenses he had established using his Astrine Energy had been shattered before his knees even touched the holographic platform, leaving him unable to withstand the force directly.

Even in the middle of his suffering, he couldn’t help wondering how a platform that wasn’t made from any physical material to begin with could shatter like that.

’Ughhhh!’ He clenched his teeth even harder, his knuckles turning white as he tried to endure the pressure. He could deflect it by using Spiritual Qi, but he would never do that in front of his father, as Ranson would immediately notice the difference and become suspicious.

For now, he had to rely on his Astrine Energy and find another way to withstand the pressure without revealing anything about his cultivation in the other world.

Ranson’s eyes remained fixed on his son as he watched him struggle to endure the pressure. ’He still hasn’t realized it...’, Ranson thought, narrowing his eyes before increasing the pressure even further.

Neolan immediately felt the effects, as though his internal organs were about to burst under the overwhelming force. His body was already approaching its limit, but his father showed no intention of stopping.

His Ultimate Comprehension was already searching for a way to completely deflect or reflect the pressure, yet it seemed unable to find an answer. Every time his mind examined a possible solution, his thoughts drifted toward the easier methods involving Spiritual Qi.

Neolan shut his eyes tightly as blood began flowing from his nostrils and ears, forcing himself to think despite the pain, ’Think! Think outside the box!’

He immediately discarded even the thought of using Spiritual Qi to endure the pressure. Instead, his mind began searching for answers within his Astrine Blade and Talent, the very things he had rarely relied upon compared to his cultivation.

In both his previous life and this life, he had depended so heavily on Qi and cultivation that he had almost neglected Bifrost and the applications of his Talent, ’Is... that why I was so far behind Father in my previous life?’

The realization struck him almost instantly. ’I couldn’t reach the Thirteenth Evolution because I neglected the usage of my Talent and its applications.’ His Ultimate Comprehension finally began focusing on this overlooked aspect of his abilities, searching for an answer that he had never properly considered before.

Meanwhile, the pressure continued bearing down on him until his eardrums ruptured, leaving him completely unable to hear anything.

"GAH!"

His eyes widened again, but he continued holding on despite the pain. His mind kept churning, searching for a way to use his Talent rather than relying on the cultivation methods he already knew. Then, something suddenly struck him, and his thoughts focused on the very name of his Talent, ’My Talent... everything is in its very name, Severance.’

His insight broadened in an instant. In his previous life, he had only known the two techniques he had used until now: the Dome of Infinity and Zero Line. Apart from those two techniques, almost everything he understood about combat and power came from the cultivation techniques he had learned and relied upon throughout his life.

But now, he was beginning to see a much broader range of possibilities in his own Talent.

’If Shadow Severance is really the name of my Talent, and Bifrost clearly represents Shadow, then what about Severance?’ He questioned himself inwardly, remembering that he had only used the Severance aspect through one technique, Zero Line.

Despite having relied on that technique for so long, he had never given much thought to the true meaning of Severance or what it could allow him to accomplish.

’Severance means... to cut down anything.’ Just as that thought formed, Ranson increased the pressure even further, causing Neolan’s breathing to stop for a long moment. Yet his thoughts continued despite the worsening condition of his body.

’It means... I have the potential to cut down Anything!’ He shouted inwardly, and a sudden white aura began leaking from his body, marking the first visible manifestation of the realization he had just reached.

Ranson narrowed his eyes for a moment before a smile appeared on his face.

’...He has finally grasped it, the Will of his own Talent.’ The moment he thought that, all the pressure in the room vanished, and something invisible seemed to pass through Ranson’s entire body. He neither frowned nor showed any confusion at what had happened, remaining where he stood with the same smile as he watched his son slowly rise to his feet.

"You have finally come to the answer." Neolan managed to stand up completely, although his legs and hands continued trembling from the pressure he had endured. He lifted his head and looked at his father with his bloodied face, trying to understand what had just happened. Ranson continued speaking, his expression remaining composed as he explained the reason behind the ordeal.

"Although this type of realization usually takes decades, you do not have that much time. I had to create this situation for you to grasp the Will of your own Talent and learn to manipulate it on your own earlier than the normal time it takes." Neolan’s eyes widened briefly before he lowered his gaze toward his hands.

He could see the unfamiliar white aura surrounding them, something he had never witnessed before, ’Is... this what Father is talking about? Will?’

Ranson’s heavy voice sounded again as he explained, "That is the physical representation of your Will. It is still incomplete, but you have grasped the core of it." Neolan shifted his eyes toward his father once more and nodded at the explanation, trying to absorb what he had learned while his body was still recovering from the pressure.

Just as he was about to clench his fist and examine the white aura more closely...

THUMP! THUMP!

His entire body suddenly went numb, and his eyes widened before he collapsed onto the shattered platform, ’...Damn it.’

With that Last thought, Neolan went unconscious.