Chapter 4 – Prospect

Day two at the Training Center.

Since the first day was only for the intake process, the real training began today.

And it started with the morning run.

“One! Two! Three! Four!”

Trainees who had gathered with sleepy eyes were running around the training ground, shouting numbers.

Running in the cool, chilly morning air quickly chased away the drowsiness.

“But does anyone know how many laps we have to run?”

“I heard we run until we collapse from exhaustion.”

“Ah, damn. I hate running.”

As if they had become friends overnight, some trainees chatted while running.

Thus, the first week of training before Heroic Spirit Synchronization was heavily focused on physical conditioning.

From the moment a Contractor forms a Spirit Contract, even without undergoing Synchronization, their body naturally adapts to the faint Starlight emitted by the Spirit.

Since this adaptation mechanism is not much different from the super-recovery that occurs during muscle development, physical training is conducted in parallel for greater effectiveness.

As someone had mentioned earlier, this morning’s run was scheduled to continue until the trainees’ stamina was exhausted.

The record they endured would become their score.

“Huff… huff….”

“Wheeze… why does he… look so fine?”

Even those who had been chatting leisurely while running at first began to gasp for breath as time passed.

Amidst the other trainees panting, Lee Hanseong stood out as the only one looking relaxed.

Even after running over ten laps around the training ground, he barely broke a sweat.

A stable posture without a single breath out of place.

‘Body Reformation’s effect is killer. Should I just do it too?’

Jin Yuseong, who had been watching Lee Hanseong, inwardly marveled at the effects of Body Reformation and felt a momentary temptation.

But soon, he shook his head, recalling the risks of failure.

Even if he wasn’t entirely pleased with becoming a 5-Star Contractor, it wasn’t worth a life-or-death gamble.

“Gah…!”

“I can’t… anymore.”

A few trainees lagging behind plopped down on the spot.

As the intense running continued, dropouts began to appear one by one.

“17 laps.”

The Instructor approached the fallen trainees, recorded their results, and pulled them off the track so they wouldn’t obstruct those still running.

‘They lasted longer than I thought.’

Jin Yuseong glanced at the dropouts and thought.

One trainee, with an obese build that clearly looked like he’d never exercised outside, managed seventeen laps.

Considering a standard training ground track is 400m, that was almost 7km.

It was likely the result of the Spirit’s Starlight taking effect.

‘Well, I’m still feeling fine too.’

He was breathing heavily as if about to die, but he didn’t feel like he’d hit his limit.

Whenever it seemed like he was truly reaching his limit, strength welled up from within, granting him the stamina to run further.

His body, having reached its limit, rapidly adapted to the Starlight and surpassed its previous boundaries.

That process had already repeated several times.

As the number of laps increased, dropouts continued to emerge.

No matter how much they adapted to the Starlight and pushed past their physical limits, as the number of times increased, a true limit would inevitably arrive.

‘We can assume those who dropped out earlier contracted with lower-grade Spirits.’

Even the faint Starlight before Synchronization becomes significant when the numbers add up.

Those still running now must have contracted with High-Rank Spirits of at least 5-Stars or higher.

Of course, there might be others like Lee Hanseong who underwent Body Reformation, but he planned to account for such variables.

The number had now dwindled to four people.

Excluding the frontrunner Lee Hanseong, Jin Yuseong carefully observed the two men and women running alongside him.

He wasn’t friends with them, but their faces weren’t unfamiliar.

‘Park Seongcheol with the Six-Star Vessel, and Yu Sehee with the Five-Star Vessel, right?’

Promising Candidates who had contracted Spirits matching their innate talents.

Judging that these two would be his competitors at the Training Center going forward, Jin Yuseong inwardly burned with competitive spirit.

He intended to last longer than those two, even if not Lee Hanseong.

Even though he contracted a 5-Star Spirit, he had the pride of being born with a Seven-Star Vessel.

‘My talent is superior.’

Moreover, besides the 5-Star Spirit, he had additionally contracted two 1-Star Spirits, so in terms of the number of stars emitting Starlight, he had more than them.

All three were already near their limits.

Their bodies were drenched in sweat to the point of steaming.

What would decide the outcome was the intensity of the Starlight.

‘I’ll win.’

Shortly after, as expected, Yu Sehee was the first of the four to drop out.

Even though she had adapted to the Starlight and pushed past her limits, considering the basic physical ability difference between men and women, she, as the only woman, was inevitably at a disadvantage.

“53 laps.”

But even after Yu Sehee dropped out, Park Seongcheol didn’t drop out for a long time.

Not until Jin Yuseong reached his true limit.

A cramp seized his leg, and his body collapsed.

“59 laps. Third place.”

The Instructor’s words didn’t reach Jin Yuseong’s ears.

Only Park Seongcheol’s receding back entered his vision.

‘This is absurd. At best, he should be a 6-Star Contractor, right?’

He wondered how someone receiving Starlight from seven stars could outlast him.

But upon looking inward, he soon had no choice but to realize.

The total number of stars wasn’t what mattered.

