Alex sat in his dimly lit room, his mind racing as he recounted everything he knew about Etheron Chronicles. This was no longer a game—it was reality. And that meant every hidden treasure, every legendary artifact, and every secret trial he had uncovered in his past life as a player was now invaluable knowledge.
'If I remember correctly, there's an ancient ruin in the forest near the capital... It holds a powerful sword technique. If I can acquire it, my strength will grow exponentially.'
He furrowed his brows, going through all the locations he could recall. There were potions hidden in forgotten caves that could boost one's strength, trials that granted unique abilities, and dungeons teeming with rare resources.
'Ethan Williams, the protagonist, had a massive head start because of his powerful background and the goddess's blessing... But I have something he doesn't—knowledge of the future.'
His grip tightened. He refused to let fate dictate his path. If he was going to survive, he needed power. And to gain power, he needed to train.
Two Months of Training
The next day, Alex wasted no time. He ventured to a secluded clearing on the outskirts of the village near of the capital. It wasn't much, just a small open space surrounded by trees, but it was perfect for training.
At first, his body struggled to keep up. his weak muscles and low stamina couldn't execute the movements properly.
Every swing of the wooden training sword left his arms burning, every sprint left him gasping for air.
But something strange happened.
As he trained, his Dual-Soul Resonance talent began to shine.
He started grasping techniques unnaturally fast. What would take an average swordsman weeks to master, he learned in mere days. His footwork became sharper, his sword swings more precise. He adapted and improved at an alarming rate.
By the end of the first month, his Basic Swordsmanship (F) had already evolved to Intermediate Swordsmanship (E-).
His strength grew steadily. Push-ups, squats, endurance running—he pushed his body to its absolute limit. The once frail limbs of Alex Dragonheart were now filled with newfound vigor.
As his mastery of the sword increased, so did his mana control. At night, he would sit in meditation, drawing the ambient mana into his body, refining it. At first, it was sluggish, barely responding to his will. But his talent worked its magic, and his comprehension of mana soared.
By the end of the second month, his Basic Mana Control (F) had also improved to Intermediate Mana Control (E-).
And with it, his overall stats grew:
[Updated Status Window]
Name: Alex Dragonheart
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)], [Basic Mana Control (F)], [Dodge (F)], [???(Sealed)]
Alex stared at the floating screen in awe. To reach Novice Peak in just two months... It was unheard of.
'Is this really my talent at work? No, it's more than that... It's like I can instinctively understand how things work, and my body just follows along.'
He clenched his fists, feeling the subtle difference in his body. He wasn't a helpless weakling anymore. He had taken his first step toward true strength.
But this was just the beginning.
With his newfound strength, Alex set his sights on his next goal—the ruins.
Late at night, he packed what little supplies he had and made his way toward the vast forest near the capital. The ancient ruins hidden within held the legacy of a forgotten swordsman, a technique that granted overwhelming power to those who could master it.
The journey wasn't an easy one. The forest was dense, and the deeper he ventured, the more dangerous it became. The eerie glow of mana-infused plants lit his path, but the distant howls of beasts sent a chill down his spine.
Hours passed as he pushed forward, navigating through the thick vegetation, avoiding venomous creatures and unstable terrain.
Then, just as he was about to take a break, he heard a low growl.
His body tensed as he turned toward the source of the sound.
A pair of glowing red eyes stared at him from the darkness.
His grip on his sword tightened as he felt the predator's killing intent wash over him.