Chương 61: Chapter 60 - Breakthrough

I woke up about four hours later, it seemed the Tier-Up had knocked me unconscious. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to empty my mind and steady my thoughts. When I stood, I realized I had fainted while still sitting in a lotus position; my legs were completely numb. I waited for the blood to flow back, then did a few light jumps and stretches to shake off the stiffness. After a few minutes of stretching, I sat down again, crossing my legs and focusing inward to sense the mana within me.

I felt the same mist of energy gathered near my heart; I could also feel a node pulsing faintly beside it. Slowly, I sensed six more: one at the crown of my head, one between my brows, one at my throat, one at my solar plexus, one near my navel, and the last at the base of my spine. They felt like closed valves. I assumed I would need to clear these seven nodes to advance to Tier 3. But I didn't try to start right away.

Now that I'd broken through, there was a chance I could access the library again, and I wanted to study first, to see if there were any proper techniques for cleansing the mana nodes. If the library didn't have what I needed, I'd ask Walter for guidance. My internal mana system wasn't something I could afford to take lightly. The next thing I did was check my status to see what had changed.

Status Mana Cultivation: Tier 1 – 50 → 100 Tier 1 → Tier 2 Class Progression: [Junior Officer (Cadet)] – Level 15 (900 / 1500 EXP) +525 XP — Night Watch +300 XP — Intelligence Report +675 XP — Fortification of Fort +400 XP — Leading Four in Fortification Effort Level 14 → Level 15 Skills [Applied Military Theory (UC)] – Level 13 → 20 [Soldier's March (C)] – Level 24 → 25 [Perceptive Instinct (UC)] – Level 5 → 6 [Minor Restoration (C)] – Level 24 → 25 [Memory Recall (UC)] – Level 12 → 18 [Basic Rune Theory (C)] – Level 20 → 25 [Siege Rigging (C)] – Level 15 → 22 [Map Reading (C)] - Level 18 → 20 Physical Attributes Constitution: 21.

9 → 22. 5 → 25. 5 Strength: 21 → 21. 5 → 24. 5 Agility: 15. 9 → 16. 2 → 19. 2 Spiritual Attributes Intelligence: 22. 6 → 24. 2 → 27. 2 Wisdom: 16. 9 → 18. 2 → 21. 2 Willpower: 12. 3 → 13. 7 → 16. 7 Name: Edward Class: Junior Officer (Cadet) Rank: Novice (T1) Level: 15 / 20 EXP: 900 / 1500 Elemental Affinity: 0. 1% Wind Mana Cultivation: Tier 2 (00 / 100) Mana Nodes: 0 / 7 HP: 255 / 255 HP Regen: 69. 2 / day MP: 684 → 1368 MP Regen: 65. 1 → 130.

2 / hr Class Skills • [Applied Military Theory (UC)] – Level 20 • [Soldier's March (C)] – Level 25* • [Defensive Spearplay (C)] – Level 25* • [Perceptive Instinct (UC)] – Level 6 • [Minor Restoration (C)] – Level 25* General Skills • [Memory Recall (UC)] – Level 18 • [Field Medicine (C)] – Level 22 • [Basic Rune Theory (C)] – Level 25* • [Siege Rigging (C)] – Level 22 • [Map Reading (C)] – Level 20 • [Mana Sensitivity (C)] – Level 25* • [Hand-to-Hand Combat (C)] – Level 25* After seeing my mana, I did a quick calculation.

It looked like my total mana had doubled beyond what it should be from stats alone, along with my mana regeneration rate. It felt… incredible. Every technique would now last twice as long. Then came the bigger surprise: all my stats had increased by three points. Reviewing my experience log again reminded me how much my class favored leadership tasks.

Five days of leading and managing conscripts had earned me 400 experience, while twenty days of trench digging and nearly the same spent drawing runes had only given me 675. Finally, I checked my skills. Most of my class skills now sat at or near their thresholds, just as I'd hoped to push them all to Uncommon before advancing my class tier. But before I could plan my next round of training, the morning delivered one more surprise, two skill upgrade notifications appeared in front of me.

Skill [Hand-to-Hand Combat (C)] available for upgrade [Hand-to-Hand Combat (C)] → [Mana Reinforcement (UC)] Type: Physical–Mana Hybrid Skill (Augmentation / Combat) Associated Attributes: Strength, Constitution, Willpower Description: [Mana Reinforcement] refines the fundamental mechanics of close-quarters combat through direct mana infusion.

Instead of relying solely on muscle tension or kinetic transfer, the user channels mana into specific muscle groups, tendons, or skeletal structures, momentarily exceeding natural limits. Effects: Localized Reinforcement: Targeted mana infusion to enhance strength or endurance. Reactive Hardening: Thin mana layer forms at impact point, reducing damage. Momentum Amplification: Converts motion into compressed mana force.

[Mana Sensitivity (C)] → [Mana Manipulation (UC)] The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Type: Core Mana Control Skill (Projection / Precision) Associated Attributes: Intelligence, Wisdom, Willpower Description: [Mana Manipulation] advances the user's connection to mana from passive awareness to active control. Through disciplined resonance between internal and ambient mana, the user learns to extend their influence beyond the body's natural boundary.

Effects: External Channeling: Allows projection of internal mana beyond the skin within a limited radius. Directed Flow: Enables shaping mana into streams or concentrated nodes for later spellcasting or reinforcement applications. This time, I didn't wait or hope for better options. These were the skills I'd been aiming for, and honestly, I wasn't even sure if anything stronger existed at this stage.

