Kashi stepped through the towering stone doors of the second test and was greeted by a familiar, sprawling range. The layout mirrored the previous sector, but distinct differences immediately caught his attention.

For one, the targets scattered throughout the range weren't the mundane wooden bullseyes he'd encountered earlier. These were crystalline, shimmering under the eerie green glow like shards of frozen starlight. They hovered and rotated with an almost mocking elegance, their sharp edges reflecting the chaotic winds that roared through the cavern.

The gale grew stronger the farther down the range, twisting and howling with such ferocity that even the stubborn weeds in the back looked as if they were moments away from snapping. Kashi's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene, taking in every erratic gust and stray ripple of energy that swept across the space.

Turning to the now-familiar stone stele, he read the instructions etched into its surface:

Easy Difficulty: Strike 25 targets
Medium Difficulty: Strike 50 targets
Hard Difficulty: Break all targets

"Break all targets?" Kashi muttered, his gaze lingering on the crystalline bullseyes. His arrows had been sharp enough to pierce wood in the previous trial, but shattering these crystalline constructs? That was an entirely different challenge.

He glanced down at the simple bow in his hand and the quiver of standard arrows strapped to his back. The test bows varied in strength, but even the mightiest wouldn't generate the force needed to obliterate these targets.

"No way they expect us to brute force this," Kashi reasoned aloud. The architects of this trial weren't setting him up for failure; there had to be a trick to it.

Ripping a strip of fabric from his sleeve, Kashi tossed it into the air. The wind seized it immediately, sending it spiraling into a frenzy. He watched its erratic flight path, noting how the currents twisted and turned with no discernible pattern.

"Yep, totally unreasonable," he muttered, shaking his head. The winds weren't just strong—they were chaotic, defying any logic or rhythm. This wasn't a test of predicting wind patterns; it was a gauntlet designed to push an archer's ingenuity to the limit.

Even passing the Easy Difficulty seemed like a stretch. Hitting just one target in these conditions was hard enough, let alone 25. But breaking all of them? That was a riddle wrapped in a challenge.

Kashi smirked as the answer clicked in his mind. "Ah, of course. It's that mechanic."

The solution was painfully obvious to anyone familiar with gaming logic: a skill called Power Shot.

Suzuki had used it countless times in role-playing games. The technique wasn't just about firing an arrow harder; it was about infusing the arrow with mana, giving it the strength and speed to cut through even the wildest winds.

But therein lay another challenge: infusing mana into an object wasn't as simple as pouring water into a cup. Overload it, and the item would either leak mana uselessly or explode in your hands.

His thoughts trailed off as he examined the bow in his grip. Its plain design betrayed no immediate secrets, but as he looked closer, faint vein-like lines etched into the surface caught his eye. They converged at a small rune nestled on the grip—a rune that seemed to pulse faintly as if inviting him to experiment.

"A mana-infusion rune," Kashi murmured. The design was simple, yet elegant. The rune would allow him to channel mana into the bow without it exploding in his hands.

"Okay, first hurdle cleared," he muttered, confidence growing. Now all that remained was figuring out how to actually use the rune.

A gust of wind swept through the cavern as if on cue, carrying a book that fluttered through the air before landing neatly on the gallery in front of him.

Kashi raised an eyebrow. "Convenient."

He picked up the book, and a familiar system prompt blinked into view:

Skill Book: Power Shot [F] (Upgradeable)
Channel mana into a runic bow/arrow to increase its attack.

Consumes 10 MP per shot

Doubles ATK

Kashi scanned the details. "Sounds about right." He placed the book back down, his attention shifting to the howling winds that tore through the range. He didn't need the system's pre-packaged solutions. Those were for players who followed instructions blindly. Kashi was different.

"I have a better idea," he murmured.

---

The gale howled like a feral beast, tearing at Kashi's clothes and biting into his skin as he leaped over the gallery and braced himself against the ferocious wind. For a moment, his footing faltered, and his slender frame threatened to be swept away. But he planted his feet firmly, lowering his center of gravity as he adjusted to the tempest. Step by grueling step, he began walking toward the cavern's far end, where the winds roared the loudest.

