Starting My Journey as a Dragon Rider from the Deepwater Realm

Clobber woke up to the morning light filtering through his window. After a hearty breakfast served by attentive servants, he settled down with the Goldenheart Breathing Technique and began to study it thoroughly.

For squire knights, the focus was on honing the body to its peak. However, for a full knight, mastering and cultivating battle aura became the core of advancement. The breakthrough from squire to full knight required the birth of a "seed of aura" within one's body and circulating it through the entire system—a daunting yet critical step.

Once Clobber was confident he had committed the breathing technique to memory, he began his training. Following the movements and explanations in the text, he stretched and activated his muscles and fascia. To his surprise, his already finely tuned body responded, growing even stronger under the influence of the intermediate-level breathing technique.

"It's remarkable," Clobber thought, marveling at the results. Compared to the basic techniques he'd used before, this one was leagues ahead. Encouraged, he threw himself into the training with renewed focus.

Count Flack, ever generous, ensured that Clobber's meals included high-grade magical beast meat, rich in energy and nutrients. Combined with Clobber's natural talent and the breathing technique that seemed perfectly tailored to him, his progress was astonishing. Within just two days, Clobber had refined his body to an entirely new level.

With his physical foundation solidified, Clobber moved on to the next step: sensing the flow of aura within him—a prerequisite for creating the seed of battle aura.

The process of sensing aura was elusive. Some succeeded within minutes, while others struggled for days. Fortunately, Clobber had prior experience with this, and it took him only a matter of minutes to feel the faint, flowing presence of energy within him.

This energy, while significant, couldn't yet be called battle aura. It lacked the strength to enhance his body or coat his weapons. At best, it could be described as vital energy—a manifestation of the robust physique cultivated by squire knights.

The next challenge was to strengthen this vital energy until it could evolve into the seed of battle aura.

There were two primary methods for this:

Burning Life Force

This common method involved sacrificing one's own life force to nourish the vital energy, pushing it toward its transformation. It was often the only option for commoners or low-ranking nobles. While this method didn't require many resources, it came with significant risks—failure rates were high, and even success often led to a shortened lifespan. Overexertion could result in severe physical decline, leaving newly ascended knights weakened and far from their prime.

Many in the Grand Duchy who forced their way to knighthood through this method became frail, aging prematurely into near-invalids. Their futures were often resigned to minor lordships or serving as low-ranking guards.

Using Magic Potions

Magic potions contained condensed magical energy and were incredibly effective in supporting the evolution of vital energy into battle aura. For most individuals, a single potion was sufficient. Combined with burning a small amount of life force, this method offered a 70% success rate—a significant improvement over the first method.

Those with exceptional talent and solid foundations often produced stronger seeds of battle aura but required greater energy to do so. Such individuals might need two or even three potions to complete the process. Legends told of the Grand Duke himself, who had used three bottles of high-grade Golden Dragon Blood elixir to break through in his youth.

Clobber stared at the three golden potions in his hands. The Golden Rose Elixirs, gifted by his uncle, were proof of Adam's unwavering support and care.

A warmth spread through Clobber's heart as he thought of his uncle's generosity. For someone who had faced neglect and cruelty as a child, such kindness carried immense weight.

"I've taken so much for granted," Clobber thought, his grip tightening on the bottles. The Goldrose family's efforts to support him had been genuine, and for the first time, Clobber truly acknowledged it.

He sighed softly, a mix of gratitude and resolve. With renewed determination, he uncorked the first potion. Memories of his humiliations and hardships flashed through his mind, sharpening his focus.

"This is my chance," he whispered.

The potion's golden liquid slid down his throat, leaving a sweet, slightly cloying taste behind. Within moments, a torrent of energy exploded in his body, surging like a tempest.

His once-calm vital energy responded violently, hungrily absorbing the potion's scattered magic. The intensity was unlike anything Clobber had experienced before. A sharp, stinging sensation coursed through his body, his muscles and bones groaning under the strain.

The pain was excruciating but revealing. Clobber now understood why so much emphasis was placed on refining the body during the squire phase—it was the only way to endure this brutal transformation.

A weaker body would have crumbled under the strain of the potion's energy, let alone survived the burning of life force. But Clobber's preparation had paid off.

The energy from the first potion wasn't enough to transform his vital energy into a seed of aura, as expected. With steady resolve, Clobber swallowed the second potion. The once-dwindling vital energy surged wildly, its flow quickening as the white hue of his energy gradually turned a faint gold.

