"Did ya hear? Snow done made a bet with Larry!"

"He's courtin' death with this. There ain't no way he can match Larry's strength.”

"Death might even be a blessin' - a way to rid the family of a burden.”

News of Snow's reckless gamble with Larry had become wildfire by the time he and Dreamy stepped through the front door. The usual warmth of home was replaced by a scene of frantic activity. Packages piled high on the table, and Zoe, her face etched with raw fear, stuffed clothes into a bulging bag.

"Momma, what's happenin’?" Snow's voice cracked with concern.

Zoe met his gaze, her eyes filled with terror. "We're leavin’ the Shadoway Clan, Snow. Larry's a monster. He'll kill ya in that duel. We can't stay. We need to get out - now! We'll slip out the back door, never look back." Her voice trembled. "It's my fault you both suffer so much. I can't protect you, but Snow, don't lose hope. The world is vast, there's a place for us somewhere."

As she spoke, Dreamy, her tear-streaked face mirroring her mother's fear, rushed to help pack. Snow's heart clenched with a mixture of sorrow and determination. If only he were strong enough, his family wouldn't be living in constant fear. He took a deep breath, wiping away a stray tear. "Dreamy, stop packin’," he said quietly, his voice firm despite the turmoil within.

Zoe's frantic energy faltered. "Snow's right," she conceded, desperation clinging to her voice. "We can't take much, or someone will notice. Clothes are enough. No valuables."

"Momma, sit down," Snow urged gently, guiding her to a chair.

"No time!" Zoe cried, anxiety twisting her features. "If they find out, the Fourth Elder will stop us! Snow, they're animals! They want you dead! I can't do nothin’ to stop this. But you have a great future, Snow. I can't bear to lose you." Her voice broke, years of silent suffering pouring out in a torrent of tears.

Dreamy joined in the sobs, the raw emotion thick in the air.

Snow knelt before his mother, his arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. "Momma," he pleaded, his voice husky with emotion. "Hush now. We're safe. Larry won't win. In a month, he won't even be a challenge."

Zoe's eyes widened. "But Snow, you're only at the fourth Forgin’ level. How can you..."

A newfound resolve resonated in Snow's voice. "Things are different now, Ma. My abilities have evolved. I've also learned some skills that can help me improve. I promise, Larry won't stand a chance in a month." He couldn't reveal everything, but the mention of new skills, fueled by his recent medical knowledge, was enough to plant a seed of hope in Zoe's heart.

Doubt receded from Zoe's eyes, replaced by a flicker of determination. "You're sure you can defeat him, Snow?"

Snow met her gaze with unwavering certainty. "Absolutely."

As he comforted Zoe, Snow's mind raced, formulating a plan. He noticed something amiss in the Shadoway Clan's Ironhard Draught. The main ingredient, Ironweed, held strong medicinal properties. However, the Shadoway elixir barely tapped into this potential, wasting majority of its power.

"No wonder the Shadoway Clan can't break out of the minor leagues. Their warriors crawl through fortification levels, shackled by inefficient resource utilization. Ironweed, a treasure for lesser clans, are tossed around like pebbles here!"

Snow's medical knowledge allowed him to unravel the elixir's secrets with a mere glance. He could easily extract the full potency of the Ironweed. He and Dreamy each received three elixirs, but Snow calculated that he only needed two to ascend to the seventh level.

Unpacking took longer than packing, more organized as well. Suddenly, a glint of light caught Snow's eyes. There, nestled amidst the clothes, lay a magnificent fist-sized crystal stone. His heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't ordinary crystal - it was Essence of the Earth, the legendary elixir Elijah had spent his life searching for in vain.

The pulsating crystal, a fragment of the very essence of the earth itself, was a treasure beyond compare. A single drop could spark a war, igniting a frenzy among rival sects desperate for its power. The fist-sized crystal hinted at a staggering ten drops within, enough to reshape the magical landscape. For fledgling mages, a single drop could be life-changing, accelerating their mana development and propelling them years ahead in their training. Even the mighty Weavers of the One wouldn't be able to ignore such a prize. If Skyfall had possessed this during his early stages of development, his current strength would likely be unrivaled.

Snow exhaled a deep breath of relief - thankfully, Elijah had never found this treasure.

"Momma," Snow said, his voice barely a whisper, "where did this stone come from?"

"It's from your daddy," Zoe replied. "He gave it to me a long time ago. I had no idea what it was, so I kept it safe."

Snow had no memory of his father, who vanished when he was just two years old. All he knew were whispers of his father's immense potential and the transgression that led to his disappearance.

