[Scanning]
[Scannig…complete]
[Subject: Dylan, the unknown energy is circulating in his body using three meridian pathways]
[Subject: Rezi, the unknown energy is circulating in his body using two meridian pathways]
[Subject: Kiso, the unknown energy is circulating in his body using two pathways.]
Aris's eyes darted between the three as he processed the results.
Dylan has a technique that awakens three meridian pathways… no wonder he's ahead of the others. He's using a rare technique.
Rezi and Kiso both using two meant their breathing techniques weren't simple either, but Dylan had already pulled ahead.
Three meridian pathways meant broader development—possibly even the start of a foundation for full-body enhancement.
From the book Fred had given him, Aris fully understood the ins and outs of the squire stage in the knighthood system.
To become a knight, two conditions had to be met.
First, the squire needed to possess knightly potential—an innate trait. Without it, no amount of training or discipline would matter. A body without potential simply couldn't withstand the transformation that came from awakening a meridian.
Second, the squire had to fully awaken one meridian pathway. That was the minimum requirement for advancing into knighthood.
According to the book, the human body contains twelve core meridians, each representing a unique channel through which internal energy could circulate.
But the truth was sobering—most breathing techniques circulating in the world only allowed the awakening of one meridian pathway, sometimes two, or three meridians at most.
Still, for a squire, awakening just one meridian was enough to qualify for knighthood. Anything more was considered exceptional.
There were rare breathing techniques that allowed for the partial awakening of multiple meridians—usually two or three.
Those who trained using such techniques developed a broader, more stable foundation. Their bodies could adapt better over time, with improved balance across strength, endurance, and reflex.
But this path wasn't without its drawbacks.
Because the energy had to be distributed across multiple channels, the improvement in any single area was slower. Energy didn't hit as hard or as fast. Power came gradually, not explosively.
Still, those with patience and access to such techniques were often considered to have long-term potential and stronger combat power in the later stages.
"What about my technique, Zona?" Aris asked inwardly. He had a strong guess, but he wanted confirmation.
[You are currently practicing a breathing technique that activates one meridian pathway: the Leg Meridian.]
Aris nodded slightly as he now realized. "So that's why I was able to run without getting tired…" It all made sense to him now. The increased stamina, the lightness in his steps—it was the result of his first meridian starting to awaken.
"Zona," he said as he took the last piece of meat from the plate, his eyes still on Dylan and the others. "What would happen if I copied the meridian pathways they're using and merged them with my current breathing technique?"
He then turned his forward looking at the meat and continued conversing with Zona "Can I even do that? And if so, what are the downsides? The advantages?"
Zona responded without hesitation.
[Theoretically possible. You currently operate a single-pathway breathing technique: Leg Meridian. Integrating additional meridian pathways would expand energy circulation and broaden physical development.]
[Advantages: Enhanced bodily balance, better long-term foundation, increased adaptability in combat.]
[Downsides: Energy distribution will reduce concentrated gains. Internal strain may occur if the body is not properly conditioned. Merging techniques from different meridian routes may cause instability if synchronization fails.]
Aris's mind raced as he absorbed the data.
So it was in the realm of possibilities but dangerous.
If he added new meridian pathways slowly, if he learned to circulate energy through them alongside his current one, he could create a technique that covered more ground than anything the other squires had.
It wouldn't give him explosive growth in one area like Dylan, but he'd build something deeper. Broader.
And More complete.
"Zona, is it possible to copy their pathways exactly and bind them into my breathing rhythm?"
[Yes. With sustained observation and controlled mimicry, their meridian flows can be mapped and layered into your current sequence. Integration must occur one at a time. Synchronization required.]
Aris looked down, bitterness tightening in his chest at Zona's responses. "Again… my weak, thin body is limiting my chances of growing stronger," he thought, jaw tight.
But he didn't let the frustration win.
"No. I'll stick with one meridian pathway for now until all my body stats reach 1.0."
He paused, then glanced at his plate—the faintly warm, energy-rich meat still half steaming in the center.
