Slumbering Sloth

Vikram smashed the final imp, flicking his axe to send the imp's lifeless body flying backward. Breathing heavily, he approached the ancient, weathered statue at the center of the chamber. He placed his hand on the cool stone, feeling a surge of energy course through him as he focused on increasing his strength.

With a concentrated effort, Vikram willed his strength to rise, watching as the numbers on his internal display ticked upwards until it hit five. The moment his strength reached five, a profound change swept through his body. Muscles tensed and bulged, his bones felt denser, and an overwhelming sense of power surged within him. Yet, simultaneously, he sensed an invisible barrier—a cap that his body had reached.

A notification flashed before his eyes, confirming what he already felt:

[Strength: 5-->6](Max)

Vikram felt the exhilarating rush of reaching the pinnacle of his current realm. The sense of power was intoxicating, but he knew that breaking through to the next realm required more than brute strength.

**********************

Brunus looked dubiously at Vikram and shook his head. 

"Why do you want information on breakthroughs?" 

Vikram walked beside Brunus, glancing out the glass window to see the cityscape below. The small buildings and tiny figures of people far beneath them gave him a sense of detached superiority as if he were an immortal gazing down at mere mortals.

Shaking off the thought, he refocused on the path ahead, following Brunus through the sleek, metallic-black corridors of the tower. The futuristic ambiance of the place was both soothing and invigorating.

They approached a black door accented with pure white, a striking contrast that drew Vikram's attention. Brunus opened it, and Vikram stepped into a large training hall. The room buzzed with activity as his peers engaged in intense training and sparring sessions.

Vikram's eyes widened at the display of magical and supernatural abilities. Flames erupted from one's hands, another manipulated water into intricate shapes, while a third seemed to control shadows themselves. The air was thick with the energy of their powers, each one pushing their limits and honing their skills.

Vikram couldn't help but feel a twinge of vulnerability as he observed the array of fantastical abilities being demonstrated around the room. The sheer variety and power on display were awe-inspiring and intimidating. However, he quickly steeled himself, puffing up his chest and raising his head high. With Brunus at his side, a small golem-like figure emanating an aura of strength, Vikram commanded attention as he walked into the room.

'Damn it, this is really pressuring,' he thought, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze. Despite the internal pressure, he maintained a facade of arrogance, his expression unwavering and confident.

As Vikram followed Brunus towards the front of the hall, a loud bellowing sound reverberated through the space, capturing everyone's attention even further. The Walkers paused their training, turning to face the source of the sound. It was Instructor Kayala, her presence commanding and authoritative.

"Finally, you raised your lazy ass to come train, huh?!" 

Vikram's eyebrows twitched as he looked forward, seeing the Lady General staring at him with a feral grin. Brunus, beside him, offered a helpless smile, clearly used to her intense demeanor.

As Vikram moved forward, he could feel the weight of countless eyes on him. The pressure was palpable, but he held his head high, exuding the confidence of someone who belonged here.

"I was meditating, not lazy," Vikram said, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him.

The reaction was immediate. Multiple gasps echoed through the hall, and the atmosphere turned cold and tense. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the Lady General's response. To everyone's shock, she laughed—a deep, hearty laugh that broke the tension like a shattering plane of glass.

"Heh, fine, fine," she said, still chuckling.

The Lady General smiled and motioned for Vikram to follow her. As they walked, she started talking, "I have heard that there is someone special inside this batch, even though this batch itself is special" She let her eyes wander to some individual's and gave a nod to her golem-like companion.

Vikram had already talked to these two in his daily training and felt that they gave special attention to him. He was grateful as much he felt vexed. After all, he received this attention because he was powerless. 

If he had been bullied, he would have thrived because his familiarity with it. Exactly like how he finished his First Walk, where The Hulk and his three grunts had underestimated and pushed him.... 'I wonder where those three grunts ended up...' 

But seeing all this warmth had made him uncomfortable. 

Vikram took the opportunity to probe them about their cultivation paths. Through their conversation, he discovered that Brunus and Kayala were Body Refinement cultivator, specializing in enhancing their physical attributes to their utmost limits. 

But both went towards it differently, as Brunus cultivated his body by Muscle Refinement, and Kayla cultivated her body by Blood Refinement. 

"Kayala," Vikram began, curiosity evident in his voice, "Can you tell me more about your cultivation path and the broader progression of cultivation within the Mother System?"

Kayala nodded, her eyes gleaming with pride as she carelessly sat on her chair. "Of course," Kayala nodded and continued. "Cultivation is a journey of personal growth and unlocking one's potential. The paths we choose define our abilities and strengths. For example, my path as a Blood Barbarian involves harnessing the power within my blood, using it to enhance my physical capabilities."

She paused, giving Vikram a moment to absorb the information before continuing. "There are many cultivation paths, each with its unique focus and methods. Some focus on physical prowess, like Brunus's Body Refinement, which pushes the body's limits, making it stronger, faster, and more resilient. Others, focus on Essence, Soul, or Spirit, etc."

Vikram listened intently, eager to learn more. "What about the progression of cultivation? How do these paths advance, and why are there trials within the Mother System?"

Vikram was hungry for information, and seeing Kayala was going to explain one of the things that stumped him, he was excited. 

"Each personal cultivation would have different names for progression, but there is a fundamental progression path, and that is the Existential Progression Path." 

Kayala continued, "The first stage is the [Non-Existence], which you were in when you started the First Trial. At that rank, you are basically... Well, non existence in the eyes of fate and luck."

"Then comes [Pre-Existence], which is your current Rank. After you progress through any current path two times, your existence will start to affect your surroundings, and the Mother System will promote you to a higher existence, which is called [Perma-Existence]" 

"Then, you will have to improve your current cultivation method to match your current existence, or you could follow another way of cultivation that matches your existence," 

Vikram thought for a bit and asked a question. "What is the use for upgrading your 'existence rank' per se?" 

"Everything, actually. A [Perma-Exsistence] could snap his finger, and eliminate a [Pre-Exsistence] with minimal ease. You would find that you would be more and more resistant to foreign manipulation. Fortune, misfortune, fate, or destiny. They would get less and less hold of your life." 

"These are just some of the opportunities that you could get after improving your existence rank."