‘5+1+1 is simply less than 6.’

The Starlight from the 1-Star Spirits, which he thought would help, was buried under the 5-Star Spirit’s Starlight, making it almost non-existent.

‘Am I… inferior to Park Seongcheol?’

It was hard to accept that someone he had considered beneath him before the Spirit Contract had now risen above him.

His pride was hurt.

After Heroic Spirit Synchronization, this gap would only widen.

Jin Yuseong’s pride wouldn’t allow him to simply fall behind.

Then, suddenly, Lee Hanseong, running ahead of Park Seongcheol, came into his view.

‘If I just undergo Body Reformation…!’

A way to stand above Park Seongcheol again came to mind.

An option he normally wouldn’t have taken took root in Jin Yuseong’s heart.

‘Right. If Lee Hanseong succeeded, why can’t I?’

On the 61st lap, Park Seongcheol collapsed.

A two-lap difference was a gap he could definitely close.

“As expected, first place is Lee Hanseong.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lee Hanseong, the last one remaining.

Lee Hanseong looked a bit tired but still had energy to spare.

“How long is he going to keep running?”

“Didn’t they say he’s a 1-Star Contractor? Was that a lie?”

Even though first place was decided, Lee Hanseong didn’t stop.

The morning run had already been going on for over two hours.

70 laps… 80 laps… 90 laps….

Seeing Lee Hanseong, whose speed didn’t decrease at all even after surpassing 100 laps, not only the trainees but even the Instructors and Officers began to stir.

“Could it be… he succeeded in Body Reformation?”

The Officer muttered at Lee Hanseong’s abnormal stamina.

If it was true that he had undergone Body Reformation, something as simple as running couldn’t determine his limit.

“Stop! We’re moving on to strength measurements next.”

The Officer halted Lee Hanseong’s run.

By now, the trainees who had dropped out earlier had also rested sufficiently while Lee Hanseong ran alone.

The Instructor handed Lee Hanseong prepared bottled water and a calorie bar, urging him to rest.

“I could still run a lot more….”

He still had plenty of stamina left, and even if his stamina reached its limit, he could keep running using the Courier’s <Fatigue Ignore>. For Lee Hanseong, it was just regrettable.

Unaware of his inner desire to show off his changed self to the Constellation, the Instructor looked at Lee Hanseong with a disgusted expression upon hearing his muttering.

* * *

In the subsequent physical strength tests, Lee Hanseong also showed a remarkable difference.

“Is Lee Hanseong first again this time?”

“Wow. Is he some kind of Awakened? What kind of stamina is that?”

Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups.

He took first place in all three events with overwhelming records, receiving high praise.

The more Lee Hanseong showed his excellence, the greater Jin Yuseong’s desire for Body Reformation inevitably grew.

And that wasn’t just Jin Yuseong’s story.

‘Second again….’

Park Seongcheol, who would have taken first place if not for Lee Hanseong, was also looking at Lee Hanseong with complex eyes.

‘The Officer mentioned Body Reformation… right?’

Unlike Jin Yuseong, he didn’t know the details about Body Reformation.

He only guessed it was a special method, as it was the source of the overwhelming stamina shown by Lee Hanseong, a 1-Star Contractor.

Even if the Officer’s guess was wrong, it didn’t matter.

‘He himself would know the truth.’

He could just ask directly.

Being the type whose curiosity wouldn’t be satisfied unless he asked without hesitation, Park Seongcheol approached Lee Hanseong, who was resting after finishing his turn.

“How did you do it? I heard you’re a 1-Star Contractor.”

“Do what?”

“Body Reformation or whatever, the method that made you stronger. Can you tell me?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll pay any price… Huh? You’ll tell me?”

“Yeah, I’ll tell you.”

Normally, one might try to maintain an informational advantage, but Lee Hanseong readily answered Park Seongcheol’s question, enough to surprise the asker.

From the start, Lee Hanseong had been waiting for the Promising Candidates to approach him.

‘As expected. If I stand out here, they come to me on their own.’

Revealing the changes from Body Reformation without hiding them was also to attract the interest of the Promising Candidates.

More precisely, he planned to induce all Promising Candidates to attempt their first Synchronization before the Sudden Rift occurred.

That way, at least they wouldn’t die meaninglessly in the Sudden Rift Incident.

Actually, Lee Hanseong had no intention of informing the Officers or Instructors about the Sudden Rift.

The chance of them believing him was small, and even if they did, he wouldn’t be able to participate in the hunt.

‘It would be a shame to miss the chance to hunt monsters without a license.’

To prevent the catastrophes that greatly lowered Earth’s potential before the Great War, he needed to grow as quickly as possible.

The only thing weighing on his mind was the sacrifices that would occur due to the Sudden Rift.

Even if Lee Hanseong used his Vocation Awakening Skill, preventing all damage was impossible.

He was only one person, and he wasn’t strong enough to handle everything as he wished.

So, Lee Hanseong planned to involve the Promising Candidates as the actual solvers of this Sudden Rift Incident.

Whisper whisper.

