Growth
A resounding boom echoed as the brown-haired young knight swung his massive hammer through the air, whipping up a small gust of wind.
Hummmmm. The faint blue mana-infused gust merged with six others he'd created moments before, swiftly coalescing into a towering whirlwind over ten meters tall that roared with ferocious momentum.
Kaboom!
A little more... just a little more!
Tiny, at the whirlwind's eye, clenched his teeth and strained to control his mana. He was forcing the mana drawn from his body and weapon to obey his will.
Though commonly called a Blader because swordsmen dominated the ranks, the essence of a 4th-stage mana user lay in extending physical force beyond arm's reach through mana. The popular mana blade was merely a fragment of that truth—and if wielded properly, even knights could pull off feats rivaling a mage's spells.
The catch? He wasn't a full Blader yet. He was still hammering at that wall.
"Raaagh!"
Veins bulging across his flushed face, Tiny summoned every ounce of strength and stomped forward.
Thud.
This time... I'll break through for sure!
As the training ground's stone floor cracked with a sharp crunch, Stamp surged once more, loaded with immense power, toward the heart of his self-made storm.
Boom!
The mana-laced whirlwind doubled in size in an instant.
"Hah!"
The blue mana gradually shifted to red, then blazed into a vivid sunset hue as the whirlwind rocketed in the hammer's direction.
Kaboom!
Carving a wide, deep furrow across the stone floor and sucking up debris, the vortex slammed into the wall and erupted in a spectacular blast.
Kraaaang!
Kaboom!
The deafening explosion spiderwebbed cracks across the wall, sending stone shards flying. For a strike that left only superficial scars relative to the noise, it was no small feat in a colossal training hall fifty meters wide and ten meters high.
"I did it! Hahaha!"
Following Lightning Drop, the second secret technique of the Herculean Knight: Storm Swing. Though less potent in raw power, its sweeping area made it ideal against groups. Tiny, mana glowing like a beautiful sunset, burst into triumphant laughter.
But soon after.
Crackkk.
A bone-snapping sound ripped through him, followed by searing pain from head to toe.
"Hup!"
Shaking off beads of cold sweat, Tiny took deep breaths to dull the agony. It was routine for him, if not others.
The enhanced Mana Body is reshaping my flesh to match its level.
His body was growing tougher, denser, more resilient. Forcing a technique reserved for Bladers and beyond meant his flesh was evolving to keep pace with his soul, however slightly.
Only now did the realm of elite knights—those who wielded mana flawlessly—feel truly real.
And with it.
Grrrowl.
Hunger hit like a freight train. It was his body's craving, but also his Mana Body's. A signal that it lacked the nutrients and mana to forge an even stronger, denser form.
Heh. Guess I'll be stuffing my face like a madman for a while again.
Since entering the capital and adopting his disguise, he'd restrained himself to avoid drawing eyes. But now? No choice.
Tempering his body was the foundation for his next breakthrough. Skimp on fuel now, and mana might erode his frame, leaving lingering damage.
"Well, the wedding's not far off anyway."
What did a little attention matter now? Muttering to himself, he turned—and spotted Jenas smiling from behind, unnoticed until then.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"You've ascended realms, and tamed it in this short time? Your talent truly knows no bounds, To... ahem, Toren."
The belated applause suggested he'd waited to avoid interrupting. Noticing him late amid his focus, Tiny bowed politely.
"...Sir Jenas, what brings you here?"
"His Grace ordered me to watch. Said you were on the verge of breaking through soon."
"Ah..."
Jenas stumbled over the alias, still unfamiliar, then chuckled and clapped Tiny's shoulder.
"His Grace's tutelage is unmatched, as expected. How about it? Sparring's best for stabilizing a realm. Care to go a round?"
Tiny knew it was friendly, but "tutelage" made his teeth grind instinctively.
Damn that old bastard!
With good reason. Post-emperor chat, the duke's demeanor shifted—he'd started drilling Tiny mercilessly.
