After receiving the Body of Adaptation technique, Edwyn immediately began training.
At 8 a.m. the next morning, Edwyn arrived at the training chamber with a dose of Adaptation Elixir. According to the manual, new practitioners should begin with elemental resistance training.
The chamber had three types of elemental apparatus: fire, lightning, and ice.
Injecting the potion into his body, Edwyn stripped down and took a deep breath, stepping into a glass pod.
Even the sequence of training mattered. Based on the chamber's setup, the optimal order was: ice, lightning, and fire.
As the machinery activated, the temperature inside the pod dropped rapidly. Frost quickly formed on the glass.
Step one: Endure −30°C, completely naked, for thirty minutes.
Inside the frozen pod, Edwyn's teeth chattered, and his body trembled continuously.
At that temperature, a normal human would freeze solid. But with a constitution of 30, already beyond human limits, Edwyn survived. He was left with blue limbs and frostbite, but he endured it.
Next came electricity.
Still shivering, Edwyn sat in the electric chair, adjusted the current to one energy unit, and set a one-minute timer.
As the switch flipped, a searing, indescribable pain surged through his body. He convulsed, smoke curling from his hair.
When the minute ended, Edwyn sat in the chair, completely still.
At that moment, he wondered if this power was even worth it.
Ultimately, he rose and walked to the final pod: the fire chamber.
He activated the switch. Fire at one energy unit filled the pod, and a charred, acrid smell spread through the air.
One minute later, Edwyn stumbled out of the pod, his skin scorched and flaking like charcoal.
Thankfully, he had placed the recovery chamber nearby in advance. He barely made it a few steps before collapsing inside.
At that moment, Edwyn's body, stimulated by the potion, began rapidly absorbing nutrients from the surrounding fluid. On a microscopic level, every cell was pulsing with activity. Deep inside, each cell's core began undergoing minute changes.
This was the essence of the Body of Adaptation, forcing the life core to evolve through extreme environments and alchemical stimulation.
According to Joron's theory, life is extraordinarily resilient. From pitch-black ocean depths to molten volcanic craters, life finds a way. Under extreme conditions, life naturally adapts. Compare pre-adapted and post-adapted lifeforms, and you'll find changes at their very core.
Using this logic, Joron accelerated the natural adaptation process a thousandfold through magic and alchemy, creating the Body of Adaptation technique.
An hour later, Edwyn emerged from the chamber, his wounds fully healed.
Stretching and dressing himself, he muttered:
"Whew, like a round trip through hell."
After training, Edwyn headed to the library to borrow books on the Elemental School and select several encrypted notebooks for magical refinement.
Back in his room, he dove into study.
Surprisingly, after enduring the Body of Adaptation training, studying didn't seem quite so painful anymore.
With even slight rune adjustments, elemental spells could become far more powerful, this seemed a lot easier than being electrocuted and roasted alive.
Maybe… he was secretly a genius in elemental magic?
Reading late into the night, Edwyn eventually shut the book, dazed by all the formulas and theory.
Elemental magic had a certain mathematical elegance.
If you don't get it, you just don't get it.
It was 8 p.m., still early for a night in the Academy.
Stepping out of the central tower, Edwyn decided to unwind with a drink at one of the dorm taverns.
Entertainment at the Academy was notoriously limited, just the classic four vices: eating, drinking, gambling, and women.
He had no interest in gambling. As for women, his relationship with Elia had long since gone past the "exploratory" stage, no need to stray. That left eating and drinking.
Besides, as someone focused on physique, both food and drink aided his path.
On his way, Edwyn noticed many fresh-faced students. Their expressions ranged from cautious to admiring when they looked at him.
A new batch of apprentices. Of course.
"Time flies," Edwyn sighed.
He had once been like them. And now… he was the one being looked up to.
The dorm district had many taverns, most operated by senior apprentices for profit.
Edwyn entered one he frequented, and immediately spotted two familiar figures downing drinks.
"Another round!" Kevan roared, slamming his wooden tankard down.
"Make it stronger!" Chayle echoed, just as drunk and bold.
Edwyn walked up with interest.
"Kevan, Chayle, why are you two having a drinking contest?"
Chuck saw Edwyn and threw an arm around him, shoving a liter-sized tankard into his hand. Slurring, he laughed:
"Little brother, your friend's got guts! Drinks like a champ!"
Kevan, equally plastered, staggered over and threw an arm around Edwyn's shoulder.
"Yo! Edwyn! Congrats on getting first in the trial!"
He grabbed a new drink and raised it high, shouting to the whole bar:
"Everyone! See this guy? That's our legend, Edwyn, top of the leaderboard!"
The tavern quieted. All eyes turned toward him.
They were all survivors of the trial. The looks they gave Edwyn, reverent, awed, envious, spoke volumes.
Clearly, they all wished they could be like him.
They raised bottles and mugs. Edwyn took a tankard from the barkeep, raised it high, and declared:
"To survival!"
The crowd roared back:
"To survival!!"
…
A year passed like flowing water.
Every morning, Edwyn continued his Body of Adaptation training.
He had trained daily for a year, but the results had been frustratingly minimal.
Worried he might be doing something wrong, he consulted Joron, who reassured him this was normal.
The beginning was always the hardest. If the life core were a rusted machine, then getting it to move would always take the most effort.
Just like always, Edwyn entered the cold chamber and took a deep breath, preparing to endure more frozen agony.
He had grown used to the pain.
But today, something was different.
As the temperature dropped and the machinery roared to life… he felt something shift deep inside.
It was as if he heard a quiet crack, like a shackle breaking.
That rusted machine… seemed to have started moving.