The faint rustling of leaves and the rhythmic chirping of cicadas filled the air as Arden stood at the edge of the training grounds in Busay Mountain. But his mind wasn’t entirely in the present. Instead, he was dragged back to a memory—his crazy training with his lolo, Lando, back in the mountains, an experience so grueling that even thinking about it made him mutter curses under his breath.

“Stance lower!” Lolo Lando barked, his weathered hands resting on a long wooden cane that he used more for discipline than support. Arden groaned, his legs trembling as he held the horse stance for what felt like an eternity.

“I am low!” Arden snapped, sweat dripping into his eyes as he squatted so deep he could feel his knees screaming.

“Not low enough,” Lolo Lando countered, poking Arden’s shoulder with the cane to test his balance.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Arden’s arms were extended outward, holding a pair of clay pots filled with water. The slightest tilt caused the water to slosh dangerously close to spilling.

“If you spill a drop, boy, we start again!” Lolo Lando’s voice boomed.

Arden gritted his teeth, muttering every curse word he knew under his breath. His legs burned, his shoulders ached, and his pride took a hit every time his lolo shouted another critique.

When Lolo Lando finally allowed him to stand, Arden collapsed onto the dirt, panting like a dog. But the reprieve was short-lived.

“Get up!” his lolo growled. “You think this is hard? Wait until you fight an enemy who doesn’t give you time to rest. Lunok Realm isn’t about brute strength, Arden. It’s about resilience, balance, and control. If your foundation is weak, everything crumbles!”

Arden rolled onto his back, staring at the treetops and wondering if it was too late to find a normal life.

But Lolo Lando wasn’t done. “Rest is for the weak,” he barked, nudging Arden’s ribs with the cane. “If you want to break through to the Lunok Realm, you have to push yourself to the limit. The body will resist, but when it has no choice, it’ll look beyond itself for energy. That’s when you’ll find the breakthrough. Get up!”

Groaning, Arden staggered to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. Lolo Lando gestured toward a steep incline nearby. The path was rocky and uneven, its surface dotted with roots and loose gravel.

“Now,” Lolo Lando said, his voice firm, “you’re going to run up that slope… while carrying this.”

Arden’s eyes widened as his lolo produced a heavy rattan pole, the ends weighed down with sacks of sand. He hesitated, but Lolo’s glare left no room for argument. Arden hoisted the pole onto his shoulders, its weight pressing heavily against his already sore muscles.

“Focus on your breathing,” Lolo Lando instructed as Arden began his ascent. “The mountain tests more than just your strength. It demands balance, endurance, and awareness. If you lose focus, you’ll fall.”

Each step was a battle. The uneven terrain forced Arden to constantly adjust his footing, his core muscles working overtime to keep him upright. The weight of the pole threatened to topple him backward, and every muscle in his body screamed for relief.

Halfway up the slope, Arden stumbled, nearly losing his balance. The sacks of sand shifted, and he scrambled to regain control.

“Eyes on the path!” Lolo Lando shouted from below. “Feel the ground beneath you. Let it guide you.”

Taking a deep breath, Arden planted his feet firmly and continued upward. He began to sense the rhythm of the mountain, the way the uneven surface seemed to challenge and support him at the same time. By the time he reached the summit, his body was trembling, but a spark of triumph lit his eyes.

Lolo Lando joined him at the top, his expression unreadable. “Good. But don’t let it get to your head. We’re not done yet.”

Arden’s shoulders slumped, but he didn’t argue. The next phase involved meditation. Lolo Lando led him to a flat rock overlooking a steep drop. The view was breathtaking, the rolling hills bathed in golden light as the sun began to set.

“Sit,” Lando commanded, gesturing to the rock. Arden obeyed, folding his legs beneath him.

“Now, focus on your breathing,” Lolo Lando said, his tone softer but still firm. “Feel the energy of the mountain. Let it flow through you. The Lunok Realm isn’t just about physical strength. It’s about connecting to the earth, finding balance within yourself, and letting that balance guide you.”

At first, Arden found it impossible to concentrate. His muscles ached, his lungs burned, and his mind raced with doubts. But as the minutes stretched into hours, a strange calm began to settle over him. He felt the cool breeze against his skin, the solid rock beneath him, and the quiet hum of the mountain around him.

For the first time, Arden felt something shift within him. It was subtle, like the stirring of a dormant flame, but it was there—a connection to the earth, a sense of grounding and stability he had never known before.

When Arden opened his eyes, Lolo Lando was watching him closely. “You’re starting to get it,” he said with a rare hint of approval. “But the Lunok Realm doesn’t come overnight. It’ll take more of this… a lot more.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Arden nodded, his determination renewed. He understood now why his lolo had been so relentless. The mountain wasn’t just a training ground—it was a teacher, a crucible, and a sanctuary all in one. And if he wanted to master the Lunok Realm, he would have to embrace its lessons fully.

A sharp whistle snapped Arden out of his thoughts. He looked up to see the General, standing tall and authoritative, motioning for him to join the group. Beside him were Leigh and a handful of bodyguards, all dressed in workout gear and ready to train.

“Arden, stop daydreaming,” the General called, his voice firm but not unkind. “We’ve got work to do.”

Arden muttered under his breath, “At least he doesn’t have a cane.”

Leigh smirked as she approached. “What’s with the face? Thinking about your lolo again?”

Arden shot her a mock glare. “If you knew what I went through, you wouldn’t be smiling.”

