King Elias had already told the students what they needed to know about why they were summoned to his kingdom. But that didn't mean he told them everything. There was more, much more that he kept hidden from them.
"What is the verdict, Your Highness?"
At Great Magus Gulepas's question, King Elias smiled, his face bright with satisfaction.
"It's a fortunate find, Great Magus. Far more than we expected."
Truly, what they had discovered was beyond all expectations. It was the kind of discovery that could change the course of history, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
For starters, "John has the Heaven Defying Physique."
The words struck like thunder.
"What?! The Heaven Defying Physique?" Great Magus Gulepas jumped to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief. His voice echoed through the hall, full of shock. "That is… impossible!"
"I know," Elias said, his smile widening. "But tell me, Great Magus, when have I ever been wrong about these things?"
And indeed, King Elias's eyes had never failed him. He was known for his unmatched ability to see value where others could not. Whether treasure or trash, his judgment was always right.
"The Heaven Defying Physique…" Gulepas muttered to himself, slowly calming down as he sat back down.
"Your Highness," he said at last, "if we can properly nurture this physique, our dreams will no longer be just dreams. We could finally make them a reality!"
"I know," Elias said, leaning back in his chair. "But it's not just the Heaven Defying Physique we'll be nurturing."
"What do you mean?"
Elias chuckled. "We've found another. The Boundless Spirit Body Physique."
Gulepas once again jumped up from his seat, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. His eyes bulged as he shouted, "Boundless Spirit Body Physique?!"
"Yes, yes, Great Magus. Please, calm down before you hurt yourself," Elias said with a sigh, rubbing his forehead.
At this rate, they would be standing there all day reacting to one surprise after another.
Still, he couldn't really blame the old Magus. Both physiques were extraordinary, legendary even. Each was powerful enough to change the balance of the world of Magus-kind.
Anyone who possessed such a physique was destined to walk a path to greatness, one that led toward the highest of all realms, the Divinity Realm.
"Which one is it?" Gulepas asked, his voice trembling. "Who possesses the Boundless Spirit Body Physique?"
"The one named Emma Watson," Elias replied. "And as for Damon… he possesses the Indomitable Asura Physique."
This time, Gulepas froze. His mouth opened but no sound came out. He had to force himself to stay composed, his excitement nearly breaking through again.
"Your Highness," he finally said, regaining control of his voice, "this is an incredible discovery. But we have a problem. We don't have enough resources to nurture all three physiques to their full potential."
He was right. Each physique was rare and powerful beyond measure.
If nurtured correctly, they could become forces capable of shaking the world. But raising even one required immense wealth, knowledge, and resources.
King Elias's goal wasn't just to let them grow on their own. He wanted to raise them under the banner of the Vermont Kingdom, making them weapons of the crown.
That meant the kingdom would have to bear the cost of nurturing all three.
And that cost was unimaginable.
"Yes, that's true," Elias said, nodding. "But I've found a solution."
He smiled again, the same confident grin that always preceded one of his schemes. "I didn't just assess those three. I assessed every one of them."
Gulepas tilted his head. "Every one?"
"Yes. And while the three stand above the rest, there's one more worth mentioning." Elias leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "The one named Tyler. He possesses the Sage Physique."
The room fell silent. Gulepas's eyes widened once more, this time, his entire body froze in shock.
"The… Sage Physique?" he repeated, as if to confirm he'd heard correctly. "The physique praised for its limitless vitality and unmatched comprehension ability?"
Elias nodded.
Gulepas's head spun, his mind racing. "This… this is unbelievable!"
Even King Elias, who had seen it with his own eyes, still found it difficult to believe. The Sage Physique was something of legend.
It was said to grant its bearer vitality beyond imagination. The owner could live for more than the average lifespan, recover from wounds and injuries after, possess strength and speed unmatched by others of their level, and a certified tolerance level to status ailment effects.
But that was only part of its gift.
The Sage Physique also granted a mind of perfect clarity, a comprehension so deep that even the most complex magic formulas could be understood with ease. Its users could master spells and arts that took others decades to learn.
Such was the gift and the curse of the Sage Physique.
It was so rare that most believed it to be extinct. Ancient tales spoke of a race that once carried this bloodline.
A race wiped out ages ago. Since then, no one had ever again awakened the Sage Physique.
And yet, here stood an otherworlder with that very same power.
Of course, the physique wasn't without flaws.
Despite its overwhelming strengths, the Sage Physique had weaknesses that kept it below the top-tier physiques like the Heaven Defying, Boundless Spirit Body, Indomitable Asura, or the legendary Unrivaled Dragon Body Physique.
"I am well aware of its drawbacks," Elias said calmly. "Which is exactly why I plan to use it as the core of our plan. With it powering the others, our results will surpass everything we've dreamed of."
Gulepas stroked his long white beard, deep in thought.
"Yes… yes, that could work," he muttered. "The Sage Physique's vitality could sustain the others. It could act as a living power source."
He nodded, seeing the vision now. "With that, nurturing the other three physiques will no longer be impossible. It will be achievable."
Elias smiled, satisfied.
"As expected of Your Highness," Gulepas said, bowing deeply. "Your wisdom never ceases to amaze this old man."
Elias chuckled, waving a hand. "I'll leave the rest to you then, Great Magus. Make sure everything is set in motion immediately."
Gulepas straightened, his eyes full of resolve. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I will handle everything."
"Good!" Elias exclaimed with the playful grin of a child. "Now, it's playtime, bye bye!"
Before Gulepas could respond, the king hopped off his chair and cheerfully ran out of the hall, humming as he went.
Left alone, the Great Magus let out a small laugh. "Our kingdom has been blessed beyond belief," he said quietly. "I, Great Magus Gulepas, will not betray His Highness's expectations."
With that vow, he turned and left the room. His steps were calm, but his mind was ablaze with purpose.
The Vermont Kingdom's rise? Great Magus Gulepas would see to it that this was only the beginning of it.