章 46: Chapter 46 - The Violet Tower Academy
The day of departure was hectic as fleets of starships from the various academies lined up, each destined for the nearest planet with a teleportation hub. Wang Zi stood out in his academy uniform, his tall frame commanding attention despite the looseness of his clothes.
Unlike the other students, it seemed like he wasn't carrying anything... Just a duffle bag, stuffed with everything he deemed essential for his transformation. Among his items were supplements, protein packs, and compact exercise machines that could fold into small disks, perfect for his plans.
Hua'er had some doubts about them though.
"Master, these supplements are so outdated. Mana-enhanced serums are much more efficient. Why not use those?" Hua'er crossed her arms, her wings fluttering as she hovered near him.
Wang Zi only smiled at her.
"Because, Hua'er, there's a process to this. Bulking isn't just about getting bigger, it's about feeding your body enough to build strength and muscle while maintaining the fat layer for energy. The old way might seem inefficient to you, but it's tried and true. Mana-enhanced serums don't teach discipline, and discipline is key."
Hua'er tilted her head, confused.
"But isn't fat bad? Why not just cultivate mana to improve your physicality like everyone else does here?"
With a laugh, Wang Zi flexed his arm, still thick with fat but hiding the dense muscle beneath.
"Fat isn't the enemy. When you're bulking, you're essentially building a base. It's like crafting a foundation before raising a skyscraper. The fat protects your body as you push it to its limits. Once the muscle is packed, you cut the fat down strategically. Cultivating through mana is fine, but it lacks precision. I prefer to do it my way, the way I learned."
Hua'er's brows furrowed as she tried to process this seemingly brutal method.
"But pushing yourself to the point where your muscles snap? That sounds insane. I don't understand why you wouldn't use mana to avoid injury."
Wang Zi shrugged.
"Injury's part of the process, Hua'er. When a muscle tears, it rebuilds itself stronger. That's biology. It's not just about looking good; it's about strength, durability, and control. Trust me, this world may rely on mana, but they're missing out on some ancient secrets."
"Master, I think you're just being stubborn." Hua'er floated closer, pouting.
"Maybe I am, but we'll see who's right in the end."
As he boarded the sleek silver ship, Wang Zi only briefly caught sight of Xian Mei entering another corridor. Her figure vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, but he paid it no mind. He wasn't here to socialize. His focus was on himself.
Most of the students opted for cryo-sleep during the 3-month journey to preserve their stamina and avoid wasting their time in a non-ideal training environment.
Before the journey, Wang Zi contacted Lulu, explaining that he needed something to increase the gravity around him for his training.
Lulu initially looked at him like he'd grown a second head. Most people trained their bodies through mana-enhanced cultivation chambers or specialized mana-infused exercises. The concept of raw, physical training was almost archaic, so outdated that nobody even thought it worked.
Still, Lulu indulged him and revealed a prototype bracelet developed by one of her colleagues, a researcher specializing in gravity manipulation... One who she had already mentioned to Wang Zi.
The bracelet could increase gravity around the wearer up to 100x, though it was still in testing phases.
"I'll lend it to you," Lulu had said, her blonde hair shimmering in the ship's dim light.
"But only on one condition. I'm telling my colleague about you and your abilities related to gravity. They'll want to study and work with you. You good with that?"
"Fine by me. I could use the help." Wang Zi thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"With this bracelet I won't have to have dumbbells as big as Zoro's. It looked ridiculous!" Wang Zi grinned.
The first week on the ship passed quickly. He spent his time alternating between intense workouts and working on his new project, Naruto.
His room became a chaotic mix of exercise equipment and holographic interfaces displaying scenes from the anime he was recreating.
One evening, while doing pull-ups with a gravity bracelet gifted to him by Lulu, Hua'er floated into view, her expression incredulous.
Wang Zi's training was brutal. Using the gravity bracelet, he pushed his body to the brink.
The ship's small training chamber echoed with his grunts and the dull thuds of weights hitting the floor. Hua'er floated nearby, watching in disbelief as his muscles visibly strained and snapped under the pressure, only for him to push harder.