Hesitantly, Snow spoke, "Momma, I understand this might be a precious memento of Dad, but this stone... it's a divine elixir, holding great power."

Zoe's eyes softened. "You are the best momento! Your daddy always said he'd give it to you when the time was right. If it can help you, then take it. May it bring you victory against Larry."

A confident smile spread across Snow's face. "With this, Momma, defeatin’ Larry will be a walk in the park."

The next day, Snow returned from the market, having traded two Ironhard Draughts for supplementary ingredients he’d use later.

"Brother, you're back!" Dreamy chirped, spotting him from afar.

Snow entrusted the materials to Dreamy, confident they could use their existing boiler for refining body tempering liquid. His current focus was to solidify his foundation. While he trained diligently before, it wasn't enough. He needed a stronger base before advancing his levels.

Unlike other Shadoway children who honed their skills in the martial arts arena, Snow had a different plan. Exposing his newfound strength wasn't an option, and the arena's equipment wasn't ideal.

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The perfect location beckoned: the Shadoway family's back mountain. Dense woods, plentiful rocks, and a powerful waterfall offered an ideal training environment.

"Back mountain again? Can I tag along?" Dreamy pleaded, latching onto his arm.

Snow considered it briefly. The arena wasn't Dreamy's forte, and he could offer some guidance while she trained. He nodded, a grin lit up his face.

Zoe watched them depart, a warm smile softening her features. Snow had undergone a significant change. Though the details remained hidden, she sensed it was a shift for the better.

Although magic wasn't an option for him, Elijah dedicated himself to physical training, ultimately reaching the peak of his physical ability. His extraordinary medical abilities attracted a clientele of high standing. He obtained almost all the top body training techniques the world had to offer. One such exercise was the Tempest Strikes, a powerful boxing technique. With it, Elijah could shatter giant boulders, proof of the technique's effectiveness.

Snow, likewise, experienced a remarkable improvement after just a day of practicing the Tempest Strikes. His constitution surpassed most of his peers, not just in Mountain View, but potentially beyond.

Dreamy wasn't left behind. Snow chose the "Storm’s Embrace" for her, a sword technique marginally weaker but better suited for women. Unlike the Tempest Strikes' demanding training, the Storm's Embrace wouldn't put her through immense pain. Dreamy's progress was evident as she practiced with tree branches, her excitement clear in her voice: "Brother, the Storm's Embrace is amazin’! I feel so much stronger!”

After praising Dreamy's progress, Snow realized that his solo training had reached its limits. He needed a challenge far greater, a force that could push him beyond his current boundaries. His gaze drifted upwards, settling on the colossal waterfall that roared beside them. A massive boulder beneath the torrent, bearing a hefty dent, showcased its immense power. With a decisive exhale, Snow surprised Dreamy with a sudden leap. The girl gasped as he disappeared beneath the churning water. Relief flooded her features as a soaked but determined Snow emerged moments later, a glint of newfound resolve in his gaze.

Initially, maintaining his stance under the waterfall proved difficult. However, within a few hours, Snow was calmly performing Tempest Strikes under the torrent, the inverted postures ensuring his entire body received the water's force.

Three days passed. The waterfall's impact no longer held the same challenge, a testament to the Tempest Strikes' effectiveness. But a frown marred Snow's face. He recalled Elijah's rigorous basic training under a waterfall in his past life. There was a noticeable gap between his current progress and Elijah's. The reason was clear - the waterfall's height and impact were insufficient.

Stuck momentarily, an idea sparked in Snow's eyes. He sprinted home, returning with a massive basket.

"Brother, what's with the basket?" Dreamy asked, bewildered.

"Help me collect pebbles, Dreamy," he instructed, already gathering small stones from the riverbank.

Without question, Dreamy assisted him. Soon the basket overflowed with pebbles. Snow hoisted it with ease, much to Dreamy's astonishment. The basket felt weightless in his grasp, as if filled with cotton instead of rocks.

Dreamy beamed, following Snow with unbridled pride. Her brother's growing strength was a source of immense joy. "Who's afraid of Larry anyway?" she scoffed to herself. The doubts that had clouded her heart vanished completely. Now, she had unwavering faith in Snow's ability to crush Larry in a gambling duel.

Upon reaching the waterfall, Snow set the basket down by the riverbank. "Dreamy," he instructed, "help me add these stones to the waterfall, a few at a time."