Above him, on an overlooking platform, Miote crossed his arms and frowned. "What's he thinking? Did he decide arrows were overrated or something?"

Serti stood beside him, his glowing eyes fixed on the daeben. "I couldn't tell you," he admitted with a rare note of intrigue in his usually detached tone. "No examinee has ever done this before. But... it's not against the rules." His gaze flickered, the golden light intensifying. "The Oracle hasn't issued a warning."

Miote leaned forward, squinting at Kashi's stubborn march into the storm. "The guy's nuts. Entertaining, but nuts."

Down below, Kashi trudged deeper into the cavern, his body already bearing the shallow cuts of windborne debris. He barely flinched when a sharp stone zipped past, slicing his arm. His focus was elsewhere. He muttered under his breath, his words inexplicably carried across the cavern to Serti.

"This test isn't just about using a skill," Kashi said, his voice calm despite the chaos around him. "It's an introduction to mana manipulation. A real archer should grasp the fundamentals of infusing mana into their tools, not just follow Oracle-dictated steps."

Serti's lips curled into an intrigued smile. "An astute observation," he whispered, his voice reverberating directly into Kashi's ears. "But if you've already realized that, why ignore the skill book? It's a reward for passing the first Hard Difficulty. Any other examinee would have snatched it up."

Kashi paused, his gaze fixed ahead as he pressed through the cutting winds. His words were steady, almost dismissive. "Because it's a crutch. The Oracle's skill would cap me—ten mana for double power, every time. Efficient, maybe, but inflexible. Real strength is in mastery. If I learn to manipulate my mana freely, I can decide how much power I need. Five mana for precision. Twenty for devastation. Flexibility is an archer's true weapon."

Serti chuckled softly, his eyes glinting like gold coins catching the light. "I see. Then tell me, daeben, what does walking into a storm of flying rocks and razor winds have to do with learning mana manipulation?"

Kashi didn't answer immediately. His thoughts drifted, unbidden, to a distant memory.

---

A red-haired boy stood trembling before a suit of armor, a wooden sword clutched in his small hands. His strikes were frantic and desperate, the blade bouncing harmlessly off the unyielding metal. Watching him was a hulking man with flaming white hair and biceps like tree trunks. He snorted in disdain.

"Hmph. You'll never cut through that without mana," the old man barked. Before the boy could reply, a fist drove into his stomach, knocking the wind—and a splatter of blood—from his lungs.

"Focus!" the man roared. "You can't manipulate mana if you can't even feel it! Your body naturally uses mana to heal—trace it. Feel the heat coursing through you. The pain is the path to your meridians!"

Gasping, the boy closed his eyes, his body shaking with agony. Slowly, warmth spread through him, a tiny ember stoked by his desperation. He gripped the wooden sword tighter, pouring his will into the flickering energy inside him. With a roar, the mana surged, enveloping the blade and blasting forward, shattering the suit of armor into fragments.

The old man grinned before smacking the boy upside the head. "What was that, a hammer? Refine it, you idiot!"

---

The memory faded, and Kashi opened his eyes, now standing at the cavern's deepest point. The wind here was ferocious, tearing at his hair and nearly lifting him off his feet. He wedged his boots into the earth and leaned against a large rock for stability.

Closing his eyes, he exhaled slowly. The cutting winds flayed his skin, and stray stones battered his body, but he didn't move. Instead, he turned his focus inward, tracking the warmth coursing through him as his body healed the accumulating wounds. He followed it, a quiet determination in his mind.

*There it is,* he thought, a flicker of a smile on his lips. The heat wasn't just healing—it was energy, raw and untamed, flowing through invisible pathways. His Will guided him deeper into the complex systems at play, his understanding of his own mana sharpening with every excruciating second.

Above, Serti's glowing eyes widened as a faint shimmer of energy began to dance around the daeben, flickering like the first rays of dawn. "Interesting," Serti murmured, his smile widening. "Very interesting."