"How long would it take?" he asked inwardly. "For my body to reach stats of 1.0… with the breathing technique and…"
He picked up the meat, took a bite, and let the rich, savory aftertaste settle on his tongue before swallowing.
"…and this meat."
[Calculating based on current intake and training intensity…]
[Estimated time to reach 1.0 average in Strength, Agility, and Physique: 23 days.]
Aris blinked, surprised.
"Thatsoon?"
[Estimation assumes consistent breathing practice, three meals per day containing the meat with the unknown energy, and no training interruptions.]
"Which means it'll probably take longer," Aris muttered internally, already adjusting his expectations. Because the meat was only served every breakfast the calculations of Zona had some errors.
Still, 23+ days was better than months. And even if it took longer, now he had a short-term goal.
After breakfast, the squires returned to training as usual. The drills were relentless—no breaks, no mercy.
The next day, Aris woke early, just like the other days. They ran to the training ground in silence, the same heavy routine dragging their bodies forward. The following day was no different. And the next day. And the next.
Day after day, the cycle repeated.
Morning runs. Grueling drills. Sparring. Archery. Lifting. Hidden Breathing. Pain.
No one questioned it. There was no room to.
Three weeks passed.
By now, the pain Aris used to feel had dulled considerably. The runs no longer felt a torture. The drills no longer left him gasping on the ground. His body became more fit, it was now— sharper, faster, and more responsive.
After the training session, Aris sat alone under the shadow of the wall of the fortress, as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. His breath was steady.
His hands no longer trembled. And for the first time in weeks of not conversing with Zona, the moment to ask had arrived.
"Zona. Show me my current physical stats."
The familiar voice answered without delay.
[Strength: 1.0 | Agility: 1.1 | Physique: 1.0]
Aris stared for a second, then exhaled slowly.
He'd finally reached his target. The number itself wasn't much—but for a slave-born squire with a malnourished body and no backing, this was a milestone. "Now…" he thought, a slow grin creeping in, "I can start fusing them for real."
The next day, Aris returned to sit near Dylan and the other two top squire ranks. Without even using Zona, He could sense how much they had improved, and their progress was far greater than his. "Zona, scan them," he said inwardly.
[scanning…Scanning complete.]
[Subject: Dylan, Strength: 2.0, Agility: 1.9, Physique: 2.0]
[Subject Rezi: Strength: 1.9, Agility: 1.9, Physique: 1.9]
[Subject Kiro:Strength: 1.8, Agility: 1.7, Physique: 1.8]
He was stunned when he saw the statistics and truly astonished when he realized how powerful the people of this world could become. In his previous life, an average human adult—unathletic and of ordinary build—would have a physical capability stat of 1.0.
If someone was overweight, their physique might score 1.1 to 1.2, but their agility would drop to 0.7 and further below, while strength varied by individual.
However, in this world, the average adult possessed twice the strength of those from his old world. Even more absurd were Dylan and his fellows who were aged eleven to fifteen from what he could estimate.
They had two times the strength of his former world's grown men. Every time he scanned them with his ability, the disparity left him stunned.
According to the breathing technique, one of the key requirements to become a knight was attaining double the strength of an ordinary adult and not those of his old world but of this world, it was a baseline that these people seemed to reach with unsettling ease as if it is natural.
"It can only be due to the physical laws of this world," Aris thought, still staring at the scan results.
What else could explain it?
In his old world, the idea of someone tripling their strength without invasive augmentation was a fantasy. Here, it was reality and not even rare.
"If breathing techniques exist… if people can grow stronger through air and posture…" he reasoned, "then why would the laws of physics remain the same?"
Maybe the rules here were simply different. Maybe this world didn't need machines to enhance the body. Maybe its natural laws gave people what his old world tried to force through biotech.
But to know more about this world he needed to experience more about this world and to do that he needed strength but that would come when he guaranteed his survival now the only thing that matters is survival.
"Zona scan their meridian pathways and store the data. We will begin the merger of the pathways into a technique tonight," Aris said inwardly , glancing at them with his peripheral vision.