Miles looked at Malcolm sitting across from him. He was sporting a stern face because what they were going to do was too critical for Miles. He was working six months for this day.

“Alright Miles. It has been half a year, and you are ready to take the final step.” Malcolm said as he looked at Miles sitting on the ground, on his knees.

“You worked hard. You never gave up. No one knows your body better than you! When everyone told you that you are an Oafish and destined to be mediocre, you never gave up. You used the cursed medicine despite the odds and survived. You used the fourth serum and came out of it just fine. Your ancient gene got destroyed, but here you are stronger than ever. So prove to yourself that your hard work is fruitful and not for nothing!

In this half a year, you used our family’s art, Royal Blood and you were able to grasp the first level. When I first taught you when you were a kid, you didn’t want it because you weren’t feeling you belonged to your family. I am glad you came along and are now comfortable practicing it. Royal Blood was created at the Empire times even before we awakened our superpowers.

It had been inspired by ancient lores found on thousands of years old documents. When I was a kid, my grandfather would say it was the art that King Arthur himself was using. But it would only be taught to kids to adjust their bodies from a young age. Only after the portal opened and monsters poured out did we realize that the art was more useful than we initially thought.” Malcolm spoke then smiled. “Those are just stories of course.”

“But the Royal Blood Art is the best Unity can offer. Everyone in our family created their seeds by using this technique.”

Miles nodded while thinking. What Malcolm didn’t know was Miles was using the other three arts too in these six months. He had already mastered the first step of the Exaltedness of the Creator. He also found a way to practice Seven Finger Death Punch successfully. At first, the energy wasn’t working so the technique was falling short. Once he even hurt himself while circulating the energy, but in the end, by crossing with human techniques he created his own version.

He was also able to make progress with the Moon Essence he stole from the Strankov Family. It was great when it came to calming the mind and increasing his efficiency while resisting the Mind serums. Although he lacked a cold-related superpower, ever since he used the last Strengthening Serum, he could circulate it better.

So far, he was able to practice all four techniques to the peak of the first step, but he could only progress with one of them. Malcolm taught him Royal Blood and wanted him to practice it, but Royal Blood was leaning more on elemental control. While Seven Finger Death Punch was more of a body practicing art. Miles was mostly using his body as he had no superpower.

Moon Essence was helping him with his mind, so it was safe to say he would form a mind seed if he chose this one. He wasn’t sure because his body would get stronger and stronger with Strengthening Serums, so creating a mind seed would help him to create more unpredictable attacks. While forming a body seed with Seven Finger Death Punch would increase his strength to a new level.

The Exaltedness of the Creator was the most mysterious among the four. It was strengthening his body when practiced but had other effects as well. So Miles wasn’t sure about it. After all, it wasn’t a human-originated art.

“It is time,” Malcolm said. “Condense your energy and imagine a seed. Seed with unbreakable toughness and unlimited explosiveness. Just like your body. I will wait outside.”

Malcolm started to walk out while humming a song,

'Cause victory is all you need

So cultivate and plant the seed

Hold your breath and count to ten, just count to ten’

“Man, I love Shinedown!”

Miles nodded and raised from where he was sitting. He started to move his body according to the first step of Royal Blood. “I can’t create a heart seed. So using Royal Blood would prove helpless.”

Miles changed his movement a little and his mannerism turned into a vicious hunter. He looked like a bloodthirsty warmonger wanting nothing but a satisfying battle. “Seven Finger Death Punch must be the most suitable one.”

Miles’s movements changed once again. This time he looked like a gentle, refined gentleman. His movements were fluid, while there was an illusory light shining around him. “Moon Essence would increase weapons in my arsenal, but my body would be weaker.”

His movements changed for the last time and he moved according to the Exaltedness of the Creator. A mystic aura descended upon his body. He could feel the world from another perspective. It was as if he was standing atop of the world and watching it. “This technique is too good to be true. I dare not to practice it.”

Miles repeated four sets of moves over and over again, but couldn't decide it. Just when he finished the seventh round, the energy inside his body churned like wild water and flowed toward the right side of his chest. “No, no, no. Heart seed is useless for me!” Miles shouted in his heart.

But the energy was flowing like a river. Miles could do nothing to stop it. His body was moving according to Royal Blood against his will. Just as he thought he would be doomed with a heart seed, the set of Royal Blood ended, and half-created seed got destroyed. He puked a mouthful of blood, but his body was still moving.

His body automatically moved according to Moon Essence, and energy flowed to his brain. “This is better at least. Miles heaved a sigh of relief as he watched the seed forming in his mind. But as soon as the set finished once again, his body gave up on the Moon Essence and moved according to Seven Finger Death Punch. The seed in his mind got destroyed while splitting pain made him scream.

Energy flowed in his two arms and started to create the seed once again. On his right-hand energy condensed and was about to form the seed. “Please this time let it form.”

But things would rarely go as people wished. When the set was over, the seed was once again destroyed and Miles started to move according to the Exaltedness of the Creator. He could do nothing to stop his body. He was watching like a spectator. As if the body wasn’t his.

Energy condensed all over his body. He couldn’t see a seed forming, but he could feel that energy was condensing more and more. This time when the set ended, nothing exploded. He practiced sets over and over again without causing any destruction. After an hour of uncontrollable practicing, his body stopped on its own.

Miles looked all over his body but felt nothing.

“Where is my damn seed?!” Miles looked at his body dumbfoundedly. “Fuck!”