"Master, you're literally bleeding. Are you sure this is safe?" she asked, pointing to his trembling arms and the faint red lines forming on his wrists.
"You're insane!" Hua'er exclaimed, her tiny fists on her hips as she fluttered closer.
"That's the point," Wang Zi said through gritted teeth, lifting what looked like an absurdly heavy barbell with a massive number of weights stacked on either end. Sweat poured down his face, and veins bulged on his arms.
"Safe? No. Effective? Yes. The muscles tear, then rebuild. That's how you grow, Hua'er."
"But… that sounds so primitive!" Hua'er said, her wings buzzing as she frantically searched the Virtual Brain for more efficient methods.
"I checked the Virtual Brain, and nobody does this. There are advanced techniques to strengthen your body using mana, even simulate training without risking injury."
Wang Zi chuckled, setting the barbell down with a resounding crash.
"Mana can't do everything. It might make people stronger faster, but it skips the struggle. Struggle builds character, and character builds strength. Besides, those techniques don't work well with what I'm aiming for. My body has to match my vision."
"And what vision is that?" Hua'er asked, genuinely curious.
Wang Zi smirked, flexing his arm.
"To stand on the battlefield like Broly, unshakable, unstoppable. The kind of presence that screams power before you even throw a punch. The kind of body that would make people think twice even looking your way."
"But this is barbaric!" Hua'er said, gesturing toward the puddle of sweat forming beneath him.
"And gross."
"It works," Wang Zi said simply, shrugging as he grabbed a towel.
"Besides, the people of this time don't know how to bulk effectively. Their reliance on mana makes them soft."
"You're ridiculous, Master." Hua'er rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling.
Wang Zi grinned, setting down his water bottle and gesturing for Hua'er to sit on the edge of the desk.
"Let me explain."
"Alright, I'm listening." Hua'er tilted her head, her translucent wings fluttering slightly as she perched on the desk.
"First, you need to understand the principle of bulking," Wang Zi began, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the wall.
"The idea is to eat more calories than your body burns so you can gain weight. But you don't just want to gain fat, you want your body to convert all that extra energy into muscle."
"Sounds simple enough," Hua'er said, nodding. "But you already look huge. Isn't this... unnecessary?"
"That's where you're wrong," Wang Zi replied, smirking. "Right now, my body is covered in fat, sure, but under that fat are muscles that are getting denser and stronger every day. Here's the trick: bulking works in phases.
First, you bulk, gain as much mass as you can, and that includes some fat. Then you cut, reduce your body fat percentage while retaining as much muscle as possible."
"Okay," Hua'er said, crossing her arms. "But why not just skip straight to cutting?"
Wang Zi shook his head.
"Because without the bulk, there's no muscle foundation to work with. Cutting without building first would leave me skinny and weak. It's like trying to carve a statue out of a tiny rock instead of a big block of marble. You need the mass first."
"I've been eating a ton, right?" Wang Zi said, gesturing to the pile of empty supplement packs on the desk.
"That's called a caloric surplus. I'm consuming more calories than my body needs to maintain its current weight. The excess calories fuel my workouts and help my muscles grow."
"But doesn't all that food just make you fat?" Hua'er wrinkled her nose.
"A little, yeah," Wang Zi admitted.
"But that's where the workouts come in. The more intense and consistent my training, the more those extra calories get turned into muscle instead of fat."
"When I train, I don't just lift the same weights over and over," Wang Zi continued. "I increase the intensity every week, more weight, more reps, or less rest between sets. That's called progressive overload. It forces my muscles to adapt and grow stronger."
"So you're literally tearing your muscles apart so they can rebuild themselves?" Hua'er tilted her head.
"Exactly," Wang Zi said, snapping his fingers.
"When you lift heavy weights, you create tiny tears in your muscle fibers. Your body repairs those tears and adds extra muscle to prevent it from happening again. That's how you grow."