Dreamy's eyes widened in apprehension. Now she understood his plan. "Brother, ain't that too dangerous?" she stammered. The sheer force of the stones plummeting from such a height, amplified by the waterfall, was terrifying. Even though she knew Snow was strong, she couldn't help but worry. Could this unconventional training method be too much, even for him?

"Don't you worry," Snow reassured her, "These are just pebbles, I can handle it."

Hesitantly, Dreamy agreed, trusting her brother's judgment.

With a powerful leap, Snow landed in the pool beneath the cascading water. He then ascended the boulder and yelled, "Alright, Dreamy, let ‘em go!"

The onslaught of pebbles pummeled him, momentarily knocking him off balance. The force was greater than anticipated, but Snow gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening.

"Brother!" Dreamy cried out in alarm.

"I'm okay, keep goin’!" Snow shouted back, resuming his Tempest Strikes practice.

A relentless torrent of pebbles hammered down upon Snow, leaving a tapestry of red welts across his body. The waterfall, augmented by the stones, provided a significantly more challenging training environment. Yet, Snow's adaptability shone through as he gradually mastered this new level of intensity. After several baskets of pebbles, he switched to larger stones, their size progressing steadily over the next three days.

By the fifth day, pebbles were replaced with fist-sized stones. Now, Snow handled the assault with ease. His punches flew, shattering each falling stone. Breaking these denser rocks proved a greater challenge than the larger boulders.

With a resounding crack, he pulverized the last stone. A surge of exhilaration coursed through Snow as he emerged from the waterfall, a triumphant roar erupting from his chest. 'I've done it!' he exclaimed, a grin splitting his face. He was confident that even Skyfall, at his current level, wouldn't be able to match him.

To showcase his newfound strength, Snow picked up a massive stone, easily exceeding five tons. He hurled it high into the air, then met it with a powerful punch on its descent, shattering the boulder into fragments.

Dreamy watched in awe, her eyes wide with wonder. Before she could contain herself, she rushed down and engulfed him in a tight hug. "Brother, you're amazin’!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. In her eyes, none of the Shadoway children stood a chance against this new, empowered Snow.

"Don't let this go to your head, Dreamy." Snow interjected, gently ruffling her hair. "You have to work hard too."

Dreamy nodded eagerly, her grip on her practice branch firming with resolve. With renewed determination, she resumed her Storm's Embrace drills.

"Dreamy, come here," Snow called out. "Let's practice together. Just swingin’ a sword won't make you stronger. Learn to fight."

Seventh day into the month, Snow took stock of his herb collection. His physical constitution was solidified; it was time to refine the body tempering liquid. The coveted Essence of the Earth remained out of reach. Its potent properties required a stronger physique to avoid self-destruction. Snow needed to reach a higher level first.

The next day, Dreamy assisted him in refining the liquid. Three days later, two batches were ready. He prepared a gentler concoction for Dreamy using River Enliven Grass to mitigate its harshness.

Body tempering liquid worked simply: soak in a vat until it's depleted. The refined concoction, however, was too potent for immediate use. Snow instructed Dreamy on the dilution ratio, then plunged into the vat of cyan liquid.

Searing pain lanced through him, but Snow held himself resolute. Only a sheen of sweat betrayed the fiery torment raging within. In this crucible, pain was the currency he paid for progress. His strength grew steadily, his body hardening with each passing moment.

Dreamy's bath, a milky white concoction, offered a stark contrast to Snow's. It soothed her as she soaked, accelerating her body's fortification far beyond what standard Shadoway disciples, reliant solely on the Ironhard Draught, could achieve.

As days turned into weeks, the liquid in Snow's vat grew thicker, intensifying his torment. But his resolve remained unwavering. After each agonizing soak, he retreated to the mountains for further training.

Two weeks passed in a whirlwind of training and preparation. Dreamy burst through the door, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brother, I reached the fifth level of Forgin’!" Her rapid progress, especially at her young age, was unheard of in the Shadoway family.

Snow beamed, pinching her nose affectionately. "That's incredible, Dreamy!" He had already ascended to the peak of the sixth level and was on the cusp of a breakthrough to the seventh. According to his calculations, that's when he could finally utilize the Essence of the Earth, a power that would transform his body beyond even Skyfall's peak.

"Five days left," Snow murmured, a confident smirk playing on his lips. Even without reaching the seventh level, his strength would still be enough to overpower Larry.

Determined to push his limits, Snow stopped diluting the liquid. The moment the concoction was refined, he plunged directly into the thickest part. The pain was excruciating, but he gritted his teeth. He knew this was merely a warm-up compared to the agonizing torment of the Essence of the Earth. If he couldn't endure this, how could he face the real test?