[Mana Reinforcement] had been Walter's recommendation; he'd once said it was the mark of elite, low-affinity soldiers. And [Mana Manipulation]... that was the one I'd been hoping for all along. I already had plans to experiment with it, to see how it could integrate with my other skills. I drew a long breath, feeling the pulse of mana coursing through me. For a fleeting moment, I felt like I could take on a steelbeak alone.

Then, just as quickly, I knew I'd need another sparring session with Walter to rein in that confidence. For now, I sat on my bedroll for a few quiet minutes, relishing the moment, whispering silent thanks to whatever gods this world had for placing me in the same squad as Walter. Most of my progress was because of him. His brutal training had reshaped me, pushing me to think and use my skills in creative ways. Now, with Tier 2 mana cultivation, I should be able to stand toe-to-toe with early Tier 2 beasts.

At the very least, it should increase my chances of survival when the beast tide comes. When the calm finally settled, I stood, washed my face, and gathered the intelligence reports I'd prepared. I'd spent enough time reflecting on my progress, now it was time for duty. I made my way to the command building, it had become a familiar place. Guards nodded as I passed, and a few clerks recognized me from my weekly submissions. I'd already handed my report to Sergeant Fenward yesterday.

This one was for Lieutenant Fenward. The lieutenant's office was quiet when I arrived. I was admitted after a short wait. Fenward looked up from his desk as soon as I entered. His head snapped toward me with a frown, alert, guarded. I saluted.

"Good morning, sir!"

"At ease," he said, but his brow stayed furrowed.

"Everything alright, sir?" I asked, unsure what had drawn that look.

"Yeah… you have the report?" His eyes didn't leave me.

"Yes, sir." I passed it over. He set the report aside but kept eyeing me, as if trying to figure something out. It was unusual, Lieutenant Fenward had always been fair with me. He was the one who'd suggested I approach Walter, which eventually led to our training sessions. He'd also shown my runes to the Rune-Master, allowing me to etch independently on the trenches, and had recently granted me authority over the conscripts. But right now, he looked distant and thoughtful.

"Sir," I said, trying to ignore his expression and focus on what I'd been meaning to ask for the past few days.

"If it's not rude, I wanted to ask about my next assignment. The sapper work should finish in about two months, leaving another two before the beast tide. I'd like to request additional training, specifically in field medicine. My specialization from Stonegate only covers healing for Tier 1 and early Tier 2. I can't treat higher-tier injuries effectively, and that could make a real difference during the siege."

I'd asked Walter once during our training why he'd refused the healing paste I made after our fight with the Steelbeaks. He told me it wasn't that the paste was weak, it was that his mana, as a high Tier 2, was already strong enough to accelerate healing on its own. My mixture's effects would've been negligible. He shook his head.

"No. To heal someone at Tier 3, you'd need at least Tier 2 mana cultivation."

"Oh," I said, realizing the irony.

"Sorry for not reporting it earlier, sir. That was next on my list… but I broke through to Tier 2 this morning." Fenward froze. Then, for the first time since I'd known him, he stood abruptly.

"So that's what I was feeling…" he muttered under his breath.

"You really broke through?" he asked again, his tone shifting, part disbelief, part relief.

"Yes, sir." His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, studying. Then he straightened.

"Wait outside. I need to verify something with the Captain." He gestured toward the hall, already reaching for his cloak.

"Yes, sir." We stepped out together. He closed his office door behind him and walked off without another word. I sat waiting. Minutes passed. Then tens of them. I tried not to think, but my mind, refused to cooperate. Had I done something wrong? Could breaking through without reporting it count as a breach of protocol? Would I be court-martialed? Would they strip my rank? Reassign me?

By the thirtieth minute, I was imagining absurd futures, living in disgrace in some small town, unable to find a reputable job because of a court-martial, barred from any proper posting. Fort clerks passed by occasionally, glancing at me. The more they looked, the harder it became to breathe. Finally, after about forty-five minutes, the lieutenant returned. He stopped in front of me, his expression conflicted, half amusement, half fatigue.

"I had to confirm a few things about you," he said finally.

"Sir?" Fenward shook his head, exhaling through his nose.

"I'm still deciding if you're exceptionally gifted or just reckless enough to survive your own luck." He crossed his arms, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at his mouth.

"I come from a minor noble family, Cadet. I've seen prodigies, but I've never seen anyone break through to Tier 2 this young. That makes you gifted, but doing it without supervision makes you dangerously reckless." His tone hardened again.

"Listen carefully. If your mana cultivation rises too far above your class tier, you risk crippling your internal mana system. You could die, or worse, end up as powerless as the unawakened. Don't cultivate any further until your class advances to Tier 2. That's an order."

"Yes, sir," I said quickly. A cold realization settled over me. After being called a scholar so many times in the last year and a half, and comforting myself with extra knowledge whenever I fell behind physically, I had convinced myself that I was the most knowledgeable in the room, and forgotten that books could never replace real experience. I should have asked Walter, or someone, when my mana cultivation reached a hundred… maybe even before that.

Maybe Lieutenant Fenward noticed the worry on my face, because his expression softened.

"Still… congratulations on the breakthrough. You've earned it."

"Thank you, sir."

"As for your request, advanced healing training isn't feasible for now. The Rune-Master has already requested your reassignment once the trench work concludes. However, the Captain has granted limited access: one full day in the library, use it to study review material on healing, and three days in the medical unit. I'll inform the doctor to answer your questions personally. You can collect your meditation technique from the library as well, but again, do not cultivate before your class reaches Tier 2."

He straightened.

"Dismissed."

"Yes, sir." I saluted and stepped out, my mind still reeling. But I was grateful the lieutenant had given me a chance to expand my healing knowledge, and I couldn't bring myself to be disappointed about being assigned to rune work. Healing was a matter of survival, but my interest in runes had never faded.