"Speaking of rebuilding," Wang Zi added, "rest is just as important as the training itself. If I don't give my body time to recover, it won't grow. That's why I alternate muscle groups and take rest days to work on Naruto."
"But you've been training every day." Hua'er frowned.
"True, but I'm targeting different parts of my body. One day it's chest and triceps, the next it's back and biceps, then legs. That way, each muscle group gets time to recover." Wang Zi chuckled.
"And then there's the food," Wang Zi said, patting his stomach. "I'm eating tons of protein to give my body the building blocks it needs for muscle repair, eggs, meat, protein shakes, you name it. The future's supplements are a godsend. They've got everything from fast-absorbing protein powders to recovery boosters."
"Sounds... exhausting. And gross." Hua'er scrunched her face.
Wang Zi shrugged. "It works. And when I start cutting, I'll focus on burning fat while keeping all the muscle I've built."
"Now, let me explain why the gravity bracelet is so important," Wang Zi said, holding up his arm to show the sleek band clasped around his wrist.
"This thing makes everything harder. Every movement, every rep, it's like I'm carrying extra weight everywhere I go."
"So you're basically training in a constant state of resistance?" Hua'er's eyes widened.
"Exactly," Wang Zi said, grinning. "By the time I take it off, my body will be used to moving under higher gravity. I'll be faster, stronger, and more explosive without it."
Hua'er stared at Wang Zi, her expression somewhere between awe and exasperation.
"You're insane. Normal people don't do this."
"Good thing I'm not normal," Wang Zi said, smirking as he grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face.
"I'm going to be the strongest. This is just the beginning."
She continued watching Wang Zi with fascination and horror, wondering how he managed to push himself so relentlessly. She did her best to assist him, fetching supplements from his inventory or adjusting the gravity bracelet as needed, all while muttering about how strange her master was.
Between workouts, Wang Zi made significant progress on Naruto. He reached the Chunin Exam arc, crafting key scenes with painstaking detail.
Occasionally, he chuckled as he worked, imagining how this series would blow people's minds once it launched.
"Rock Lee's fight vs Gaara... This was the first scene in Naruto that made me think that shit was about to go down. That's when it turned from a cartoon, to an anime. From there on out, the true Naruto begins."
By the second month, Wang Zi's fat layer had begun to thin, revealing the dense muscles underneath. He examined himself in the mirror, smirking as he flexed.
"Not bad for two months."
As the ship neared its destination, Wang Zi felt a mixture of anticipation and impatience. He had his plans laid out: master Naruto, perfect his body, and prepare for the Violet Tower.
Lulu's warnings about competition didn't faze him. If anything, they fueled his desire to excel. He knew his path wouldn't align with the typical artist's, but that didn't matter. Wang Zi wasn't here to follow conventions, he was here to break them.
His gaze drifted to the gravity bracelet on his wrist, a gift that had proven invaluable. Lulu's colleague, whoever they were, had created something extraordinary. Wang Zi couldn't wait to meet them and see what other ideas they had.
"Its like Bulma's inventions in Dragon Ball, really helpful to be honest..."
"One more month..." he muttered, clenching his fists. "That's enough time to lay the groundwork for everything."
Or so he thought.
As the ship approached the teleportation nexus, Wang Zi stood by a reinforced window, gazing at the colossal structure that loomed ahead.
The "planet" was a masterpiece of engineering, a titanic sphere covered in intricate layers of metal, glowing conduits, and towering spires.
It looked more like the Death Star from his favorite childhood movies than an actual planet. For a moment, he wondered if there was any natural terrain below all that metal or if it was entirely artificial.
"It's insane how big this thing is," Wang Zi muttered, his voice filled with awe.
Hua'er appeared beside him, sitting cross-legged in midair.
"Master, this structure contains one of the Federation's largest teleportation hubs. It's said to process millions of teleportations daily."
Wang Zi scratched his chin, still not entirely convinced. "Still feels like overkill. If it wasn't for the occasional flashing lights and docking ships, I'd think it was just a giant prop."
