The morning light filtered through the curtains of Ray's small apartment, gently waking him from a deep, dreamless sleep. As his eyes fluttered open, he was immediately reminded of the looming rank-up examination at the end of the week. The thought of it sent a surge of anticipation through him. Today marked the beginning of his final preparations, and he knew he needed to make every moment count.
Sitting up in bed, Ray reached for his bracelet and activated it, summoning the 20 colorless monster cores he had collected the previous day. The cores appeared in his hand, their dull, unimpressive surfaces hiding the potential power they held within. Ray knew that each of these cores could provide a slight boost to his abilities—an edge that could make all the difference in the upcoming examination.
With a deep breath, Ray focused on the first core, channeling his energy as he began the absorption process. The core pulsed faintly before dissolving into a stream of light, which flowed into Ray's body.
[Vitality: 1.1 (11/11)]
[Notification: Vitality increased by 0.1]
Ray felt a small surge of energy as his vitality increased. Encouraged, he continued with the next core.
[Strength: 1.1]
[Notification: Strength increased by 0.1]
Another core, another slight improvement. Ray kept going, absorbing each core one by one, feeling the incremental changes in his body.
[Defense: 1.1]
[Notification: Defense increased by 0.1]
[Mana: 1.2 (12/12)]
[Notification: Mana increased by 0.1]
[Speed: 1.1]
[Notification: Speed increased by 0.1]
[Vitality: 1.2 (12/12)]
[Notification: Vitality increased by 0.1]
[Strength: 1.2]
[Notification: Strength increased by 0.1]
[Defense: 1.2]
[Notification: Defense increased by 0.1]
[Mana: 1.3 (13/13)]
[Notification: Mana increased by 0.1]
[Speed: 1.2]
[Notification: Speed increased by 0.1]
[Vitality: 1.3 (13/13)]
[Notification: Vitality increased by 0.1]
[Strength: 1.3]
[Notification: Strength increased by 0.1]
[Defense: 1.3]
[Notification: Defense increased by 0.1]
[Mana: 1.4 (14/14)]
[Notification: Mana increased by 0.1]
[Speed: 1.3]
[Notification: Speed increased by 0.1]
[Vitality: 1.4 (14/14)]
[Notification: Vitality increased by 0.1]
[Strength: 1.4]
[Notification: Strength increased by 0.1]
[Defense: 1.4]
[Notification: Defense increased by 0.1]
[Mana: 1.5 (15/15)]
[Notification: Mana increased by 0.1]
[Speed: 1.4]
[Notification: Speed increased by 0.1]
By the time Ray absorbed the last core, he could feel the subtle yet noticeable improvements in his body. Every stat had seen an increase, however minor. It wasn't enough to drastically change his capabilities, but it brought him one step closer to being ready for the examination.
Ray let out a slow breath, feeling the energy from the cores settle into his body. He now had a clear plan: spend the remaining days before the examination honing his skills in the hunting grounds, focusing on his Fire magic, and raising his Mana and Aura cores to the next level.
[Current Stats]
[Vitality: 1.4 (14/14)]
[Strength: 1.4]
[Defense: 1.4]
[Mana: 1.5 (15/15)]
[Speed: 1.4]
The next five days passed in a blur of relentless training. Each day, Ray ventured into the hunting grounds, collecting monster cores along the way.
Every morning, Ray made his way to the hunter training grounds, where he spent an hour each day battling goblins in the forest. This time, he focused solely on using his Fire magic, allowing it to grow in power and effectiveness.
At first, his flames were small, barely enough to scorch the goblins' flesh. But with each encounter, Ray's control over the element improved. He practiced igniting flames faster, increasing their intensity, and maintaining them for longer durations. By the end of the third day, Ray had reached a new level of mastery.
[Fire Skill has leveled up to Level 2]
[Level 2: The user can launch small fireballs at targets, causing minor burn damage. The fireballs travel up to 10 meters and explode on impact. (MP Cost: 10, Cooldown: 30 seconds)]
Ray continued to push himself, refining his magic further. The more he fought, the more attuned he became to the fire within him. The flames responded to his will, growing fiercer and more potent with each battle. As his Fire skill grew, so too did the number of goblins he could dispatch with ease.
On the fifth day, as Ray unleashed a torrent of flames upon a group of goblins, he felt the familiar rush of power signaling another advancement in his skill.
[Fire Skill has leveled up to Level 3]
[Level 3: The user can create a protective barrier of flames around themselves, deflecting physical attacks and burning anyone who comes too close. The shield lasts for 15 seconds. (MP Cost: 15, Cooldown: 1 minute)]
With his Fire skill now at Level 3, Ray's confidence soared. The small fireballs he could now conjure were devastating against the low-tier goblins, often incapacitating them before they could get close enough to retaliate.
But Ray knew that his magic alone wouldn't be enough to guarantee his success in the examination. His Mana and Aura cores were equally important, as they directly influenced his overall power and endurance in combat.
Each evening, after his hunts, Ray dedicated himself to meditation, focusing inward on the flow of energy within his body. He visualized his Mana and Aura cores, guiding the energy to circulate through them in precise patterns. It was a slow, methodical process, but Ray knew that this kind of training was essential for unlocking the full potential of his cores.
As the days went by, he felt a gradual increase in the energy within his Mana core. The magical energy flowed more freely, regenerating faster and allowing him to cast more spells without feeling drained. Similarly, his Aura core began to emit a stronger, more potent force, enhancing his physical abilities in subtle yet significant ways.
By the end of the fifth day, Ray's relentless efforts had paid off.
[Mana Core has leveled up to Level 2]
[Aura Core has leveled up to Level 2]
[Mana Core Level 2 – Mana Capacity: +20% increase, Mana Regeneration: 10% per 60 seconds, Magic Damage: +10% boost]
[Aura Core Level 2 – Increases Strength: +20%, Increases Regeneration: 10% per 60 seconds, Damage Dealt to Enemies: +10% boost]
The improvements to his Mana and Aura cores were tangible, and Ray felt the difference in his every move. His magic was more potent, his strength greater, and his endurance had grown. He was ready—more ready than he had ever been—to face the rank-up examination.
As the final day before the examination drew to a close, Ray sat on the floor of his apartment, a calm determination settling over him. He knew that he had done everything in his power to prepare. The rest would depend on his performance tomorrow.
With a final glance at his stats, Ray allowed himself a small smile. The journey ahead would be challenging, but he was no stranger to hardship. He would rise to the occasion, just as he had done countless times before.
[Current Stats]
Vitality: 3.8 (38/38)
Strength: 3.9
Defense: 3.8
Mana: 4.0 (40/40)
Speed: 3.8
As Ray closed his eyes that night, the weight of his preparations settled over him like a comforting blanket. Tomorrow, he would face the examination with everything he had. And he would emerge victorious—no matter what it took.