A Psychopath Reborn as a Third-rate Villain

Andras continued.

”While mages refine mana to construct spells and form Mana Rings, warriors refine mana into Battle Energy and use it to temper their bodies. Their flesh, bones, organs, blood, and muscles gradually become stronger as their cultivation advances. Even their senses sharpen.”

”A sufficiently powerful warrior can turn their own body into a weapon. Their strength, speed, durability, and destructive power can eventually rival powerful spells.”

Lyra listened carefully.

”And unlike mages, warriors don’t construct Mana Rings around their Battle Hearts. Instead, they condense Battle Stars.”

Andras raised one finger.

”One Star.”

Then another.

”Two.”

He lowered his hand.

”Eventually, they can reach the Ninth Star.”

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

”So the Ninth Star is the highest realm?”

”According to the cultivation system we currently understand, yes. But reaching a higher Star isn’t simply a matter of accumulating more energy. A warrior must first strengthen their body enough to withstand the increasing power within their Battle Heart.”

Andras leaned back slightly.

”There are four fundamental steps in warrior cultivation.”

Lyra straightened.

”The first is Mana Absorption. A warrior absorbs ambient mana and directs it toward their Battle Heart. The process isn’t fundamentally different from what a mage does, but the Battle Heart processes that mana differently.”

”It acts as a natural converter.”

”The absorbed mana enters the Battle Heart and is transformed into Battle Energy. The purer and denser that energy becomes, the more effectively it can temper the body.”

Lyra thought for a moment.

”So the Battle Heart determines the quality of the energy?”

”Partly. It provides the foundation, but cultivation method, physical condition, talent, and refinement ability also matter. Even someone with a powerful Battle Heart can waste their potential if they cultivate incorrectly.”

Andras continued.

”The second step is Battle Energy Refinement.”

”Once converted, Battle Energy circulates through the Battle Heart and is gradually guided throughout the body. It tempers the flesh, strengthens the bones, reinforces the organs, and improves the body’s natural resistance.”

His expression became more serious.

”This step requires patience. The body can withstand only so much Battle Energy at a time. If a warrior forces too much energy through themselves before their body is ready, the consequences can be severe.”

”Internal injuries?”

”Yes. Muscles can rupture, organs can be damaged, and blood vessels can tear. In severe cases, the warrior can permanently damage their cultivation.”

Andras looked directly at her.

”Never treat cultivation as a race. A warrior becomes stronger by gradually increasing what their body can withstand, not by forcing as much energy through themselves as possible.”

Lyra nodded firmly.

”I understand.”

”The third step is Battle Star Condensation.”

Andras raised one finger.

”Once enough Battle Energy has accumulated within the Battle Heart, it is compressed repeatedly until it forms a concentrated sphere around the Battle Heart.”

”A Battle Star.”

Lyra looked thoughtful.

”So the first Battle Star is formed by compressing accumulated Battle Energy?”

”Exactly.”

”Is it similar to a Mana Ring?”

”No.”

Andras shook his head.

”A Mana Ring is constructed from refined mana and functions as a stable structure around a mage’s Mana Core. A Battle Star is condensed Battle Energy. Both represent a higher step in cultivation, but their principles are fundamentally different.”

He paused.

”Battle Star Condensation is also dangerous. As the energy becomes denser, it becomes harder to control. If a warrior loses control, the condensed energy can disperse violently through the Battle Heart.”

Lyra’s expression tightened.

”What happens then?”

”In the best case, the breakthrough fails. In the worst case, the Battle Heart is damaged.”

His voice remained calm.

”And a damaged Battle Heart can cripple a warrior’s entire cultivation.”

Lyra fell silent.

”You need to understand this before you begin. Warrior cultivation isn’t only about becoming stronger. You must understand how much your body can endure.”

”I understand.”

”The final step is Battle Star Stabilization. A newly formed Battle Star isn’t immediately stable. The warrior must continue nourishing it with Battle Energy until its structure becomes sufficiently stable. Only then can they safely begin accumulating the energy needed for the next Star.”

Lyra glanced toward him.

”And each Star has three stages?”

”Yes. Low, Middle, and Peak.”

”A newly condensed Battle Star begins at the Low Stage. As the warrior refines Battle Energy and strengthens the Star, it advances toward the Middle Stage. Once the Star is completely saturated, it reaches the Peak Stage.”

He paused.

”Only after one Battle Star has been stabilized can a warrior begin condensing the next.”

Lyra quietly repeated the progression.

”Low, Middle, Peak.”

”Correct.”

Andras nodded.

”The progression itself is simple. One Star, two Stars, three Stars, and eventually the Ninth Star. The path between those stages, however, is anything but simple.”

The room grew quiet.

”The higher a warrior climbs, the more Battle Energy their body requires. Their physical foundation becomes stronger, but so does the pressure placed upon the Battle Heart.”

Andras’s gaze sharpened.

”At lower levels, simply possessing Battle Energy can give a warrior a significant advantage over an ordinary person. At higher levels, however, that alone is no longer enough.”

”Two warriors can stand at the same Star and possess similar amounts of Battle Energy, yet one can defeat the other almost effortlessly. The difference comes from refinement, control, physical foundation, and the ability to turn cultivated power into actual combat ability.”

He looked at Lyra.

”Remember that. Cultivation determines how much power you possess, but mastery determines how much of that power you can actually use.”

Lyra nodded.

”I will.”

Andras studied her for a moment.

”That covers the basic path.”

Lyra looked down at her hands.

”Then how do I begin?”

”With meditation.”

