My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

Experience only comes after you complete a cycle.

Well, Kairo had completed his own cycle of Nexus Academy; he was done with his first week of lectures inside the infamous Academy walls.

Nexus Academy… the myth, the legend, the place were infamous love stories blossomed in comic books, well, Kairo finally had a first-hand experience of it.

'Hehe… I have so many things to brag to Leora about when I meet her'. The mere thought of it left him feeling giddy.

Unlike the comic books though, Nexus Academy was not a breeding ground for romance and forbidden love like was portrayed.

He sighed. 'Leora would be pretty disappointed, I doubt any of these nobles will fall for her on first sight like the comics say'.

'Besides,' his eyes turned cold. 'I'd rather die than let any of these overpampered brats have a chance at my sister!'

Well, one week in Nexus Academy was unlike what they depicted in the comic books, but Kairo found merit enough to not regret his decision to brave the crucible of the scholarship entrance examination.

Nexus Academy may not be the romance breeding ground, but what it truly was, was an elite training ground to forge mighty warriors of humanity.

From the core courses spread throughout the weekdays, to the elective courses at the weekend, to the Grand Library, everything left a deep impression on Kairo, and told him that he made the right decision.

Power… that was the one thing that he always sought, and one week in told him that this was the right place to find what he sought.

He laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling as memories of sweet times flooded his head… his mom giggling in the kitchen while making food, his dad reading a newspaper, and Leora playing with her wooden toys.

He smiled with nostalgia. 'Leora… wait for me'.

…

The next day, the crucible of weekdays returned to Nexus Academy.

It was Monday again and the bell tolled across Nexus Academy, echoing through its spires and training grounds like the heartbeat of a living giant. Week 2 had begun, and the Freshers were slowly being worn into soldiers.

[Monday – Mana Theory & Combat Tactics]

Professor Haldren Voss's voice filled the lecture hall, chalk dancing across the board as complex diagrams of mana flow circuits bled into tactical maps of encirclement strategies.

"Mana is not just your strength, it is your language with the world itself. To waste it recklessly is to scream gibberish at the battlefield."

Kairo scribbled furiously, his rough handwriting barely legible.

Compared to a week ago, he was no longer fully lost in the Mana Theory class. At least, he could keep up with some of the theories that the Professor postulated and explained.

While Kairo paid rapt attention, most of the nobles lounged, half-bored as if they'd heard all that the Professor was teaching before. Mira elbowed him with a smirk when his ink splattered across the page.

Kairo gritted his teeth and glared at her.

"Sowry". She chuckled.

That afternoon, in tactics, they studied mock battle formations. Kairo, still with slum-born instincts, surprised his group when he picked apart a perfect noble formation by pointing out a blind flank they ignored.

Even the Professor raised an eyebrow in surprise.

…

Monday disappeared first, and soon Tuesday rolled in.

[Tuesday – Weapon Proficiency]

Steel clashed in the training halls as Professor Elara moved between students like a hawk, correcting grips, stances, and swings.

"Not like that, always keep your foot firmly planted to leverage momentum in your swings, unless indicated otherwise in a specific martial manual".

The freshers practiced with zealous energy under her guidance.

Valek's blade carved through straw dummies with terrifying precision. Adrian's swordplay was immaculate, like his body already anticipated the flow of time itself, while Selene fought with elegance, weaving phantom blades of mana.

And Kairo? Sweat poured as he locked into the dagger drills this time with Professor Elara herself, scarred knuckles tightening over the hilt.

As the Professor in charge of the core course, she was proficient in every weapon style and could teach her students.

"Too wild," she corrected calmly. "Always maintain control over your weapon, don't let it control you".

When sparring came, Kairo caught a noble off guard with a scrappy feint, shoulder-barging him before the dagger tapped against his ribs. Straight into the second week, Kairo was still dominating in duels.

The other Freshers gasped at the sight; not from the technique, but from the brutal efficiency in Kairo's attacks.

…

[Wednesday – Hand to Hand Combat & Mana Theory]

Painful… that was the only word.

The combat mats were stained with the blood and sweat of dozens of Freshers as they were drilled on the intricacies of Hand to Hand combat.

Professor Kaelen Dray, built like a mountain, made them spar nonstop.

Kairo's muscles shrieked as he locked horns with larger opponents, but his ability stitched him back up between rounds. Mira fought like a whirlwind, wind bursts propelling her fists forward.

It was brutal.

That afternoon's mana theory class deepened into synergies between special abilities and elemental flow. Adrain asked the most questions, his genius on display, while Kairo only frowned, slowly piecing things together.

…

[Thursday – Hand to Hand Combat & Physical Conditioning]

The dreaded day was back… not leg day, Endurance day.

They did pushups until arms buckled. They sprinted until vision blurred, and they did burpees until nausea hit them.

"Your muscles are liars," Professor Jorvan roared. "They tell you to stop long before they fail. If you want to evolve, ignore them!"

For Kairo, who had built his life on ignoring hunger pangs and muscle screams, the suffering was familiar. He endured with a quiet grin while many nobles vomited to the side.

"Slumrat bastard!" One cursed.

Kairo only smirked though secretly, all his muscles ached.

…

[Friday – History & Demonology]

Friday's lecture was heavier than any battle.

The professor's voice painted vivid images of Demon raids, Elven arrogance, Dwarven artifacts, and Orc wars. It almost felt like watching a documentary.

Kairo sat stiff, absorbing every word like a sponge.

For Mira, it was thrilling. For nobles like Adrian, it was repetition. But for Kairo, it was revelation, a peek into the wider world that had always been kept from him. This was one of his favorite class so far.

"Remember this," the professor intoned, chalk snapping in his hand. "Knowledge is the first weapon. Forget that, and you're already dead."

Later that evening…

The sun dipped over the Academy, painting the sky crimson as exhausted students shuffled toward their dorms, finally expecting rest, but that was when the announcement came.

"All Freshers assemble in the Grand Courtyard".

The students groaned in confusion, but they obeyed.

When they arrived at the Grand Courtyard, there, standing tall upon the marble dais was Principal Aelthar. His white robes rippled in the breeze, his presence cold and commanding.

Major Pain stood silently beside him, arms folded, his aura simmering beneath the surface.

Aelthar's voice rolled like thunder.

"Two weeks, that is all the time you were given".

"In normal years, you would have had months to prepare before your first field trial, but these are not normal years."

The crowd stiffened.

"You are humanity's future, and humanity's future does not wait".

"From tomorrow," his eyes swept the gathered Freshers, sharp as blades, "you shall march into your first field mission".

"Beyond these walls, there will be no instructors to shield you. Even if there is one, it won't be enough. Out there, there will be only enemies… and survival".

Murmurs exploded, fear crackling through the students. Some trembled, others clenched their fists. Mira's jaw tightened, but Adrain's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Valek smirked, licking his lips as if tasting blood already.

And Kairo?

He swallowed hard as he curled his fists. He could feel his stomach gnawing, but his heart burned still.

'Finally', he thought. 'The world outside these walls'.

Aelthar raised his hand and the courtyard went silent.

"Prepare yourselves. Tomorrow… your lives as children end".

The bell tolled again, this time like a funeral song.