Ascension of the Mortal God

Chapter 6: The Path to Strength

Kael's breathing was ragged as he stood before the cloaked figure. His wounds still throbbed, but the searing pain in his chest was nothing compared to the storm raging in his mind. Betrayal had nearly cost him his life. Now, he had to become stronger—strong enough to crush those who had turned against him.

The cloaked man watched him in silence. He had led Kael to a secluded mountain valley, far from any civilization. The air was thick with energy, the kind that made Kael's skin prickle.

"Do you wish to live?" The stranger's voice was low and commanding.

Kael clenched his fists. "I will do whatever it takes."

"Then you must cast aside what you were and become something greater. Power does not come to the weak." The man stepped forward, removing his hood to reveal sharp, piercing eyes. "You will endure pain. You will be broken. But if you survive, you will never be the same."

Kael gritted his teeth. He had no choice. If he hesitated, death would find him again.

The Trial Begins

The first lesson came without warning. A blur of movement, and the next thing Kael knew, a fist connected with his gut, sending him crashing into the ground. He gasped for air, his body rebelling against the sudden impact.

"React faster," the man said flatly.

Kael barely had time to roll before another attack came. A brutal kick, aimed for his ribs. He barely blocked it, but the force sent him skidding across the dirt.

"You are slow. Weak. Your body is untrained." The mentor circled him, eyes like a hawk watching prey. "If you do not learn to move, you will die before your enemies even raise their swords."

Kael coughed, blood staining his lips, but he forced himself to stand. His vision swayed, but he refused to fall.

"Again."

And so it continued. Every attack forced Kael to react, to move faster. His arms throbbed from blocking, his legs burned from dodging. But he kept going. He had to.

Awakening the Inner Strength

Days passed. Kael lost count of how many times he had been knocked down. His body was battered, covered in bruises and cuts. But something inside him was changing. The fire in his heart burned brighter with each fall.

One night, as he struggled to rise after another grueling session, the mentor sat beside him.

"Pain teaches the body, but it also awakens the soul," he said. "You feel it, don't you? The power within."

Kael frowned. He had felt something—a strange energy stirring inside him whenever he was on the verge of collapse.

"Your strength is not just of the body, but of the will. Focus on that power. Draw it out."

Kael closed his eyes, feeling his heartbeat. The world around him faded. In that moment, something shifted. A pulse of energy coursed through his veins, different from before.

He opened his eyes, and for the first time, he felt truly alive.

The First Breakthrough

The next morning, the training resumed, but this time, Kael was different. When the mentor attacked, he moved instinctively. His body, though aching, responded faster. He sidestepped a punch, countered a kick, and even landed a strike of his own.

The mentor smirked. "Now, you are learning."

Kael grinned, despite the pain. He had taken the first step on the path to strength. And he would not stop until he reached the peak.

To be continued-