After a few days had passed since the intense battle, a small time skip brought us to the eve of the much-anticipated Inter-School Competition.
The day's training concluded a little earlier than usual, and Ms. Mei gathered all the students together.
"Tomorrow is the day we've been preparing for," Ms. Mei announced with a smile.
"The Inter-School Competition awaits us, and I must say, you've all come a long way. Congratulations on breaking through to Novice Rank!"
The students exchanged excited glances, their hearts filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
Ms. Mei continued, her voice filled with encouragement.
"You've trained hard these past weeks, and I have faith in every one of you. Remember to rest well tonight, both your body and mind. I won't keep you long. You may all leave now."
With the prospect of an early departure, the students couldn't contain their excitement. Kai and his friends, Leon, Ethan, and Aoi, walked together, their minds buzzing with thoughts of tomorrow's competition.
As they strolled along, the friends engaged in lively conversation.
Kai smiled and said, "Can you guys believe that the competition is finally here? It feels like we've been training forever!"
Leon chuckled and replied, "Yeah, but all that hard work is going to pay off. I can't wait to see what kind of opponents we'll face."
Ethan added with a grin, "I'm ready to show them what we're made of! We've got this, guys!"
Aoi nodded in agreement. "Just remember to stay focused and trust in your training. We've come so far together, and I know we'll do great."
They continued to discuss strategies, share stories of past competitions, and exchange words of encouragement.
Laughter filled the air as they recalled about their training mishaps and celebrated their progress.
Eventually, the time came for them to part ways, but not before exchanging waves and promises to meet up early the next day.
Kai arrived at his home, the familiar surroundings bringing a sense of comfort.
He swiftly changed into more comfortable clothes and decided to take a short nap, allowing his body to recharge before dinner.
The aroma of the meal drifted from the kitchen, and Kai joined his family at the table.
During dinner, Kai informed his parents about the upcoming competition.
They listened attentively, offering words of support and encouragement.
His parents emphasized the importance of rest and reminded him to stay focused and enjoy the experience.
With dinner concluded Kai retreated to his room, a renewed determination burning within him.
He dedicated himself to training for a few more hours, refining his techniques, and pushing his limits.
Before retiring for the night, he opened his Status Window to check his progress:
[Attribute Window]
Name: Kai
Age: 17
Rank: Novice (Lower)
Level: 1
Experience: 21/150
Strength: 57 → 69
Defense: 55 → 64
Agility: 44 → 56
Intelligence: 19
Endurance: 57 → 72
Spirit: 22 → 29
Luck: 22
Charm: 22
Vitality: 89 → 104
Spiritual Energy: 164 → 194
Unused Stat Points: 0
Skills:
1. Ability Acquisition
2. Spiritual Absorption
3. Spirit Manipulation (Lv4)
4. Pain Tolerance (Lv4)
6. Sword Mastery (Lv2)
A smile graced Kai's face as he observed the improvements in his stats and the increased level of his Sword Mastery skill.
He reminisced about the dedicated practice sessions with his sword and the intense sparring matches with Master Liang, grateful for the growth he had achieved.
With excitement brewing in his mind, Kai settled into bed, determined to get a good night's sleep.
Tomorrow held the promise of challenging opponents, invaluable experience, and the opportunity to showcase his progress.
Thoughts of the competition danced through his dreams as he drifted off into a peaceful slumber.