Regretting ever mentioning Mana Body's trait of imprinting lessons from battling superiors. He rued it several times daily.
-I could advance steadily with time the orthodox way, so why...!?
-Wouldn't faster growth be better!?
Dismissing the trainee's input, it bordered on abuse. Sure, it accelerated his ascent by months, but Tiny couldn't call it pleasant.
I'll fuck him up someday, that geezer...!
His inner rage leaked killing intent toward the man before him, unwittingly.
"...Just say no if you don't want to. Hmm... Regardless, mind your basic manners, Toren. That's proper."
Seeing Jenas step back, disappointed, Tiny waved frantically.
"N-No, it's not that—the old... I mean, His Grace just came to mind...!"
But the excuse backfired.
"Thinking of His Grace inspires killing intent...?"
Caught off-guard by Jenas's narrowed gaze, Tiny deflected haphazardly.
"Ah, uh, ha, haha... I'm just starving. Doesn't hunger make you irritable?"
"...Pardon?"
The "you beast?" look made Tiny's smile more awkward.
"Ah, haha. I'm like that. Thanks for the concern, but I need food more than a spar right now."
"Right now?"
"Special constitution—gotta eat big."
Grrrowl.
His stomach's timely roar drew Jenas's eye.
"Hm. Well, join me for a meal then. I have news anyway."
"...Pardon?"
"Follow me. Excellent restaurant near the mansion. My treat."
"N-No, that's..."
"Hm? You look reluctant. Like earlier—did I offend you greatly, Toren?"
"No, it's just... I eat a ton. Can't we use the mansion's dining hall?"
Tiny proposed compromise, pained.
"No, not for this talk. My spot gives private rooms. Just come."
Grrrowl.
"B-But... I can't portion-control right now. Fancy places like that, the bill..."
Tiny's earnest plea met Jenas's grin.
"Blue Wing's captain draws a fine salary. One meal? I could cover a hundred men like you."
...If you insist.
Grrrowl.
"Let's go. Hurry."
His gut bellowed no mercy for wallets.
* * *
Chomp. Chomp.
"Mmm. Wow, this place is delicious!"
Slurp. Slurp.
"Five more steaks!"
Crunch.
Smack. Smack.
"Last, three more of these..."
Lick. Lick.
"Dessert now...?"
Over two hours of shoveling food, as Tiny eyed sweets.
Crunchhh.
Jenas's silver utensil crumpled beyond recognition in his grip.
The noise snapped Tiny's senses back. He glanced sideways sheepishly.
"...Think I'm good. Haha... Belly's full now! Ha, ha..."
Too late for tact. Even averted, Jenas's side-eye burned.
Staring like a blood enemy, Jenas sighed after a beat, relaxing his glare. But his first words?
"H-How can a person... devour over 150 servings in one sitting...? Hmph."
His face flushed anew mid-sentence.
...You said it was fine!
Injustice burned, but with Jenas grinding teeth, Tiny bowed his head.
"You're probably the only one who's dined out duo and paid in gold units. What kind of monster...!"
As Jenas vented fury, Tiny's mind drifted inward.
Hummm.
His hyper-compressed stomach and Mana Body demolished the feast at blinding speed. Nutrients fueled proper growth and stabilization—he felt it keenly.
A smile crept unbidden to his lips.
A few more days like this, and my body's complete. Probably...
To prep for Expert, his weight would double again, compressing mightily before qualitative growth halted.
Height too, a bit more...
No huge regret despite slow gains post-feast. He'd learned early post-regression: raw bulk meant little; compressed durability, elasticity, mass mattered.
His superhuman weight? No worry.
Plus, gravity control from 1/16th to 16x now.
Defaulting light, his uncompressed frame felt featherweight—adult woman average if lifted.
Once body perfected and mana swelled more, anyone short of a superhuman was fair game.
And that's just Blader me...!
Miraculous growth in just over a year post-regression. Pride swelled naturally.
But he'd blanked on the present.
"...Smiling?"
Jenas, ever the stickler for etiquette and honorifics, eyed him with half-mad glare.