Chapitre 25: Time To Adapt For Real
Aurel sat in the middle of his apartment, the soft glow of the city filtering through the window as he replayed the events of the day in his mind. His body was still tense from the trials, the aches from his combat in the simulation fading, but the memory of the fights stayed sharp. The result still blinked in his head: Tier 1, Strata 5. It was more than respectable, especially for someone with only two genetic locks actualized. In fact, it was exceptional.
But to him, it wasn't enough.
He leaned back on the couch, his fingers tapping absently against his knee as he stared at the ceiling. He had worked hard, trained harder, pushed himself in every way he knew how. And yet, there was still that gap. That chasm between him and the preawakeners. Between him and people like Yujiro Lang, who had already unlocked five genetic locks before even receiving the Mana Vaccine.
The thought gnawed at him. No matter how strong he had become, how much power he had gained in such a short time, Aurel couldn't escape the reality that some people were just born ahead—genetically superior, already stronger, faster, more capable.
But there was something different about him. He could feel it in his bones, in the way his body had changed since receiving the Mana Vaccine. Adaptability was unlike anything else. Most people cultivated their traits over time, trained to strengthen their abilities. But Aurel's growth wasn't tied to a linear path. It wasn't about simple training.
It was about survival.
He pushed himself to his feet, pacing the small apartment, his mind racing. He could feel the gears turning, his thoughts clicking into place one after another. If he kept training the way he had been, following the structured plans that most cultivators used, he would never catch up. He would never be able to close that gap. But if he leaned into what made him different—if he pushed Adaptability to its limits—then maybe, just maybe, he could surpass even the preawakeners.
The only way forward was through real danger. The kind of life-and-death situations where his body would have no choice but to adapt.
His eyes flicked toward the small watch on his wrist, the screen still glowing softly with the results of the tests. He had gained so much already—Super Digestion, Sixth Sense, Regeneration—but none of it had come from simple practice. Each trait had been born from hardship, from the extremes he had put his body through. The thought sent a spark of excitement racing through him.
If he wanted to catch up, no—if he wanted to surpass the others—he needed to face real danger. He needed to adapt based on what he faced, not on carefully laid-out training routines. His breath quickened as the idea took root in his mind, growing into something concrete, something unavoidable.
The Borderlands.
No, not just the regular areas that most students trained in—the Realms, the very origin of the Borderlands.
The Realms were different. A separate dimension, filled with beasts and creatures far beyond what existed in the normal world. The energy there was chaotic, dangerous, the kind of environment where you either grew stronger or you died. It was a place few dared to enter unless they had actualized at least four genetic locks. Most students stuck to the safer parts of the Borderlands, content with the controlled danger of the beasts that roamed the edges. But the Realms? That was where the real challenges awaited.
Aurel stopped pacing, his heart racing as the idea solidified. If I want to close the gap, if I want to truly push Adaptability to its limits, then I need to face the Realms. It was a reckless plan, but one that made sense in his mind. The beasts in the Realms were stronger, more aggressive, and they carried abilities that far outstripped the creatures found in the regular Borderlands. Facing them was the only way to truly push himself to evolve.
He crossed the room, his mind buzzing with anticipation as he stood by the window, looking out at the city lights. The Realms were dangerous, that much was obvious. But Aurel had something the others didn't—Adaptability. And so far, there had been no limit to what it could do.
A grin tugged at the corners of his lips, excitement bubbling in his chest. The Realms weren't just dangerous—they were unpredictable. And unpredictability was exactly what he needed.
The plan was simple: from now until the university exams, he would spend as much time as possible in the Realms. He would face as many beasts as he could, conquer as many Realms as his body could handle, and push his Adaptability to heights even he couldn't predict. He didn't care about the risks. The exams were coming up, and this was his only chance to make up for lost time.
He already knew that the Realms were divided based on difficulty—some were accessible to students below six genetic locks, while others required more power, more experience. He would start small, testing the limits of his strength, then move up. Each Realm he conquered would push his body further, force him to gain traits that weren't just rare—but essential for survival.
Aurel clenched his fists, determination surging through him. He could feel it now—the excitement, the fear, the thrill of what lay ahead. This wasn't just training anymore. It was survival. It was the kind of danger that would push him beyond what any preawakener could achieve.
With a final glance out the window, he turned away, his mind already racing with preparations. He had time—just enough time to conquer as many Realms as possible before the university exams.
And he would.
The beasts in the Realms would test him in ways nothing else could. He would adapt, grow stronger, faster. His traits would evolve, just like they always did. Aurel knew the risks, but the reward—becoming someone even the strongest preawakeners couldn't ignore—was too great to pass up.
His Adaptability had shown no limits so far, and now, it was time to see just how far he could push it.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone