Chapter 9: Preparing for the Future

Leonis sat in the dimly lit room, the glow of twilight filtering through the grand windows. His body, now attuned to the royal life, still felt foreign to him. His mind, however, raced with clarity as he recalled every detail from the novel he had read back on Earth. He knew what was coming — the betrayals, the wars, the alliances, the power struggles — and most importantly, he knew his place in it all.

As the prince, Leonis was expected to attend the royal council the next morning. That council would unknowingly set in motion events that would eventually lead to a confrontation with Zar'Ghul. But first, Leonis had to increase his power. If the prophecy about him was true, he would need every ounce of strength to survive the battles ahead.

He stood from his bed, his muscles responding with ease as he moved toward the window. Below him, the bustling capital of the Perdium Empire stretched into the horizon. Soldiers, knights, and citizens alike went about their daily lives, unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon.

"I need to get stronger, faster," Leonis muttered under his breath.

He had already mastered the basic mana techniques passed down through the Perdium family, but there were more advanced techniques locked away — hidden from even the most skilled members of the royal court. Only the main family, direct descendants of the progenitor, were allowed access to the sacred techniques. And he, as the eldest prince, had the right to them.

Leonis left his room, making his way through the vast corridors of the royal palace. He needed solitude — a place where no one would disturb his training. He had learned much from his initial sword practice, but now it was time to push further.

After a short walk, Leonis found himself in the hidden training chambers of the royal palace. It was a place known only to the most trusted members of the royal family, used for honing their unique powers. The walls were lined with enchanted runes, dampening any sound and masking the presence of those inside.

Leonis unsheathed a new sword, one far sturdier than the practice blade he had broken earlier. He held it up, admiring its craftsmanship before taking a deep breath.

"This is where I unlock the next step," he whispered, his eyes glowing faintly as he focused on the mana within him.

Closing his eyes, Leonis began to gather mana once more. This time, he focused harder, pushing his control to its limits. He recalled Iveen's technique for refining mana circles, remembering how the swordmaster had done it in the novel.

Three circles of mana had already formed within him, but now he concentrated on making those circles spin faster, glowing with intensity. It was a delicate balance; push too hard, and the circles would destabilize. Go too slow, and the power would never fully form. Leonis needed precision.

Suddenly, a knock echoed through the chamber door. Leonis opened his eyes, slightly annoyed but still calm.

"Who is it?" he called.

The door creaked open, revealing Caelum, his youngest brother, the fourth prince. The boy had a curious expression on his face, his youthful features innocent but determined.

"Leonis," Caelum said quietly, stepping into the room. "earlier... when i saw you earlier... The way you cut through that training dummy… it was incredible."

Leonis straightened, sheathing his sword. "What do you want, Caelum?" His voice was neutral, though there was an undercurrent of warmth for his youngest sibling.

"I want to learn from you," Caelum said quickly, stepping forward with a slight eagerness in his voice. "I know I'm not as strong as the others. But I want to get better. And I know you're different now... I can see it."

Leonis studied his brother, the determination in his eyes, and the desire to improve. Caelum had always been treated as the least important of the royal siblings, overshadowed by the older brothers. Leonis could relate to that feeling of inadequacy. He saw a bit of his old self in Caelum — the desire to change but not knowing how.

"You're too young to be involved in what's coming, Caelum," Leonis said, turning away slightly, "but…"

"But?"

Leonis sighed. "You can watch me train, but you won't be able to keep up. I won't go easy on you, and if you can't handle it, I'm not responsible for what happens."

Caelum's face lit up, his excitement barely contained. "Thank you, Leonis! I won't disappoint you."

"Just don't get in my way," Leonis said, a faint smile appearing for a moment before he resumed his training.

As the two brothers stood side by side, Leonis began to channel his mana again. Caelum watched in awe as Leonis's control over the mana circles grew tighter, more refined. The older prince was reaching a new level of mastery, and Caelum could only hope to learn from it.

Leonis swung his sword with precision, cutting the air in perfect arcs, while mana surged through him. He could feel himself getting closer to the next level, his power growing with every stroke.

But there was still much to learn — much to uncover.

The night was far from over.

Leonis wiped the sweat from his brow as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the chamber's windows. His arms trembled slightly from the sheer strain of swinging his sword 3,075 times throughout the night. Each stroke had been precise, each movement driven by his focus and determination. The mana around him had pulsed in rhythm with his swings, gathering and swirling until, at last, he felt the breakthrough.

The 4th mana circle. He had done it.

He let out a low chuckle, glancing over at his younger brother, Caelum, who had fallen asleep somewhere around the 200th swing, his small frame curled up on the cold stone floor. Leonis couldn't help but smile at the sight — the boy's earnestness was admirable, even if he hadn't quite understood the full extent of the training.

With a sigh, Leonis sheathed his sword and walked over to his brother, gently nudging him. Caelum barely stirred. Shaking his head, Leonis called for one of the royal guards standing outside the chamber.

"Escort him back to his quarters," Leonis instructed. "Make sure he rests."

The guard nodded and carefully scooped up the sleeping prince, cradling him in his arms. Leonis watched as they left, feeling a strange sense of pride and responsibility toward Caelum. He knew his youngest brother would one day be a force to reckon with, given the right guidance.

Placing the sword down on a nearby rack, Leonis stretched his tired limbs and began to walk through the quiet halls of the palace. His body ached with exhaustion, his muscles screaming for rest, but his heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. He had reached the 4th mana circle, an achievement that put him just a few steps away from becoming a Grandmaster. He knew, deep down, that this was the beginning of his rise — the path to surpassing even the greatest figures in the empire's history.

His mind wandered to the prophecy: the descendant who would inherit the progenitor's spirit, who would wield three times his power. With each swing of his sword, he felt closer to unlocking that potential. If he could reach the 8th mana circle, he would enter the Immortal Realm, the same realm that the progenitor and the current Demon King, Zar'Ghul, had reached.

As he walked, a faint smile played on his lips. The Grandmaster Realm awaited him next — the realm of swordmasters who had broken through the limits of ordinary mortals. The 5th to 7th circles were key to entering that domain. But for now, he was still in the Beginner Realm, with the 4th circle as its pinnacle.

He reached his father's door, the grand double doors towering above him like an imposing gate. This was it. Leonis paused, his hand hovering just inches from the door, his thoughts racing. What would his father say when he found out about his progress? Would he even care? Emperor Valerian, a 7-star swordsman, had never shown much patience or affection for his eldest son. But things were different now. Leonis was different.

He took a deep breath, his hand clenched into a fist, ready to knock on the door.

Then he stopped, standing there in silence.

The sun had fully risen behind him, casting a long shadow across the floor as he remained motionless, lost in thought, on the verge of a pivotal moment in his new life.

The future hung in the balance.