Kashi's lips curved into a smirk as the shimmering aura around him stabilized. "Let's see what these winds can really do."

---

Kashi exhaled softly, his breath steadying as he loosened his taut muscles. The sharp sting of the cutting wind seemed to fade into the background as he focused inward, his mind navigating the intricate pathways of mana flowing through his body. With deliberate intent, he channeled a small portion of energy to his right hand.

As the mana reached his fingertips, he released it in a quick burst, the expelled energy forming a shimmering pulse that pushed back the wind in front of him for a fleeting moment. The sudden calm in the storm was brief but profound, like a bubble of peace in chaos.

Kashi studied his open palm, neither impressed nor particularly moved. He wasn't some prodigious genius who could master techniques with a flick of the wrist. No, his success stemmed from memories that weren't entirely his—fragments of someone else's struggle, etched into his soul like scars on old parchment. But he felt no shame in borrowing those experiences. If Razznik's painful lessons could help him grow stronger, he would wield them without hesitation.

With a final glance at the windswept cavern, Kashi turned and made his way back across the canyon. His movements were deliberate, calculated, as if the stormy winds posed no challenge now. Each step brought him closer to the gallery, until finally, he crossed into the test chamber once again.

Serti and Miote watched from above, their expressions mixtures of confusion and anticipation. Then Kashi did something neither of them had predicted—he picked up the skill book he had ignored earlier.

"He's... taking it?" Miote blinked, his brow furrowed. "After all that posturing about flexibility and mastery?"

Serti's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Perhaps even he recognizes the value of certain shortcuts."

Ignoring their commentary, Kashi placed a hand on the skill book. The Oracle's voice chimed in his mind, asking if he wished to learn the skill. Without hesitation, he chose Yes.

The book dissolved into motes of light, the fragments swirling around him before tunneling into his mind. A soft ding followed, accompanied by the familiar system prompt:

You have learned: Power Shot [F]

Kashi picked up the provided bow, notched an arrow, and drew the string back. He lined up his shot, his crimson eyes narrowing as he locked onto the nearest crystalline target. The instructions for Oracle-granted skills danced in his head. For beginners, verbal activation was necessary.

With a low murmur, Kashi whispered, "Power Shot."

Immediately, a surge of energy roared through his arms, flooding into the bow. The runic patterns along its surface flared to life, glowing with vibrant light. The arrow in his grasp responded in kind, enveloped by a dark, pulsating energy that radiated malice.

He loosed the arrow.

It shot forward with an audible crack, tearing through the turbulent wind as if the storm didn't exist. The arrow struck the crystal target dead center, obliterating it in an explosion of shards that scattered in every direction. The wind caught the fragments, whipping them into a glittering cyclone.

Kashi lowered his bow, watching the scattered remains drift away. "So," he mused, his voice calm and steady, "that's what ten mana points feels like."

Serti's lips curled into an amused smirk as he leaned on the railing. "Interesting. He rejected the easy path only to embrace it later. What are you up to, daeben?"

Miote, meanwhile, threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "He's infuriating, that's what! What's the point of all that 'true strength' talk if he's just gonna play along?"

Below, Kashi remained unfazed, not even sparing a glance at his audience. Instead, he drew another arrow, his eyes glinting with quiet determination as he prepared to take on the next target.

Kashi's crimson eyes locked onto the next target. It hovered a mere five meters from the shattered remains of its predecessor, darting behind a jagged boulder like a skittish creature hiding from a predator. Every few seconds, it peeked out, exposing itself for a fleeting moment before retreating once more.

The daeben said nothing, his expression calm and unreadable. With practiced ease, he began channeling energy once again, the mana coursing through his arms and into the bow. Unlike the previous shot, this time, the aura surrounding the arrow was subtler, its glow less intense.

"About five..." Kashi muttered under his breath, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather. He loosed the arrow without hesitation.

