Arthur slowly opened his eyes.
There was no pain.
Only… profound comfort.
A deep sense of ease, as though every part of his body had been carefully rearranged from the inside. His muscles felt light and supple, his breathing steady and calm, his heartbeat strong and perfectly regular — stronger than it had ever been.
He blinked several times, then sat up quickly.
"I… passed out."
He clearly remembered the agony that had torn through his bones and nerves right before losing consciousness — the violent surge of energy that had remade him.
He hurriedly pulled out his transparent mobile phone and checked the time.
He distinctly remembered it had been 10 p.m. when he started allocating the attribute points.
Now… 11 p.m.
Just one hour had passed outside.
Arthur let out a long, relieved breath.
"Thank goodness I tested adding the points inside the Small World after adjusting the time ratio from the app outside beforehand. One full day here equals only one hour out there…"
Then he noticed something else strange: he felt completely satiated. No hunger. No thirst. Even though a whole day had passed inside this space.
Perhaps it was the effect of the four attribute points he had just invested… or maybe the evolution itself had temporarily suppressed his normal bodily needs.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a foul, piercing smell.
He wrinkled his nose instantly.
"What the—?!"
He nearly gagged.
He looked down at himself… and understood.
A thin, dark, sticky layer coated his entire body — impurities and toxins that had been forced out through his pores during the reconstruction. The energy hadn't only strengthened him; it had cleansed him from the inside out.
"So… this is the price of evolution."
He stood up quickly.
This Small World had no lakes or rivers — just flat land covered in mysteriously well-maintained green grass.
He summoned the phone again and tapped the exit button.
In an instant, he reappeared beside his worn-out bed in his tiny room. He had prepared everything in advance, expecting this exact situation: a large wooden tub already filled with water, soap, a towel, and clean clothes.
He stripped off his filthy clothes and stepped into the tub. The water was cool, but pleasant in the mild, beautiful climate of Mondstadt.
He scrubbed vigorously, determined to remove every trace of the black residue. It took a long time before the stench finally disappeared and his skin felt clean and strangely radiant.
He stepped out, dried himself with the familiar white cloth he always used, and put on fresh clothes.
He summoned the phone once more from the strange space in his right palm and opened the Attributes panel.
The new numbers appeared:
**Strength** ——— 2 attribute points
**Physique** ——— 2 attribute points
**Spirit** ——— 2 attribute points
**Agility** ——— 2 attribute points
**Available points: 0**
He stared at the screen for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
"Double my previous strength! I'm… way stronger now!"
He closed the app and returned to the Small World to truly test his new power.
He walked over to one of the apple trees he had planted earlier. Clenching his right fist, he gathered all his strength and punched the trunk with full force.
**Thud!**
A clear fist imprint was left in the wood. Several apples rained down, hitting his head and the ground. A very faint ache pulsed in his knuckles — nothing serious.
He picked up a fallen apple, wiped it on his shirt, and took a big bite. It tasted sweeter than ever.
Then he started running — full speed, without the quick exhaustion he used to feel. He kept going until he finally collapsed onto the grass, panting but grinning widely.
"I could never run like this before…"
He focused on his senses. His vision was sharper; distant details were crystal clear. His hearing picked up the rustle of grass blades in the breeze and even the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat. His mind felt quicker, clearer.
He realized his body was now under perfect control. He could command every muscle with pinpoint precision — and if he wanted, he could suppress his enhanced state and behave exactly like an ordinary human.
He breathed deeply, filled with joy.
"It's time to join the Adventurers' Guild… but not yet. I'll wait until every attribute reaches at least 10 points."
He decided to train with a claymore inside the Small World. A heavy claymore offered great defensive potential — it could block arrows, and once he adapted to its weight, it would become a powerful weapon.
Then he remembered: he didn't own a claymore yet.
"I'll sleep now… Tomorrow after work, I'll visit the blacksmith."
He exited the Small World, lay down on his creaky bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning he cooked some eggs and bread from the Storage app, ate quickly, and headed to the fruit stall.
He greeted his chubby, stingy boss with a polite smile and spent the day shouting enthusiastically to attract customers. After sunset, he said goodbye and walked straight toward the city gate of freedom.
From a distance he spotted the forge. As he approached, he read the wooden sign hanging at the entrance:
**Schulz Blacksmithing**
Inside, Wagner was hammering a sword on the anvil, sparks flying everywhere.
Arthur stepped forward confidently.
"I'd like to buy a claymore… something suitable for a beginner."
Wagner paused mid-strike, wiped sweat from his brow, and gave a mocking grin.
"Well, well. Another new face dreaming of becoming a great knight or adventurer, huh?"
He called out: "Schulz! Come help this kid pick out a decent beginner claymore."
Arthur followed Schulz deeper into the workshop, which was filled with hanging weapons and tools. They reached the claymore section.
His eyes fell on a gleaming blade: **Greatsword of Water** – 1-star.
He lifted it effortlessly and gave it a few practice swings. It felt perfectly balanced for his new body.
"How much?" he asked.
"Fifteen thousand Mora."
Arthur almost dropped it.
"Is this thing made of solid gold?! It's just a 1-star weapon!"
Schulz chuckled softly.
"My master Wagner forged it himself. It's perfect for someone just starting out. It'll serve you well for a long time — until you can afford something better. Don't hesitate."
Arthur hesitated only a moment before nodding.
He paid with a heavy heart, muttering, "I'm broke again…"
He carried the claymore carefully back home, prepared a simple meal, ate, and then entered the Small World once more.
From that day on, after every workday he would train: four hours outside = four days inside.
This continued for forty days since he first received the phone.
Gradually, his attributes reached:
**Strength: 10**
**Physique: 10**
**Spirit: 10**
**Agility: 10**
His power had grown immense. His claymore training had become refined — he recalled certain moves from characters in the game, and his perfect bodily control allowed him to execute smooth, flowing techniques, as if the massive, heavy blade weighed nothing at all.
**End of Chapter 5**