chapter 33– Progress and Reflection
Morning Resolve
The crisp morning air filled Alden's lungs as he exhaled slowly, stretching his body. The academy grounds were quiet at this hour, most students still buried under their blankets.
Not him, though.
With his new training weights strapped to his limbs, he dashed through the academy's outer training track, each step sinking slightly into the ground. The resistance forced his muscles to adapt, reinforcing his body's newfound strength.
His recent power-ups had boosted his abilities, but his body still struggled to adjust.
"Damn… my agility's improving, but my balance still feels off."
A white blur shifted on his shoulder.
Shiranui, the newly hatched Celestial Nine-Tailed Beast, rested lazily, her nine tails draped over him like a regal mantle. She watched his struggles with thinly veiled amusement.
[Hah. Perhaps you should have been born a tortoise instead.]
Alden scoffed, picking up his pace. "Says the fox who slept for centuries."
Shiranui yawned. [That was a divine slumber. You, however, are simply slow.]
He ignored her taunts and pushed forward, muscles burning as he completed his third lap. He finally came to a stop, rolling his shoulders and catching his breath. His increased mana circulation from the purification potion had expanded his stamina pool, but it still wasn't enough.
He glanced at his smartwatch.
Still early.
Alden cracked his neck and pulled up his Status Window.
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[Status Window]
Name: Alden Blackwood
Race: Human
Rank: D-
Mana Capacity: D-
Affinities: None
Physique: Enhanced (Due to Purification)
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Basic Stats
Strength: E
Agility: E+
Intelligence: C+
Mana: E+
Stamina: E
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Skills
⟪ Eclipse Vision ⟫
Illusions & Mind Control – Can trap enemies in illusions or briefly control weak minds.
Enhanced Perception – Slows down time perception, improving reaction speed and battle awareness.
⟪ Mana Manipulation (Intermediate) ⟫
Allows precise control over mana flow and circulation.
⟪ Stealth (Intermediate) ⟫
Further reduces presence and sound of movement, allowing for near-invisibility in low-light environments.
⟪ Voidstep (Trait) ⟫
Phasing: Allows the user to phase through objects and enter a personal pocket dimension.
Teleportation: The user can step through space itself, vanishing and reappearing at will.
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Weapon Arts
⟪ Five Forms of the Crimson Moon (5-Star) ⟫ [1/5 Unlocked]
First Form: Lunar Severance – A devastating single slash that cuts through mana defenses.
⟪ Shadow Fang Dagger Art (3-Star) ⟫ [25% Proficiency]
A fast, deceptive dagger art specialized in speed and misdirection.
⟪ Phantom Edge Sword (2-Star) ⟫ [65% Proficiency]
A technique focused on precise, unpredictable slashes.
⟪ Swift Blade Style (2-Star) ⟫ [60% Proficiency]
A quick, balanced sword art designed for rapid attacks.
⟪ Shadow Step Footwork (2-Star) ⟫ [80% Proficiency] (Copied using Eclipse Vision)
Enhances movement speed and allows quick dodges.
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Beast Companion
⟪ Shiranui (Celestial Nine-Tailed Beast) – Rank Unknown ⟫
A mythical creature capable of wielding pure mana as a weapon.
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Alden clenched his fists. His progress was undeniable.
But it still wasn't enough.
His weapon arts were advancing, but Crimson Moon's second form was still locked. Unlocking higher-rank techniques took exponentially greater effort.
A 1-star technique could be mastered in weeks. A 2-star technique in months.
But a 5-star technique? That could take years—unless he found a shortcut.
Shiranui flicked her tails. [What's with the serious face?]
"Thinking about how hard it is to level up weapon arts."
[Of course it is. Power should not come easily. Otherwise, what would separate the strong from the weak?]
Alden smirked. "Spoken like a true fox-god."
She huffed, but didn't deny it.
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Next Goals:
✅ Break through to D-Rank (Achieved!)
◻ Unlock the second form of Crimson Moon.
◻ Master Shadow Fang Dagger Art.
◻ Uncover the truth behind Shiranui's existence.
Because if this Celestial Nine-Tails wasn't part of the original game lore, then something had changed.
And that meant the future was no longer predictable.
Stretching one last time, he turned toward the academy's training hall.
Time to train.