After Cruzer finished immersing in the manuals, he felt the energy drain out from his body due to the toll today's events had taken on him. Despair and then hope again had left him mentally exhausted.
He managed to drag his body to the sofa in the living room. Exhausted but content, Cruzer slumped down on the sofa and fell asleep.
The next day, he awoke with soreness all over his body, having fallen asleep on the sofa. Despite the soreness, he felt a sense of refreshment. His mind was clearer, and his resolve had been strengthened.
"System, show me my attribute panel," he requested.
The system complied, displaying his current attributes:
Name: Cruzer
Level: 20
Talent: ?? 1 star: Elemental Devouring (passive), Elemental Affinity 4 stars: Basic skills: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Aether Control
HP: 485
MP: 385
STR: 77
AGT: 71
INT: 67
WIL: 71
END: 73
Blank Attribute Points: 150
Skill Points: 30
Cultivation Manual: Elemental Fusion Manual
Skills: Fury Cutter, Sword Barrage, Sparkle Level 10, Fireball Level 10, Heal Level 8
He was shocked to see the exponential rise in his level and attributes. What shocked him the most was the addition of the talent column in the attribute panel as well as the description of his talents.
He asked the system, "How did my level skyrocket?"
"As host has awakened his exclusive talent ability Elemental Devouring, it automatically absorbed the elemental energy floating around the environment, causing a spike in the host's level. The absorbed elemental energy is of pure nature, so the host will have twice the result with half the effort."
Finally, it dawned upon him that the talent he had awakened was really as awesome as it sounded. He didn't even have to do anything, and after he woke up, he was already almost halfway through to the next mystic level.
Cruzer was a guy with a go-with-the-flow personality, and he knew this better than anyone. When he met the mysterious entity in the dark room, when he awakened his talent and system, he just went with the flow.
While he thought that he would try to find out about his situation, his dual memory, his talents, and such, he only had passive thoughts regarding it. He didn't have any active intentions to pursue his thoughts.
He knew that better than himself. He was content with his life. He had a good friend in Hiroshi; even though Rin and Alisha were giving him the cold shoulder, he thought that they would eventually go back to how they were. This personality trait was something he inherited from his self seen in the peaceful Earth, as his life was smooth sailing and going with the flow had been the correct answer.
But the reality in the present had given him a hard slap. In this world, going with the flow only worked if his fist was stronger. This reality had left him with a grim reminder: while everything seemed fine on the surface, at the core, his world had a strong-eat-the-weak mindset.
So, he decided to fully change his mentality and harden himself up. He decided to live by the creed: "Strength is my path, power my goal. I will forge my destiny with my own hands." With these thoughts in mind, he decided to take a bath.
Since he could no longer be a part of the academy situation for now, he decided to be an adventurer. He then decided to sell his house as he wanted to move away from this academy town and head somewhere else to start anew.
Since he decided to do this, he went to his room, opened his computer, and put the house up for sale. Then he decided to head toward the Adventurer's Guild to register himself before beginning his journey.
The Adventurer's Guild was an imposing building located in the heart of the city. The structure was a blend of ancient architecture and modern enhancements, with grand pillars supporting a wide entrance and a large sign above reading "Adventurer's Guild" in bold letters. The interior was bustling with activity, filled with adventurers of all kinds: warriors, mages, archers, and more, each discussing quests, trading items, or socializing.
Cruzer approached the reception desk, where a young woman greeted him with a professional smile. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. How can I assist you today?"
"I'd like to register as an adventurer," Cruzer replied.
"Of course," she said, handing him a form. "Please fill out this form with your details, and we'll get you started."
Cruzer filled out the form, listing his name, age, and skills. He handed it back to the receptionist, who then guided him to a small room for his registration interview.
Inside the room, an experienced adventurer with a stern look on his face sat behind a desk. "So, you want to become an adventurer?" he asked, looking over Cruzer's form.
"Yes," Cruzer replied confidently.
The interviewer nodded. "Alright, let's see what you're made of. We have a basic assessment to determine your starting rank. Follow me."
Cruzer followed the man to an adjacent training hall, where various equipment and training dummies were set up. The interviewer gestured to a training dummy. "Show me your skills."
Cruzer took a deep breath and focused. He demonstrated his Fury Cutter and Sword Barrage techniques, then cast Sparkle and Fireball at the targets, showing a controlled but powerful display of his abilities.
The interviewer watched carefully, nodding in approval. "Impressive. You have good control and power. Based on your performance, we'll start you at E Rank. As you complete quests and pass the rank ascension tests, you'll be able to rise through the ranks. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild, Cruzer."
"Thank you," Cruzer said, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
He returned home, packed up his important belongings, and prepared for his departure. The next day, a buyer who was sending his daughter to the academy next year arrived to purchase the house. Cruzer felt a pang of sadness as he finalized the sale. This familiar yet unfamiliar house had become his home since he awakened in this world, and now he was leaving it behind.
As he stood at the doorstep for the last time, memories of his childhood friends Rin and Yuu resurfaced. He felt a deep sadness from the depths of his soul. Saying goodbye to this place was harder than he had anticipated.
With a heavy heart, he turned toward the city gate. Allowing himself to cry one last time, he let out his emotions. He knew that once he left this city, he would no longer be the same person. His expression turned cold and uncaring as he wiped his tears and steeled himself for the journey ahead.
Cruzer caught a flight to the most popular city for adventurers: Labyrinth City, which was located to the south of this academy town. This city was known for its countless dungeons and labyrinths, filled with treasures, monsters, and mysteries waiting to be discovered. It was the perfect place for him to start his new life as an adventurer.
As the plane took off, Cruzer looked out the window, watching the city where he was branded as a cheater and humiliated, where he was betrayed and where nobody even gave him a chance, fade into the distance. He felt a mix of anticipation and determination. His old life was behind him, and a new, uncertain future awaited. But he was ready to face it head-on.