My Celestial Ascension

"This is our training ground. We train here every morning. Impressive, isn’t it?" Vrasha said with a wide smile as she glanced at the ogres scattered across the field.
Watching them filled her with excitement. Her muscles itched to join in, but leaving Yuan and Valeria behind would’ve been rude.
"Indeed. It’s huge! Some are even dueling over there," Yuan said, nodding toward two ogres clashing with raw strength.
Vrasha followed his gaze, grinning. "Duels are common. They’re the best way to find our weaknesses and push past them. It makes us sharper, stronger."
She let out a small chuckle. "Though most avoid me. They don’t want their pride shattered after I beat them. Cowards, really."
"I see..." Yuan replied with a faint smile. From her physique alone, he could tell Vrasha was different from the others. Taller, broader, and more powerful than any female ogre he’d seen—an outlier. To him, she wasn’t just strong. She was remarkable.
"Come on, I’ll show you around. You’ll see the tools we use to harden our bones and strengthen our muscles," Vrasha said, her eyes gleaming.
Yuan and Valeria exchanged a glance and followed her as she proudly introduced the training ground and the equipment she used daily.
"This is a training club. It looks ordinary, but it’s far heavier than it seems. I swing it a thousand times a day to build arm strength," she explained, casually lifting the massive club. The earth beneath her cracked under its weight, yet she held it as though it were nothing.
"It does look heavy," Yuan said, studying it. "But I don’t think I’d have much trouble swinging it."
Vrasha’s eyes widened, then narrowed. A second later, she burst into laughter. "Don’t joke. There’s no way a human like you could even budge this thing. It weighs a ton—even I struggle with it."
"I’m not joking, Miss Vrasha. I can show you if you’d like," Yuan replied calmly, stepping toward the other club lying nearby—slightly larger than the one in her hands.
Vrasha tilted her head, puzzled. "Are you serious? You don’t even have mana in your body. How could you possibly lift it?"
"Just watch. It’ll be too easy for me," Yuan said with a faint smirk as he grabbed the massive club with one hand, lifting it high into the air with effortless strength.
Vrasha’s eyes widened in disbelief. The club in her grip slipped from her hands and crashed onto the ground, her shock leaving her momentarily speechless.
Yuan ignored her stunned expression and began swinging the weapon casually, as though it were no more than a child’s toy. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, he tossed it high into the air and caught it back with a single hand—like a man playing with a stick.
"This thing feels light. I can’t even sense its weight," Yuan remarked with a smile, spinning the club in his hand as though it were nothing. His display quickly drew the attention of the other ogres scattered around the training grounds.
One by one, they froze mid-training, their jaws slack with disbelief. Their eyes bulged as though they might burst from their sockets.
"What the hell am I seeing?! A human lifting that club like it’s nothing?!"
"He’s toying with it! Even our Leader can’t last ten minutes holding that thing—how in the world is he doing it?!"
"This is insane! He’s swinging it like it weighs nothing at all!"
Whispers erupted across the grounds, spreading like wildfire. More ogres gathered, unable to believe the sight before them. Nervous gulps echoed as the realization sank in: this human was something else entirely.
Meanwhile, Vrasha snapped back to her senses, her shock melting into a sharp, serious expression. Slowly, her lips curled into a sly, almost seductive grin.
’This human... he lifted it so easily. He’s strong. Unbelievably strong. Could he be the one?’ Her body trembled as excitement surged through her veins.
’I have to fight him. I need to test his power myself. Even if he loses, I’ll still give myself to him.’ The thought sent a thrill rushing through her, and almost instinctively, she stepped closer.
Towering over Yuan with her imposing frame, Vrasha grinned widely. Compared to her, even Valeria’s tall figure seemed small.
"Yuan," she said, her voice pulsing with anticipation, "let’s duel. If you defeat me, I’ll give you something of great importance. Even if you lose... I’ll still give it to you."
Yuan lowered the club onto the ground, raising an eyebrow as confusion flickered across his face.
"Is there a particular reason you want to duel me?" he asked evenly.
"There is," Vrasha replied with a firm nod, her smile unshaken as she locked eyes with him. "A very important reason, in fact. You see, no one in this tribe has ever been able to best me in combat. I haven’t had a real fight in years. But after witnessing your strength, I can’t resist. I want a proper fight—friendly, of course, but one that will push us both."
"I want to feel the thrill of a real battle. That’s why I want to duel you, Yuan," Vrasha concluded firmly.
"Are you going to accept my challenge or not?" she asked, her piercing gaze locked on him.
