Opening his eyes, Gabriel saw the same room he had first woken up in after arriving in this new world. He had spent an entire month in the simulation of a novel he used to read. However, after dedicating his last week to training Anna, he finally bade her farewell. After closing his eyes for a few seconds, he returned. Now he needed to check whether his talent had any effect when used in the simulation.
"Status." As soon as Gabriel uttered the word, a light screen materialized in front of his eyes.
{ Name: Gabriel Malling
Age: 15
Level: 1
Talents: [Level up] [Magic Seed]
Skills: [Appraisal Lv 2] [Poison resistance Lv 1] [Martial Arts Lv 1(7)]
[Aura Control Lv 1] [Martial Spirit Lv 2] [Library Lv 1]
Stats:
STR:G-(C-) END:G+(C+)
SPD:G(C+) INT:G+(D)
Equipment: [Simulation Necklace] }
Gabriel noticed significant changes in his Personal Window. The skills he learned while in the simulation remained, but his stats, which had increased during the simulation, reverted to their original values after his return.
This indicated that the simulation was mental rather than physical, and the most advantageous aspect was that his Talent enabled the retention of any skill learned within the simulation.
However, Gabriel was slightly puzzled by the numbers in parentheses next to his skills and stats. While he understood that his stat values matched those from the simulation, the number accompanying his skill level perplexed him. Despite his skill level reverting to one, the parenthesis still displayed the level achieved during the simulation.
"I believe it pertains to my actual level of experience; I just need to enhance it to its original value." Gabriel ponders over the implications for a moment before coming to a conclusion.
Determined to ascertain the truth, Gabriel thought, "The only way to be sure is to verify if my assumptions are correct." With that, he turned to the bedside and carefully lifted a wooden sword.
Armed with the wooden sword, Gabriel strode towards the door, exiting his dorm. Once outside, he noticed the sky had grown dark, a notable difference to when he first began his simulation.
When Gabriel decided to conduct his simulation, rays of sunlight were still visible. At least this calmed his anxiety, he had been anxious about the duration of the simulation, he feared that he may disappear everything he performed a simulation for about a month.This revelation relieved Gabriel.
In the future he doesn't need to be mindful of the possibility that each simulation might make him vanish for an entire month.
The only drawback is the charging period of the necklace, an essential component enabling him the use of the simulation feature. It required an entire month to fully recharge, which meant that the simulation function was unavailable until fully charged.
Gabriel made his way to the training complex near his dormitory, situated within the prestigious Supernatural Royal Institute. Renowned for its excellence, the institute holds the 10th spot on the list of the top 15 schools in the royal capital.
While it may not dominate the rankings, its reputation is well-deserved, positioning it as one of the finest educational establishments in the Kingdom of Reylm. Hence, the school boasts about its facilities that reflect the latest in Magical advancements.
The Supernatural Royal Institute's training grounds are fitted with an array of equipment to target every imaginable aspect of supernatural training.
Students have access to durable mannequins for combat training, various targets to hone their magical abilities, and even a stone slab engineered to measure and evaluate one's physical power accurately.
Gabriel arrived at the training facility and immediately made his way to the Training mannequins, determined to hone his swordsmanship and martial arts skills. He positioned himself in front of one mannequin, took a measured breath, closed his eyes, and assumed an aggressive stance.
Moments later, after holding this pose, Gabriel's eyes snapped open; channeling his strength, he unleashed a flurry of instinctive moves that had embedded in his muscle memory thanks to the simulation. His initial strikes were marked by swift precision, seamlessly giving way to a series of powerful, weighty blows. As he continued, his rhythm took on the fluidity of water, each strike flowing into the next, yet each delivered with overwhelming force.
Every one of Gabriel's strikes conveyed a unique intent, and with each use of his sword, his forms and techniques diversified. However, Gabriel's session came to an abrupt halt when, during a particularly forceful attack, he shattered his wooden sword, rendering it useless and cutting his swordplay training short.
Discarding the remnants of his wooden sword, Gabriel transitioned to practicing his martial arts against the mannequin. He initiated his exercise with a series of palm strikes – each one unhurried and gentle, yet the moment his palm made contact, a sharp gust of wind erupted from the point of impact.
As the training progressed, Gabriel shifted to using his fists. His initial punches were ordinary, lacking significant power. Nonetheless, as he continued, his strikes gained an unusual and unpredictable nature, keeping any onlooker guessing what his next move might be.
Gabriel's training session continued with dedication, as he meticulously practiced each style of martial arts he had mastered, shifting from striking with fists to palms, and employing his legs and elbows. He reached a turning point when he sensed that pushing himself further would risk injury, and it was this realization that prompted him to cease training for the day.
Realizing the need for rest, especially with classes tomorrow morning, Gabriel made the decision to return to his dormitory. Skipping classes was not an option he could entertain lightly, as it carried the risk of expulsion.
On his way back, Gabriel's mind lingered on his martial arts—contemplating the strengths and weaknesses of each technique he had practiced that day.
Gabriel mused, touching his chin thoughtfully with one hand while the other emanated a soft glow of mana.
"My attacks stand strong on their own merit, as they rely solely on physical prowess without drawing upon any additional advantages such as Mana," he considered.
"However, this approach has its limitations. If I encounter someone with superior strength or someone who utilizes Mana for counterattacks, my technique would be ineffective." The image of an enemy launching a fireball at him while he attempted to close the distance played in his mind.