Awakening of the Mind Sovereign
Chapter 48: Years of Growth

Chapter 48: Years of Growth

Time had passed swiftly.

For Echo, every day at Trolys Academy had been a new challenge, a new lesson, and a step forward in his journey.

He had started at the academy at the age of seven, full of curiosity and determination.

at eight years old, he was already on the verge of reaching the Second Energy Realm the Realm of Initial Energy.

His growth was considered average in this world.

There were students who progressed faster—geniuses who reached the Second Energy Realm before turning eight.

And there were others who were slower, struggling to even sense their inner energy.

But Echo didn’t care about comparisons.

He was focused on his own path.

Instead of racing ahead without understanding his abilities, he took the time to master his fundamentals.

Because for him, knowledge and control mattered just as much as raw power.

The Power of Writing Skills

One of Echo’s greatest advantages was his unique ability—

The power to write skills.

Over the years, he had written and tested more than 50 different skills.

Each one was a result of trial and error, careful observation, and strategic refinement.

Some skills allowed him to move faster than the wind, turning him into a blur.

Others gave him enhanced strength, letting him lift weights far beyond what his body should be capable of.

Some even focused on defense, allowing him to withstand attacks that would have injured a normal person.

Yet, despite all these abilities—

His power did not increase drastically.

At first, Echo was confused.

Why wasn’t he growing stronger at an overwhelming rate?

He had assumed that if he kept writing new skills, he would eventually surpass all limits.

But after countless experiments, he discovered something important—

The skills he writes have power limits within the world he is in.

Understanding the Rules of This World

It wasn’t that his skills were weak.

It was that this world itself had rules.

If he wrote a skill that increased his strength, it would only make him as strong as someone at his current energy level could naturally become.

If he wrote a skill that boosted his speed, he wouldn’t suddenly become faster than a high-ranking warrior—

He would only move as fast as someone in his realm was capable of.

This realization was both frustrating and enlightening

It meant that no matter how many skills he wrote, he couldn’t cheat the system of this world.

He still had to train.

He still had to progress through the realms.

His skills could give him an edge—

But they couldn’t let him skip the fundamentals of strength and energy growth.

Adapting to His Limitations

Instead of seeing this as a setback, Echo saw it as a challenge.

If his skills had limits, then he would learn to push those limits in other ways.

He started focusing on perfecting his energy control, making sure he could use his full strength efficiently.

He practiced combat techniques, refining his movement and reaction speed.

And he began experimenting with skill combinations, finding creative ways to maximize his abilities.

A Journey Just Beginning

At eight years old, he had a long way to go.

He wasn’t a genius who broke all records.

He wasn’t an underdog who had to struggle desperately.

He was simply Echo—

A boy with an ability unlike anyone else, determined to use it to its fullest potential.

With that mindset, he continued forward.

---

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Hundreds of students filled the stands surrounding the arena, their voices merging into a chaotic roar of anticipation.

The academy duels were always a grand event, but today’s match was something special.

The combatants were not just any students—

They were among the strongest in Trolys Academy.

On one side stood Simla, a prodigy in mana control.

He was a Third Realm fighter, standing at the peak of the Unified Energy Realm.

His short red hair gleamed under the midday sun, and his black robe flowed lightly with the wind.

His opponents never took him lightly.

After all, Simla’s mana control was nearly unmatched.

He could shape pure energy into attacks, form shields, and enhance his movements in ways that others could only dream of.

Facing him was Tilas, an equally formidable opponent.

Unlike Simla, Tilas did not rely on mana—

His energy was pure strength.

Tilas was slim but muscular, his dark brown hands contrasting with his pale white body.

His black hair hung loosely over his forehead, and his black gloves hid the thick calluses formed from years of intense physical training.

His fighting style was brutal.

Speed. Power. Precision.

That was all he needed.

The referee raised his hand, silencing the crowd.

"Begin!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Tilas exploded forward.

