chapter 25

Finn woke up submerged in the medicinal bath, feeling an unprecedented sense of rejuvenation. As he surfaced and took a deep breath, he marveled at the invigorating sensation that coursed through his body. Glancing at the system indicator on the bath, he noted it was labeled S-grade mortal medicinal bath. This was his first experience with an S-grade bath, and the effects were extraordinary. Every ache and pain had vanished, replaced by a sense of invigoration and clarity.

He could still sense the spiritual energy around him, but there was something else as well. It felt like he could vaguely meld his intent into his fists. He tried a few times to harness this newfound ability, but unlike during the heat of battle, it didn't come instinctively. Finn was eager to practice and refine this skill.

A small alert flashed in the corner of his vision, drawing his attention. He focused on it, and a message appeared:

**Welcome to the Cultivation System**

Finn hummed thoughtfully. The message didn't provide much information, but as he probed further, he found an option menu for "status" with no other choices available. He mentally selected "status."

The status screen appeared before him, detailing his current attributes and abilities:

---

**Name:** Finn

**Race:** Human

**Race Grade:** F

**Cultivation Technique:** None

**Cultivation Level:** Energy Absorption: Low

**Physique:** Mortal

**Efficiency:** 127%

**Affinities:**

- Fist (Martial): Solid 3

**Sub-Affinities:**

None

**Attributes:**

- **Strength:** 9.07

- **Constitution:** 9.07

- **Dexterity:** 7.55

- **Agility:** 7.55

- **Perception:** 6.04

- **Discipline:** 9.06

- **Intelligence:** 6.04

- **Wisdom:** 7.04

---

Finn studied the information intently. His race was graded F, but his affinity for the Fist was solid, at level 3. This gave him hope and motivation. The other attributes were mostly what he expected, though he noted that his strength and constitution were higher than his dexterity and agility, Finn had always felt he was. But quicker than stronger. Weird.

Efficiency, he remembered, was the stat for which he had endured excruciating pain to raise. It must be a pretty important stat, he thought.

His heart swelled with determination. Despite the challenges and the relentless training, he had managed to develop a significant affinity for the Fist, Finn was curious about sub affinities. This was something he could build on, something that could set him apart.

He focused on his surroundings, feeling the spiritual energy and attempting to channel it into his fists once more. The sensation was faint, but it was there. He just needed more practice, more control.

Determined to improve, Finn climbed out of the bath and got dressed. The school had been relentless, and he knew the challenges ahead would be even greater. But he was ready. The battles, the pain, the exhaustion—they were all stepping stones on his path to mastery.

As he prepared to leave the room, a system message appeared:

**Gather in the main coliseum where you first arrived at the school.**

Finn nodded to himself, feeling the fire of determination burn within. He was ready for whatever came next. He would face it head-on, with fists clenched and spirit unyielding.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a note on the edge of his bath. Curious, he opened it. The handwriting was strange, but through the system's translation, he could read it clearly:

**Try not to depend on your fist intent, especially against those who don't have intent.**

"Hmm," Finn thought, "since the system is translating it, it's pretty legit."

Finn decided he would heed the advice. Pushing his limits without relying too heavily on his newfound ability made sense. He folded the note carefully and put it away.

As he stepped out of his room, ready to head to the coliseum, Finn felt a surge of confidence. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, not just with his fists, but with his mind and spirit as well.

Looking around, Finn saw the others beginning to stir and get out of their baths. He walked over to the medallion to order some gruel, feeling his stomach growl.

Surprisingly there more options than gruel available, Finn was relieved. He was so tired of gruel.

The options displayed included gruel, low-value meals, mid-value meals, and high-value meals, each with their respective merit point costs.

Gruel was free, low-value meals cost 5 points, mid-value meals cost 10 points, and high-value meals were 20 points. Checking his balance, Finn saw he had 100 merit points. "Hmm," he thought, "tired of gruel but not wanting to spend 20% of his points in one go, he decided to order the mid-value meal."

Ten minutes later, Derek arrived with a tray, delivering a balanced meal with a decent effect. The food looked appealing, a stark contrast to the bland gruel they had been eating. Derek paused before leaving to inform the group, "The reward for the battle is that hell week is officially over. Real classes will begin today"

As Finn sat at the table, the others looked at his food with a mix of curiosity and envy. Finn took his first bite, savoring the flavors. The food was delicious, a welcome change from the monotonous gruel.

Soon, Derek returned with three more meals. Lyrian's and Zorak's meals were similar to Finn's, but Mountain Ridge grinned as he received a high-value meal. The dish was more elaborate, with richly cooked meat, fresh vegetables, and fragrant spices.

Finn noticed that the energy he could vaguely sense was definitely present in the food, though very minorly. It seemed to enhance the meal's nourishing effects, making it not just filling but also invigorating.

As they ate, the group felt the weight of their fatigue begin to lift. The food seemed to restore their energy and heal their minor wounds, a testament to the quality of the meals and the mysterious energy infused within them.

"This is amazing," Finn said between bites. "I didn't realize how much better the food could be."

Lyrian nodded in agreement. "It's definitely a step up from the gruel."

Mountain Ridge, enjoying his high-value meal, chuckled. "Worth every point."

The group continued to eat in relative silence, each lost in their thoughts about the upcoming real classes. The promise of structured learning and training brought a mix of anticipation and anxiety. They had survived hell week, but they knew the road ahead would be no less challenging.

Finn finished his meal, feeling more energized than he had in days. He glanced at the note he had received earlier, pondering its advice. Try not to depend on your fist intent. It was sound advice, and he decided to take it to heart. He would push his limits, rely on his own strength and skill, and continue to grow stronger.

As the group finished their meals and prepared to head to the coliseum. Finn couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement for the future. They were entering a new phase of their training, one that promised to be both rigorous and rewarding. With determination in his heart and his newfound abilities, Finn was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.