Ray started to use the training dummy to level up his skills and increase his proficiency in using them.
Therefore, he used the settings on the training dummy. He made it so that the dummy would be able to block his attacks like a novice fighter, and sure enough, after he started attacking the dummy, the dummy only defended, parried, or dodged his attacks for an hour. Ray only used his attacking skill
[SLASH LV-1]', to fiercely attack the dummy, however, he just exhausted himself as none of his attacks hit the dummy. After an hour of exhaustion, Ray took a break.
While recovering his stamina, Ray thought back to every time he attacked and realized that, although he could execute his skill, there was nothing but brutality and mindless attacking from his side, and he just seemed to lose his rationality while attacking.
Therefore, he got up and changed his approach towards attacking the dummy, and unlike his previous way of attacking like a brute, he studied the dummy and its movements. He did this for about 15 minutes, and surely, he saw an opening in the dummy's movements and proceeded to use his skill,
[SLASH]
(Clank),
A dull metallic clang came from the dummy, and the part where Ray attacked was disfigured. This was a result of the strength behind his attack and also because he attacked the dummy's weak point. He realized that his attack had taken out about half of its health. Seeing this, he made a mental note to not lose his rationality while fighting enemies and always use his brain with his brawn.
Moreover, Ray noticed that whenever he attacked, his movements were not refined, and he wasted a lot of energy by using unnecessary and exaggerated moves. Thus, keeping all these things in mind, he started training against the dummy again, and surely, after another hour, he got the message he was hoping for.
[Ding!! The host has leveled up the basic attack skill "SLASH" to level 2.]
[SLASH] Level 2 (0/150 exp),
["After extensive training with the skill, you have understood the basic concept of this skill"].
[Ding!! Host's proficiency with the basic attack skill, [SLASH], has reached the beginner's level.]
A sign of relief escaped Ray's mouth. Then, he proceeded to check his second task.
-Task,
["Gain proficiency in using all of your skills and reach basic proficiency in them"].
A wry smile came upon his face as he thought of how many hours he would have to practice so that all of his skills could reach basic proficiency.
Therefore, his mood turned a little sour, and he rested a bit before his time to use the training room came to an end. After leaving the training room, Ray searched for a tavern and paid 5 copper coins for a meal and a night's stay.
After eating the meal, he went to his room and thought about his plans for the next day before logging out of the game. As one day in the game equals three hours in the real world, Ray was just thinking of his plans for the next day when a system message suddenly popped up,
[Ding!!!, Host's stats have been calculated]
- [Stats]:-
[Strength: 8
[Agility's]: 12
[Stamina]: 9
[Endurance]: 15
Dexterity: 10
[Mana]: 126
Ray looked at his stats and noticed that they were all average except for the mana stat.
Therefore, he proceeded to ask Aurora,
"Hey, Aurora, "Are you there?"
To this, a lazy voice answered, "Yes."
Ray proceeded to ask, "Umm, do you know why my mana stat is extremely high?"
To this, Aurora replied,
"I don't know; I just calculated them and presented them to you."
Ray then proceeded to ask,
"Oh! Ok! " And do you have an idea of how I can level up faster?
Aurora replied to him, "Just go and get into a real-life and death battle; if not, just spar with someone; don't tell me you are scared."
Although she replied normally, there was a hint of mockery in her voice that Ray did not miss.
So he just said, "Well, ok!, I will fight beasts and als-." Ray was interrupted by Aurora as she spoke.
"Yeah, your beast souls, abilities, and magical skills have been unlocked, and you would just need a thought to use them."
Ray heard her and thought, "What! His skills, abilities, and beast souls were locked all this time."
Now he was angry, and he wanted to retaliate, but his words got caught in his throat after hearing Aurora's next words,
"Moreover, don't you dare complain; do you know that this starter pack that I so "generously" gave you as a gift was a reward for you when you would have reached level 5? "So if you complain even once, then you will have to forget about everything until you reach level 10 as a penalty."
Aurora said to Ray in an annoyed voice that she was tired of him because, even though he had enough potential and talent, he was still relying on her for quests that he had to complete himself.
As Ray heard Aurora's words, he realized that, after getting the system, he had unconsciously started relying on it more and more. Therefore, after realizing it, Ray clenched his jaw and steeled his resolve to get stronger by himself without relying on the system.
However, little did he know that Aurora could hear most of his thoughts, so they gained him a nod of approval from her.
After that, Ray slept with the flame of ambition burning within his soul.
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Next day,
In the middle region of the city, a young teenage man about the age of 16 was looking at a building with the words "Guild Association" on top of it. The teenager was looking at the building with determination, then he walked inside.
This teenager was naturally Ray, who, at this point, was going to the building to join a guild and hunt beasts to level up. Therefore, as he got inside, he looked for guilds recruiting new members, but he was destined to be greatly disappointed, as no one wanted to recruit a basic rookie and someone who looked weak because Ray had a slim appearance.
Therefore, they did not accept Ray into their guild, as they would have had to carry him all the time so as not to let him die.
After his bout of disappointment, Ray then looked at the guild's association quest board and noticed that there were hundreds of quests, ranging from escort missions to high-ranked missions of slaying strong beasts.
He looked at the quests stated there, and as Ray was looking at the quests, a quest caught his eye: It stated,
"Need 5 spirit cores of basic-grade "magical silver-furred wolves."
Ray saw this quest and was very interested in it; therefore, he applied to solve it, as not only was the quest a good way for him to level up but also a way to earn good money as the quest reward was 10 gold coins.
However, because Ray was a rookie and looked like a weak person with no high-level gear, he was ridiculed and mocked when he applied for the quest. Yet he persisted because only he knew his power, and he knew that to get stronger, he would have to take risks, or else he might as well log out and get a job at the supermarket.
Of course, Ray was also scared of it all, and he was tempted to log out, but he persisted for the sake of his mother and younger sister.
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As Ray was going out of the city to complete his quest and get stronger, a being within his system was looking at his change of behavior with a satisfied smile.
Aurora knew that for Ray to show his great talent and bring out the "hidden power" within him, he would have to go through a baptism of blood and participate in life-and-death battles.
Therefore, she watched him go in anticipation of what was to come.
...
A/N:- The chapter has been edited and a bunch of mistakes and issues have been fixed. I thank everyone for their support. Also, don't forget to vote the novel for bonus chapters.
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