Apocalypse Ender

The training hall buzzed with excitement as the instructor stood before the gathered aspirants, his piercing gaze sweeping across the crowd. The candidates, still catching their breath from the virtual battle, waited in anticipation. Some were victorious, others barely scraped by, but all had taken their first step towards becoming warriors.

The instructor, an aged warrior with streaks of silver in his hair and a battle-hardened face, finally spoke. His deep voice resonated through the hall.

"Congratulations to those who passed the first stage. You have shown courage and skill, but this is just the beginning. The final test will take place in one month. Until then, you must train diligently. Strength is not something granted—it is something forged through effort and perseverance."

He let his words settle before continuing. "To aid in your training, each of you will receive the Basic Breathing Technique. This technique will allow you to draw cosmic energy into your body. Those who grasp it will find themselves growing stronger with every breath. However, this is no simple feat—it requires comprehension and patience. Most take ten to twenty days to succeed, and only true prodigies have achieved it in less than a week."

A murmur passed through the crowd as digital copies of the technique were distributed. Some looked eager, others nervous. Rehan received his copy and stared at it curiously. The text before him seemed simple at first glance, but as he read deeper, he realized there was more to it than mere words.

With the instructor's final words of encouragement, the candidates were dismissed. Rehan hurried home, his heart pounding with excitement. As he entered the small but cozy apartment, the aroma of home-cooked food filled the air. His mother greeted him with a warm smile, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Welcome home, Rehan! How did the test go?"

Rehan grinned. "I passed the first stage!" His voice carried a mix of pride and excitement.

His father, a man of few words but boundless warmth, patted his shoulder. "Good. Hard work pays off. But don't get complacent. There's still more ahead."

His elder sister, Aisha, leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. "Just don't get too full of yourself, little brother. The real challenge is yet to come."

They all laughed, and soon, the family sat down for dinner. It was a modest meal, but to Rehan, it felt more fulfilling than a feast. They may not have much, but they had each other.

After dinner, he retreated to his small bedroom. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he opened the breathing technique file again. The words swirled in his mind, demanding comprehension rather than rote memorization.

"To draw cosmic energy is to listen to the pulse of existence. It is to feel the unseen, to become one with the rhythm of the universe. Focus not on forcing energy, but on allowing it to flow."

The passage struck something deep within him. He closed his eyes and began regulating his breathing, following the technique's guidance. At first, nothing happened. But then, a strange sensation spread through his body—like tiny threads of warmth wrapping around his cells. He could feel them absorbing something unseen, something potent.

His heart raced. Wasn't this supposed to take days?

A creeping doubt settled in. His instructor had explicitly stated that even geniuses needed at least three days to achieve this. Then why was he feeling the changes instantly? Was there something different about him?

Pushing aside his confusion, he continued cultivating. The sensation of energy flowing into his body was intoxicating. It was as if invisible shackles were breaking, his strength growing by the second. His muscles tightened, his bones strengthened, and a newfound vigor surged through him.

As dawn broke, he opened his eyes, feeling refreshed, yet oddly changed. He clenched his fist and felt a newfound density in his muscles. He was stronger—far stronger than before.

After freshening up, curiosity gnawed at him. Sitting at the old wooden desk in his room, he pulled up his tablet and searched for information on the breathing technique. The results astonished him.

"Average time to comprehend: 10–20 days."

"Fastest recorded time: 3 days, achieved by a Rank 9 warrior."

Rehan stared at the screen, stunned. Three days? And I did it in one night?

A smirk crept onto his lips. "So, I might be some sort of genius after all..." he murmured to himself, a mixture of amusement and disbelief washing over him.

After breakfast, he made his way to the Warrior Alliance Hall to seek answers. The streets were bustling with people—vendors calling out their wares, children weaving between stalls, warriors clad in combat gear discussing missions. The city, despite its past destruction, was alive with determination and resilience.

On his way, he ran into his best friend, Kian, who was browsing a stall selling combat gloves.

"Rehan! Where have you been? I waited for you at the finals!" Kian called out.

Rehan scratched the back of his head. "I missed the finals. But I passed the first stage of the Warrior Exam."

Kian's eyes widened. "What?! You're joining the Warrior Alliance? And you passed the first stage already? Damn, you're something else!"

They chatted briefly before Rehan continued on his way, stepping through the grand entrance of the Alliance Hall. The building was massive, its interior buzzing with activity. Warriors of all ranks moved about—some discussing missions, others sparring in designated arenas.

Rehan spotted John, the Level 4 warrior who had helped him before, and approached him.

"John, I need to talk to you. Something... strange happened last night."

John raised an eyebrow. "Strange? What do you mean?"

Rehan hesitated, then recounted his experience with the breathing technique. As he spoke, John's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait... you comprehended it in one night?" John's jaw nearly dropped. "That's unheard of! Let's test something. Come with me."

He led Rehan to a punching machine used to measure strength. "Give it your best shot."

Rehan took a deep breath, focused, and punched the machine. A loud bang echoed as the display lit up.

1,500 kg

John's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "What the—?! That's almost double your previous strength! In one night?! What kind of monster are you?!"

Before John could bombard him with more questions, a powerful presence entered the hall. The air grew heavy as Nick, the Level 7 Spirit Master and the overseer of Base City 17, walked toward them.

"So this is the boy..." Nick murmured, his deep eyes locking onto Rehan. "Follow me."

Rehan gulped but complied. He followed Nick to a private chamber, where the Spirit Master turned to face him, a contemplative look on his face.

"I can sense it. A vast amount of spiritual energy within you. Perhaps... you are not meant to be just a warrior. You have the potential to be a Spirit Master."

Rehan stiffened. Spirit power? Was that the strange sensation he felt last night? His mind raced as he listened to Nick's explanation.

"Spirit Masters can manipulate objects with their will. The stronger their spirit energy, the greater the force they can exert. If cultivated properly, a Spirit Master can overpower warriors even a rank or two above them."

A slow grin spread across Rehan's face. So that's what was different about me...