"Maybe you'll get used to it, Master. Though I doubt this kind of scale exists where you're from." Hua'er giggled.
By the time they docked, Wang Zi had become an entirely different person, both mentally and physically. Though he still carried a noticeable amount of fat, it was clear that his body had transformed.
His shoulders were broader, his arms bulged, and his posture carried an air confidence.
Wang Zi now preferred baggy clothing, intentionally concealing his progress. Only Hua'er, who had witnessed his grueling training sessions, understood the immense growth he had achieved.
As she floated behind him while he packed his belongings, her eyes sparkled with amazement.
"Master, I'll admit… I thought your methods were outdated and ridiculous, but…" She gestured to his physique.
"It's actually working. You're not as… round anymore."
"Told you, Hua'er. Ancient wisdom beats shortcuts every time." Wang Zi smirked, flexing his arm and watching the muscle strain against his shirt.
"You're still fat, though," Hua'er teased, poking his side with her tiny hand.
"For now. Once we're settled, I'll burn through the rest of this fat. But I'm keeping it for a bit, it's still useful."
Hua'er tilted her head. "Useful how?"
"Think of it as fuel. Besides, it's a good cover. No one suspects a fat guy."
As the ship docked at the nexus, Wang Zi leaned back in his seat and mentally reviewed his progress with Naruto.
He had successfully completed the Chunin Exam arc and was now delving into Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha. The story was shaping up well, but the sheer amount of filler in his memories annoyed him.
"Damn fillers," Wang Zi muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "Some of them are decent, but most are just… ugh."
"Master, what's a filler?" Hua'er peeked over his shoulder.
"It's extra content in the anime that wasn't in the original manga. Mostly used to stretch the story and keep people hooked, but a lot of it is unnecessary," Wang Zi explained.
"Why not keep the good ones and remove the bad ones?" Hua'er suggested.
"I'll have to. I'm not going to waste time animating 10 years' worth of episodes. The series already has enough meat to stand on its own. I'll prune the rest later."
The docking process was smooth, and Wang Zi joined the other Violet Tower recruits as they disembarked. The teleportation nexus was even more impressive up close, with massive platforms bustling with activity. Spaceships from various academies were arriving, unloading their passengers and cargo.
Wang Zi scanned the area, hoping to spot someone familiar. His eyes darted around, but the place was too vast and crowded to identify anyone specific. The other students seemed just as awestruck, some craning their necks to take in the towering structures.
"Doesn't look like a planet at all," Wang Zi muttered.
Hua'er floated beside him.
"That's because it isn't. This is an entirely artificial structure designed for efficiency. It's said to be one of the greatest engineering feats of the Federation."
A uniformed attendant approached the group and gestured for them to follow. They were led to a glowing platform, surrounded by buzzing mana.
"This is the teleportation pad," the attendant explained curtly. "You'll be transported directly to the entrance of the Violet Tower Academy. Step onto the pad in an orderly fashion."
Wang Zi took his place on the platform, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
He glanced at the students around him, noting their nervous expressions.
The attendant activated the runes, and a brilliant light enveloped them.
As the teleportation light faded, Wang Zi blinked to adjust to the sudden change in scenery.
Before him stretched the sprawling Violet Tower Academy, but it was nothing like what he had expected.
His eyes immediately locked onto the towering structure in the distance - the Violet Tower itself. It rose like a colossal spire, its surface glowing faintly with runic patterns.
Surrounding its base was a dense forest that seemed to pulse with mana, the trees swaying gently despite the lack of wind.
However, what caught Wang Zi's attention the most were the buildings before the forest. Rows upon rows of sleek, futuristic structures sprawled across the landscape, each marked with distinct signage and glowing pathways connecting them like arteries in a living organism.
"Now this looks like a real academy," Wang Zi muttered, letting out a low whistle of appreciation.
As Wang Zi and the other newly arrived students materialized on the teleportation platform, they were immediately greeted by a sharply dressed attendant.
