REINCARNATION OF THE STRONGEST WAR HERO

Even before sunrise, Logan was already sitting in a lotus position, training. His back was straightened and his breathing was calm.

Mist coiled faintly around his small frame, a quiet aura of warmth drifting from within—not mana, but Qi.

He drew in a long breath slowly. Qi flowed through his meridians like a quiet river, pulsing with steady strength. After holding it for a while, he exhaled slowly. He continued this cycle. Each exhale carried a faint mist, coming out both from his mouth and nose. For the past six years, he had been continuously cultivating, and his internal energy had increased significantly. He was six years old now—six years since Aiden Ferith died and was reborn as Logan Smith.

And already, his body was stronger than most adult warriors.

His fists could crack stone. His senses rivaled a hawk's. His muscles, though childlike in size, were packed with power. Yet none of this came from mana.

Even though he had already formed a mana core, he hadn't trained with it.

Not after what happened a year ago.

One evening, during meditation, he reached toward the ambient energy in the air. It felt familiar, like an old friend. In a few moments, he condensed it into a rudimentary mana core within his lower dantian. The process was instinctive, smooth.

But it didn't stay unnoticed.

The court mage, Abraham, sensed something odd during a routine check. Within the day, Rudeous and Mirena were informed.

Logan was summoned before the elders of House Smith.

"You've violated House Smith's mana training law," one of his uncles said. His voice felt like he was talking to a outlaw. "Forming a mana core without undergoing the Enlightenment Ceremony is forbidden."

Logan stood quietly, hands at his sides. "I didn't know it was forbidden."

"You're six. Of course you didn't," Mirena said sharply. "But ignorance doesn't make you harmless."

Darius stood nearby with his arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Unstable mana control can cause an accident at anytime… especially in the wrong hands."

His voice wasn't loud but jealousy was brimming with it.

The room murmured in agreement.

Logan didn't react. But he was memorising each and every face.

Because that was the moment he saw the truth—it wasn't about law. It was about fear.

Most noble children couldn't form mana cores before the Enlightenment Ceremony at age fourteen. It wasn't forbidden. It was almost impossible. There were only a few exceptional cases. And yet, he had done it effortlessly.

Mirena and Darius weren't afraid of instability.

They were afraid of him.

Afraid that if he kept progressing, Darius wouldn't stand a chance of inheriting the title of patriarch.

And the rest of the family members? They didn't want to cross the Stevens family—Mirena's bloodline. Even if they admired Logan's talent, they kept silent.

Then Rudeous finally spoke.

"Logan," he said with an unreadable face. "The law exists to protect. Mana training at your age can be dangerous. For yourself. And others." A long pause followed. "I will overlook it this once. But from this moment forward, you are forbidden to train mana or use magic until your Enlightenment Ceremony. Disobey… and there will be consequences."

Alice protested. "You're punishing him for being gifted? How can you do this, Rudy?"

Rudeous gave her a look which stopped her from asking more.

Logan didn't flinch. He only nodded.

But Mirena leaned forward with dissatisfaction. "And what if he practices in secret?"

Rudeous's jaw tensed. "What else do you want?"

Abraham cleared his throat. "His mana core should be sealed. Only then can we be sure there will be no further incidents."

Several elders nodded in agreement. All were in cahoots trying to flatter Mirena and earn her favour.

Rudeous didn't speak. What else could he do. He was the patriarch but that didn't give him the right to go against everyone in the family.

Alice caressed Logan's shoulder with her trembling hands, holding back her tears. She felt helpless. She wanted her son to live happily but she was helpless.

Logan placed his hands on hers trembling hands and consoled her, "Don't worry mom. It's alright."

The sealing ritual was brief—a glowing rune was pressed to his abdomen, its light seeping into his skin. It didn't hurt.

But something inside him… shifted. Like his will being restricted.

Still, he said nothing.

Only made a promise to himself. "I will return this favour in due time for sure."

Though he had been excited to learn magic, he could wait until his mana core was unsealed again. And till then, he would continue with Qi cultivation only. He would focus on increasing his internal energy.

Those who thought they had won a war, didn't even know what they have brought upon themselves.

⸻

The months that followed were quiet on the surface.

He obeyed the order. No mana. No magic.

But behind the silence, he focused on cultivation—trained every single day using the Void Soul Sutra, an advanced breathing technique from his past life that refined body, mind, and soul in harmony.

By day, he trained physically: lifting bricks, sprinting across the courtyard, doing push-ups until his arms trembled. Sweat drenched his clothes. His bones groaned under pressure—but instead of breaking, they grew denser. Stronger.

Even servants began to whisper.

"Why is he lifting bricks again?"

"Trying to impress the Lord?"

"Isn't he banned from magic?"

Other family members also had the same question.

But their gossip didn't bother him.

Rudeous occasionally watched from afar with an unreadable expression.

But sometimes—just for a moment—a flicker of a smile would cross his face.

"That kid….he is still trying even when the whole family is against him."

⸻

One morning, Alice found him in the garden, doing push-ups.

"Logan," she said in a concerned voice. "You seem to be getting stronger even without mana. How?"

He paused, then smiled politely. "I'm training in a different way. Increasing my physical strength."

She knelt beside him, caressing his hair with affection. "But they are always observing you, Logan. Please don't give them another reason. Your father won't be able to help much. His hands are tied. You know, right?"

"I won't. Don't worry about me at all. I will only learn magic when I am allowed to. And they didn't forbid me from doing physical training. So I am not breaking any rules." He smiled convincingly.

What he said was logical. They can't blame him for this. Unless they wanted to play even dirtier.

For now increasing his internal energy through cultivation was enough.

⸻

Several days later during breakfast, Mirena suddenly said, "I heard the boy is doing physical labour," she continued with an air of mock concern. "Are you raising a farmer, Alice?"

Alice's fist tightened slightly under the table. "Growing boys need to be strong."

Mirena sipped her tea, with her eyes fixated on Logan. "Let's hope that strength doesn't lead him into any trouble."

Logan looked up and met her gaze calmly.

"I've stopped all mana training, Lady Mirena," he said without a hint of fear. "As Father instructed."

Darius leaned back, resting his chin on one hand.

"Well… by the time your Enlightenment comes around, I'll be so far ahead, you won't even see my shadow. All that physical training won't mean a thing."

He smirked.

"But don't worry. I'll take good care of you when I'm patriarch. Someone has to look out for the weaker one, right?

Logan didn't respond.

He never thought of competing with his elder brother for the patriarch position anyway.

But, by the time Darius awakened his mana at fourteen, Logan's body would already be stronger than most adult knights. He didn't give a damn about all these mockery and provocative words.

That winter, everyday while the estate prepared for the seasonal festivals, Logan slipped into the woods beyond the estate walls.

Snow bit into his skin. Wind howled like a beast. But he welcomed the cold.

He continued his training.

Sometimes he would practice martial arts. Sometimes he would cultivate for hours. His internal energy continued growing at a steady pace.

But his training didn't go totally unnoticed. Rumors were spreading every day.

"He's still training, I swear."

"Maybe he's using forbidden magic."

Some nobles began to take notice.

As nobody could understand how Logan kept growing, they started expressing their own hunches.

But Logan didn't care. Since no one knew about cultivation, they could only kepp guessing.

He didn't want any recognition. No approval either.

All he needed was time.

Time to learn. Time to grow.

To be strong enough to protect whatever and whoever he cared for.