“Alright, enough chatter,” the General interrupted. “Today, we’re starting the Lunok Realm training. Arden, you’re leading this.”

Arden nodded, stepping forward. “Alright, everyone. The Lunok Realm is all about building a strong foundation—physically, mentally, and spiritually. If your foundation is weak, everything falls apart. So today, we’re focusing on Grounding, the beginning stage.”

The group gathered around as Arden demonstrated the horse stance, the same torturous pose his lolo had drilled into him.

“Your feet must be firmly planted,” Arden explained, his voice steady. “Imagine roots growing from your feet into the ground, anchoring you. Your stance must be low and stable, like a mountain that can’t be moved.”

The bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances, but they complied, lowering themselves into position. Leigh followed suit, her posture surprisingly good for a beginner.

“Good,” Arden said, walking among them to correct their forms. He tapped one bodyguard’s knee with a stick. “Lower. If you’re not feeling the burn, you’re not doing it right.”

The General held the stance with surprising ease, his military training evident. Leigh, however, began to wobble after a few minutes.

“Leigh, focus,” Arden said, crouching beside her. “Breathe deeply and steady yourself. The point of this is to align your energy with the earth. If you lose focus, you lose balance.”

Leigh gritted her teeth but nodded, adjusting her posture. Her determination shone through, and soon, she steadied herself.

The mountain wasn’t just a training ground—it was a teacher, a crucible, and a sanctuary all in one. And if they wanted to master the Lunok Realm, they would have to embrace its lessons fully.

The training for Grounding began with climbing the steep trails of the mountain. Arden led the group up a rugged path, the terrain challenging their balance and endurance. Loose rocks, uneven surfaces, and the steep incline forced everyone to focus on their footing and breathing. Arden reminded them, “Feel the ground beneath your feet. Each step should connect you to the earth, steady and deliberate.”

Leigh stumbled at first, but with Arden’s guidance, she learned to control her movements. By the end of the climb, she could sense the stability Arden spoke of. The bodyguards, though exhausted, began to understand the importance of grounding themselves, with a few even commenting on how their movements felt more deliberate by the end.

The next stage involved maintaining balance and thriving despite external forces. Arden had the group practice walking across fallen logs over a shallow ravine. He would shake the logs to simulate instability, forcing them to adjust their movements. “This is about more than balance,” Arden explained. “It’s about adaptability. Learn to flow with the challenge, not against it.”

Leigh showed surprising progress, managing to cross the log multiple times without falling. The General, despite his age, impressed everyone with his calm focus and steady footing. The bodyguards struggled at first, with a few slipping off and landing in the soft dirt below. However, as the exercise continued, most began to improve, moving with more confidence.

The final stage, Anchoring, required deep meditation and connection to the mountain’s energy. Arden led the group to a quiet clearing surrounded by ancient trees. The air was still, and the sounds of nature filled the space, creating a serene atmosphere.

“Sit,” Arden instructed, motioning to the ground. “Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Imagine roots extending from your body deep into the earth. Let the mountain’s energy flow into you, grounding you completely.”

Leigh was the first to experience a breakthrough. Late in the afternoon on the last day, the air around her seemed to shift as a subtle, radiant glow began to surround her. The glow grew brighter with each passing moment, capturing everyone’s attention. Her breathing slowed, her movements steadying as a powerful calm overtook her body.

As the group watched, the glow intensified, cascading over her like golden light. Her posture straightened, her aura radiating strength and serenity. The General, unable to contain his pride, felt tears well up in his eyes as he whispered, “That’s my granddaughter.”

Leigh’s journey was not just inspiring; it was transformative. Step by step, she broke through each phase, reaching the Peak Stage with a final surge of radiant energy she breakthrough the Lunok Realm and become a Grandmaster at the age of 16 that left the group awestruck. The bodyguards, filled with newfound determination, exchanged glances of resolve, silently vowing to push themselves further.

When Leigh opened her eyes, her expression was one of quiet confidence, the glow around her fading but leaving a lingering sense of hope and strength. Her breakthrough was a moment that redefined the atmosphere among the group, inspiring them to embrace their training with renewed vigor.

The General, however, struggled to progress beyond the Middle Stage. Despite his discipline and focus, he lacked a complete understanding of the mountain’s energy. He approached Arden with a determined expression. “I’ll continue training every day until I manage to break through,” he vowed.

The bodyguards, on the other hand, made varied progress. Most of them reached the Beginning Stage, their connection to the energy of the Agos Realm barely forming. A few managed to push themselves to the Middle Stage, but only their Head Bodyguard, Marcos Delgado, reached the Peak Stage of the Lunok Realm. His natural resilience and sharp instincts set him apart.

Marcos was on the verge of breaking through to the Agos Realm but struggled to channel the energy fully. Arden stepped in, guiding him with the Pangamot technique. “Relax your body,” Arden instructed, placing his hands on Marcos’s shoulders. “Let the energy flow naturally. Don’t fight it.”

Using precise movements, Arden manipulated Marcos’s energy pathways, aligning them with the mountain’s pulse. Marcos’s breathing deepened, and his body began to emit a faint glow. With one final push, he broke through, his aura transforming as he entered the Agos Realm.

The other bodyguards watched in awe, inspired by the breakthrough. Arden turned to them and said, “This is just the beginning. The mountain has taught you its lessons, but the true journey starts now.”

Leigh smiled, her newfound strength radiating from her. The General nodded solemnly, determination etched into his face. The group stood united, ready for the challenges ahead.