Chapter 9: Growth through effort

The morning air was crisp as Jin stepped onto the training field, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms. Today, he would refine his combat skills, starting with something he had practiced for years—Karatedo.

Slipping into a familiar stance, he began running through the fundamental movements. Punches, kicks, stances—each action carried the muscle memory of his past life. The satisfying thud of his strikes against a sturdy tree trunk echoed through the clearing. But as fluid as his movements were, he knew that Karate alone wasn't enough. In a world where magic and monsters existed, versatility was key.

His mind drifted back to the many videos he had watched on XTube about Aikido. He had never practiced it seriously, but the concepts fascinated him—the way practitioners used an opponent's momentum against them. He tried to recall the movements, mimicking the way they redirected force and turned attacks back on their source.

It wasn't perfect. He fumbled, lost balance, and more than once, nearly tripped over his own feet. But with each attempt, he learned. If he could refine this, it might give him an edge in combat beyond sheer strength.

By the time noon arrived, his body ached, but his spirit burned with excitement. He wiped sweat from his brow and let out a breath. "Not bad for a start."

After lunch, Jin turned his attention to something new—archery.

He had crafted a simple wooden bow a day prior, along with arrows tipped with crude iron heads. It wasn't much, but it would do for now. Finding a suitable target, he knocked an arrow and pulled the string back, feeling the tension in his arms.

Exhale… steady… release.

The arrow flew, but it veered slightly off course, embedding itself into a tree just shy of the target. Frowning, he adjusted his stance and tried again. Shot after shot, he refined his aim, learning to compensate for wind, distance, and the weight of the arrows.

As the sun began to dip, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

Skill Acquired: Far Sight

Effect: Enhances long-distance vision, allowing for greater accuracy in ranged combat.

Jin's eyes widened as his vision momentarily sharpened, details in the distance becoming clearer. A grin spread across his face. "Now this is useful."

Dinner was a quiet affair, his mind still buzzing with thoughts of his progress. But one thing still troubled him—magic. He had no idea how to train it. Sure, he had used magic in practical ways, but was that enough to improve it?

Sitting by the fire, he decided to try something different—meditation. If magic was tied to his internal energy, perhaps focusing his mind could help him control it better.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and took deep, slow breaths. At first, nothing happened. His mind wandered, thoughts drifting in and out. But as he focused on the feeling of mana within him, he began to sense it—a faint pulse, like a quiet heartbeat.

Minutes passed. Then hours. And then—

Skill Acquired: Mana Concentration

Effect: Allows passive mana regeneration over time and increases the user's mana pool.

Jin opened his eyes, excitement flaring within him. This was exactly what he needed. Now, he had a way to build his magical reserves and recover faster.

Satisfied, he stretched and made his way to bed. But just as he was about to close his eyes—

Skill Acquired: Night Vision

Effect: Enhances vision in darkness, allowing the user to see clearly even in low-light conditions.

Jin blinked. He hadn't even been trying to gain a skill this time, yet it made perfect sense. The nights here were far darker than anything he had experienced on Earth. His eyes had adapted to survive.

Lying back, he couldn't help but chuckle. Every day, he was growing stronger. And this was just his first week passing by.

With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, ready to face whatever came next.