His speed was shocking.

One second he was standing still—

The next, he was already in front of Simla, his fist whistling through the air like a cannonball.

Simla barely had time to react.

With an instinctive wave of his hand, a barrier of mana formed in front of him.

BOOM!

Tilas’s punch collided with the barrier, sending a shockwave through the arena.

Cracks formed in the magical shield—

But before it could shatter, Simla leapt backward, putting distance between them.

"Fast," Simla muttered.

He thrust out his palm, and a massive wave of mana surged forward, aiming to engulf Tilas.

But Tilas was already on the move.

With a swift sidestep, he dodged the attack and charged again.

This time, he didn’t aim for a simple punch.

He twisted his body mid-sprint, channeling all his energy into a devastating spinning kick aimed at Simla’s ribs.

Simla had no time for a shield.

Instead, he did something unexpected—

He absorbed the impact.

Using a technique only top-tier mana users could perform, he redirected Tilas’s momentum, softening the blow.

Even so—

The force was immense.

Simla was sent skidding backward, his boots tearing through the stone tiles of the arena.

The crowd erupted into cheers.

The fight had barely begun, yet both combatants had already displayed their incredible abilities.

Simla steadied his stance, wiping a small trickle of blood from his lip.

"You hit hard," he admitted.

Tilas smirked. "And you block well."

They locked eyes.

Both knew—

This fight was far from over.

Simla’s Mana Mastery

Simla took a deep breath, raising his hands.

The air around him began to ripple.

Mana gathered at his fingertips, twisting into a glowing blue sphere of energy.

Tilas narrowed his eyes.

He had seen this technique before.

Simla’s Mana Burst was a dangerous skill—

A blast of condensed energy that could knock an opponent out instantly if they were hit directly.

But Tilas was prepared.

Before Simla could launch the attack—

Tilas vanished.

A sudden burst of speed propelled him forward, closing the distance in an instant.

Simla released the Mana Burst, but Tilas twisted his body mid-dash, dodging by a hair’s breadth.

Then—

With all his power, Tilas drove his fist forward, aiming for Simla’s chest.

A Split-Second Decision

Time seemed to slow.

Simla knew that if he took this hit, he would lose.

But at the same time—

If Tilas got too close, he wouldn’t be able to dodge his next attack.

So Simla did something bold.

He didn’t dodge.

He didn’t block.

Instead—

He let the punch hit him on purpose.

BOOM!

The impact was earth-shattering.

Simla was sent flying, crashing into the far side of the arena.

But in that instant—

He had already begun casting his counterattack.

While mid-air, he manipulated his mana—

And fired a compressed energy wave straight at Tilas.

Tilas barely had time to react.

By the time he realized what had happened—

The attack had already struck him.

Silence filled the arena.

Both fighters were down.

Simla lay on his back, his breathing heavy.

Tilas was on one knee, trying to push himself up.

A moment later—

The referee raised his hand.

"DRAW!"

The crowd erupted.

It had been one of the most intense matches in academy history.

Neither fighter had won—

But neither had lost, either.

And in the end, both had gained something valuable from the fight.

---

The crowd was still buzzing with excitement after the intense match between Simla and Tilas.

However, among the sea of students in the stands, one figure remained unimpressed.

Echo sat with his arms crossed, his expression blank as he watched the fighters being carried off the stage.

"This isn’t entertaining at all; it’s just a high-level children’s fight."

His voice was calm but filled with disappointment.

To the average student, the battle had been legendary—a display of skill, power, and talent.

But to Echo... it was nothing special.

He leaned back against the stone bench, staring up at the sky for a moment.

It had been four years since he entered Trolys Academy.

And in those four years, he had been steadily improving, refining his abilities, and uncovering the true potential of his unique gift.

"I’m eleven now, and I’m in the Second Realm..." Echo muttered to himself.

The Realm of Initial Energy—a stage where one’s body and energy aligned, allowing for better control and efficiency.