[April 16th, 2024]
Rey lay still, breath steady, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
No white room.
No blood.
No screaming echoes of blades.
Just his bedroom.
He sat up slowly, fingers clenching the bedsheet, half-expecting pain to bloom across his body.
Nothing.
He crossed the room and stopped before the mirror.
Bare skin.
No scars.
No cuts.
No bruises.
Only a boy staring back, hair messy, eyes sharper than yesterday.
Aiden's voice drifted lazily into his head, calm and annoyingly smug.
"You were warned. No damage carries over. Train properly and stop panicking."
Rey exhaled and pulled on the T-shirt he had tossed aside last night.
"Easy for you to say."
He reached for the door.
Before his hand touched the knob, it turned.
His mother stepped inside, pausing when she saw him already dressed.
"Oh," she muttered, surprise flickering across her face. "I thought you'd still be asleep."
Rey scratched the back of his head, forcing a casual tone.
"Woke up early. Weird dream."
She studied him for a second longer, then nodded and turned away.
"If you're awake, get fresh and come down. Breakfast is ready."
Her footsteps faded down the stairs.
Rey stood there for a moment, then headed for the bathroom.
Warm water washed away the dried sweat clinging to his skin.
The mirror fogged up as he leaned against the sink, eyes half-lidded.
Pain without progress.
Training without reward.
His jaw tightened.
"I won't let it be wasted," he whispered to his reflection.
Downstairs, the clink of cutlery filled the room.
His mother ate quickly, already dressed for work.
Emmy sat across the table, swinging her legs absentmindedly.
Rey took his seat, breakfast already waiting.
He hesitated, then spoke.
"Mom. I'm heading out later. Need to meet someone."
Jasmine glanced up briefly, unimpressed.
"Didn't you meet your friends yesterday? You said you'd stay home and study."
Emmy tilted her head, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Rey didn't flinch.
"Got a call this morning. Just for today."
Silence stretched.
Then Jasmine sighed.
"Fine. But don't be late. Emmy forgot her keys."
Emmy shot Rey a nervous smile.
"I'll be quick," he promised.
A lie.
But a necessary one.
The house emptied.
Dishes cleaned.
Chores finished.
Rey stood alone near the door and opened his bank status panel one last time.
=======
→ Bank Balance: 100,852 Dracins
→ Conversion Rate: 10,085,230 Dragon Points
→ Recent Activity: N/A
=======
Enough to burn.
Enough to grow.
He stepped outside and pulled the door shut behind him.
Aiden appeared beside him as they walked.
Hands in pockets.Expression unreadable.
"So," he asked lightly, "where exactly are you heading?"
Rey kept his eyes forward.
Aiden smirked but didn't push.
They walked deeper into the city, crowds thickening with every step.
Voices.
Footsteps.
The pulse of ordinary life.
Then Rey stopped.
Before them stood a building that felt… wrong.
No signboard.
No banners.
No noise.
People passed by it without looking, as if their eyes simply slid away.
Rey stepped inside.
The air changed instantly.
Metal.
Sweat.
Pressure.
A gym.
But not for normal people.
On one side, ordinary training equipment.
On the other hand, reinforced floors, weapon racks, and sealed doors.
Martial space.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
"…So that's your plan."
Rey nodded and walked toward the counter.
"I need a private training room."
The attendant looked him over slowly.
"What stage?"
Rey paused.
"…Martial warrior."
The man hesitated.
"Do you mind disclosing—"
"Yes."
A beat.
"Understood. Can you use Qi?"
Rey shook his head.
"No."
The attendant typed calmly.
"No issue. Just for calibration."
A moment later, he looked up.
"Room available. Twenty thousand points per hour."
Rey's heart sank.
"…Four hours."
The payment went through.
The number dropped.
=======
→ Bank Balance: 100,052 Dracins
→ Conversion Rate: 10,005,230 Dragon Points
→ Recent Activity: -80,000 Dragon points
=======
A clean, painful cut.
The attendant slid a black card across the counter.
"Room's number on it. Good luck."
Rey took it.
Turned.
And walked toward the corridor of sealed doors.
Aiden watched silently.
No jokes.
No lectures.
Only one thought echoed in Rey's mind as the door waited ahead.
'If mental battles don't count…'
'Then I'll bleed for real progress.'
The card reader blinked.
The door unlocked.
As he stepped inside...