The sun hung high in the later afternoon sky, casting long shadows across the courtyard where Alex and Bartlow stood facing each other, several meters apart. The tension in the air was palpable, a sense of impending action filling the space between them. Bartlow's expression was calm, yet his eyes gleamed with an energy Alex hadn't seen before.
"Tell me, Alex," Bartlow asked, his voice steady, "what do you think is the most important lesson I can teach you?"
Alex thought for a moment, then replied confidently, "To cultivate and get stronger."
Bartlow chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "We'll see. I'll ask you again at the end of our training session."
With that, Bartlow moved on to the day's lesson. "Remember, Alex, killing beasts and killing humans are two very different things. Beasts act on instinct—they don't think or plan like people do. They don't have tactics, and they don't care about honor or fear. Humans, on the other hand…" He paused, giving Alex a knowing look. "They're unpredictable. That's why today, we're starting with a sword. A basic weapon, but one that suits your physique and will serve you well in the long run."
Alex nodded, his grip tightening around the wooden training sword. "I'm ready," he said, bracing himself and raising the sword in front of him.
Bartlow gave a sly smile. "Good. But don't think this will be easy. I'll fight you at the level of a beginner cultivator," he said casually. Then, without warning, he disappeared from Alex's sight.
Before Alex could react, he felt the butt of Bartlow's wooden sword slam into his back. The force sent him crashing to the ground. Alex groaned in pain, looking up in confusion.
"I thought you were going to stay at a beginner level!" Alex exclaimed, frustration creeping into his voice.
Bartlow stood over him, grinning. "I did," he said simply. "You just need to understand that even beginners have ways to catch you off guard."
Alex, despite his frustration, felt a surge of determination. He scrambled to his feet and jumped back, putting some distance between them. Raising his sword again, he motioned for Bartlow to come at him.
The grin on Bartlow's face widened as he launched into a flurry of rapid attacks. Alex barely had time to register them—his sword moving instinctively to block a few, but most strikes landed across his arms, legs, and torso. It was relentless. Bartlow's movements were precise, quick, and almost effortless. Alex could do nothing but defend, constantly pushed back as he absorbed strike after strike.
For hours, they sparred. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the courtyard. By the time night started to fall, Alex was on the ground, gasping for breath, his body aching from the relentless barrage of blows. His muscles burned with exhaustion, and sweat dripped from his brow.
Bartlow, still calm and barely winded, looked down at Alex with an approving nod. "You've got endurance, boy. Not many can last as long as you did."
Alex, still lying on the ground, gave a weak thumbs-up, too tired to even respond properly. He couldn't help but think that all he'd managed to do was survive. He hadn't landed a single blow on Bartlow.
Bartlow's attention shifted, and he noticed Ruth watching them from the other side of the courtyard. She had been observing quietly, trying to stay out of sight. Bartlow, however, was far too perceptive for that.
"Ruth!" Bartlow called, his voice echoing across the courtyard. Ruth flinched slightly, realizing she'd been caught. "Come help Alex to his room. He's had enough for today. His homework is to heal himself as best as he can, then take a bath and get some rest."
Ruth nodded and hurried over to help Alex. She glanced at Bartlow, trying to hide the fact she'd been watching the entire time, but Bartlow just gave her a knowing look before turning back to Alex.
As Ruth helped Alex to his feet, Bartlow called out one more time. "Alex," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "What do you think is the most important lesson I can teach you?"
Alex, still catching his breath and too exhausted to think clearly, shook his head. "I honestly don't know yet," he admitted. "But I promise, when I figure it out, I'll tell you."
Bartlow nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Good enough for now. Go get some rest."
As they walked back toward the manor, Alex turned to Ruth, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. "Where were Lucas and Emily today? I didn't see them."
Ruth's expression shifted slightly, and she hesitated before answering. "They left this morning for Godsent Academy. It's where they'll start their formal cultivation training. It's for nobles."
Alex's brow furrowed in confusion. "Godsent Academy? Is that where they hold the trials to become a noble?"
Ruth nodded. "Yes, but you can't enter until you're at least eighteen. Lucas and Emily can start early because they were born into nobility. For you, though, it'll be a couple of years before you're eligible."
Alex nodded slowly, absorbing the information. He understood now that the path ahead was even longer and more complex than he'd realized, but it only fueled his determination. He had two years to prepare—and he intended to make the most of it.
When they reached his room, Alex turned to Ruth, offering a tired but genuine smile. "Thanks, Ruth. For everything."
As Ruth helped Alex into the room, she guided him to the bed, where he collapsed, exhausted. Sitting there, his limbs heavy with fatigue, Alex looked at Ruth. "Can you help me with my shirt and pants? My arms and legs feel numb," he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Ruth, startled but determined to help, nodded. Understanding the situation, she assisted Alex in removing his outer garments until he was only in his underclothes. Once settled, Alex lay back on the bed, focusing his energy on healing the major cuts and bruises scattered across his body.
