"Tony, wake up."
"What?"
"It's already 4 p.m."
"That's why you're waking me up?"
"Did you forget? Today's the day Lucien Mordy, the youngest cultivator in history to reach Rank 4, is visiting our school!"
I had only been pretending to sleep — out of boredom. But at those words, I jumped to my feet.
"Where is it happening?"
"Chill. Room 3B, third floor."
Without a second thought, I sprinted off. When I got there, the hallway was already packed — girls holding up signs saying "I love you Lucien", guys buzzing with anticipation at the chance to see a real-life cultivator. And me? I was waiting for this moment to decide whether or not I'd start cultivating.
I've won everything in combat sports. I'm not looking for an easy win. I crave a challenge — something fun, intense, and hard-earned. That feeling, that rush, I only find it in the heart of a real fight.
Then the door opened.
"Hello everyone."
The room erupted in screams:
"Lucien! Lucien!"
I stared at him. And instantly, I knew… I didn't stand a chance.
"It's always a pleasure to meet my fans. Feel free to ask me anything," he said with a smile.
The crowd calmed down.
"Is your goal to reach Rank 6?" someone asked.
"Reaching Rank 6 isn't easy," Lucien replied. "Ather, the energy needed to rise through the ranks, is scarce on Earth. But some people have done it. So why not me?"
Then came the question everyone was waiting for:
"How do you become a cultivator?"
Lucien nodded.
"To become a cultivator, you have to go where ather is most concentrated. Then, you have to feel it. Most people need a month to sense it. But sensing alone isn't enough. You must also break through the Three Walls. Ather will help, but your main strength will come from your body and mind. That's why mastering a martial art before cultivating is highly recommended."
Time flew. Then someone asked:
"Do you think a normal human can stand a chance against a cultivator?"
Silence. The entire room froze. Some chuckled. Others looked at the guy with pity.
"No," Lucien answered. "A human can't beat a cultivator. With every rank, we get stronger, faster, smarter. To give you numbers — a regular human has about 60 strength points. A Rank 1 cultivator has 150. But if anyone disagrees with me, I invite them to come up here for a sparring match."
Everyone looked around.
And I… stood up.
All eyes were on me. "This guy's insane," I heard them whisper.
I walked toward the stage, fully aware I was going to lose.
But I didn't care. I wanted to see. To feel what it meant to fight a cultivator. I wasn't nervous from fear — it was excitement.
Lucien gave me a surprised look, like he wasn't sure if I was brave or just stupid.
"Very well, young man. What's your name?"
"Tony."
"Alright, Tony. This spar will last one minute. Try to hold on. Everyone — give us a countdown!"
The whole room shouted in unison:
"3… 2… 1… 0!"
I immediately raised my guard. Boxing stance. I closed in, watching his every move.
Then… nothing.
He was four meters in front of me. In the blink of an eye, he was behind me.
A punch to the gut. Devastating.
I dropped to the floor, clutching my stomach. The crowd judged, criticized, laughed. But none of that got to me. I stood back up.
20 seconds left. I just wanted to land one hit.
I threw everything I had: jabs, hooks, high kicks, feints — jab to body kick, jab to knee.
He dodged them all. Effortlessly. And with a smile.
Then, with 5 seconds left, he used my own feint — the one I'd used on him.
But instead of aiming for my liver, he struck my ribs.
I collapsed.
The bell rang.
I wanted to hear what he would say next…
But I blacked out.