The projectile hissed through the air, slicing against the gale with precision. Though not as ferocious as the earlier attack, the arrow struck true, piercing the crystalline target. It shattered with a satisfying crack, though the pieces fell in larger chunks, scattering onto the cavern floor instead of disintegrating into dust.

Kashi nodded to himself. "Close enough."

Above the scene, Serti's glowing eyes narrowed as he observed Kashi's actions. A slow grin spread across his face, his curiosity giving way to admiration. "Clever," he murmured.

"What's clever?" Miote leaned forward, frowning as he tried to piece together what Kashi was up to. "He's just shooting stuff. What's so special about that?"

Serti chuckled, the kind of laugh that made Miote immediately suspicious. "He's not just shooting, Miote. Look closer. The daeben has already learned mana manipulation, but he's still unsure of how much mana translates to a specific result. That's where the Oracle skill comes in."

"The Oracle skill?" Miote tilted his head. "You mean Power Shot? But he's using it, isn't he?"

"Not quite," Serti corrected, his voice tinged with amusement. "He's not relying on the skill. He's using it as a tool. The Oracle-given skill outputs a fixed amount of mana every time. Kashi is leveraging that consistency as a baseline. By comparing the results of the skill to his own manipulation, he's calibrating his mana output. Once he maps out how much mana corresponds to a desired effect, he'll be able to control his power without overspending or falling short."

Miote's mouth hung open for a moment before he snapped it shut. "So... rather than just using the Oracle skill, he's using it to train himself?"

"Exactly," Serti said, his smile widening. "He's not playing by the Oracle's rules. He's turning the rules into stepping stones to improve on his own terms."

Miote crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he processed the explanation. "I hate to admit it, but... that's kind of brilliant."

"It's more than brilliant." Serti's gaze flicked back to the daeben below, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "It's audacious. Most warriors cling to the Oracle's crutch, satisfied with what it gives them. But that daeben? He's already planning how to outgrow it."

Down below, Kashi remained oblivious to their chatter. His focus shifted to the next target, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. With each arrow loosed, the winds seemed less chaotic, the targets less daunting. It wasn't just the targets being tested—this trial was shaping his understanding of himself.

While taking aim at yet another elusive crystal target, Kashi found himself facing an unwelcome reality—his pitiful mana reserves. As a level 0, he had a meager 110 Mana Points at his disposal. Despite his careful rationing, he could feel the well running dry with every shot. Once empty, he'd need to wait for his mana to naturally replenish, but a chilling thought struck him: Would waiting disqualify him from claiming the coveted Hard Reward? The requirement was explicit—shatter all the targets. No exceptions.

As if the Oracle itself mocked him, five small vials filled with shimmering green liquid floated gently onto the gallery's shelf. The light sparkled off the potion bottles, drawing Kashi's gaze. He raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued.

In that moment, he loosed an arrow, pumping it with just over 10 mana points to reach a distant, high-speed target. The shot connected perfectly, the crystal exploding in a burst of glittering fragments. But before he could enjoy the accomplishment, a wave of nausea crashed over him. His knees buckled, and his vision spun as if the entire cavern had been tossed into a blender. Vertigo gripped him, threatening to send him sprawling.

Kashi, however, did not panic. He recognized the symptoms. The familiar dizziness, the churning in his gut, the oppressive exhaustion—he was experiencing full-blown [Mana Exhaustion]. A translucent system prompt floated into view, confirming his suspicion.

[Status Effect: Mana Exhaustion]
Nausea, dizziness, and vertigo will persist for 30 seconds or until mana reserves are restored.

"Annoying," Kashi muttered, swiping the prompt away as he staggered toward the shelf. Grabbing one of the vials, he uncorked it without hesitation and tilted it back, letting the green liquid burn its way down his throat. A wave of heat exploded from the pit of his stomach, spreading rapidly through his body. His meridians, once barren and cracked, felt like they were drinking deeply from a rejuvenating river.

