Advancement

Jay sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes shut, his breathing steady as he entered a meditative state.

A faint hum of energy pulsed inside him, the energy swirling in his body part like unruly rivers.

After feeling the energy inside his body Jay was perplexed, as how easily he entered inside his body, and how easily he found the energy.

It was too easy, not that Jay didn't like it, but quite contrary he was happy. Forcing these thoughts aside, he focuses on collecting this energy particles on one place.

'I am going to gather it below my heart' Jay thought as he starts pulling small particles one at time.

Bit by bit, he began to pull it from his limbs, organs, and muscles, dragging every stray particle toward a single point, right below his heart.

It was an exhausting process, like trying to stuff hundreds of marbles inside a jar, but you can only hold one marble at a time.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, but Jay didn't falter.

One hour later,

Jay finally gathered all the energy particles on point, 'now the hardest part.' When all the energy was gathered, the pressure grew intense, he feels like a bomb which was about to explode.

'Quick, I have to hurry' he thoughts although Astrid didn't mention this, but Jay knew hold compressed energy is like holding a grenade without pin, one mistake and boom. He will die again.

He visualized the compressed energy as a big lake, forming it in threads. One by one, he released them from the point and began guiding them through his body. The first stream surged down his arms, filling his muscles with new strength.

He clenched his fist as the energy flowed through him, as testing the new power in his arm. 'This feels good, I can't wait to punch some goblins' he thought

Next, Jay channeled another thread of mana to his legs. They felt heavier for a moment, as somethings were placed on them, but soon this feeling subsided, leaving him feeling like he can kill a person with a single kick.

More threads spread form the point to his chest, lungs and heart, he a sharp stinging pain for a movement and just like before it also subsided after few movements.

Increasing his vitality and stamina. Each time the mana settled, it left behind a lingering sense of power, as if every fiber of his body had been rebuilt stronger, faster, better.

Now only one place remains, he increased his focus, tried to not think anything.

He guided the final stream through his head, for a movement everything turns blank, he was feeling anything, every sensation in his body disappeared before he returned to normal next second. The energy increased his senses and enhance his awareness.

His breathing eased, becoming smoother. The exhaustion from the earlier battle faded as mana filled every part of his being, refreshing it.

The moment the last thread settled into place, a ripple of power ran through him. His whole body vibrated, as if responding to some unseen change. His aura grew denser, sharper.

Jay exhaled slowly, opening his eyes, his eyes were glowing blue. His muscles felt lighter, and his senses sharper.

He stood up, stretching his limbs, crackling sound came from his muscles, a satisfied smile was plastered on his lips.

"AAAhhh... Mumm! Finally, E-Rank, Now I can use my abi…" before Jay can finished what he wants to say, a spray of water hit him in his face.

"What are you doing?" Jay shouted 'Did she just ruin my movement after advancement' Jay thought

"You smell bad you know" she said scrunching her nose.

(Sniff)

"Ugh," "Gross, why I didn't smell this" Jay said as he covered his nose.

"Sit here I will help you" Astrid said as she conjures more water out of nowhere.

"Amazing, so what is this, an ability or a skill" he asked, siting on the ground as Astrid poured water on his head from a distance, "Oh, this, this is a skill called 'Minor Water manipulation' a F-Rank skill" she replied "And I don't have an Ability" she spoke as a disappointed looked appeared on her face.

Jay felt bad for asked this so he tried to change the subject, "Say Astrid, now that I am an E-Ranker, how do I advance from here?"

"Haha, you just became a E-Ranker and now you are already thinking about advancing" she replied with a laugh, Jay felt good when her disappointed look disappeared from her face.

"Well since you asked, I going to tell you. To advance from E-Rank, you must possess a cultivation manual." When she talked about this, she looked angry.

"Where do I get cultivation manual?" Jay asked looking at her curiously, "Well, for people like us it's close to impossible to get a cultivation manual" she spoke angerly.

"But why?" Jay asked without reading the room and splash a big water ball hit him in his face. "Why don't you focus on cleaning yourself" she shouted.

"Ok I will clean myself properly" Jay said with a smile as he starts undressing, till now he was only washing his arms, legs and face.

"W-Why are you undressing" she asked flushed. "Didn't you said I should clean my self properly" Jay replied smiling.

…

Jay finished cleaning himself, without completely undressing, he only removed his shirt, showcasing this toned muscles.

After using water magic, she used Air magic and dried him making the smell disappeared.

"You have affinity with two elements" suddenly Jay asked, "Well, I not a genius to have affinity with six elements" she replied sarcastically.

'Why do I feel like she is on her periods today' he thought as he waited for his clothes to dry.

'So many things happened in Just two days, first death, then transmigration. Then being chased by zombie, now that I think about this, did I really run like a child.'

'Oh, how embarrassing, at least I shouldn't have scream like a child right. Well, bygones are bygones.'

'Then I met her' his face unconsciously turned to Astrid who was using her wind magic to dry his shirt and a smile appeared on his face 'I must make her mine'

Suddenly a thought came in his mind 'I wonder who is the owner of this body?'

…

Thousands of kilometers away inside a lavish room a man's angry voice resounded "Useless, you still didn't find him"

(AN: I have update chapter slice of life, so if you want you can check it out.

Thank you @Mystical_Watcher)