After deciding that martial arts would be his base, Aron walked toward the Velaris Library.
He went straight to the 12th floor.
He wasn't here to wander.
He was here for something precious.
The Emperor's Breath.
He remembered this book very clearly.
In his past life, he had seen it in a corner of the 12th floor many times.
He always glanced at it but never opened it.
He regretted that for years.
Back then, he only found half of the technique.
The other half was discovered much later in his life, hidden deep in the ruins of the Elva kingdom.
Even then, the scroll was damaged and incomplete.
The full method had been lost in the war.
But now... he could finally get the second half.
The half he never had in time.
Aron reached the far corner of the 12th floor and saw the thin, dusty book lying exactly where he remembered it.
Forgotten.
Ignored.
Waiting for him.
He picked it up with both hands.
The cover was cracked.
The ink faded.
But the value inside was beyond anything stored on this floor.
Maybe even more precious than some manuals on the first floor.
The Emperor's Breath was one of the oldest martial arts in the world.
A technique once practiced by dragons, elves and ancient warriors.
A method that built a strong foundation by shaping the body from the inside.
In his past life, Aron could never use it properly.
His body was too old.
Too damaged.
Too rigid.
But now, as a child, he had the perfect chance.
Aron closed the book gently and held it to his chest.
This time, I won't waste it.
He looked once at the books above him, the sealed floors he could not reach yet.
One day.
But for now, he had what he needed.
Aron turned and left the library, the Emperor's Breath safely in his hands.
Aron returned to his room and locked the door behind him.
He placed the Emperor's Breath on his table and sat down, staring at the old manual.
He knew how precious this book was.
He knew how much regret he carried from his past life.
And now, he finally had both halves of the technique in his hands and mind.
But he still didn't know where to begin.
He sighed and looked at the cover, thinking quietly.
What should I do first…?
Before he could finish the thought, the air in front of him shimmered.
A soft light appeared.
Small at first, like a spark.
Then brighter, forming the shape of a tiny fairy-like figure made of gentle blue light.
Aron jumped back from his chair.
"What… who are you?"
The glowing figure crossed her arms and smiled, her voice light and playful.
"I'm Merl."
Aron blinked. "Merl…?"
"Yes. Merl. A fragment of the creator."
Her wings fluttered softly as she spoke.
"We are the souls that help the creator shape worlds and destinies. Many of us are here now, watching over the children of fate."
Aron stared, trying to understand her words.
"Children of fate… does that mean me?"
Merl nodded with a bright grin.
"Of course. You were chosen by fate itself. And since you picked up something as rare as the Emperor's Breath, I thought it was a good moment to finally say hello."
Aron swallowed.
"So Merl… are you here to help me? How?"
Merl floated closer and tapped his forehead lightly with one glowing finger.
"I can do many things," she said.
"But you need to grow yourself if you want to access my full knowledge and functions. I'm not here to make you powerful instantly. I'm here to guide you."
Aron nodded slowly, still confused.
"So what can you do right now?"
"For now," Merl said, blinking playfully, "I can answer simple questions and show you your level."
"My… level?" Aron repeated.
"Yes. Your current state. Your starting point. Every child of fate has one."
Aron couldn't help but lean forward.
Merl snapped her fingers.
A small blue screen appeared in front of him, glowing softly in the dim room.
Aron Velaris — System Profile (Created)
Aron stared at the screen, shocked and speech
less.
Aron Velaris — System Profile
Name: Aron Velaris
Age: 7
Race: Human
Bloodline: Dragon (dormant)
Core Stats
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Endurance: 3
Vitality: 4
Mana: 2
Charm: 5
Luck: 7
Talents
Basic Swordsmanship
(Learns sword forms slightly faster than average.)
Intermediate Magic Talent
(Good understanding and sensitivity to mana once awakened.)
Advanced Martial Artist Talent
(Highest growth rate. Strong compatibility with martial arts and body arts.)
Heavenly Mind: Dormant EX
???:
Locked
Locked
Locked
Aron stared at the blue screen, his mouth slightly open.
He knew he had some talent.
His magic was always decent.
His swordsmanship wasn't bad either.
But advanced martial artist talent…?
He never expected that.
In his past life, he had started martial arts late.
He only learned basic stances, simple punches and footwork.
No one, not even his instructors, ever told him he had real potential.
He thought he was average at best.
But here, the system clearly showed it.
Aron felt a strange mix of shock and confusion.
Was I always this good at martial arts…?
Then his eyes
moved to the next line.
Heavenly Mind — Dormant
He blinked once.
Then twice.
"Heavenly… mind?" he whispered.
He had no idea what that meant.
Swordsmanship, magic, martial arts… those made sense.
He trained them before.
He understood the basics.
But this?