Without missing a beat, Kashi notched another arrow, channeling mana through the bow and arrow with ruthless efficiency. He fired, shattering the next target in a clean burst. The mana coursing through his body surged angrily, as though offended that it wasn't given the chance to fully replenish before being drawn out again. Kashi didn't care. His focus was singular—shatter the targets, no matter the cost.

From the observation platform above, Serti's eyes narrowed as he watched the daeben's relentless barrage. The glow in his gaze intensified, and for once, his smirk faltered. "This... This is insane."

Miote, noticing the sudden shift in Serti's demeanor, leaned closer. "What? What's insane? He's just shooting targets. Isn't that the whole point?"

Serti exhaled, clearly annoyed by Miote's ignorance. "What he's doing isn't just about hitting the targets. Look closely. Those mana potions are beginner-grade, crafted by a level 10 alchemist. They're designed to replenish 500 mana over a minute—about 8 mana per second."

Miote nodded slowly. "Okay, and?"

"And Kashi's mana pool is tiny. He probably can't hold more than 150 units. If his reserves hit max capacity while the potion is still active, the excess mana will overflow, and his body will automatically expel it to avoid poisoning from oversaturation."

"Wait, so... he's wasting the potion?" Miote frowned, confused.

"No, you dolt," Serti snapped. "He's preventing waste. By continuously firing mana-infused arrows, he's burning through the replenished mana before his reserves fill up. This way, the potion's entire 500-unit capacity gets used, instead of being expelled."

Miote blinked, his jaw dropping. "That's... insane! He's managing all of that while still hitting the targets? How is that not impressive?"

Serti's smirk returned, but it was tinged with respect. "It's not the method that's impressive—it's that he even knows about it. This technique is common among martial artists and mages obsessed with training to exhaustion. It's meticulous, requiring precise mana manipulation and judgment. Use too much mana, and he risks another bout of Mana Exhaustion while the potion's still active, which could cause a violent feedback loop. Use too little, and the excess potion goes to waste. All of this has to be balanced while taking increasingly erratic targets into account."

Miote let out a low whistle, finally appreciating the feat. "So, he's juggling math, timing, and shooting while trying not to die from mana poisoning? Okay, that is insane."

Serti's gaze remained fixed on Kashi, his grin widening. "He's not just passing this test—he's re-writing the playbook."

After approximately fifteen minutes of grueling effort, Kashi shattered the final crystal target. This was no ordinary target, however. Positioned in the furthest corner of the cavern and surrounded by a tempest of relentless winds, it mocked his earlier efforts with its near-impenetrable defense. Kashi had no choice but to go all out.

Gripping the last two mana potion vials, he uncorked them with his teeth in a move that would've impressed a tavern brawler. Tilting his head just right, he poured both potions into his mouth, gulping them down in quick succession. A fiery surge roared through his veins as his mana reserves ballooned, threatening to spill over.

"Alright... time for the finale," Kashi muttered, his voice rasping with the strain of the trial.

Channeling every drop of his newly replenished mana into the bow and arrow, Kashi pushed past the limits of what should've been possible. The bow groaned under the weight of the overflowing energy, the mana visibly spilling out in arcs of light. The arrow itself seemed to grow in size, a shimmering projection of pure energy forming a massive, spear-like silhouette three times his height.

A more advanced weapon might have compressed the mana into a focused, lethal form. But Kashi didn't have the luxury of refinement. Forcing it further risked a catastrophic explosion, and frankly, he wasn't interested in getting blown to bits today.

He inhaled deeply, steadying his racing heart as he envisioned the path the arrow needed to take. The shot wasn't straightforward; the winds were far too chaotic. The arrow would need to smash through a thin rock formation obstructing the cleanest trajectory, all while maintaining enough force to reach the target behind it.

Closing his eyes briefly, he whispered, "Fly."

The arrow screamed into the air, the cavern echoing with a piercing cry that sounded almost alive. Onlookers gasped as the excess mana coalesced mid-flight, shaping itself into a hawk-like apparition. With ethereal wings spread wide and a razor-sharp beak leading the charge, the spectral bird tore through the winds, deflecting stray rocks as if swatting away gnats.

