After the whole "conquer virtual monsters and accidentally offend a noble" episode, Alex decided to reward himself with the ultimate victory prize—takeout dinner.
Standing at the local street vendor's cart, he pointed to a greasy box of fried mana-dumplings.
"One large box. Extra spicy. And don't skimp on the sauce this time, old man!"
The vendor raised a bushy eyebrow. "Kid, last time you said that, your mouth was on fire for two days."
"Exactly. Builds character."
Bag of sizzling food in hand, Alex made his way home, humming a tune that was suspiciously close to the battle theme from the game this world was based on.
His humble house looked just as broken-down and charming as ever. He kicked the door open like a seasoned warrior returning from war.
"I'm back! And I brought grease!"
Once inside, Alex carefully placed the food on the table, but instead of digging in, he took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the floor.
He closed his eyes and started circulating his internal energy.
He could feel the mana within his core pulsing, faint but steady. He focused on it, guiding the flow with practiced intent.
His breath slowed. His heartbeat matched the subtle rhythm of mana as it moved through his veins like an ancient river.
Minutes turned into hours. His body warmed from the inside. His senses sharpened.
"This... this is working better than I expected," he murmured, eyes still closed. "Combining game knowledge with real cultivation feels weirdly satisfying."
With one last breath, he exhaled and opened his eyes. Beads of sweat trailed down his brow.
"Phew. Internal energy? Checked. Mana control? Improved. Bodily soreness? Maximum."
He dragged himself to the bathroom, peeled off his training clothes, and sank into a lukewarm bath.
"So... this is what a protagonist does in his free time, huh? I miss the part where I get to nap in a floating spa like those rich bastards."
Clean and refreshed, he pulled on a shirt two sizes too big, flopped down onto the couch, opened the takeout box, and bit into a mana-dumpling.
"Oh yeah... taste of victory."
As he chewed thoughtfully, his mind drifted back to the earlier encounter.
"That guy... Alden von crestvale."
He furrowed his brows.
"I didn't think I'd meet him before Zenith Academy. "
He stared at the ceiling, voice softer now.
"But I guess fate had other plans."
Alex remembered Alden from the game—a noble prodigy with a silver tongue, a competitive streak, and a sword sharper than most people's wits.
He had always been a challenge for players in duels, but never outright antagonistic.
"A bit arrogant, but... good guy. Lawful stubborn type. Could be a powerful ally—if I play my cards right."
He stabbed another dumpling with his chopsticks, triumphantly raising it toward the ceiling.
"Here's to accidental rivals!"
The next morning came with sunlight and sarcasm. Alex groaned as he dragged himself out of bed.
"Why does my back feel like I fought a dragon in my sleep?"
After another quick bath and a breakfast of slightly burnt mana-toast (he forgot the toaster settings again), he flicked open his EtherPad and tapped Lily's contact.
Her face popped up on the screen. Bright smile, sleepy eyes, and a blanket over her head.
"Alex? It's not even noon yet, are you possessed?"
"Morning to you too, gremlin."
Lily stuck her tongue out. "So? How's your secret training arc going?"
Alex smirked. "I may or may not have broken a simulation record and mildly insulted a noble yesterday."
"I said good morning! Gotta go, bye!"
He hung up before her squealing could blow out the speaker.
Throwing on his jacket, he grabbed his sword and headed out once again for Mirage Core Arena.
The sun was out, the streets buzzing with flying scooters and crystal-mailmen yelling about lost deliveries.
After a short hoverbus ride, Alex arrived at the training center. He passed through the main entrance, nodding to the receptionist, who gave him a once-over like she wasn't sure whether to file him under "Regular Customer" or "Simulation Menace."
But what caught his attention was the massive crystal screen hanging above the main lobby.
> "Level 5 Simulation Record Broken!"
New Record Holder: Alden von Crestvale – 9 minutes, 35 seconds
He blinked. Then squinted.
The name was still there.
"Oh-ho. So Mr. Fancy Pants came back for round two, huh?"
He laughed under his breath, a little too impressed for someone who just got outscored.
"Damn. That guy didn't just take it personally—he took it as a personal quest."
He stared up at the screen, hands on his hips like an old martial arts master watching a promising student.
"This might actually be fun."
And with that, a grin spread across Alex's face.
"Alright, Alden. You want to play? Let's dance."