He frowned, staring at the glowing words as if they would explain themselves.
Merl," he said slowly, "what is this supposed to mean? Why do I have something like this?"
Merl floated beside the screen and tapped the words lightly with her glowing finger.
"Oh, that," she said with a playful grin. "It's nothing you need to worry about right now."
Aron narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't answer anything."
She laughed softly.
"Heavenly Mind is a special soul trait. Very rare. Very powerful. But yours is dormant for now. It won't help you much until you grow."
"Grow… how?"
Merl shrugged, wings fluttering.
"That's the fun part. I don't know. It depends on you. Maybe when you train hard. Maybe when you face danger. Maybe when your heart changes. Fate decides these things."
Aron took a long breath, trying to calm himself.
The system screen slowly faded, leaving only Merl floating nearby and the Emperor's Breath lying open on his table.
He looked at the old manual again.
He remembered the faces of the geniuses from his past life.
Strong. Talented. Bright.
And yet… many of them died in the war.
Even his own sister Rina.
Even warriors who were far stronger than him.
Aron clenched his fists.
He was weak.
He always had been.
But this time, he would not stay weak.
He would work hard.
He would protect.
He would defend.
He sat down cross-legged and opened the book fully.
The pages were cracked and faded, but the words still carried weight.
He began reading slowly, tracing each line with his finger.
Breathing is the source of life.
Breathing shapes the body.
Breathing connects the soul to creation.
Aron nodded.
The technique didn't start with movements.
No punches.
No stances.
Only breathing.
He read the next part.
Breathing is simple.
Yet if we focus deeply, we feel the whole body breathe.
Every corner.
Every small point.
All connected.
Aron took a slow breath.
Then another.
His chest rose and fell softly.
He tried to follow the rhythm shown in the diagram, imagining air flowing not only into his lungs, but into his whole body.
Legs. Arms. Spine. Fingers.
Even places he never paid attention to before.
His breathing began to deepen.
Slow.
Steady.
Stable.
Merl watched quietly, her wings glowing faintly.
Aron closed his eyes.
For the first time, he wasn't just breathing.
He was feeling.
A warmth spread from his stomach.
Then into his chest.
Then outward, reaching his shoulders and arms like a gentle wave.
He focused harder.
Then suddenly—
A soft blue light began forming around him.
It wrapped around his body, thin at first, then brighter, almost like calm flames dancing against his skin.
Aron gasped. His eyes remained shut, but he felt everything.
Every part of his body was reacting.
Bones felt lighter.
Muscles tightened.
Blood flowed smoother.
This was no ordinary technique.
He felt a grandness, a depth, something ancient flowing inside him.
Like dragons breathing flames.
Like elves whispering mana.
Like the first warriors shaping the world.
The Emperor's Breath was alive.
Aron breathed again, deeper this time.
The blue glow pulsed softly, matching his rhythm.
Aron kept breathing slowly, following the broken diagrams, trusting the half he remembered from the future.
The blue glow around him pulsed gently, rising and falling with each inhale.
His body felt strange.
Heavy one moment, light the next.
Warmth spread through his arms, then cooled, then warmed again.
He didn't stop.
He couldn't stop.
He kept trying, again and again.
Each breath a little deeper.
A little steadier.
A little closer to the true technique.
His back straightened.
His shoulders relaxed.
His heartbeat slowed.
The room felt quiet, almost sacred.
Merl watched him from the side, eyes wide with surprise.
"He's… actually doing it," she whispered softly.
Aron didn't notice her.
He was too focused.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Feeling the whole body move with each cycle.
Time passed.
Minutes… then maybe an hour.
Aron lost track completely.
He was only seven, and his body was small.
The technique demanded more than most adults could handle.
But he kept going.
Slowly, the warm energy inside him grew stronger.
His veins tingled.
His muscles felt slightly firmer.
His bones hummed with a soft vibration.
Then—
A small sound echoed beside him.
Ding.
A blue text floated in front of him:
Mana +1
Aron's eyes widened for a moment, but he didn't stop.
Another breath.
Another glow.
Another ding.
Strength +2
Then:
Endurance +1
Vitality +1
Then something unexpected:
Body refinement started
Aron's breathing began to slow on its own.
His small body swayed slightly, exhausted from the effort.
His eyelids grew heavy.
But he still tried.
Inhale…
exhale…
Inhale…
exhale…
Until finally, his body leaned forward gently.
He had fallen asleep while sitting.
The blue glow wrapped around him like a soft blanket.
Notifications kept appearing one after another.
Merl covered her mouth with both hands, shocked.
"Oh my… he actually forced a reaction on the first try… this kid is unbelievable."
Aron slept peacefully, his breathing calm and steady, the Emperor's Breath still working in the background.
Tonight, his journey truly began.