Pressurization.

Ares sprinted through the camp grounds, his eyes darting between the path ahead and the time on his watch. The sunlight was already mostly gone now, reminding him just how late he was. 

He cursed under his breath. "First day and I'm already late. How could I oversleep?" He couldn't believe he'd overslept, and on his first official class day no less.

He knew why—the intense stress of the past few days, combined with the intensity of unsealing his Bloodline bead, had left him more drained than he'd expected. Still, excuses weren't going to save him.

Just as he neared the small, grey bungalows clustered near the centre of camp, he heard a familiar voice shout from behind, "Ares, wait!"

He stopped, his breath coming in short bursts, and turned to see Lisa Montrell jogging toward him. 

Her vibrant green hair bounced around her shoulders, and there was a glint of amusement in her eyes as she finally caught up.

Lisa was from his bastion and was one of the few in the camp to have awakened a B-grade Bloodline. 

She was also the closest thing Ares had to a friend here, even though he generally kept to himself.

"Ares!" she panted with a grin, hands on her hips. "I didn't think I'd ever see you in a rush. Overslept?"

Ares offered a faint smile. "I didn't think so either. Rough day."

She laughed lightly, glancing at the path ahead. "Guess there's a first time for everything. Let's get going before we're any later."

They continued together, weaving through the camp toward their destination. As they walked, Lisa kept up a bit of small talk, her energy contrasting with Ares' steady calm. 

She was a talkative sort but had a knack for cutting to the point when it mattered, something he respected.

They finally arrived at a small bungalow marked with a simple sign that read: Squad 4. 

It was a squat, sturdy building with steel walls and a hint of rust on the edges. It was the standard look for training facilities here in the camp. 

Both Ares and Lisa belonged to Squad 4, which explained why she was heading the same way.

As they stepped inside, the room fell silent. Rows of students were already seated, all facing the front where a short man with a trim goatee stood waiting, his hands folded behind his back. 

The instructor's gaze flicked toward them as they entered, but instead of admonishing them, he simply nodded, gesturing for them to take seats at the back.

"Since it's your first day, I'll let it slide this time," he said, his voice low but kind.

Ares gave a small nod of thanks, and he and Lisa quickly slid into two empty seats at the back. She sat beside him, her eyes twinkling with barely concealed amusement as they settled in.

Once they were settled, the instructor's face turned serious, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Today, we're going to cover something foundational—Pressurization. This is the first step to unlocking your Bloodline abilities."

A murmur went through the class. Even Ares felt a ripple of excitement. This was what he'd been waiting for—the step that would let him access the full potential of his Bloodline.

"Pressurization is the method by which you control your Bloodline bead," the instructor explained. 

"As most of you already know, awakening your Bloodline grants you a Bloodline bead, along with Bloodline pathways—provided your Bloodline is D-grade or higher. Right now, your bead is dormant. Our goal today is to help you sense it and, eventually, learn to pressurize it."

Ares leaned forward, feeling the excitement start to stir in his chest. This was the key to activating his powers, and he wasn't about to miss a single detail.

"Pressurization," the instructor explained, "is the act of concentrating Bloodline energy in your bead, then guiding it through your pathways. It requires control and focus, much like exercising a muscle you've never used before. Think of it like the delicate control needed for Kegel exercises; it's all about focus on an internal sensation."

The students exchanged glances, some with raised eyebrows at the analogy, but the instructor pressed on.

"Once you can locate it and apply pressure, the bead will start releasing energy into your pathways. This energy—what we call Force—flows through you, empowering your abilities."

Ares absorbed the information eagerly. His bead, the very core of his Bloodline, held immense potential, but it was useless unless he could channel it. 

The thought of honing this skill stirred his anticipation; every lesson here was a step closer to unlocking his true strength.

The instructor continued, "Once you understand how to pressurize the bead, the next step is learning to control your pathways. Each pathway requires a different level of pressure, which impacts the route and flow of your Force. Mastering this is critical for activating more complex techniques and abilities."

The room was silent now, everyone hanging on his every word.

"The speed, pressure, and even the direction of that flow can change the outcome of your techniques. Think of it like plumbing—the way you control the pressure in the pipes will affect the final result."

"Today, we're focusing on the bead alone. By the end of this session, I want each of you to be able to sense your bead and hold onto that awareness for as long as possible."

The instructor's eyes gleamed with an unspoken challenge as he walked over to each student one by one. 

When he reached Ares, he placed a hand on his shoulder, a calming yet powerful pressure that seemed to resonate deep within him. 

A jolt of energy coursed through Ares, almost like a static shock but more profound, reaching into his core and brushing against his Bloodline bead. 

For the first time, he could sense its dormant energy, a pulsing sphere of potential within him.

"Hold onto that feeling," the instructor murmured, "and don't let go until I tell you."

As the instructor moved down the line, Ares clenched his jaw, focusing all his mental energy on maintaining the sensation. 

His bead felt like a small, quiet heartbeat, growing more pronounced with each passing moment. Around him, students shifted, some struggling, while others wore looks of intense concentration.

The instructor finally returned to the front of the room and raised his voice. "This is a test of endurance. The first to release the sensation will receive a punishment. The last one standing will receive a reward. Hold it as long as you can."

_____

Power stone Goal!

100 PS - 1 Bonus chapter

200 PS - 2 Bonus chapter

300 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - Bonus chapters.