**Status**
[Status]
Male - Age: 15
Level: 29 - [Spatial Mage]
Experience Value: 950/10,000
Title(s): [Cold Blooded, Evolver]
Affinities: Space, Time
Physique: Akhala Physique
Element: Space
Mana: 1475
Strength: 180
AGI: 145
DEF: 255
MP: 200
STAM: 183
Skills: [Dragon's Visual Projection Lv. 3, Enhanced Perception Lv. 4, Medium Teleportation Lv. 4], [Medium Telekinesis Lv. 2], [Regeneration Lv. 3], [Sword Mastery Lv. 6], [Danger Sense Lv. 2]
Lin looked satisfied with his progress. It seemed he had improved significantly.
Most of his enhancements came from evolution, as he consumed beasts that made his body stronger.
This gave him an exceptionally powerful physique for his level, allowing him to fight on par with most beasts within the boundaries of the first class.
He also noticed the new traits of his body. His abs were fully formed, and his frame looked chiseled rather than built through exercise. His height had also grown to 1.8 meters. He had a perfect physique.
The second thing Lin focused on was his skills. The range of his teleportation had expanded significantly, now reaching seven kilometers. Meanwhile, his telekinesis became more versatile, such as when he distorted space to kill goblins.
His mastery had obviously improved, but something still felt missing. His danger sense had progressed immensely, and he felt he could now detect any presence within a one-kilometer radius.
Surveying his surroundings, Lin noticed many goblin corpses scattered across the ground.
He took some time to pile all the bodies in the center of the room. Once he finished, he placed his hand on the pile and activated his skill.
**'Monarch's Physique'**
An abyssal black mist seeped from his arm, forming an enormous structure resembling the jaws of a terrifying beast. The mist then advanced, enveloping the entire pile. He could feel the strange mana being absorbed into his body and annexed as his own.
**Two hours later**
Training was not something Lin took lightly. After facing the Goblin King, he knew his skills needed to be honed to survive the challenges awaiting him deeper in the dungeon. In front of him stood a simple wooden dummy, firmly planted in the ground. It was a humble target, but for Lin, every move was more than practice; it was a quest for perfection.
Lin slowly unsheathed his swords, feeling the cold metal glide between his fingers. The weight of the weapon was familiar, a reminder of how much he still had to learn. He closed his eyes and allowed his Dragon's Visual Projection to manifest around him. The ethereal image of a serpentine dragon enveloped him like a master guiding him toward the purest form of combat.
Lin began with basic movements: horizontal cuts, precise thrusts, and vertical sweeps. Each strike made the air vibrate as he focused on aligning his breathing with the rhythm of his actions.
"One with the sword," he murmured to himself.
As he progressed, he increased the speed and complexity of his movements, integrating feints and spins that made his sword appear as an extension of his arm. But it wasn't enough. Lin paused and took a deep breath.
"It's not about strength or speed. It's about flow."
To push himself further, Lin activated his **Minor Telekinesis**. Using this ability, he lifted several rocks of varying sizes and hurled them at himself. Each rock simulated an enemy, and Lin had to slice, dodge, or parry with absolute precision.
Sweat began to drip down his forehead as he focused on every projectile. A small stone grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut.
"Too slow," he muttered, gritting his teeth.
He increased the intensity, making the rocks move faster, like arrows fired by an invisible army. Lin closed his eyes, allowing his Enhanced Perception to guide him, sensing the movement of every object. His sword started moving fluidly, as if alive.
With a shout, Lin spun quickly, slicing all the rocks into fragments. Tiny pieces fell around him, forming a perfect circle.
Despite his progress, something was still missing. Lin knew it. He decided to take one last, risky step: facing himself.
He activated his **Domain: Monarch's Time**, slowing his surroundings and allowing him to perceive every detail at an extraordinary level. In this space, he used his Dragon's Visual Projection to create illusions—perfect replicas of himself, each wielding a sword. These replicas attacked him with the sole purpose of pushing him beyond his limits.
"The sword is not my tool. It is my reflection."
Each encounter became harder than the last. Each illusion mirrored his techniques and movements, forcing him to find new ways to attack and defend. Lin began to lose himself in the flow of battle. There was no thought, only action.
Then, at the most critical moment, something inside him clicked. His movements ceased to be independent. The sword was no longer an external tool; it was a part of him. It moved naturally, as if his very soul guided the blade.
A golden aura emerged around Lin and his sword, radiant and warm, like the dawn after a long night. In that instant, the wooden dummy still standing before him was pierced by a strike so swift and clean it seemed untouched. A second later, it collapsed in silence.
**New skill acquired: Dragon Dance**
*Description: You have reached a superior state of connection with your sword. With Dragon Dance, your movements become unpredictable and elegant, like a storm flowing with the strength and grace of a dragon. This skill allows for simultaneous multi-strike attacks, distorting the space around you to confuse and disorient your enemies.*
Panting, Lin fell to his knees, but a smile crossed his face. His sword glowed with new energy, a testament to his determination.
"Finally…"
Lin decided to take a small break from his descent. Looking at the small huts and shacks around him, Lin smiled. "Even if it's just goblin handiwork, it's nice to see a change of scenery."
When he entered the Goblin King's hut, his smile grew even wider. Ignoring everything else, he threw a punch forward, landing on a soft surface.
"Haha! A bed! Who would've thought I'd be lucky enough to find a bed around here!"
Lin rolled around on the small bed made of unknown materials like a child as he relaxed a bit.
"I spent so much time leveling up and training. I guess I should take a break."
As he thought idle thoughts, Lin closed his eyes and fell asleep. With his body and mind finally at ease, he ended up having a pleasant dream.
It was a dream of the future—with his mother, father, brother, and a blurry figure he hadn't yet met—relaxing and laughing.
It was a dream of what he sought to achieve. A dream of his peaceful life after reaching the summit.
Lin woke up with a soft smile on his face, a stark contrast to the intense fire burning in his eyes. With the flames of motivation coursing through his body, he resumed his training.
A Note of Gratitude to My Readers
Dear readers,
I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you who has chosen to embark on this journey with me and my story. Every page you read, every moment you spend imagining the settings, the characters, and the emotions I strive to convey, gives true meaning to this project that began as a dream.
Writing this novel has been an adventure full of challenges and lessons, but knowing that you're out there, enjoying each chapter, motivates me to keep moving forward. You are not just readers; you are the heart of this story. With every comment, every thought you share, you remind me that these words do not fall into the void but instead resonate, inspire, and evoke emotion.
Through each page, my goal has been to take you to a world you can feel as your own, where the characters don't just live on paper but in your hearts. If, in any way, this story has managed to entertain, move, or make you reflect, then I feel my work has been worthwhile.
Thank you for trusting my vision, for letting me be part of your days, and for giving me the opportunity to share this story with you. Each one of you is an essential part of this journey, and your support is the driving force behind my creativity and my desire to keep growing as a writer.
This novel would not be the same without you, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for dreaming with me, and for believing in this adventure. I hope to continue sharing every page, every twist, and every special moment that we still have ahead.
With endless gratitude