Tink tink tink
Pain... Dante's eyes slowly opened, and the first sensation that struck him was hunger; his entire body was craving food.
He was probably in a herbal bath, and in front of him there was a table full of food: fruits, meats, rice, water, wine.
His tired body moved without leaving the bath and began devouring everything. The fruits were swallowed in a single bite, the meat was torn by his teeth like an animal, and he plunged his hands into the rice, eating handfuls as if it were nothing.
The water and wine didn't last a few seconds; in a few gulps, the jugs were completely emptied. Dante was eating uncontrollably.
He ate everything, regardless of taste; his body needed this nourishment, needed to feel full. The entire banquet, which could have served about 30 people, was consumed quickly.
And as the last piece of meat, the last handful of rice, and the last drop of water were gone, his body fell back into the bath completely relaxed, letting out a long sigh.
— For a moment, I really thought it wouldn't be enough! — It was Old Hai.
— Are you satisfied? — asked the old man, staring at Dante.
Dante merely nodded, even though his mind told him that a few more fruits wouldn't hurt.
— Good that you are satisfied. After all, you have perfectly completed your level 0.5. Soon, you should truly enter level 1.
Old Hai said these words and walked away slowly, with a faint smile, as if he had done a good job.
Dante didn't pay much attention to the old man and continued focusing on his state. He seemed to have returned to his normal condition; the only difference was that his body was more robust, and he felt at least twice as strong.
Somewhere between 2.5x and 2.7x stronger, which was a terrifying leap in strength.
The water ran over his skin as he clenched his fists tightly; the excitement of his newfound strength dominated him in that moment.
Time passed, and it was already night. Dante had been released by the ancestor Hai and was returning to his home.
In the sky, the moon dominated the night; the veil that protected the village did not prevent the moonlight from entering, illuminating Dante's path.
As soon as he arrived at his small house and opened the door, someone was waiting for him: it was Viviane, who seemed somewhat shy and reserved.
Yet, when their eyes met, she came to him. A soft hug enveloped Dante, while their eyes remained locked.
Their faces drew closer, and their lips met evenly, though in a confusing and truly strange way.
The successor of the village leader does not marry his daughter merely out of tradition, but the daughter of the village leader, of each generation, learns the technique of the Immaculate Body.
Dante and Viviane simply felt each other, as if a living energy surrounded them, instinctively drawing them closer.
Their hands met beneath the small bed, and two threads of mana traveled through Viviane's body, eager to escape; they flowed across her body.
When they joined, their energies began to intertwine. But not only their energy: each heartbeat seemed to find the other, each breath or touch drew them together.
Dante and Viviane felt like new people under the influence of the mana, which left Viviane's body and found its place in Dante, a wave of heat passing through him.
Buum, buum, buum.
Under the beats of their hearts, silence settled. They felt their bodies vibrate; the sensation was overwhelming, as if Dante and Viviane were destined for this moment.
The two threads of mana fell onto Dante's body, yet they seemed to respect the silence of the night, not yet bringing his advancement.
Sweat covered the small bed, accompanied by a few tears, and a crimson drop stained the sheet.
Their feelings, choices, and desires intertwined, until the first ray of sunlight pierced the night.
And it was then that Dante broke through to level 1. The thread of mana traveled through his body, strengthening him entirely and settling in the center of his body, slightly above the abdomen.
The other thread of mana wandered through his mental meridians, connecting three other meridians.
And in that moment, Dante was a true level 1 fighter; his strength was nothing less than ten times greater than before.
Still excited, Dante looked to the side and saw Viviane sleeping calmly under the blanket. With his hand, he began to stroke her head gently, drawing her closer.
Viviane, who already occupied a special place in his mind, now took up a large part of his heart, which beat slightly faster, bringing a smile to Dante's face.