Chương 10

Alex stepped back onto the blank station field. First he tried playing around a little with his mana manipulation, just to get a clearer sense of his capabilities right now. For a few minutes he simply shifted a few strands of pure mana side-to-side. He condensed his mana into a sphere, which was a several-seconds-long process, but it wasn't difficult. His pure mana seemed to want to exist in that spherical shape—it seemed easier to hold in place like this in its liquid state. I wonder if I can—'divide'?

His idea was to split the mana sphere into two smaller spheres, side-by-side. This was another several-seconds-long process, and it required at least as much willpower as crystallizing the mana. And instinctively he split his focus between the two mana spheres. It was so intensive, and the sphere and wobbled so violently as it split, he was certain it'd fail. His surprise at his own success almost caused him to lose his focus; the mana-spheres wobbled, but he managed to force them back under his control.

Two still spheres, floating side-by-side. It felt like his will, his grip on the spheres, was pretty tenuous by this point. He'd expended almost all of his 'single-try-willpower' trying that. He threw in a double crystallize with the mentality that he might as well try it, since he'd already gotten this far. The spheres thickened for all of a second, and, rather predictably, dispersed in the air.

He was forced to take a full ten minute rest after that, but— it feels like every time I try mana manipulation, I make a little progress. I've got to stop smiling like an idiot. It really did make him want to keep trying it, pushing his manipulation capacities as far as he could— there will be time for this, let's focus. He was having to mentally wrestle himself away, just like with Mana Shield.

The nice thing about slightly wrecking himself trying that divide-then-crystallize trick was he'd actually need a little time down time anyway. If his idea of how he'd try his other affinities was accurate, at least. Time for a little discreet observation, I think. By now the Hall was well over half full, which gave him his pick of choices.

In terms of affinities, lightning, ice, an emerald-colored mana and water all seemed popular, but a sizable percentage of the Hall seemed to wield a fast-flowing, edged, cerulean-blue mana. A percentage that included the spear-wielding newbie he'd seen when he'd first entered the hall. It also included several sword- and halberd-wielders, as well as a few hammer-wielders—all using different variants a certain affinity. That has to be Force mana. It was also his next-highest affinity.

He spent the next few minutes trying to get a visual sense for the mana, trying to understand its capacities—unsurprisingly the hammer-wielders' force seemed very crushing-oriented while the sword-wielders' seemed very slicing- and piercing-oriented. He focused on the sword-wielders, specifically a focused-looking girl in dueling robes adorned with a sword-in-shield symbol. She was absolutely demolishing a slab of white—a summoned training device which displayed a damage %.

Force-slashes burst off her blade and shattered against the slab like shards of glass—the initial slash added several % to the damage indicator, then the sword-light shards seemed to double, sometimes triple the effect— that's likely a support skill. She was slashing so fast he could barely make out her arm; her slashes seemed to blur into one. She might be younger than me, he realized, surprised. And she's already at that level. That has to be peak human athleticism, at least, right? Pre-Awakening, anyway.

Several others in the station around her were glancing at her, including the two girls in the station diagonally across from his, who'd coincidentally decided to take a rest a few feet away. Which was how he learned this girl—' Ivy Liu,' apparently —was an example of a very successful Guild recruit. Recruited by the Stark City ArchKnights, possibly the premier Guild in Stark City, half a year ago—a Guild which had a relationship with the world-class Templar Guild.

In just this half-year she'd apparently proven herself such a talent, Templar purchased her trainee contract from the ArchKnights for an undisclosed amount—at least in high single-digit millions, maybe in the tens of millions, according to the two girls' speculations.

"If I made that much in six months of work I'd be ignoring everyone else too," said one of the girls.

"It probably is pretty irritating," said the other girl.

"And she doesn't even get any of it, right? Isn't it ArchKnights that gets the money?" Wait, she doesn't even get a percentage?

"Okay, but like—she'll still be drowning in sponsorships and God knows what else," said the first girl.

"Let's not act like she's the victim here."

"I'm just saying," said the other girl, a tad defensively. The conversation then drifted to what they'd do if they were called up to a prestigious New York City Guild, including getting an apartment on Billionaire's Row and front-row seats to New York Fashion Week, and he tuned out a bit. He went back to his station, thinking. He wasn't thinking about the money, necessarily—he wasn't incredibly motivated by money, honestly; it'd always seemed a means to pursue his actual interests.

