The sun had barely risen over the Imperial Arcane Academy, casting soft golden light across the courtyard. Most students were still asleep or nursing hangovers from the festival, but Alden was already awake, pacing in the practice yard with a notebook in hand.
He adjusted his glasses, eyes scanning the mana currents that lazily drifted along the training stones. Each swirl, each fluctuation, was a puzzle—a pattern waiting to be understood. And Alden had no patience for mediocrity.
Alden muttered to himself:
"If I can manipulate mana with precision, predict elemental reactions, and control battlefield patterns… I can be unmatched. No one else is thinking this deeply about it."
He raised a hand, and lightning sparks danced between his fingertips. The arcane energy hummed as if alive, responding to his careful manipulation. Alden traced intricate patterns in the air, forcing the sparks to move along spirals, zigzags, and loops. Each motion demanded precision, focus, and control.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Talent: Arcane Strategist
Affinity: Lightning (C-Rank)
Solo Training Active: +2% control, +3% analytical efficiency
Observational Skill Bonus Applied
He frowned slightly. The sparks jumped faster than anticipated, and one flicked outward, scorching the edge of a training stone. Alden's jaw tightened.
Not precise enough. Focus. Analyze the trajectory, anticipate resistance…
REPEATED CIRCUITS
Alden spent hours running repetitive circuits of elemental control, sending lightning through a series of poles spaced unevenly across the courtyard. Each strike had to hit a precise target without touching the stone floors or disrupting the mana currents around them.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Lightning Affinity: +1% precision per 50 successful strikes
Talent Observation: +0.5% efficiency per repetition
By midday, sweat was dripping from his brow, but his movements were sharper, faster, and more elegant than when he began. He paused briefly, opening his notebook to sketch the mana current interactions he had observed.
Alden muttered:
"Every strike, every pulse… it's a chessboard. Mana flows, and I must control every square."
He scribbled notes about potential combo strategies for future dungeons, including positioning, elemental synergy, and risk assessment.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING AND MANA SYNERGY
Training wasn't just about controlling lightning. Alden knew his physique limited his potential if he ignored endurance, agility, and reflexes. He ran circuits around the courtyard while channeling lightning through his veins. The exercise enhanced both physical and mana endurance, forcing his body and mind to adapt simultaneously.
Each sprint increased mental endurance to maintain high-level calculations under pressure.
Dodging floating arcane constructs strengthened agility.
Channeling energy while running improved mana-physical coordination.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Physique Enhancement: +1% per 30 minutes
Mental Endurance: +2% per hour
Lightning Affinity: +1% precision
By late afternoon, Alden's hair was sticking to his sweat-drenched forehead, his robes scorched in a few minor places, yet he smiled faintly.
All part of the process. Focused repetition, observation, and integration. By the time my talent truly awakens, I'll be unstoppable.
SOLO COMBAT SIMULATION
As the day progressed, Alden activated mental combat simulations, imagining himself facing increasingly difficult foes:
Low-rank elemental constructs
Multiple opponents at once
Traps layered with curses
He ran each scenario, calculating probabilities, predicting enemy patterns, and testing responses. Lightning arcs streaked through the air, dancing like an orchestra of destruction.
Alden muttered softly:
"If I anticipate five moves ahead… and adjust for elemental feedback… then probability favors me, not chance."
Hours passed in silence, save for the hum of electricity and his scribbling notes. Alden's control over lightning improved with each experiment, subtly enhancing his analytical observation talent.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Talent Growth: +1% per successful simulation
Affinity Synergy: +0.5% per scenario
Observational Skill: +0.5% per hour
He paused briefly to note a weakness in his reflex timing, realizing that even small delays could reduce efficiency.
No margin for error. Not now, not ever.
BLUE FLAME OBSERVATION COMPARISON
Later in the evening, Alden observed Lucien's blue flames from a distance, curiosity piqued. While Alden preferred precision and analysis, he couldn't ignore the efficiency and elegance of Lucien's elemental display.
Alden whispered to himself:
"Interesting… the flame is controlled at multiple points, almost like multi-threaded mana flow. Could adapt for lightning arcs in dense zones…"
He made notes for future training, calculating how bonding with allies or artifacts could multiply talent and affinity efficiency.
NIGHT REFLECTIONS
By nightfall, Alden sat on the academy's rooftop, lightning arcs dancing harmlessly around his fingertips. The courtyard below was silent, except for the distant laughter of students leaving the festival grounds.
Alden whispered softly:
"Every step, every trial, every observation… it's for the future. Bloodline… talent… I will unlock it all. And when the time comes… no one will surpass me."
He traced the Hidden Rune Scroll he had borrowed from the library archives for observation, though he could not yet fully use its power. His mind raced, imagining bonding, dungeons, treasures, and C-Rank challenges, all feeding his restless ambition.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Solo Training Completed: +5% Lightning Affinity, +4% Talent Efficiency, +3% Physique Coordination
Observation Record: Complete (300 pages)
Hidden Skill Potential: Noted (Unlockable at A-Rank)
Alden leaned back, watching the stars. A faint smile crossed his face.
This… is only the beginning. Restless training is the path to greatness. I will surpass everyone—even those with stronger raw talent. Knowledge is power, and power is everything.