After his conversation with his father, a week passed.
Mathew had thrown himself into rebuilding the company—holding meetings, making calls, reconnecting with old partners. The house, once quiet and still, now pulsed with motion and purpose.
Simon, meanwhile, had devoted himself entirely to training.
Each day followed a strict regimen: combat drills, meditation, strength conditioning. Yet despite the intensity, a nagging feeling began to creep in.
One afternoon, mid-sprint across the courtyard, Simon came to an abrupt halt.
He frowned. "What's going on?"
For days now, his strength had shown no signs of growth. He had paused—locked at 10,000 kilograms. The absolute peak of a 3-Star Astral Lord. The threshold before ascending to 4-Star.
But his ability—Reinforced Muscles—had never played by the usual rules. It had evolved with him, untethered from standard Astral classifications.
So why now?
Frustration surged in his chest.
"Why does it feel like I'm being held back?" he muttered, clenching his fists.
He inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and turned his senses inward. And there it was—subtle but undeniable.
His ability hadn't stopped.
It had shifted.
It was no longer amplifying raw strength. It was refining it.
Before, his muscles were like those of a peak human—powerful, yet rough in structure. Now, every fiber was denser, more efficient, and more precise. His body wasn't just stronger—it was becoming better.
Then came the realization that changed everything: the 10,000-kilogram benchmark wasn't merely a number.
Most Astral Lords could only reach that level through maximum effort, brief bursts of explosive strength that left them drained and bedridden.
But Simon? That was now his default.
Every movement, every step, every strike carried that force—effortlessly. Without strain. Without fatigue.
And yet… something still felt wrong.
A ceiling. Invisible, but real. Like a hand pressed gently against his potential.
The frustration didn't vanish. But it sharpened—became focused. This wasn't stagnation. This was the stillness before a breakthrough.
Whatever came next… it would shatter more than just limits.
Simon stood alone in the courtyard. His breath was calm. His mind, anything but.
His strength wasn't stalling—it was condensing. Maturing. Becoming something purer. But even that wasn't enough.
Reinforced Muscles—the ability he had once copied from Ethan, his old instructor. Back then, he'd seen it as brute force. But now he understood: it was a seed. A trait of limitless potential. One that could evolve endlessly—if placed in the right conditions.
And that was the problem.
Riverstone Base City was not the right condition.
It was safe. Predictable. A place where progress quietly withered and people mistook it for peace.
Even Ethan… Once a giant among men, a voice of iron and purpose. But he had stayed too long. His body still strong, but his edge dulled. Not by weakness—but by comfort.
Simon could feel the same danger creeping into his own life.
He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers slowly. The power inside pulsed like a storm—dense, restrained, waiting.
"This city can't take me further," he whispered.
The truth settled in with bittersweet clarity.
He didn't resent Riverstone—it had protected him. But protection was not what he needed anymore.
He needed chaos. Pressure. A crucible.
Out in the wilderness, there were no rules. No comforts. Only trial and survival. That was where growth came fast—or not at all.
He had grown there once before.
And he would again.
Simon turned and walked back into the house. His steps were quiet, but the resolve in his heart beat like a war drum.
He wouldn't return to the wilds to hide.
He would return to rise.
To break the ceiling above him.
And when he came back—
Even the stars would have to move aside.
To prepare for the journey ahead, Simon made one final trip into the heart of the city—the company marketplace.
This time, he wasn't limited by money.
With calm precision, he gathered everything he would need to survive in the wilderness: specialized equipment, high-density nutrient packs, weapon maintenance kits, medical supplies, and adaptive clothing for harsh climates. Every item was chosen with care, every purchase purposeful.
But he didn't stop there.
Simon also stocked up on groceries for his family—enough to last them a full month. He signed them up for a monthly delivery service to ensure essentials arrived regularly and reliably.
It wasn't about convenience.
It was about protection.
Even with the company providing security, Simon knew his family wasn't invincible. Guards couldn't follow them into every crowded market or alley. Every unnecessary trip outside was a risk.
So, he removed the need altogether.
To reinforce their safety further, he assigned full-time protection—one elite guard for his father, and one for his sister. Both were thoroughly vetted and instructed to report directly to him.
With everything arranged, Simon returned home and spoke to his family. He explained where he was going, and why. His voice was calm. No drama, no drawn-out farewells—only honesty, and trust.
By the end of the week, everything was ready.
Outside, parked in the driveway, stood his vehicle—a sleek black hoverbike.
Simon looked at it and smiled.
With a fluid motion, he swung onto the seat. The bike rose a few inches off the ground, humming gently as the engine came alive.
Then, without a second thought, he accelerated—disappearing into the horizon, heading straight for the city's towering defense wall.
He didn't look back.
There was nothing left to prepare.
Now, it was time to grow.