Andras stood and moved toward the center of the room.

”Your first task isn’t to condense Battle Energy. You’re nowhere near that level yet. First, you need to learn how to circulate mana through your Battle Heart and allow it to process that mana naturally.”

Lyra followed him.

”You’ve already sensed mana before, so you don’t need to spend time learning how to perceive it. Your problem will be controlling its movement and allowing your Battle Heart to process it without disrupting the flow.”

Andras pointed toward the floor.

”Sit there.”

Lyra lowered herself into a cross-legged position.

Andras stood a short distance in front of her.

”Close your eyes and relax your shoulders. Don’t force your breathing. Let it become natural.”

Lyra took a slow breath.

”Now focus on your Battle Heart. Don’t pull mana toward yourself yet. First, become aware of your Battle Heart and the mana already circulating within you.”

She remained still.

A few moments passed before her breathing settled.

”Good. Now guide the mana through your body and back toward your Battle Heart. Don’t force it. Let the circulation follow your body’s natural rhythm.”

Lyra tried.

Her brows furrowed almost immediately.

The flow became disorganized, and she lost track of it.

”I lost it.”

”Don’t force it. Start again.”

She closed her eyes and tried once more.

This time, the circulation lasted slightly longer before collapsing.

”Slow down. You’re pushing too hard.”

Lyra adjusted her breathing.

Another attempt followed.

Then another.

Each time, she made some progress before losing control. Sometimes she pushed the mana too forcefully; other times, she allowed the flow to weaken until it dispersed.

Andras corrected each mistake.

”Don’t chase the energy. Guide it.”

”You’re using too much force. Relax.”

”Your control is becoming unstable. Slow down.”

Lyra continued.

Time passed, and the academy outside gradually grew quieter. Sweat gathered along her forehead despite her sitting completely still, but she refused to give up.

Eventually, she opened her eyes.

”I can’t seem to make it stay.”

Andras shook his head.

”You can. You’ve already succeeded several times. You simply haven’t learned how to maintain it.”

Lyra looked at him expectantly.

”You’re trying too hard to control every movement,” Andras explained. ”You don’t need to command every part of the circulation. Your Battle Heart already knows how to process mana. Your job is to guide the flow, not force it.”

Lyra frowned.

”Then what should I do?”

”Think of it like guiding water through a channel. You aren’t carrying the water yourself. You’re simply making sure it follows the right path.”

Lyra considered his words before closing her eyes again.

This time, she didn’t immediately try to control the mana.

She breathed slowly and focused on her Battle Heart, allowing herself to become familiar with the sensation instead of trying to manipulate it.

Gradually, the mana became clearer.

She guided it inward.

Slowly and carefully.

Instead of forcing the energy forward, she allowed the flow to settle into a natural rhythm.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the circulation stabilized.

Mana moved toward her Battle Heart, passed through it, and returned through her body in a steady cycle.

Lyra’s breathing remained calm.

Andras watched without speaking.

Ten seconds passed.

Then twenty.

Then thirty.

The circulation didn’t collapse.

A faint smile appeared on Lyra’s face.

”I... I’m doing it.”

”Don’t open your eyes.”

Andras’s warning immediately stopped her excitement.

”Maintain the rhythm.”

Lyra obeyed.

The circulation gradually became smoother. The mana passed through her Battle Heart again and again, each cycle becoming more natural.

Andras nodded.

”Good. Now we’re taking the next step.”

Lyra remained focused.

”Don’t increase the speed. Pay attention to what happens when the mana passes through your Battle Heart.”

She concentrated.

For the first time, she clearly felt the difference.

The mana entered her Battle Heart in its ordinary form, but as it passed through the center of that organ, something within it responded.

The sensation was subtle at first.

Then it changed.

A trace of the mana became denser.

Heavier.

Different.

Lyra’s brow furrowed.

”Young Master...”

”Don’t speak. Keep your attention on it.”

She obeyed.

The mana continued circulating.

Each time it passed through the Battle Heart, a tiny portion transformed. It was no longer the same diffuse energy she had sensed moments earlier. Something more concentrated was beginning to emerge.

Andras watched carefully.

”Guide the transformed energy back through your body.”

Lyra followed his instruction.

The moment she did, a faint warmth spread from her Battle Heart through her chest.

Her eyes widened behind their closed lids.

”That’s Battle Energy,” Andras said quietly.

Lyra’s breathing nearly broke from excitement.

”Don’t lose concentration.”

She immediately steadied herself.

The newly transformed energy moved through her body in a thin stream. It was far denser than ordinary mana, and even that tiny amount produced a noticeable sensation as it passed through her muscles.

Lyra instinctively tried to gather more.

Andras stopped her.

”Don’t force it. Your body hasn’t adapted to Battle Energy yet.”

Lyra slowed the circulation.

”Let your Battle Heart transform the mana naturally. You’re not trying to create a large amount. You’re teaching your body how the process works.”

She nodded slightly.

The circulation continued.

More mana entered the Battle Heart.

More of it transformed.

The amount remained extremely small, but it was unmistakably different from ordinary mana.

A faint strand of Battle Energy slowly circulated through Lyra’s body.

Andras watched the process with a calm expression.

”Good. Maintain that.”

Lyra focused entirely on the sensation.

The first trace of Battle Energy continued moving through her body, following the path Andras had taught her. It was weak, unstable, and nowhere near enough to strengthen her body, but it was a genuine beginning.

For the first time, Lyra was no longer merely circulating mana.

She was refining it.

And within her Battle Heart, the first strand of Battle Energy began to form.