The Last Thunderborn

One by one, all the trainees received their scores. Ranav ranked the highest at 4,188 units, while the second-highest, Number 21, scored 2,618 units. The rest of the participants all managed to score above 1,500 units.

Nathaniel surveyed the group and said, "All of you have scored better than I expected, but it's still far from satisfactory. Remember these three words: Technique, Speed, and Strength. From today onward, your training will focus on these aspects. Those who can surpass 3,000 units will qualify for my next training program."

He glanced at the trainees and continued, "Only Number 15 managed to cross the cut-off mark, but he relied purely on brute strength. He lacks both technique and speed. So, for now, everyone will undergo the same training."

He paused, letting his words sink in, then added, "Now, I will teach you a technique commonly used by soldiers: Descending Straight Punch. It is a powerful strike that maximizes force by combining body weight, speed, and precision. Watch my demonstration carefully and follow along."

Nathaniel took his stance, his movements precise and controlled.

"First, get into the Right Stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your dominant foot slightly behind for stability. Bend your knees slightly to prepare for an explosive movement. Your weight should be evenly distributed but lean slightly forward."

He shifted his weight fluidly, ensuring the trainees could see every detail of his posture.

"Now, prepare the Punch. Make a tight fist with your dominant hand, keeping your thumb on the outside. Your non-dominant hand stays raised for balance. Fix your gaze on the center of your target. Engage your abdominal muscles to maximize force transfer. Rotate your shoulder and hip downward in the direction of the punch. Drop your weight into the strike for extra impact."

As he spoke, he moved with perfect control, his body aligning seamlessly with his words.

"Finally, execute the Punch. Extend your arm at a downward angle, not straight forward. Exhale as you strike… this will increase your speed and prevent energy loss. Clench your fist even tighter at the moment of impact. Don't just aim at the target, punch through it. Immediately retract your hand to maintain control and balance."

After demonstrating the full motion several times, Nathaniel straightened and commanded, "Spread out! Extend both arms but don't touch each other. Form lines."

The trainees quickly adjusted their positions, arranging themselves into three neat rows.

Nathaniel nodded approvingly. "Now, all of you… practice on your own. I'll be observing and correcting your form. Those who perfect the technique will be excused for today. The rest will continue training."

The group wasted no time, mimicking his movements with varying levels of success. Some executed the technique well, while others struggled with balance and power.

Nathaniel moved down the line, offering corrections where needed. When he reached Ranav, he paused for a moment, watching closely.

Ranav had already mastered the technique but was deliberately controlling his strength, ensuring he didn't stand out too much. Jessica was assisting him mentally, helping him adjust his power output to appear more in line with the others.

Nathaniel observed him for a moment before saying, "Oh? It looks like you've adapted very quickly. Your strength is impressive for your age, but your speed is still lacking. When you strike, breathe out sharply to increase velocity. Clench your fist even tighter at the moment of impact and let your fist follow through further."

He demonstrated once again, then added, "If you execute the punch correctly, I believe you could exceed 5,000 units today. I've seen many people surpass 10,000 units with this technique. Though they were older than you, I have no doubt that with training, you could reach 7,000 units or more. Keep going."

With that, he moved on to the next trainee.

Jessica's voice echoed in Ranav's mind. "We may have seriously underestimated him. The key word here is 'many'… if he's seen numerous people exceeding 10,000 units, he's likely involved with the Kingdom's special forces. And from the way he looks at you, I'd say if you perform according to his expectations, you might learn something valuable from him."

Ranav smirked slightly. "Interesting! I'm surprised you're thinking like me. Exploiting others for personal gain isn't really your style."

Jessica scoffed. "I learned it from you. Now focus. 5,000 units, that's our goal for today."

After providing guidance to all the trainees, Nathaniel returned to his position. "Number 3, step forward and execute the punch."

Number 3 approached the machine and struck with all his might. His score displayed 2,518 units… a significant improvement.

Nathaniel nodded. "Good. You're excused for today. Practice on your own time. Next, Number 14, step forward."

Ranav stepped up to the machine, following his pre-planned strategy with Jessica. He threw the punch with controlled force… 5,110 units.

A hushed murmur spread through the trainees.

Nathaniel, however, didn't look surprised. "Good. Keep working on your technique. You're excused."

Ranav wasted no time. He was hungry and in desperate need of food. He made his way back to his room, feeling sweaty and exhausted. A single Regenesis restored his energy, but it also made him even hungrier.

He grabbed some fruit from his storage ring before heading to the bath. The cool water washed away his fatigue, leaving him refreshed and relaxed. Dressed in new clothes, he lay on his bed, idly conversing with Jessica.

A short while later, a maid knocked on his door, calling him for breakfast.

He followed her to the dining hall, the same massive room he had eaten in the previous day. The dining table stretched so far it could easily be mistaken for a banquet hall centerpiece.

As he entered, he saw Aunt Vartika, Vayunisha, and Paramita already eating.

Vartika noticed him and smiled. "Ranav, come. Sit beside me."

He obeyed, taking the seat across from Vayunisha and Paramita. A maid promptly placed a plate piled with various dishes in front of him.

As he started eating, Vartika spoke, "I heard you scored over 5,000 units today."

Ranav hesitated, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Ah… I guess I got lucky."

The two girls laughed at his awkward excuse.

Vartika smirked. "That wasn't luck. You have the potential to reach much higher. I heard you awakened Light magic at birth. But seeing your pointed ears, it's clear you have Elven lineage. Elves are known for their mastery over Light magic, but not for their physical strength. I wonder… how did you get so strong?"

She paused briefly before changing the subject. "By the way, did you know you've caused quite a stir in Khohdwar County?"

Ranav looked up in surprise. "What? I haven't done anything! I barely left the estate, and when I did, Paramita was always with me."

Vartika smirked. "Oh? Then how do you explain the miraculous recovery of a certain old herb merchant? The same man the chief of the local healing center had deemed untreatable, predicting he wouldn't survive more than two years. But now, that man is walking around the city, completely healthy. Healers have confirmed that aside from a few natural signs of aging, there's nothing wrong with his body anymore."

Ranav stammered, "H-how… how did you know?"

Paramita chimed in, "That was Usha's grandfather. She gave Ranav a cheap storage ring as a gift, and in return, he cured her grandfather's illness. Then, before she could offer him any money or anything else, he ran away."