The man was tall and lean, with a professional demeanor that made it clear he took his role seriously. His violet-trimmed uniform matched the academy's emblem embroidered on his chest, and his sharp gray eyes scanned the group as if assessing each individual's worth.
"Welcome to the Violet Tower Academy," the attendant began, his voice smooth and confident.
"I am Attendant Lyric, and I will be guiding you through your initial orientation."
He gestured for the group to follow, his polished shoes clicking against the sleek stone path. Wang Zi glanced at Hua'er, who floated discreetly beside him, her curiosity piqued by the bustling campus.
Lyric's authoritative tone brought Wang Zi's attention back.
"To your right, you'll notice the Training Complexes," Lyric said, gesturing toward several massive, futuristic buildings.
Transparent walls offered glimpses of students sparring, energy blasts lighting up the interiors.
"These facilities house gravity chambers, combat simulators, and mana-manipulation zones. Each student will have scheduled access based on their class rank and contribution points."
The group murmured among themselves, impressed by the advanced setup. Wang Zi raised an eyebrow, making a mental note to check out these gravity chambers later, especially since he still had the bracelet Lulu had given him.
Lyric continued without pause, leading them further down the pathway.
"On your left are the Lecture Halls and Classrooms. Here, you'll attend both practical and theoretical sessions. Each hall is equipped with holographic projectors and mana-assisted instructional systems to ensure optimal learning."
He then gestured to a large, glowing building with vibrant holographic signage.
"That is one of our many Cafeterias. Each dining area caters to specific mana types and dietary requirements to enhance student performance. The cooks all have the 'Chef' class and are well-versed in mana-infused cooking, so do make use of it."
"Those are the Dormitories. Your accommodations will be assigned shortly. Dorm placements are determined by rank and class to foster a competitive atmosphere."
The attendant slowed his pace, allowing the students to take in their surroundings.
"You'll also notice the Research Labs near the center of campus." He indicated a glowing blue building with a central mana core spinning within.
"These labs are used for studying mana applications, artifact development, and experimental combat techniques."
Finally, Lyric stopped near an expansive structure emblazoned with the academy's emblem.
"And this," he said with a small smile, "is the Administration Building, where you'll receive your dorm assignments and initial schedules."
As the group filed into the Administration Building, Wang Zi couldn't help but be impressed. The campus was leagues ahead of Nexus Academy, not only in facilities but also in sheer scale and specialization.
This place was designed to cultivate the best of the best.
"Fancy place," Wang Zi muttered under his breath, his gaze sweeping over the other students. Most looked awed or overwhelmed, their eyes darting between buildings and glowing pathways.
"Please proceed to the reception desk," Lyric instructed, motioning toward a sleek counter where attendants awaited with tablets.
"You'll receive your room keys, uniforms, and initial schedules. Welcome to the Violet Tower Academy, and may your journey here lead you to greatness."
As Lyric left, Wang Zi couldn't help sneaking a glance at the tower.
Despite the grandeur of the outer buildings, the Violet Tower remained an enigma. It stood at the heart of the academy, looming like a guardian over the rest of the campus.
Its entrance was surrounded by a barrier, and only a few students could be seen passing through it. These individuals radiated an undeniable aura of power, their uniforms distinct from the rest.
Wang Zi narrowed his eyes at the sight.
"Looks like the tower itself isn't for everyone. Probably restricted to those at the top."
Hua'er floated beside him, nodding in agreement.
"It makes sense, Master. The tower likely houses the academy's most advanced training facilities or resources. They wouldn't want just anyone wandering in."
"Not bad," Wang Zi muttered, his smirk growing. "This place might actually have some useful stuff for me."
クリエイターの想い 
Incarnus_the_one
Incarnus_the_one I've had some people ask for more chapters - but I don't have them.
I started writing this because I felt like it.
I don't get ANY money or anything from this. The only thing that keeps me writing is knowing people enjoy the story. So thank you for the power stones, it keeps me going!
Anyways, enjoy the extra big chapter!
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