He didn't hesitate. With the momentum building, Clobber downed the third potion in one swift motion.

As the potion dissolved, an immense tide of energy erupted within him, drawing all the swirling vital energy toward his lower abdomen. Concentrating his will, Clobber compressed the gathered energy again and again, shaping it into a radiant golden sphere about the size of a quail's egg.

The moment the golden sphere solidified, a powerful tremor coursed through his body. Centered in his abdomen, waves of warm, potent aura surged outward, sweeping through every inch of his being.

Old wounds from his childhood, hidden injuries from rigorous training, and scars from past battles—all of them vanished as the aura cleansed him from within. It wasn't just healing; his body was undergoing a profound transformation.

Strength, agility, and reflexes—all were enhanced exponentially. Clobber estimated his overall physical prowess had increased by at least two to three times.

This wasn't just a simple addition; it was a geometric leap in power. If Clobber's strength was a six before, it was now an eighteen. A single casual strike from his current self would send his past self flying miles away.

When comparing himself to other squire knights, the gap was insurmountable. A squire knight's endurance might allow them to fight a hundred opponents before tiring. Now, Clobber could face them all at once—and win effortlessly.

Failure? That was simply impossible.

In the history of this world, there had never been a record of a squire knight defeating a full knight. The difference in physical strength and aura was insurmountable. A squire knight's attacks couldn't even penetrate a full knight's aura defense. Only another full knight, or someone of higher rank, could pose a threat.

As Clobber felt the battle aura roaring within him, a satisfied smile spread across his face. He knew this breakthrough marked the first step toward standing at the pinnacle of the world.

But Clobber didn't rush to leave his chamber. Instead, he began circulating the Goldenheart Breathing Technique: Knight Edition to refine his newfound power. Each cycle of aura circulation made his battle aura denser and more refined. The sensation of growing stronger was intoxicating, and Clobber immersed himself in it completely.

Time flew by, and soon the day of his meeting with Baron Adam arrived.

Dressed impeccably, Clobber arrived at the grand hall of Moonlight Castle early. His presence drew the attention of everyone present, especially the full knights, who couldn't help but notice the powerful aura radiating from him.

But no one was more shocked than Baron Adam himself.

"My heavens! By the ancestors, Clobber!" Adam exclaimed, leaping from his chair with a speed that demonstrated the agility of a full knight. "Are you telling me you just broke through to full knight status? Your aura is incredibly solid—not a trace of instability!"

Adam's reaction wasn't subtle. His leap propelled him several feet into the air, his eyes bulging in disbelief.

The nobles gathered in the hall exchanged astonished glances, their thoughts mirroring Adam's.

How could this be?

When most knights broke through, their aura was unstable, teetering on the edge of collapse. Yet Clobber's aura was so robust and steady that it left everyone questioning their own advancements.

Clobber responded with a polite smile. "I owe it to the three potions Uncle Adam gave me. Only after using all three was I able to make the breakthrough. Perhaps their quality helped stabilize my aura."

While partially true, Clobber deliberately left out the crucial detail—his aura stability was largely due to not burning his life force at any stage. He had relied entirely on his potions and preparation, which made his foundation exceptionally firm.

The hall fell silent as Clobber's words sank in.

"Three bottles?"

An elderly lord, his hair a snowy white, leaned toward his neighbor. "Did he say three bottles?"

The other noble, visibly shaken, gulped and nodded. "I… I think he did."

Even Baron Adam stood frozen in place. Though he had always believed in his nephew's remarkable talent, this was beyond his imagination. In the entire Grand Duchy, there were few who could consume three potions for a breakthrough. Beyond the Grand Duke himself, only a handful of marquises possessed such unparalleled talent.

Adam had given Clobber three potions out of an abundance of caution, never expecting all three would be needed—or that they'd lead to such an extraordinary result. He'd assumed two potions would suffice, especially since overusing potions often caused severe side effects.

Among full knights, there was an unspoken rule: the more potions one could absorb during a breakthrough, the stronger their foundation and future potential. It wasn't just about raw strength; it also determined how quickly one could grow.

If an ordinary knight could absorb one potion a month without harm, someone like Clobber, who could handle three at once, had a vastly superior growth rate.

Clobber's feat wasn't just a demonstration of talent—it was a declaration of his future potential. Word of this breakthrough would soon spread throughout the Grand Duchy, and his name would become synonymous with genius. Every noble family would scramble to add him to their list of ideal candidates for alliances and marriages.

And the benefits of ascending to a full knight? They were just beginning.