The rock formation ahead crumbled under the arrow's ferocious impact, sending debris and dust spiraling through the air. But the arrow didn't stop there. It barreled forward, the hawk's form fading as the mana condensed tightly around the shaft. Finally, it struck the crystalline target dead center, shattering it into countless glittering fragments.

As the dust settled, Kashi stood motionless, his bow slack in his hand. His crimson eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched cracks spread from the point of impact, webbing across the target until it crumbled into numerous pieces.

Letting out a fatigued sigh, the daeben glanced at a prompt that had appeared at the edge of his screen.

Congratulations on creating a new skill! [Power Shot - Modified] [E–]

Mana given life. Your strong will commands mana to take on a new shape and properties to sunder enemies in the path of your arrow. Grants 3x Boost to Damage from Power Shot.

Consumes 20 Will.

Would you like to rename your skill?

You are the first to improve an Oracle skill's grade. Would you like to publicize your achievement?

Looking at the prompt, Kashi chose 'Yes' to the first prompt, naming the skill, 'Arrow Hawk.' He then declined the second prompt. He was not in the habit of peacocking to the crowd.

Thankfully, the Oracle still granted him a new Title: Trailblazer

New Title: Trailblazer [F+]

Given to the first audacious Summoned to improve upon the Oracle's skills.

Reward: 5% increase to all skill mastery gains and a slight boost to success chances when crafting or modifying abilities.

Up on the observation platform, Serti had risen at some unknown point, his gaze glued to Kashi with an intensity that bordered on obsession. "Will! That youngster has reached the level of manipulating his mana through sheer will!" His eyes gleamed with excitement as he murmured to himself, "Wake up, Bart. We may have stumbled upon a treasure."

Far above, beyond layers of rock and stone, the ears of a brown-furred kafu twitched ever so slightly. Bart, who had been reclining in a chair, arms crossed over his chest, stirred from his slumber. His eyelids fluttered open, and a deep rumble shook the building as his mana stirred briefly before he blinked again. The disturbance ceased, leaving only the faint echo of Skardi's worried shout:

"Bart!"

Bart's response was characteristically calm. He sat upright, took a moment to stretch, and then accepted the mug Skardi handed him—a steaming black brew that smelled faintly of burnt herbs and earth.

"You weren't supposed to wake up for another two days," Skardi said, frowning. "What happened?"

Bart sipped the drink, his eyes distant as they seemed to pierce through the layers of stone beneath him. "That daeben," he rumbled, his deep voice resonating through the room. "He passed the second trial. Fatigued but unbroken." Bart's lips curled into a faint smile. "Prepare some food. Serti may have found what we're looking for."

Skardi raised an eyebrow at the cryptic remark but didn't argue. With a curt nod, he disappeared through a door behind the counter, leaving Bart alone with his thoughts.

Leaning back in his chair, Bart took another sip of the dark liquid, his gaze lingering in the middle distance. Though his eyes were closed, it was clear he wasn't sleeping this time. He was waiting.

Meanwhile, Kashi emerged from the second test gate, his steps heavy, his breathing labored, and fatigue etched into his every feature. Despite this, a glimmer of triumph flickered in his eyes as he held up his prize: a new skill book.

The name etched on its cover read Aether Breath—an E- rank Breathing Skill that granted the ability to recover 50 MP per second. Kashi's lips twitched into a small, satisfied smirk. This was more than just a reward. It was a stepping stone to greater heights.

"Fifty mana per second, huh?" he murmured to himself. "Looks like I won't have to worry about mana exhaustion for a while." Opening it, he began to skim the instructions, his crimson eyes narrowing as he deciphered the elaborate diagrams and text. According to the book, the skill required a peculiar breathing technique that would heighten his mana perception. By drawing mana in through his nose, channeling it to his lungs, and dispersing it through his body, he could replenish his reserves.

He raised a skeptical brow.

