NOVEL NEXT Chapter 59: Brutal Training [Part 3]
Warlock Ch 59. Brutal Training [Part 3]
Damian groaned, pushing himself up into a sitting position. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain. The battle had been brutal, but there was a strange sense of accomplishment settling in his chest. He had faced an impossible task—and somehow, against all odds, he had come out on top.
Damian pulled up his status screen again, his eyes lingering on the stats that had jumped since his level-up.
Mana Power: B
Stamina: B
Endurance: B
Strength: B+
Agility: A
Magic Affinity: B+
His stat growth was impressive—far beyond what he had expected for someone at his level.
Damian frowned, tilting his head as he studied the screen. "I'm confused," he admitted, glancing at Cassius. "Why are most of my stats at B or higher when I'm still just a low-level warlock?"
Cassius met his gaze, his arms crossed. "Status is different from level," he explained, his voice as calm and patient as ever. "Status reflects your potential—the raw ability within you and how far you can expand your skills and power. Your level, on the other hand, reflects your current strength."
Damian blinked, trying to wrap his mind around the distinction. "So... status is like my ceiling, and my level is where I'm at now?"
Cassius nodded. "Exactly. Your stats show your potential to grow, but your level indicates your current strength and experience. Think of it as the difference between someone who's naturally gifted and someone who has trained for years. The gifted person might have higher potential, but they still need to put in the work to reach it."
Damian scratched his head, still feeling a bit confused. "But... if my status shows potential, why doesn't my system show any ranks?"
Cassius raised an eyebrow. "Your system doesn't display rank?"
Damian shook his head. "Nope. I've got levels, stats, skills—but no rank."
Cassius sighed, looking almost disappointed. "Then you're currently ranked worse than F."
Damian flinched. "Wait, what? Worse than F? That's... like, garbage tier!"
Cassius's expression remained neutral. "If your system doesn't show rank, it means you haven't reached the point where your abilities are stable enough to be ranked. Your potential might be high, but your control and mastery are still lacking."
Damian groaned again, rubbing his temples. "Great. So, I'm basically a powerhouse with no control."
"Essentially. That's what makes you a nice target for evil warlocks," Cassius said with a small shrug. "Which is why you're here. You need to learn how to harness that potential, or you'll never be able to reach the heights your stats suggest."
Damian leaned back, staring at the ceiling. He had power—more than most warlocks at his level—but it felt like there was always something missing. Something he couldn't quite grasp.
After a moment of silence, Damian sat up again and looked at Cassius, curiosity getting the better of him. "Do other people have systems like mine?" he asked.
Cassius's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something—something Damian couldn't quite place—behind his gaze. But when he spoke, his tone was as even as ever. "No," he said simply. "Your system is unique."
Damian blinked, surprised. "Unique? Why?"
Cassius crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Your Mana Core is special. That's all I can say."
'Special?' Damian opened his mouth to press for more information, but Cassius's expression made it clear that was all he was going to get for now.
"Great," Damian muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So, I've got a special Mana Core, a system no one else has, and I'm ranked worse than F. Perfect."
Cassius ignored his sarcasm, turning toward the center of the room. "You've made progress today," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "But you're still far from ready."
Damian couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Yeah, I figured that much. What's next? You gonna throw me against a level 50 boss now?"
Cassius's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. "Not yet. You're not ready for that."
Damian snorted. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."
Cassius ignored the jab, his gaze shifting to Fenrith, who was still standing tall beside Damian, his three heads growling softly as they surveyed the room. "Fenrith has also grown stronger," Cassius noted, his eyes glinting with interest. "You two are forming a great bond."
Damian glanced at Fenrith, who gave him a look that almost seemed... proud. "Yeah," Damian muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips. "We're getting there."
Cassius turned back to Damian, his expression serious once more. "Remember, Damian," he said, his voice low and firm. "Power is useless without control. You've unlocked a great deal of potential, but without mastery, that potential is meaningless. The more you grow, the more dangerous your power becomes—not just to others, but to yourself."
Damian swallowed, feeling Cassius's words settle heavily on his shoulders. He knew the man was right. His power—his system—was a gift, but it was also a burden. And if he didn't learn how to control it, it could destroy him. The weight of it pressed down on his chest, a constant reminder that every step forward meant another step closer to either greatness or disaster.
He glanced at Cassius. The man seemed unaffected by everything, as though he'd seen this kind of power struggle a thousand times before. And maybe he had. Still, Damian couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing at the edge of something monumental—something dangerous.
"Oh right, how about my HP and Mana points?" Damian asked, breaking the silence. "I mean, I have Mana Power, sure, but I'm not sure what that is."
Cassius frowned, clearly unimpressed with the question. "Your Mana Power is your Mana points," he replied with a hint of annoyance. "Mages can regenerate Mana, but there's no 'exact number' for it. Didn't Evelyn already explain this to you?"
Damian scratched the back of his head, feeling a little stupid for asking. "A bit, but... I'm used to seeing exact numbers. Like in the game. It's like... a resource I manage."