I mean it would be nice never to have to worry about money, ever again, but— Your life can change that much in just six months' time. Also— it sounds like you can really get screwed by these Guild contracts, at least as a newbie. He was also thinking of that ' half his salary goes to the Guild,' comment on that X1 Tomoyuki video, which he'd watched several times. What do Guilds even give you that's supposedly worth that much? Whichever the case— I'm very much not interested in being screwed, obviously.

He was sure this Ivy would be rich regardless, but— it's not even about the money—I mean it is, to an extent, but it's the principle of it. I was thinking about Force mana, he reminded himself. Let's please try to focus here. Force-mana. Okay. Let's get this.

He was standing in front of a slab of white—the very same slab he'd seen Ivy Liu using. In the menu it was under ' standard training implements,' and called a'T1 Whetslab.' The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The standard sword he'd been given was in hand. Force mana, he willed. A line of fast-flowing cerulean mana wrapped the edge of his sword, accentuating the sword's edge—it looked incredibly sharp.

Like his pure mana at first, it vanished very quickly, and it felt a little more difficult to produce than his pure mana, but— That's my second mana type of the day. Fuck yeah. He'd realized why his first tries at Force mana hadn't succeeded. At first he didn't have a clear sense of what 'Force mana' was; my Skill didn't understand what I wanted because I didn't understand what I wanted. This time when he drew his blade, and all the images he'd just seen flickered across the surface of his mind.

His attention was on his soulspace, and he felt Mana Manipulation activate in accordance with his will. It's not that I needed to know every little detail about Force mana, he'd realized. I just needed a clear enough idea to point the Skill in the right direction. There it is. Okay, now— He slashed the Whetslab with his sword. The damage indicator in the slab flickered, but stayed at 0%. A very thin, white scratch showed up on the slab's surface. 0%? He slashed again, this time with all his bodyweight. 0% -> 0. 2%.

Okay. Apparently I'm very, very weak. I'm still Level 1, to be fair, but—this is literally the least durable Whetslab they have. He'd never prided himself on his physical strength, but he still had to grin. 0. 2%. That's brutal. Goddamn. A few Class levels should fix this, right? At least a little? And maybe I can try—this. He applied a layer of that sharp Force-mana to the edge of his sword. This mana seemed to cling to the blade, which was nice.

It was a few tries before he managed to summon the Force-mana, will it to still, and then slash his sword. When he succeeded— 0. 2% -> 0. 6%. I mean, it's an improvement, he allowed. I think I'd feel a little better if it wasn't still so far under 1%. A half hour's practice, and the slab was up to 26%, and he required another rest. I feel like I'm making Force proficiency progress, at least —and this time he was sweating pretty intensely. It feels like it's progressing noticeably slower than my Pure mana.

Maybe an affinity thing? Still, another hour or so and I should have it, I think. … God, I'm out of shape. And I thought I was okay. This has to be the most I've exercised in like—half a year? I could reconfigure my per-level stat gains, and put like 50% into strength and constitution. And another 10% in endurance. And this would be fixed in like three levels. Of course I won't— it was an idle thought. But I could. Actually, maybe…? No, he decided. It's not worth it.

I'd have to rebalance my stats pretty quickly, it'd be a whole thing. I'll just deal with this for now. How is my first Class Level coming along, anyway? A quick check of his essence reserves showed it'd made slightly more progress, but it was slight; he was still likely a ways away. Because what I'm doing isn't optimal for Class Leveling, he realized, wiping away a bit more sweat. He walked over to the station tapped the towel icon—also a'standard training implement' — and went at it.

Just experimenting with spells might be fine for Skills leveling, and it adds a little for Class Levels—but Delving and Dueling wipe it away for Class Levels. But I knew that coming in. It's also probably why there's so much Dueling around, you can train your skills while you Duel, and also Level. It wouldn't surprise me if Force mana, especially, benefits from live Dueling. It is a swords-based mana type, I feel like it makes sense actually fighting helps progress it.

He considered the steel pillar next to his station. Was kind of planning on saving this until after my first Force mana proficiency level, but… maybe this can help. He tapped the menu, and then ' live simulation.' The first option presented to him was— Simulation Base Warrior, Tier 1 (F). He tapped the icon. A faceless figure appeared in the center of his station. It was all-white, with graph paper-like blue lines running through its body.

Its right hand gripped a standard steel sword which seemed an exact copy of the one the station had given him. It stayed perfectly still. The station also projected a few words before his eyes— user commands—'start,' 'freeze.' Self-explanatory, and it's safe to assume I can just 'will' these at the bot. He walked to the station, sword in tow. He halted five feet away and took in the faceless figure. It stared back blankly. He'd been thinking about this moment, actually—on the light rail, and also earlier.