"This is E-rank, alright," Kashi muttered to himself. Recovering mana by breathing through his nose alone felt absurdly limited. He'd heard of advanced mana recovery techniques that allowed users to absorb mana through every pore of their body, drawing energy like a sponge in water. Of course, such skills were leagues beyond the current him—more a distant dream than a viable reality.

Still, Kashi wasn't one to leave a gift untouched. He took a steadying breath, adjusted his posture, and began mimicking the breathing pattern described in the book. It wasn't easy; the rhythm was erratic, requiring a mix of shallow and deep breaths at precise intervals. At one point, he almost choked, sputtering out an indignant cough.

"Seriously? Who designed this?" he grumbled, but pressed on.

After a few minutes of diligent practice, Kashi finally nailed the pattern. A soft groan escaped him as a refreshing current of mana surged into his lungs, spreading through his body and filling his depleted channels. In only two seconds, he already felt bloated, reminding him that his mana was lagging badly behind the rest of his body's development. Still, this was only the first night. He would comb this opening town until he uncovered all methods to improve his body during the level 0 growth phase.

Satisfied, Kashi snapped the book shut and tucked it into his storage bag. Having learned the skill manually, the book remained intact, meaning he could sell it later—always a bonus. Slinging his bow back over his shoulder and replenishing his quiver, Kashi began making his way out of the second test chamber. His steps were unsteady, his legs wobbling as if weighed down by invisible chains. Every fiber of his body screamed in protest.

"Stamina systems," he muttered bitterly. L.N.E., like King's Journey before it, prided itself on a level of realism that bordered on sadism. Summoned players could feel fatigue, hunger, and even drowsiness if they pushed their bodies too far. Genaco had once claimed it was to ensure players didn't forget their humanity while immersed in the game.

Kashi wasn't sure he bought into the corporate spiel, but right now, he couldn't deny the ache in his muscles or the bone-deep exhaustion pulling at him. With a resigned sigh, he turned away from the looming third test gate. He needed rest before even thinking about tackling another challenge.

Ascending the spiral staircase that led back to the round hall, Kashi was greeted by Miote's trademark grin and Serti's sharp, analytical gaze.

"Yo, daeben! Still alive, huh?" Miote chirped, tail swishing behind him.

Kashi rolled his eyes but smirked faintly. Wordlessly, he pulled the Aether Breath skillbook from his bag and tossed it toward the felur. Miote caught it with surprising grace, ears perking up in curiosity.

"Try learning it manually," Kashi said, his tone casual. "If you can't, let the Oracle teach you."

Miote's eyes widened. "Seriously? You're giving me this?"

"It's E-rank. Don't get too excited," Kashi replied with a shrug.

Turning to Serti, Kashi asked, "Two weeks, right?"

Serti chuckled, his deep voice resonating in the quiet hall. "A deal's a deal. Two weeks, room and board. You've earned it."

The wisben gestured toward the staircase leading to the surface. "Food's waiting in the tavern. You both need to eat, especially you, Kashi. You look like you're one wrong step away from faceplanting."

Kashi snorted stubbornly, though the fatigue etched on his face betrayed him. Without protest, he followed Serti and Miote up the stairs, his legs protesting every step.

As they climbed, Serti glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, Kashi... what's your goal in all this? Riches, glory, or power?"

Kashi paused mid-step, his gaze drifting to the glowing cavern walls around them. The faint hum of mana filled the air, soothing and yet brimming with unspoken potential. After a moment, he resumed walking, his expression unreadable.

"None of the above," he said simply. "I'm here to survive. Everything else is just... extra."

Serti's laughter echoed through the stairwell, hearty and full of intrigue. "Survival, huh? A practical answer. But let's see how long that stays true."

Miote glanced between the two, tail swishing with amusement. "Man, you're such a mystery, Kashi. You've got the vibes of a grumpy old man trapped in a younger guy's body."

"Keep talking, and I'll toss you into the next test chamber," Kashi shot back, his tone dry.

Miote just laughed, clearly unfazed.