The surrounding ogres froze. Hearing Vrasha challenge a human left them utterly speechless. Their jaws dropped as they exchanged shocked looks.
"What the hell?! Vrasha is challenging a human to a duel?!"
Gasps and murmurs spread across the training grounds, disbelief etched on every face.
Yuan’s grin widened. "Alright. I accept your challenge, Vrasha. Let’s have a serious battle!"
Vrasha’s eyes lit up the moment she heard his answer, a huge smile stretching across her face as excitement pulsed through her.
The ogres, however, nearly toppled over in shock. Their eyes bulged so wide it looked painful.
"Has he lost his mind after swinging that massive club?!"
"That human’s finished. Vrasha will break him to pieces!"
"May the spirits guide his soul..."
Their whispers, though hushed, carried far enough for Vrasha to hear. She immediately turned her furious glare on them, her nostrils flaring.
"Get out of my sight! I don’t want to see your ugly faces!" she snapped coldly.
The ogres scrambled in terror, scattering like frightened beasts. None of them wanted to face Vrasha’s wrath, knowing well the punishment if they stayed too close.
"That was too close..." one muttered once they reached a safe distance.
"I thought I was dead for sure!"
"Same here... I’d rather not limp back to my hut with broken bones!"
Ignoring them, Vrasha shifted her attention back to Yuan. Her grin returned as she clenched her fists, her muscles flexing with anticipation.
"For this duel, we’ll only use our fists. No magic, no enhancements—just raw physical power. Do you agree?"
"Of course. I accept those terms." Yuan nodded with a calm smile and stepped into the center of the training ground.
Valeria moved between them, her expression bright as she raised her hand. "I’ll serve as witness to this duel. On my signal, you may both fight with everything you’ve got."
"I agree," Vrasha said with a firm nod.
"Then—begin!" Valeria shouted, stepping aside.
Vrasha advanced slowly, a wide grin plastered across her face as the tension in the air thickened. Her fists tightened, her eyes locked onto Yuan, studying his stance.
"Aren’t you going to make the first move?" she teased, her tone playful yet edged with challenge.
Yuan’s lips curved faintly. "Since you insist, Miss Vrasha."
In the next instant, his figure blurred—he shot forward at incredible speed, closing the distance between them in a blink.
Vrasha grinned, almost stunned by Yuan’s incredible speed. For a human, he was far beyond what she had expected. Now she was certain—Yuan was strong. Very strong.
’He’s so fast... I can’t even follow his movements. Impossible!’ she muttered inwardly, disbelief written across her face.
"Where are you looking?"
Yuan’s voice suddenly came from behind her, catching her completely off guard. Her eyes widened in shock.
Before she could react, his fist smashed into her face, sending her flying across the training ground.
Bang! Thud! Dust exploded as she crashed into the earth, coughing violently, her cheek already swelling.
’W-What is this strength?! He didn’t even use Mana... yet it felt like a mountain hit me!!’ Vrasha screamed inwardly, her jaw throbbing in agony.
’This pain... how long has it been? Fifty years? Maybe longer...’ And yet, instead of despair, a wild grin formed on her lips. She had almost forgotten this sensation.
Pushing herself back to her feet, she fixed her gaze on Yuan. "Yuan, thank you... for reminding me what pain feels like. You’re the first person in ages to land a clean hit on my face."
Her grin widened. "But don’t think you’ve already won just because of that. The duel has only begun!"
"I can give you as many beatings as you want, Miss Vrasha," Yuan replied calmly, clenching his fists.
"Just call me Vrasha. I don’t like the ’miss,’" she shot back before charging at him with explosive force.
Yuan stood his ground, smiling with unshaken confidence.
"You’re too cocky, Yuan! I’ll wipe that smirk off your face!" Vrasha roared as she drove her fist toward him with all her strength.
But to her utter shock, Yuan stopped her punch with a single finger—like catching a falling teacup.
"What?! How is this possible?!" Vrasha gasped, eyes wide. It felt as if she were striking an immovable mountain, her strength completely nullified by nothing more than his finger.
In the next instant, Yuan moved with lightning speed and slammed his foot into her abdomen.
"Cough!!" Blood burst from Vrasha’s mouth as she was launched backward, crashing to the ground like an arrow fired from a bow.
Lying in the dust, chest heaving, she let out a breathless laugh. Despite the pain twisting through her abdomen, her smile didn’t fade.
"Fine... I give up. You’re too strong for me to beat. You win."
Then, with a sly grin and a gleam in her eyes, she added, "And as promised... I’ll be your woman from now on, Yuan."
"M-My woman?! When did I ever agree to that?!" Yuan exclaimed, completely speechless.