Whatever it does, I won't freeze up, he said. Stay clear-headed. I'll try to keep my eyes on its chest. Also, don't underestimate my opponent. It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but he'd never actually been in what he'd consider a proper fight, and certainly not one with any kind of weaponry involved. It's impossible to avoid all the beginner mistakes, he thought. Despite his best efforts—he was realistic about that. But he'd at least try to go into this informed and clear-eyed.

Eyes on its chest, so I see all its limbs in my peripheral vision. Remember to breathe, stay loose. Okay. He positioned his sword out in front of him. In, out, in— he wasn't sure when was the right time. Three breaths, he decided. Then I'll go. One. Two. Butterflies— it's just virtual, it isn't real. Three.

'Start,' he willed. A silence.

'Start,' he willed again. Star— Its head swiveled around, and a certain tension went out of its body. Its sword flashed through the air; he caught the glimmer of light off its edge, surprisingly bright. He'd never blocked a blade, but luckily his Utility Skill worked as advertised and his blade swept up in a beautiful arc, halting the bot's blade mid-air.

It felt like exactly what it was—steel clashing against steel, with force, and the impact vibrated up his fingers, his wrist, his arm— The bot's sword whipped around, slashing at another angle— fucking light's in my eye— he slashed again, barely catching the blade. Then he felt a wrench, and he was falling forward; he clenched his teeth as his blade almost left his grip— Crunch. His head clattered off the ground with a BANG. He blinked, gasping; there was blood all over the white ground. Light glinted.

The sword swung in a violent arc—he had the wherewithal, at least, to think—' freeze.' And then he lay there, still gasping for air, blinking at the sky, a sword two feet away from decapitating him, still glinting. Blood was flowing freely from his nose, or maybe his mouth, and he swore he could still feel the reverberations in his arms—it felt like it'd tried to tear off his right arm with that last sword-move. What did it just— Its handle—pommel-thing, he realized. That's what it hit me with.

A few seconds passed, and then another few, as he lay there, still gasping.

"Excuse me?" A second passed before he recognized who was speaking. It was one of the girls in the station diagonally across from his. She held out a hand, and it took him another second to realize she was helping him up.

"Thanks," he said. The second of the girls handed him his towel.

"Are you okay?" she said.

"You hit your head pretty hard there."

"I'm fine," he said.

"Are you sure?" said the first girl, clearly concerned.

"You were lying there for two or three minutes... you know you can exit v-space if it's too much." Was it that long?

"I'll be fine, really," he said.

"I was just recovering."

"From what?"

"Bruised ego, I guess," he said, with a smile to hopefully show that really, he was fine. It's just a little cosmetic and ego-damage. The second girl—he still didn't know their names—said, "You're new, right?"

"Pretty new."

"We're new too," she said, and the other girl nodded.

"But from what the guide said, you're not really supposed to mess with dueling bots until you're at least a few weeks in. They're way more advanced than you'd think, even at Tier 1."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, also thinking— my guide definitely didn't say that.

"I can see why he'd say that."

"Also," she said.

"Do you want tips? I did Muay Thai." He paused.

"I… sure."

"You shouldn't freeze up like that," she said.

"It also helps to keep your eyes on your opponent's chest, that way you can see the strikes quicker."

"I see." If I don't kill myself tonight, I am going to become the greatest fighter of all time. The girls then left him to his devices. Which was considering the training implement before him once again. My arch nemesis, he thought, the Tier 1 training bot. He could only think of one or two silver linings—the first, that his Class Level progress had increased by almost 3x what it'd done all day in that very quick fight. The second—besides the two girls, there wasn't that much of an audience, by the looks of it.

It didn't just win, that thing absolutely beat my ass. He smiled slightly, since— What the fuck? A silence. Why didn't I think to use mana shield? At any point? I'm a Mage, and it's a Warrior, after all. Well, at least it's out of my system now. Another silence. He replayed the fight in his mind. He could still vividly recall every detail—getting clanked on the head didn't seem to affect his memory, at least—and he was understanding the aspects he couldn't recall, due to either being blinded, or hit in the face.

I see. Okay. Another half an hour passed in quiet contemplation before he picked up his sword again. He felt very clear-minded as he faced the faceless figure. Why don't we try that again. This time, a little differently.