Yuzu stood in the middle of his tower room, his muscles aching from the relentless training sessions. His breathing was ragged, but he had grown stronger over the past few days, and the difference in his abilities was becoming apparent. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he noticed a small, glowing button in the corner of the room that he hadn't seen before. Curious, he walked over to inspect it.
Equip Training Partner?
A sharp thrill of excitement ran through him. He had been training alone all this time, but now he had the chance to practice with something more tangible than empty air. He pressed the button, and the system asked him to choose.
Select your training partner:
Gender: Male
Appearance: Long black hair covering eyes, slightly stronger than current stats
Skill Type: Swordmaster
The room flickered for a moment, and a figure began to form in front of Yuzu. A tall, imposing man with long black hair obscuring his eyes appeared. He radiated a quiet intensity, and his posture spoke of experience and deadly skill. Yuzu felt his stomach knot in anticipation. This was going to be a real challenge.
Without a word, the training partner drew his sword, and Yuzu readied himself.
The first few sessions were brutal. Yuzu never even managed to lay a finger on him. The training partner moved with an elegance and speed that far exceeded his own, evading Yuzu's strikes as though they were in slow motion. Every day Yuzu pushed himself to the limit, but it seemed futile. However, after several days of relentless practice, Yuzu began to improve.
The first sign came when he managed to graze the partner's cheek with the tip of his sword. It was a small victory, but it fueled Yuzu's determination.
The next day, he managed to parry his opponent's blade, feeling the weight of the clash reverberate through his arms. He could see the improvement in his form and the speed of his strikes.
By the end of the third day, Yuzu delivered his first real blow—slicing his opponent's arm. The impact filled him with satisfaction, but the training partner's counterattack immediately humbled him, sending him crashing to the floor.
Still, Yuzu's confidence grew. His Sword Mastery skill was steadily increasing, and each day he came closer to overcoming his sparring partner.
Finally, on the last day, Yuzu made his move. With swift precision and flawless technique, he pierced his sword straight through the chest of the training partner. The room fell silent, and a message flashed before him:
Congratulations! You've defeated your training partner. Sword Mastery has increased to Level 15.
The system continued to display rewards:
Title Earned: Luna Master
Title Earned: Sword Priest
Titles Merged! You are now known as: Moon Priest.
The titles reflected Yuzu's mastery over the blade and his alignment with the moon, symbolized by the weapon he wielded. The Moon Priest title granted him significant boosts to his swordsmanship and lunar-themed abilities, which would prove invaluable in future battles.
Yuzu's reward included 40 stat points, and without hesitation, he accessed the system to distribute them. After some thought, he decided to allocate his points as follows:
20 points into Speed 5 points into StrengthThe remaining points would further round out his other attributes.
His updated stats were:
Strength: 25 Speed: 45Technique: 15 Stamina: 10 Intelligence: 11 Perception: 8 Luck: 5
Feeling stronger and more confident than ever, Yuzu then visited the shop. With the new points and titles, his access to gear had expanded significantly. He selected:
Black Trench Coat (+9 Defense) – A sleek black coat adorned with a glowing blue crescent moon on the back.Chest Guard (+6 Defense) – Light, durable, and easy to move in, providing additional protection without hindering his agility.Shoes of the Swift (+10 Speed) – These black shoes were designed for speed, granting him unmatched mobility in battle.
After equipping his new gear, Yuzu admired his reflection. He looked much more formidable than before, the glowing crescent on his coat making him stand out. The crescent was a symbol of his newfound strength and determination, a representation of the Moon Priest title he had earned through hard work and perseverance.
Satisfied with his progress, Yuzu opened the world chat again, eager to connect with others. Messages were flying in every direction as people discussed their own trials, strategies, and plans for the upcoming Exodus. Yuzu took a moment to craft his message.
YuzuN: Moon Priest looking for alliances before the next Exodus. We need to be ready for anything.
Almost instantly, he received a response.
ElenaX: Moon Priest, huh? Impressive. I'm down to team up. You trained hard, I assume? Because this next Exodus won't be easy. Rumors are swirling that we might face off against other worlds this time. We should prepare for anything.
Yuzu's heart skipped a beat. Facing other worlds? The thought of going up against people from different realms filled him with excitement and dread. He knew he had to keep training and growing stronger. But now, he wasn't alone. He had allies, and soon enough, he would be ready for whatever the tower had in store.
Yuzu closed the chat window and glanced at his newly equipped gear. He was faster, stronger, and more prepared than he had ever been.
The tower had thrown everything it had at him, but Yuzu wasn't backing down.
The next Exodus was on the horizon, and this time, he would be ready.