Chapter 227 — Progress

Damian frowned.

"Why does everyone react like that? High-rank people must have high Willpower too, right?"

Gregor recovered first, shaking his head slowly.

"Kid... let me explain something fundamental. While high-rank awakeners do develop higher Willpower, its potential and growth are extremely limited compared to physical attributes or Aura capacity."

His voice became more serious.

"It takes decades – literally decades – to hone your Will to significant levels. Most people spend their entire lives barely moving the attribute."

Vash jumped in, his blunt style making the explanation clearer.

"All of us took decades to reach states where we could actively use Will to accelerate our growth. I struggled the most because my talent is lowest, so I had to rely heavily on Will development."

Gregor continued.

"And we’re not normal examples. We’ve been fugitives for years, involved in countless life-or-death situations and forced to develop mental strength just to survive. We’re anomalies."

His scarred face showed the weight of experience.

"That’s why you don’t hear about people breaking talent limits regularly. It happens, but it requires exceptional circumstances. We spent decades developing what you apparently have naturally at sixteen."

Castor’s analytical voice added context.

"Talent still plays a major role in overall progression. We’re not dismissing its importance. What we’re saying is that your combination of S rank talent AND exceptional Willpower is... unusual. Potentially unique."

Yara’s gentle voice carried warmth.

"You’re just starting, Damian. Take your time. Good things always require time to develop properly. Rush too fast and you’ll create weaknesses in your foundation."

Her healer’s insight showed.

"We see immense potential in you. Don’t waste it by being impatient."

The weight of their combined experience and genuine care settled over Damian.

’I keep thinking I’m behind, that I need to rush. But maybe... maybe I’m already ahead in ways I don’t fully understand.’

Then the other three vanished – literally, their S rank speed making the departure instantaneous – leaving just Damian and Vash in the courtyard.

Crack! Crack!

Vash cracked his knuckles, his bald head reflecting moonlight.

"Alright, kid. Let’s talk about Physical Control."

****

[Physical Control Explanation]

Vash settled into teaching mode, his normally blunt personality becoming more focused.

"Physical Control works parallel to Aura Control. Just like Aura Control is ranked from F to S+, so is Physical Control. It measures how precisely you can command your body."

He demonstrated by raising his hand, fingers moving in impossible patterns.

"At F rank, you have basic coordination, E rank gives athletic precision and D rank provides combat-ready reflexes and better muscle control."

His demonstration became more complex.

"C rank lets you control individual muscle groups independently. B rank achieves perfect kinetic efficiency – no wasted movement at all."

Damian watched carefully, his analytical mind absorbing every detail.

"A-rank is where it gets interesting. You can control internal organs, regulate blood flow and manipulate cell activity consciously. Your body becomes a precision instrument."

Vash’s muscles rippled in ways that shouldn’t be anatomically possible.

"And S rank – which I’ve achieved – lets your body become a weapon itself. Harden skin like armor, regulate pain perception and control every aspect of your physical existence."

He looked at Damian seriously.

"Among humans, I’m probably one of the best in Physical Control. I’m at S+ rank in this specific field."

Damian’s mind was already racing with applications.

"Have you developed skills based purely on physical prowess?"

Vash nodded.

"Most of my combat abilities are body-based. Strength, speed and vitality – all enhanced through internal Aura integration and physical mastery."

Then his expression became slightly embarrassed.

"But there’s a major downside to this path. Your body goes through tremendous injuries during training and combat. Even with healing potions, hidden injuries accumulate. Damage that healers can’t detect or fix properly."

His voice carried frustration.

"Over decades, these micro-injuries compound, create weaknesses and limit your ceiling eventually."

Damian remained silent for a moment, studying Vash’s muscular frame, seeing the slight asymmetries that spoke to old injuries compensated for but never truly healed.

"Can’t you develop a self-healing skill to address complex injuries that external healers can’t reach? It would take time, but you know your body better than anyone. You could target specific damage."

Vash looked at Damian with absolute seriousness.

"...I’m dumb."

Damian’s face showed complete stupefaction.

"...what?"

"I’m a fool who doesn’t understand complex things. That’s why I just smash problems. All my skills are imitations of things I’ve seen others do. And honestly... I haven’t created many original skills."

His admission was completely genuine, showing no shame and just honest self-assessment.

"..."

Damian stood speechless for several seconds.

"Why not get someone to teach you then? Like Yara. She specializes in healing. She could help you develop something."

Vash shook his head.

"Her skills are too complex. I can’t understand the theory. My brain doesn’t work that way."

Damian processed this, then made a decision.

