The slums were quieter by the time Lucas returned—quiet not because peace had settled, but because fear ruled the night. Past sunset, people hid inside what remained of their homes, terrified of what prowled through the unlit streets: gangs, desperate thieves, and occasionally, small mana beasts that slipped through cracks in the outer walls of the district.
Lucas pushed open the door to his shack and closed it quickly behind him.
The moment he stepped inside, exhaustion crashed into him like a wave. He leaned against the wall, sliding down slowly until he sat on the cold, splintered floorboards.
Every inch of his body screamed.
His legs trembled.
His arms shook.
His chest burned.
His throat felt raw.
He had used qi-like body reinforcement without any proper training, and the cost was showing.
"…Mana backlash," he whispered.
In Eldorin, using mana without conditioning was like burning paper with fire—it gave light for a moment, then destroyed itself. His body wasn't made for these sudden bursts yet.
He clenched his teeth as another ripple of pain shot up his arm.
"Status."
A blue panel shimmered into view.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Strength: 3
Agility: 5
Perception: 7
Vitality: 5
Mana: 2
Condition:
Minor Mana Exhaustion (Duration: 6 hours)
Muscle Strain (Mild)
Physical Fatigue (High)
Not bad.
He survived his first ruin exploration.
He gained Vitality.
He unlocked Mana Control.
And most importantly— He didn't die.
Lucas swallowed and forced his breathing to slow. Everything hurt… but pain meant he was alive.
After several minutes, when the aches dulled, Lucas moved to the corner where he kept his few possessions: a threadbare blanket, a cracked cup, and an empty wooden crate he used as a shelf.
He reached into his shirt and pulled out the damaged mana shard he found earlier—its crystal dim but still glimmering faintly with power.
He held it up to the moonlight slipping through cracks in the roof.
"…One of these is enough to push me forward. If I find more…"
He stopped. He remembered something—something the novel had mentioned only vaguely.
Mana shards come from dead monsters or mana-rich ruins. But in Eldorin, shards found outside of monster zones meant…something moved them.
Someone had been here before. Someone strong enough to kill a monster inside this ruin's outskirts.
His gaze flicked to the faint Starlight Emblem he found on the wall.
"…Did my parents come here?"
The thought lingered like a ghost. But he shook his head.
"No. Not yet. I can't touch that mystery until I'm stronger."
Answers could wait. Survival could not.
A Night of Pain, A Morning of Resolve Lucas curled up under the thin blanket that barely kept out the cold.
Sleep didn't come easily—memories of Earth flickered in his dreams, mixing with Lucas Starlight's past.
Hospitals.
Needles.
Chemo burns.
Slum fights.
Hunger.
Dying twice.
When morning finally arrived, Lucas woke with a gasp, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Another panel greeted him immediately.
[Condition Improved]
Mana Exhaustion: Cleared
Fatigue: Moderate
Muscle Strain: Mild
His body still felt stiff, but alive.
He sat up slowly and stretched his arms. Pain flared sharply, but his Vitality stat helped it fade after a few seconds.
Lucas nodded to himself.
"Day two... Training starts today."
He grabbed a cracked cup, filled it with well water from outside, and drank. It tasted like dirt and rust, but he forced himself to swallow.
He needed nutrition.
He needed strength.
He needed a body that wouldn't collapse after a single dash.
He stepped outside.
The slum streets were already bustling—kids running, merchants shouting, thieves sneaking.
Lucas navigated the maze of broken buildings until he reached a small open area near the outer district wall.
A place where slum children practiced throwing stones at targets.
A place with enough open space to begin training.
Lucas exhaled.
Day One Training: Breaking Weakness He set a routine. Because without structure, Lucas Starlight would never reach the Academy.
Lucas placed a stone on the ground.
"Training regimen:
Basic stretches
Running technique
Body strengthening
Sword form practice
Mana breathing
Meditation
Repeat."
He started with stretches.
His muscles protested violently. His body felt like a collection of wires ready to snap. But he pushed through the pain inch by inch.
Taro approached at some point, wide-eyed. "You're training? Here? Now?"
Lucas didn't stop moving. "Yes."
Taro scratched his head. "But your arms are shaking."
"They'll shake less tomorrow."
"What if you faint?"
"Then I get up."
Taro blinked. "Why?"
Lucas finally paused long enough to answer. "…Because I don't want to die in this place."
Taro opened his mouth, speechless.
Then he quietly placed a small chunk of bread beside Lucas and left, not saying another word.
Lucas's chest warmed slightly. "Thanks."
He continued stretching until his muscles loosened slightly.
Then he began running. His legs wobbled. He nearly tripped three times. His breath came harshly.
But he didn't stop. The slum kids stared as the weak, skinny boy ran laps around the broken fountain, sweat dripping, face pale, but eyes burning with determination.
