Chapter 95: Slowly but Surely
At the age of 1,351 (again), Ian began to train his body, mind, and soul with new focus. He no longer cared about the loops. He had escaped. Now, he only wanted to grow strong enough to never be caught again.
At the age of 1,354, he climbed the Fire Peaks of Goro and sat in burning winds for one hundred days. The pain helped him sharpen his control. His energy began to move smoother, like a calm river under heat.
At the age of 1,360, he dove into the Sea of Cold Stars. There, he learned to hold divine energy without moving. The water taught him stillness. His mind grew harder to break.
At the age of 1,370, Ian began to use two forms of power at once—divine ki and body force. It was hard. His muscles bled. His soul shook. But he kept going.
At the age of 1,400, Ian trained inside the heart of a falling moon. It pushed his limits. Time around him slowed. He struck each breath with power, shaping his body to match his growing strength.
At the age of 1,420, he fought three young gods without using his full power. They lost. Ian didn’t kill them. He only wanted to test how far he had come.
At the age of 1,450, Ian stopped speaking for ten years. He stayed inside a black cave under the earth. There, he trained his thoughts. One wrong idea, and he would explode. He did not explode.
At the age of 1,500, his divine ki reached the peak of True God level. But he didn’t stop. He wanted more. He wanted to rise beyond even Devils.
At the age of 1,551, Ian found an old temple that no longer had a name. Inside, he saw strange shapes that made him feel both heavy and light. He stayed there for years, learning from silence.