NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Grinding
"Thank you, Instructor. I'm grateful for your guidance," Kyle said with respect, cupping his hands and lowering his back for a formal bow.
Dan chuckled warmly, waving off his formality. "No problem, Kyle. Care for a meal before you return?"
'A meal? Heck, yeah!' Kyle's eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly.
'I might even take something special like the water I had before,' he thought, a sly grin creeping onto his lips.
***
A few minutes later, Kyle and Dan sat across from each other at the dining table, eating their respective meals. Kyle had been hoping for something exciting, but much to his dismay, Dan refused to offer him anything more than a Tier-0 meal.
Meanwhile, Dan indulged himself in a mana-rich feast.
Kyle could sense the mana and pressure being emitted from the meal across the table, and it only served to deepen his envy.
He played with the simple steak on his plate, pushing it around with his fork as his eyes greedily followed Dan's fork dipping into a rich, glistening mana-infused stew.
"Don't play with your food, Kyle," Dan teased, noticing the longing in his student's eyes.
"But... Why can't I have that?" Kyle finally blurted out, unable to hide his disappointment. His expression shifted into one of exaggerated sadness, hoping to touch to Dan's generosity.
Dan smiled knowingly, shaking his head. "We instructors can't provide students with cultivation resources... at least not until you're allowed to keep personal Instructors. It's part of the academy's rules, Kyle."
"Hmph." Kyle grumbled softly, giving up. He knew arguing wouldn't get him anywhere. He reluctantly took a bite of his plain steak, chewing with a grumpy expression.
As they ate, Kyle used his inspect on Dan.
[Name: Dan Hubbard]
[Affinity: Wind]
He decided to check his own progress, quickly pulling up his stats as he chewed on his meal.
[Sword Intent Mastery: 22.20%]
Kyle's eyes widened slightly. 'It improved a lot… As expected,' he thought, satisfied with his progress. 'I wonder what happens when it reaches 100.'
"Uhm, Instructor," Kyle began cautiously, lowering his head a bit as if to avoid eye contact, "General Weapon Training Class and History Class... they're not really proving useful to me. Would there be any issue if I skipped them?"
Kyle's voice trailed off as he quickly glanced up, trying to gauge Dan's expression. His instructor had been understanding so far, but this was a bit more audacious.
Dan leaned back in his chair, considering the question before responding. "Well… It's your choice, Kyle. The students might not know this yet, but those classes aren't compulsory. However," he added with a raised finger, "I'll warn you—don't underestimate any class. You never know what you might learn. Even in History or Weapon Training, there could be something that changes your perspective."
Kyle grinned internally, pleased by the response. 'Yess!' he celebrated quietly. Dan's advice was solid, but Kyle already had his own plans. He wasn't going to skip entirely—just on the days when he felt like he could be doing something more productive.
The rest of their meal passed in relative silence. Once Kyle finished the last of his meal, he thanked Dan once again and excused himself, heading back to his dormitory.
As soon as he returned, Kyle collapsed onto his bed. He was tired, but not in the physical sense—his mind felt heavy with all the things he needed to focus on. Tomorrow was a 'free day,' meaning no classes or mandatory training sessions.
'Tomorrow… I'll break through,' he decided, his eyes fluttering shut. It was time to push his limits. No distractions, no holding back.
He didn't set any alarms. There was no need. His body would rest for as long as it needed, and when he woke up, he would be ready.
***
The night passed quickly, and Kyle woke to the soft glow of sunlight spilling through the curtains of his dorm room. He stretched lazily, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction as his body felt perfectly rejuvenated, free of the aches and soreness from the previous day.
9:12 AM. He noticed the time from his comm.
'Perfect,' Kyle thought as he rolled out of bed and stretched his limbs. His muscles felt loose, ready for action. 'Let's grind.'
He began his day as usual, slipping into his running shoes and stepping out of his dorm for a few laps around the academy grounds. What started as a daily quest had now become a routine— a habit that he couldn't shake off.
After a solid run, he made a quick stop at the cafeteria for breakfast, where he found the hall empty.
'They were most likely in class.'
He took his food quickly and made his way back to his dormitory for a bath.
By 10:03 AM, Kyle had finished his preparations. He sat on the floor, assuming a lotus position, his breathing steady as he began to focus inward.
The world outside fell away. His mind cleared of all distractions, and Kyle felt the familiar pull of mana surrounding him. His body and spirit aligned as he drew it in, circulating the energy through his core.
[EXP +1]
[EXP +1]
...
Hours passed in the blink of an eye.
***
By 12:00 PM, Kyle's energy was beginning to wane.
[Energy: 20/36]
[EXP: 501/1000]
[Congratulations! You have completed your daily quest]
[You have obtained 1 STR point]
[STR: 34 >> 35]
Kyle took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. The cultivation was slow going, even though he knew that this pace was still considered impressive by most standards.
'Why does cultivation have to be so slow?' Kyle sighed internally, lying back on his bed to recover his energy.
He reflected for a moment, thinking back to his time at Yurigur. Back then, he had to spend a month in seclusion to break through two initial minor realms. In comparison, he was very fast here.
After a short rest, Kyle sat up and resumed his cultivation, determined to push himself further. The cycle repeated—two hours of focused cultivation, followed by short breaks to regain his energy.
***
11:11 PM. Kyle felt a surge of power course through him.
[Energy: 9/36]
[EXP: 1000/1000]
[Congratulations! You have Leveled Up!]
[Beginner Mage: Lv 1 >> Lv 2]
[All stats: +10]
————————
Beginner Mage: Lv 2
EXP: 0/2000
HP: 50
Energy: 56
MP: -
Agility: 40
Strength: 44
Vitality: 25
Stamina: 28
Intelligence: 30
SP: 0
[Elements]
[Skills]
————————
"Finally!!" Kyle screamed in triumph, unable to contain his excitement. He immediately collapsed onto the floor, physically and mentally drained but utterly satisfied.