Five laps turned to ten. Ten turned to fifteen.
His lungs burned.
His vision blurred.
His knees shook violently.
But he ran until he collapsed, grasping the fountain stone.
The system chimed.
[Physical Activity Detected]
Stamina Increased: +1
Vitality +0.1
Lucas lay on his back, chest heaving.
"…This… system really rewards effort."
Pain was temporary. Growth was permanent.
Body Strengthening
Once his breath steadied, Lucas began push-ups.
One.
Two.
Three.
His arms trembled violently by the fourth. He collapsed on his face.
"Damn… weak…"
He forced himself up again.
Four.
Five.
Collapse.
He grit his teeth. His body shook like it was made of twigs, but his mind burned with fire.
Twenty minutes later—
"—That's seven… augh!"
He collapsed again. The system responded.
[Body Reinforcement Familiarity Increased]
Body Reinforcement Mastery: 0% → 2%
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "…Just training increases mastery?"
He wasn't even using mana right now. But his intent to strengthen his body triggered his class and Talent Source.
This world rewarded willpower.
Sword Form Practice
There were no swords in the slums. But Lucas grabbed a wooden stick lying on the ground.
He gripped it like a sword.
Feet apart.
Knees bent.
The memory of sword forms from martial arts videos on Earth mixed strangely with Lucas Starlight's instinctive knowledge.
He swung slowly.
Whoosh—
The wooden stick sliced the air with shaky force.
He repeated—
Cut.
Thrust.
Slash.
Block.
Each movement was clunky. Each stance was wrong. But as he practiced, the forms grew more stable.
Hours passed unnoticed.
And then—
[Swordsmanship Mastery Increased]
Novice: 0.4% → 3%
Lucas blinked in surprise. "…This is going faster than I expected."
Sweat drenched him. His hair stuck to his forehead. His body screamed in agony. But he didn't stop. He couldn't.
Not if he wanted to survive.
He tightened his grip—
And nearly dropped the stick as a voice yelled:
"OI! Are you training to kill yourself or what?!"
Lucas turned. A boy around his age, slightly taller, with fiery red hair and a bandaged fist, stomped toward him. His tanned skin and muscular build contrasted sharply with the malnourished Lucas.
Lucas instantly recognized him.
Kael Dawnwhisper. Future berserker. One of the novel's secondary main characters.
Lucas blinked.
"…You're Kael, right?"
Kael snorted. "I know who I am! Question is—who the hell are you?"
Lucas wiped sweat from his forehead. "Lucas Starlight."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You're that skinny guy everyone said died last week?"
Lucas nodded. "Almost."
Kael stared at Lucas—really stared. At his trembling arms, sweat-drenched clothes, and exhausted posture.
"…Why are you pushing yourself so hard? You're gonna collapse."
Lucas looked at his calloused palms. "…I have five months."
"Five months for what?"
"To change everything."
Kael paused.
Lucas's answer wasn't arrogant. It wasn't dramatic. It was simply the truth—as if Lucas saw no other option.
Kael scratched his head.
"…You're weird."
Lucas said nothing.
Kael tossed him a small leather pouch. It landed in Lucas's lap.
"What is this?" Lucas asked.
"Dried meat. Found it in the trash heap earlier. Figured someone might need it."
Lucas blinked.
Kael shrugged. "Don't get used to it. I just hate seeing idiots dying for no reason."
Lucas nodded slowly. "…Thanks."
Kael waved dismissively and headed off, muttering something about "crazy skinny idiots."
But Lucas smiled faintly.
First Taro. Now Kael.
He wasn't alone anymore.
Meditation
Lucas sat cross-legged.
Hands resting on knees.
Back straight.
He closed his eyes and focused on the faint, warm feeling in his stomach.
Mana.
He inhaled slowly—Gathering mana above his core.
He exhaled—Letting it spread through his limbs.
The feeling was weak, like holding a single candle in a storm.
But the system responded.
[Meditation Detected]
Mana Control Mastery: 0% → 1.2%
Lucas exhaled.
"…Good." Training, even in tiny amounts, mattered.
Hours passed as the sun climbed high.
By noon, Lucas was drenched in sweat again, but something inside him felt different.
Solid. Awake. Alive.
His body hurt. His stamina drained faster than it refilled. But his eyes burned with something new— Purpose.
He stood, wobbling slightly.
"Day one… complete."
He didn't know someone was watching him from the rooftop.
A girl with silver hair tied in a short tail.
Ice-blue eyes.
A noble's bearing.
Wrapped in a hooded cloak to hide her identity.
Elara Valenford—future Student Council President—observed quietly.
"…Interesting."
She vanished as silently as she came.
Lucas didn't notice. He was already planning tomorrow's training. Because five months would pass quickly.
Too quickly.
And he refused to remain weak.