The silence in the apartment, once heavy with the ghost of his uncle's presence, now hummed with a nascent energy. Zane had spent the last few days adjusting to his healed body, a sensation of effortless movement that still felt surreal. Now, the real work began. The pouch of super high-quality mana stones, tucked safely within his inventory, was a resource to be used wisely.He stood in the training space, no longer a place of frustrating limitations, but a canvas for his potential. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, and the familiar interface materialized before him:Zane Valor
Race: Human
Classes: Apprentice Beast Tamer (Primary), Apprentice Mage (Primary)
Affinities: Fire, Void, Light
Attributes:Strength: 8 (+3) = 11 Agility: 10 (+3) = 13 Intelligence: 14 (+3) = 17 Spirit: 18 (+5) = 23
Elements:Fire: Apprentice (Level 6) Void: Novice (Level 1) Light: Novice (Level 1)
Skills:Valor's Fire Embrace Art (Novice): Proficient (70/100) Infernal Dominion (Novice): Proficient (80/100) Fireball (Novice): Proficient (80/100) Fire Shield (Novice): Proficient (75/100) Light Embracing Art (Novice): Basic (5/100)
Items: Eclipse Core (Active)He noted the jump in his Fire element. A 10% increase in elemental compression translated to one level within a stage. Starting at Apprentice Level 2, he was now at Level 6. The attributes had also increased due to the training.Zane began with Fire Manipulation, visualizing the element, feeling its heat within his spirit core. He focused on further compressing the raw fire element. The air shimmered as he manipulated the element, forming small, controlled flames that danced around his hands. He practiced controlling the temperature, making them burn hotter or cooler. As he pushed the element further, a fleeting image flickered through his mind – a blazing inferno, an inferno that defied control, yet resonated with a strange familiarity. He pushed the image away, focusing on the present.He moved on to the basic fire spells. For Fireball, he visualized the compressed fire forming a sphere, focusing his spirit energy to maintain its shape and increase its density. He launched the fireball at the training dummy, the impact sending a jolt through the room. This time, the fireball was the size of a small melon, the heat radiating outwards intense enough to scorch the nearby wall slightly. A satisfied smile touched Zane's lips. He repeated this, refining his control, increasing the size and speed. He envisioned the day when his fireballs could become blazing comets, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.He then practiced Fire Shield, visualizing a swirling vortex of fire forming a defensive barrier. He focused on maintaining the shield's integrity, visualizing projectiles striking it and being deflected. He could now maintain the shield for a longer duration and make it withstand greater force, the heat radiating from it intense enough to make the air around him ripple and distort the light. The shield felt more substantial now, a wall of molten fire that promised unwavering protection.Next, he focused on the Light Embracing Art. He entered the compression space, activating the light element array. He visualized the light element, trying to draw it into his body. It was still difficult, a wisp compared to the raging inferno of his fire. He visualized the light flowing through his meridians, illuminating his spirit core. He could now hold the light within him for slightly longer periods, feeling a subtle enhancement to his senses. A faint warmth spread through him, a sense of calm and clarity that surprised him. Zane knew this element would be crucial for balance, a counterpoint to the raw power of fire and the unsettling mystery of the void. He practiced drawing in and releasing the light element, trying to find a rhythm, a flow that felt natural, a gentle pulse within his spirit.He also continued his practice of Infernal Dominion. With his restored body, he could execute the complex movements with greater precision and power. He focused on the flow of spirit energy, channeling it through his limbs, enhancing his speed, strength, and agility. He practiced the hand strikes, footwork, and defensive maneuvers, each repetition solidifying his mastery of the basic forms. The movements felt more fluid, his body responding instantly to his will, a stark contrast to the hesitant, painful movements of the past. He felt a connection to something primal, something ancient, within the forms, a whisper of the power his ancestors had wielded.As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the training space, Zane stopped, accessing his status again:Zane ValorRace: Human
Classes: Apprentice Beast Tamer (Primary), Apprentice Mage (Primary)
Affinities: Fire, Void, Light
Attributes:Strength: 11 (+2) = 13 Agility: 13 (+2) = 15 Intelligence: 17 (+2) = 19 Spirit: 23 (+3) = 26
Elements:Fire: Apprentice (Level 7) Void: Novice (Level 1) Light: Novice (Level 3)
Skills:Valor's Fire Embrace Art (Novice): Proficient (80/100) Infernal Dominion (Novice): Proficient (90/100) Fireball (Intermediate): Master (5/100) Fire Shield (Intermediate): Master (10/100) Light Embracing Art (Novice): Basic (30/100)
Items: Eclipse Core (Active)His Fire element had increased by one level, and Light by two. He had also mastered the Novice level for Fireball and Fire Shield, thus advancing them to the Intermediate stage. His attributes had also improved.Zane took a deep breath. The numbers represented tangible progress. He could feel the difference. He was no longer held back. The phantom pains that had haunted him for so long were gone, replaced by the satisfying ache of exertion. The weight of his uncle's parting words settled upon him again, not as a burden, but as a challenge. He was on a path of his own making, and he was eager to see where it would lead. He thought about the mana stones, knowing they would be vital for future training and advancement. He knew he had to become stronger, not just for himself, but for whatever lay ahead. A flicker of an image crossed his mind – a vast, star-strewn expanse, a universe waiting to be explored. He pushed the image away, focusing on the present, on the next step in his training, but the seed of ambition had been planted. He closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, it felt full of possibilities.