Finally beaten Ace could take a breather and rest now that the giant orc is dead. "DAAAAMN!, finally done with it haha" said Ace as he collapsed on the ground exhausted. "For an orc he was quite strong and thick-skinned, well I managed somehow. Am I right Ryu?" continued Ace. "Yeah you managed, but without me it would have been impossible to kill it." Answered Ryu with an arrogant and self-praising tone.
After spending an entire day in the layer, Ace decided to leave the forest and headed back to the city. On his way, he talked to Ryu about what that breakthrough during the fight was. Ryu explained that it's called Overdrive a state where the mana is released at such a critical point that it manifests and increases in proportion to one's mana pool.
"In a sense you could say that it's releasing all your mana while still increasing the mana input and output from the surrounding mana in the area. It was just coincidental this time but with enough training you will be able to use it and activate it at will. One benefit of practicing it is that you can increase your mana pool." Said Ryu.
"Hmmmm, well I think I get it but still it was a great experience so I'll add a new objective to this journey training mana manipulation to its absolute limit." Said Ace. "That's the good attitude! Hahaha" added Ryu. After getting back to the city, Ace went straight to the inn and fell asleep in his room.
Several days later after a good earned rest, Ace went to the guild to pick out quests. Days after days, weeks after weeks and months after months, Ace reached D-rank and proceeded to preparing his stuff to continue his journey.
After 10 days on the roads and going from town to town, he arrived at the capital city of the kingdom "Westzel" and he decided to first go to a blacksmith shop so as to do maintenance on his gear and after hearing suggestion from the blacksmiths he decided to buy and improve his gear since after quest upon quest plus savings given by his family he had saved up quite the hefty amount of money.
After finishing the polishing of Ryuugetsu, Ace went on a stroll around the capital and bought some snacks and started to eat them. He also telepathically talked to Ryu who was in quite the good mood due to him being properly polished and handled by the blacksmith.
At some point Ace saw a familiar face in the crowd and decided to abord them. "So it really was you, I had heard that you were studying in the capital but I wasn't expecting to see you here, Iza." said Ace as he was close to them. "Iza? There is only one person who calls me that." Said the young girl as she faced backwards.
"Hi, been a while right?" added Ace, "How many times must I tell to say Isabella but oh well forget. Yes it truly has been a while Ace." Responded Isabella, the old co-student of Ace back when they studied magic under Maria in the Village.