"Watch carefully."

He activated his Self-Healing skill, his Aura flowing through his body in specific patterns, demonstrating the technique he’d developed through trial and error.

The skill was simple – almost crude compared to professional healing techniques. Just directing Aura to damaged areas, accelerating natural recovery, nothing fancy.

But it worked.

Vash’s eyes went wide, his entire body tensing as he observed every detail.

"Kid... this is so easy and so straightforward! What rank can this reach?!"

Damian shrugged.

"I’ve only managed to develop it to A rank effectiveness. It’s not the best – just ensures I survive injuries that would kill others. It takes time to work, but it’s reliable. I keep it running passively during fights."

Vash opened and closed his mouth several times, his mind clearly struggling with something.

’What the fuck! Is this kid insane?! How is this ’not good’? Does he not understand how difficult creating original skills is?! Most awakeners spend decades trying to develop a single functional technique!

And he’s dismissing an A rank self-healing skill as ’not the best’?!’

He looked at Damian with complex eyes, seeing the young awakener in a completely new light.

"I’ll... I’ll learn this from you. Properly... And then teach it to the others. Maybe get Yara to refine it or develop variations. She’s a genius and doesn’t understand how dumb people like me think – this practical example should be perfect for her to work from."

His voice became more genuine.

"Thank you... Seriously. This could solve problems I’ve dealt with for decades."

****

[Training Montage - Two Weeks]

Day 1:

Vash had Damian stand completely still.

"Feel every muscle, every tendon and every bone. Map your body in your mind."

Damian closed his eyes, his perception turning inward.

His enhanced body from the Devourer Art responded differently than normal humans. Denser muscle fibers, reinforced bone structure and enhanced organ function.

But his control was crude, like having a sports car engine with bicycle-level steering.

Day 3:

"Tense your left bicep. Only your left bicep. Nothing else should move."

Damian tried as his entire left arm tensed, shoulder included and posture shifting.

"Again."

Again and again and again... Hours of isolating single muscle groups.

Day 5:

"Now do it while moving. Walk normally while keeping your right calf completely relaxed."

The difficulty increased exponentially. Damian stumbled, his coordination failing.

"Your body has power it doesn’t know how to use. You’re fighting yourself. Wasting energy compensating for lack of control."

Day 7:

Damian could control individual muscle groups while stationary. It was a good progress, but not enough.

"Hit the post. Only use your arm with no shoulder rotation and no hip drive, just pure arm strength."

Bam

The punch was pathetic compared to his full power. But that was the point.

"Again... Isolate the power and learn to use only what you need."

Day 10:

"Your Devourer Art enhanced your organs too. Can you feel your heart? Your lungs?"

Damian focused inward, his perception diving deeper.

Yes. His heartbeat was stronger than normal and faster than it should be at rest.

"Slow it down. Consciously."

It took an hour. But eventually, his heart rate dropped, responding to his Will rather than just autonomic function.

Day 14:

Damian’s status screen updated:

Body Control: C

The difference was night and day!

He stood in the courtyard, facing Vash, and threw a punch.

The movement was clean with no wasted motion. Every muscle firing in perfect sequence. The power transferred efficiently from legs through core through arm to fist.

Boom!

The wooden post he struck didn’t just break – it exploded into splinters from concentrated force.

Vash grinned, his bald head gleaming with sweat from demonstrating.

"Now you’re getting it! That’s what proper control looks like. Imagine what you’ll do when you reach B rank or higher."

Damian looked at his fist, feeling the difference.

’I’m not stronger than before. It’s the same attributes and the same Aura. But I’m using my strength properly now.

This is what I was missing!’

****

[Two Weeks Later - Final Training Session]

Damian and Vash stood in the courtyard as the sun set, both covered in sweat from the day’s intensive training.

"The tournament is in a few days," Vash said, his voice carrying uncharacteristic seriousness. "You’ve made good progress, but C rank Body Control is just the beginning."

He looked at Damian directly.

"Keep training this even during the tournament preparation. It’ll make you exponentially more effective in combat."

Damian nodded, his respect for the blunt S rank awakener having grown considerably.

"Thank you, Vash. For everything."

Vash waved it off, uncomfortable with gratitude.

"Just don’t waste what you’ve learned. And remember – strength without control is just useless. You’re finally turning that potential into real power."

He paused, then grinned.

"Now go show those Academy brats what proper body strength looks like. Make us proud, kid."

Damian smiled, feeling ready.

The tournament was approaching.

And he was stronger than ever – not just in power, but in the ability to actually use that power effectively.