Journey to Become the Zenith

A Smile Between Steel and Silk

Victor woke up and saw that his face was placed on Diana’s thighs. He looked above and saw the veiled Diana.

For a moment—just a moment—he didn’t move.

His mind hadn’t fully caught up yet, still drifting between exhaustion and lingering excitement from before he collapsed. But his body... his body was very aware.

Soft.

Warm.

There was a faint, subtle fragrance in the air—something clean, slightly sweet, yet sharp at the edges. Not overpowering, not artificial. It felt... natural. Like something that simply belonged to her.

Victor’s cheek pressed slightly deeper into her thigh before he even realized what he was doing.

...This is comfortable.

The realization came slowly, lazily, like a thought that didn’t want to leave.

Above him, Diana remained still.

But not unaffected.

A tremor ran through her hands, small yet telling. Her gaze dipped low, fixed on him without sound. Though the fabric covered her face, the way her breath caught gave it away. Stillness hung heavy, broken only by those tiny signs beneath the surface.

”Did you have a nice sleep master?”

Out of nowhere, her words flowed calm, steady - yet something gentle slipped through. Not quite cold anymore, a hint of heat now coloring what she said.

His eyes fluttered shut, one quick snap. After that pause, his gaze locked into place.

”Yeah I did.”

Still he stayed put.

He moved a little, changing how he stood - almost like he was seeing if she’d tell him to halt.

She didn’t.

Should you notice - tightness crept into her thighs. A slight pull, almost unseen.

Victor noticed.

He would, wouldn’t he.

A small smile began to show. His mouth moved slightly upward.

”...You didn’t move me.”

A flicker of focus crossed Diana’s eyes.

”I saw no reason to disturb your rest, master.”

”Hmm.”

A soft hum slipped out as he shifted his gaze slightly toward her. The angle of his head changed by almost nothing, yet it made all the difference in how he saw her.

”Or... you just didn’t mind.”

A brief silence.

Then -

”...You are overthinking.”

Fingers barely tugging at the robe’s edge told a different story.

Victor chuckled softly.

Not loud.

Not teasing in an obvious way.

Just enough to let her know—

He noticed.

Everything.

He finally shifted, sitting up slowly, though his movements were unhurried. His body still felt heavy, but not weak.

No—

Something had changed.

The moment he focused inward, he felt it.

His mana.

It wasn’t empty.

It wasn’t chaotic.

It was...

Refined.

Stable.

Full.

Victor froze for a fraction of a second.

Then—

A grin spread across his face.

Wide.

Unrestrained.

Almost wild.

He started laughing.

Not quietly.

Not politely.

But like someone who had just confirmed something impossible.

’It worked! It really worked! So that training for mana that one of those people in my visions used actually works!’

His voice didn’t come out, but the excitement behind the thought was obvious.

Diana’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She watched him carefully.

”Master... are you really alright?”

There was a hint of concern now.

Not fear.

But confusion.

His sudden shift—from calm to almost manic excitement—was not something she was used to.

Victor turned to her, still smiling.

”I’m more than alright, I’m great. For now Diana I’m going to be training so we’ll be staying here for a few more days, well just until we lose all our food supplies.”

There was no hesitation in his tone.

No doubt.

Only certainty.

Diana tilted her head slightly.

”Master, you do remember that we can’t escape the forest?”

The words landed.

Victor blinked.

Once.

Then his expression froze.

”...Ah.”

A pause.

Then—

Realization hit.

”Oh yeah you’re right.”

He rubbed the back of his neck lightly, letting out a short breath.

”Well... we’ll figure something out later.”

His tone shifted again.

Calm.

Focused.

Sharp.

”For now—I need to start training.”

Just like that, the moment passed.

No frustration.

No worry.

Just... priority.

Victor stood up fully now, stretching his arms slightly before scanning the surroundings.

His gaze landed on a nearby tree.

Without another word, he walked over.

Snap.

A branch broke cleanly in his hand.

Then another.

He tested their weight.

Adjusted their length.

Carved them slightly using controlled mana to smooth the edges and balance them.

Soon—

Two makeshift blades.

Rough.

But usable.

He stepped back.

Took a stance.

And then—

He moved.

At first—

It was slow.

Uncertain.

His body didn’t fully obey.

The movements were there—but not refined. Not complete.

Like someone remembering a dream.

Diana watched silently.

Her eyes widened slightly.

...That stance...

Victor stepped forward.

Swung.

Turned.

Adjusted.

Each motion slightly off—but not wrong.

Just... incomplete.

Then again.

And again.

And again.

His breathing steadied.

His steps became lighter.

More precise.

The branches cut through the air with sharper intent.

...No...

Diana’s eyes trembled faintly.

I know this.

She knew those movements.

She knew that rhythm.

That flow.

That balance between offense and defense—

It wasn’t just technique.

It was identity.

A memory stirred within her.

Old.

Buried.

Painfully familiar.

Victor moved again.

Faster this time.

His body no longer resisting—but following.

Each step connected.

Each swing smoother than the last.

It was as if—

He wasn’t learning.

He was remembering.

Diana’s lips parted slightly beneath her veil.

”...Impossible...”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Victor didn’t hear.

Or maybe—

He simply didn’t care.

Right now, his world was only this.

Movement.

Flow.

Understanding.

His grip tightened.

His eyes sharpened.

The branches blurred slightly as his speed increased.

From sluggish—

To fluid.

From fluid—

To sharp.

Each motion now carried intent.

Purpose.

Danger.

Diana couldn’t look away.

Even though his appearance was completely different...

Even though his presence was not the same...

For a brief moment—

She saw him.

That person.

That figure etched deep into her memories.

Standing there again.

Alive.

Moving.

Breathing.

Her chest tightened.

”...So it’s you...”

The words slipped out unconsciously.

Victor stopped.

Just for a second.

Then continued.

Faster.

Stronger.

More precise.

The air around him shifted slightly with each swing.

His body moved naturally now.

No hesitation.

No delay.

It was clean.

Beautiful.

Deadly.

Victor felt it.

That connection.

That rhythm.

That rightness.

His grin widened.

This is it.

This is what I saw.

His movements sharpened even further.

Each step now deliberate.

Each strike refined.

Who would have thought—

That simply copying those people in his visions...

Would lead him here.

To this.

To something this... incredible.

Victor’s heart raced.

Not from exhaustion.

But from excitement.

Real, burning excitement.

This is the path.

This is how I surpass my past self.

He didn’t slow down.

Didn’t stop.

Didn’t hesitate.

And Diana—

Could only watch.

Frozen.

Caught between the present...

And a past she thought she had already lost forever.

Ren was getting excited as he swung the two branches and his movement getting sharper. Who knew that copying those people in his vision would lead to something this incredible. With this Ren could finally see how he will surpass his former self.