However, after casting his healing spell for the third time, a warning flashed across his vision—his mana reserves were down to just 25%. Ruth, noticing Alex's hesitation, asked gently, "Are you alright?"
Shaking off his brief moment of panic, Alex replied with a shy smile, "I'm fine." He reminded himself that Ruth couldn't see the system's warnings; it was something only he had access to. Taking a deep breath, he pushed through the dizziness and cast his healing spell one last time, touching the wound on his side. But as the spell completed, the world around him spun, and the depletion of his mana took its toll. His body gave in, and he passed out.
Ruth, now concerned for Alex's well-being, checked his breathing. Relieved to find him still stable but drained, she knew she needed to get him to the bath to clean up. With no other choice, she decided to help him further, carefully removing his underclothes to prepare him for the bath.
As she guided him, Ruth couldn't help but notice how defined Alex's physique had become, his muscles already more toned from just a day of training his member however swinging back and forth —caught her off guard, and she quickly looked away, blushing in embarrassment. She mentally chastised herself, refocusing on her task.
With effort, Ruth grabbed Alex by the arm and waist, carefully guiding him into the bathroom. As she struggled to get him into the bath, she tried to keep her composure, her focus slipping for only a moment as her thoughts wandered. Once she managed to settle him into the tub, she grabbed a sponge and soap, methodically washing him from head to toe, trying to remain as professional as possible. Her hands worked with precision, moving across his back, his arms, and down to his legs as she began to run the sponge down Alex's memeber she hesistated for a moment seeing it flex for a second catching her in a daze.
as she finished scrubbing his body, Alex stirred, regaining consciousness. His mind was groggy, but he quickly realized what was happening and looked at Ruth in shock. His face flushed with horror as he instinctively covered himself, embarrassed. "Ruth… I-I can handle it from here," he stammered.
Ruth, just as embarrassed, quickly stepped away, her cheeks burning. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean… I just… Sir Bartlow asked me to make sure you were cleaned up for tomorrow's work," she explained, her voice flustered but sincere. Not wanting to make things more awkward, she rushed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Outside the door, Ruth leaned against the wall, trying to calm herself. "I'll see you in the morning, Alex," she called through the door, her voice shaky but composed. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
Inside, Alex, still overwhelmed and exhausted, sighed deeply. Despite the embarrassment, he appreciated Ruth's help. Letting the warm bathwater soothe his sore muscles, he closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax. The weight of the day's activities finally began to lift, and his body felt lighter as the water worked to relieve his phantom pains and soreness.
Once he felt rested enough, Alex dried himself off, pulled on fresh underclothes, and collapsed onto his bed.
Alex groaned internally, horrified by the memory of passing out and Ruth tending to him. I can't believe I passed out like that, he thought, frustrated. I need to be more careful with how I use my mana. Desperate for information, he asked, System, how much mana do I have left?
Divine God System
Stats:
Mana: 13
Spirit: 0
Body Cultivation: Beginner Stage
Would the host like to view attribute stats?
Alex, too drained to care, simply muttered, "No," and closed his eyes. His body still ached, and some bruises remained, but at least the major cuts had been healed. I'll be fine for tomorrow. I just need to rest. Bartlow's not going to take it easy on me, so I need all the energy I can get.
As he settled back into the bed, the system chimed again.
3 system points remaining. Would the host like to purchase or upgrade any skills?
Curious, Alex began scrolling through the system's list of beginner skills, most of which seemed unremarkable at first glance. His thoughts drifted to Bartlow. If Bartlow noticed me suddenly using new skills, he'd definitely get curious, Alex mused. He probably doesn't know anything about this system. After all, only angels and demons were said to have systems like this.
For a brief moment, a strange thought crossed his mind. What if my father was a demon? He chuckled to himself. Nah, I'd have known at birth if that were the case. Besides, angels and demons haven't been seen in centuries. There's no way.
Pushing the thought aside, Alex asked, How much would it cost to upgrade Heal or Divine Sight?
System operations operate as follows:
• All beginner-grade skills initial cost: 1 system point
• Each upgrade increases in cost as skill level advances:
Skill Upgrade Costs:
Level 1 - 1 system point
Level 2 - 10 system points
Level 3 - 50 system points
Level 4 - 100 system points
Level 5 - 250 system points
Level 6 - 500 system points
Level 7 - 1000 system points
Level 8 - 10,000 system points
…
Would the host like to buy or upgrade skills at this time?
Alex stared blankly at the system prompt, bewildered by how quickly the cost escalated. This is insane, he thought, feeling overwhelmed. He considered for a moment if he could convince Bartlow to train him against star beasts—under the guise of "training purposes"—as an excuse to gain more system points. Something to think about later, he sighed. His mind was growing foggy from exhaustion.
Before he could think any further, his body relaxed into the bed. Tomorrow will be a new day, he told himself, excitement and anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. With that final thought, Alex drifted off into a deep, much-needed sleep.