I stepped into the academy''s small, unused training yard just as the morning sun cast long shadows across the stone pavement. This place was usually reserved for lower-ranked students—people who barely qualified to be here.
Which made it perfect for me.
No unnecessary attention. No annoying noble brats. Just me and my first day of training.
I took a deep breath. Today''s plan was simple:
1. Light exercise to adjust to my new body.
2. Mana control training to increase my reserves.
Simple on paper. Brutal in execution.
Phase 1: Physical Conditioning
I started with basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats. Nothing too intense, just enough to wake my muscles up.
And immediately, I noticed something off.
Even though I had ranked up from F- to E-, I still felt sluggish. It wasn''t that my body was weak—rather, it was too strong for my instincts to handle properly.
For example, when I pushed off the ground for a normal jump—
I overshot it and landed awkwardly.
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"Damn it."
I had gained increased strength, but my muscle memory was still wired for my old, weaker self.
This was going to take a while.
After a painful hour of adjusting, I finally started to sync with my new body. I wasn''t perfect yet, but at least I wasn''t tripping over my own feet anymore.
"Good. Now for mana training."
Phase 2: Mana Control
In this world, mana was everything.
The stronger your mana core, the more powerful your techniques became. But for weaklings like me? Just maintaining mana flow was a struggle.
I sat cross-legged on the ground, closing my eyes.
Mana training had three steps:
1. Sensing mana – Feeling the natural flow of energy inside and outside the body.
2. Guiding mana – Moving mana consciously through the body''s pathways.
3. Expanding mana reserves – Strengthening the core through repeated circulation.
For most people, step one alone took weeks.
But thanks to the Eclipse vision heightened perception, I could already sense mana with ease.
I focused inward, feeling the faint warmth of mana inside me. It was small, like a flickering candle in a storm, but it was there.
Slowly, carefully, I willed it to move.
A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my chest.
I gasped, nearly losing control. The mana resisted me—like trying to force a river to change direction.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed forward, guiding it through the correct pathways. My veins burned, my body protested, but—
Ding!
A familiar chime echoed in my mind, and a translucent blue window appeared before me.
---
[System Interface]
[Status Window]
Name: Alden Blackwood
Race: Human
Class: None (Unawakened)
Rank: E-
Mana Core:E-
[Basic Stats]
Strength: E-
Agility: E-
Intelligence: C
Mana: E-
Stamina: E-
(Grades range from F- to SSS.)
[Skills]
Eclipse Vision – Grants heightened perception, allowing the user to predict movements, copy techniques, and cast powerful illusions that distort reality
Mana Control (Basic) [E] – The ability to manipulate internal mana with basic efficiency.
Traits:
Voidstep (Trait)
Ability: Allows the user to phase through objects and enter a personal pocket dimension. They can teleport by stepping through space itself.
[Arts] (Weapon and Combat Techniques)
Basic Swordsmanship [D] – A foundational style for sword combat.
None – (More techniques can be learned.)
---
I stared at the screen, my mind racing.
My stats were still trash, but I had officially unlocked Mana Control. That meant I could start improving my mana pool properly.
And the best part?
I wasn''t limited to just system-given skills. Unlike the protagonist, who was locked into a pre-determined skill tree, I had the freedom to develop my own abilities.
Which meant if I trained hard enough, I could eventually create my own techniques.
A small grin formed on my lips.
"Alright. Let''s see how far I can push this."