He explained to Park Seongcheol in a whisper about Body Reformation as known in the world.

He didn’t hide the conditions—needing a Vessel of 5-Stars or higher and having diligently trained the body before the Contract—nor the risks, including excruciating pain that could bring shock and even death.

“So? Will you do it?”

“I will.”

After hearing everything, Park Seongcheol nodded without any sign of fear.

Confidence that he could endure any amount of pain was evident.

It wasn’t baseless confidence.

Those born with the talent to be called Promising Candidates had undergone various preliminary trainings under the Association’s management. So, even if they didn’t know about true Body Reformation, they were sufficiently prepared to withstand an early Starlight Baptism.

“Then, tonight right away?”

“Of course.”

Lee Hanseong smiled contentedly, even noticing Jin Yuseong’s gaze watching Park Seongcheol with anxious eyes.

‘Given Jin Yuseong’s competitive nature, he won’t back down if Park Seongcheol does it.’

It was worth deliberately provoking Jin Yuseong by having the conversation where he could see.

Now it was almost certain that the two Promising Candidates would advance their first Synchronization.

And the next day.

Lee Hanseong could confirm that his calculations were correct.

Whether both Park Seongcheol and Jin Yuseong had safely completed the Starlight Baptism overnight, both showed significantly improved records in the physical strength tests, which proceeded identically to the previous day.

However, since they hadn’t succeeded in achieving true Body Reformation, they couldn’t surpass Lee Hanseong’s records.

‘Now the remaining issue is how to persuade Yu Sehee.’

He needed to induce her to complete the Starlight Baptism as quickly as possible.

Because she was the Promising Candidate who would meet her death in this incident.

But unlike the other two, changing her mind wasn’t easy.

Because Yu Sehee absolutely detested Lee Hanseong.

‘Sigh, why on earth did I act like that in the past?’

In his immature days, Lee Hanseong had bothered Yu Sehee with a light heart.

Thinking about it now was just embarrassing, but his past actions remained as Karmic Retribution, causing interference.

‘If I speak to her directly, she’ll probably just resent me more.’

He needed a different approach.

Clearly, she wasn’t without competitive spirit either, and she seemed displeased with being the only one lagging behind among the Promising Candidates.

He could probably use that to subtly encourage her.

…That’s what he thought.

But four days passed, and even on the day before Heroic Spirit Synchronization when the Sudden Rift would occur, Yu Sehee had not undergone the Starlight Baptism.

In the end, Lee Hanseong took direct action.

“I have something to say.”

“Ugh, seriously, I’m not interested in you.”

From her first words, Yu Sehee’s attitude was as cold as a biting wind, but he forcibly held her and continued the conversation.

“…I’m sorry. I was a bit rude in the past.”

“A bit?”

“Very.”

She crossed her arms and retorted coldly, “Ha, so you do know?”

“I didn’t come to bother you today, so just listen for a moment.”

“What is it?”

When he spoke with a somewhat serious attitude along with the apology, she, still clearly displeased, gestured with her chin as if to say she’d listen.

“You know Seongcheol and Yuseong have already undergone their first Synchronization, right?”

“I know. It’s obvious from their records, how could I not know?”

“Don’t you want to undergo your first Synchronization early too?”

“It’s the first Synchronization day tomorrow anyway, so why bother? I don’t have a crazy competitive spirit like the guys, wanting to break the rules.”

“That’s a lie.”

[<Lie Detection> has detected the other party’s lie.]

Pointing it out while revealing the message that appeared from the Doctor’s <Lie Detection>, Yu Sehee seemed slightly flustered but then acted brazenly.

“Lie Detection?! …Fine, it’s a lie. Actually, I did have thoughts of trying Body Reformation too.”

“Then why…?”

“Because it felt like someone was subtly pushing me from behind, so I didn’t want to do it. And that someone was you, huh?”

Lee Hanseong’s efforts had backfired.

It was a mistake born from not knowing she had a rebellious streak.

“What, did you want me to fail and die or something?”

“No! The opposite. I want to save you…”

“That’s hilarious, really. Save me? What, did you see a future where I die?”

“…What if I did?”

When Lee Hanseong didn’t deny it, Yu Sehee’s pupils trembled slightly.

“You have a Skill that sees the real future? From a mere 1-Star Spirit? You think I’d believe such nonsense?”

“Don’t believe it if you don’t want to. I’ve already said my piece, and whatever choice you make, I’ll save you.”

“Ha, you saving me, my foot. Just get lost.”

Yu Sehee snorted as if she couldn’t believe Lee Hanseong’s words and left.

But the expression she showed before leaving was extremely troubled.

Lee Hanseong sensed she was half-convinced, but he didn’t plan to just wait for her to undergo Synchronization on her own.

‘Right. If you’re in danger, I just have to protect you.’

He planned to secretly go to Yu Sehee’s room at dawn tomorrow when the Sudden Rift opened, to protect her.

However, Lee Hanseong at this time had no idea what kind of misunderstanding that action would cause.

His cat-like personality, which became dull to other things when focused on one, had simplified his thinking.