Luna was shy. She had harbored feelings for him since childhood but she had never been able to admit it to herself. Their worlds were very different: Luna belonged to a respected family while Lucas was considered an outcast with no family ties."Are you... are you okay?" Luna asked concern in her voice.Lucas nodded. He stood up his body still glistening with sweat. Sometimes he found it amusing to tease Luna just to see her reactions which he found endearing."What's the matter are you embarrassed to see your own husband's body?" Lucas teased a playful grin on his face. Luna immediately looked away.Her face was flushed even though she couldn't help but glance at Lucas whose physique had undergone a remarkable transformation.Lucas' physique had noticeably improved; he had achieved the ideal masculine form that many aspire to and in such a short time. Some might call it a 'shortcut' but for Lucas it was a necessary means to an end. Without that 'shortcut' he might not be alive today.

Ironfist's family home was surrounded by an abundance of rocks adding to its grandeur. This large house was inhabited by muscular men giving it a reputation as a haven for those obsessed with physical strength.In a quiet corner of the estate was a small garden where a man sat in meditation seemingly drawing energy from his surroundings. His tranquility was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps causing him to open his eyes. The man was Lorrick the eldest son of the Ironfist family.Lorrick's expression turned to one of displeasure as he raised an eyebrow a clear sign that the news he had just received was unwelcome.In a display of his unique skill Lorrick casually picked up a marble and threw it into the garden. The marble spun rapidly like a drill causing the earth to erupt in a spray of dirt."You said Garrick hasn't returned yet?" Lorrick asked concern in his voice. He had sent his younger brother Garrick to capture someone named Lucas but neither Garrick nor the soldi

In a vast wheat field, golden and ripe for harvest, lay the heart of the village's specialty. Nearby, a twenty-year-old girl, Aline, sat contemplatively in a small hut, her eyes observing the steady stream of passersby.With the recent whispers of an artifact's emergence, their quaint village had become a magnet for increasing numbers of visitors. Among them were many martial arts experts, a sight that both intrigued and unnerved Aline."Aline, don't be so pensive," a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. It was a village lady, offering a cautionary tone. Aline responded with a gentle smile, masking her internal musings.Despite her fascination, Aline was acutely aware of her ordinary, mortal status, devoid of any martial arts prowess. The growing influx of skilled cultivators only served to underscore her limitations."Aline, you should never get involved with those cultivators. They don't value our lives," the woman cautioned again, her words echoing the stark divide between thei

In the warm afternoon sunlight Aline's wooden house stood solidly on the outskirts of the village. Her cozy kitchen bathed in soft light streaming through the window was a haven of inviting aromas. Aline moving with practiced ease ladled mushroom soup into bowls. Hot steam wafted through the air filling the room with its tantalizing scent. Lucas sitting in a corner kept his eyes on the steaming bowl in front of him. He seemed to enjoy the ambiance. Having been reincarnated into this world some time ago he now basked in the rustic charm and simplicity of this old world setting. Aline entered with a pair of distinctive glasses perhaps made of bamboo or wood that caught Lucas' attention as they were unlike anything he'd seen before. His face lit up with satisfaction as he tasted the soup appreciating the warmth and homey flavors of the village food. The simplicity of Aline's living room belied its intriguing contents. In one corner a bookshelf filled with martial arts and cultivatio

Bathed in moonlight, Lucas sat on a creaky old branch, feeling it shake under his weight.Now Lucas was desperate. The artifact might slip from his grasp.Looking down, he often said random things like "This world is truly beautiful. It was one of his quirks.Below, the village resembled a quiet painting with the moon playing hide-and-seek behind clouds.In the stillness of the night, Lucas' mind wandered to a conversation he'd had hours earlier in the village hall.He had been greeted there as a hero for rescuing Aline from the clutches of Night Swift, a menacing figure.Surrounded by the scent of aged wood and resin in the crowded village hall, Lucas found himself amidst the excited chatter of the villagers."Deep in the forest, there's a hidden hole," an old farmer began, tracing an imaginary map with his wrinkled hands over the flickering embers."It is said to be filled with ancient artifacts, remnants of a lost era."This was the man Aline had introduced to Lucas, the same man w