The days passed in quiet focus.
After everything that had happened in the Hollow Thicket and the mana ore deposit, DK made a surprising decision. He didn't seek out any new quests, didn't push for another reckless fight, and didn't attempt to absorb any more corruption or mana. Instead, he dedicated himself to something he hadn't prioritized since awakening in this world—pure training.
Lucy noticed the shift almost immediately.
On the second morning of their journey toward Dragondale, she had expected DK to mention another shortcut into some dangerous zone, or to argue about testing his abilities on bandits or wild beasts. Instead, he woke up early, before even the sun had fully risen, and went to train.
Not with his Darkmoon Blade.
Not with mana-enhanced speed.
Not with corruption-infused attacks.
Just his body.
She had watched, half in curiosity and half in disbelief, as DK methodically ran through a strict regimen of physical conditioning. Push-ups, squats, balance exercises, endurance runs. No fancy techniques, no magic-infused bursts of speed—just simple, raw effort.
At first, she didn't comment.
But when it continued every day for an entire week, Lucy finally couldn't take it anymore.
As the sun rose on the sixth day, she leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching DK with sharp, analyzing eyes. He was running drills—shadow fighting. He moved fluidly, throwing strikes at an imaginary opponent, dodging attacks that didn't exist, his muscles tensing and relaxing in perfect rhythm. Every strike was deliberate. His footwork was precise.
Not once did he activate a skill.
Not once did he use mana.
Not once did he let the corruption creep into his movements.
It was pure control.
After watching for a while, Lucy sighed dramatically. "Alright, I can't hold it in anymore. Who the hell are you and what did you do with the real DK?"
DK paused mid-movement, exhaling before turning toward her. "What?"
Lucy motioned at him with a lazy wave of her hand. "You. This whole... 'disciplined warrior' act. The DK I know charges into fights like an idiot, barely surviving by sheer luck and instinct. Now you're, what? Training like some monk in isolation? Since when did you decide to get all mature on me?"
DK wiped the sweat from his forehead, giving a small, unreadable smile. "What? Surprised I can take things seriously?"
"Yes, actually." Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Where did you even learn to do all this? I've never seen you train like this before."
DK hesitated. He hadn't realized how much of his past life's discipline for playing MMORPG had started creeping into his current self. He hadn't even thought about it—it just felt natural.
Fighting blindly and recklessly had nearly gotten him killed in the Hollow Thicket. Relying too much on mana absorption and corruption control had put him at risk of losing himself. He had to build a proper foundation if he wanted to keep growing stronger without losing control.
But he couldn't tell Lucy that.
So, instead, he shrugged. "Figured it was time to stop being reckless."
Lucy tilted her head, unconvinced. "That's it?"
"That's it."
She stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head, muttering something under her breath. Then, a smirk curled at her lips. "Alright, then let's see what this 'new and improved' DK is capable of."
She tossed her staff aside and cracked her knuckles. "Fight me."
DK raised an eyebrow. "What, no magic?"
"No magic," she confirmed. "You've been training your body, not your skills. Let's see if that translates to actual combat."
DK rolled his shoulders, stepping forward. "Alright. But don't whine when you lose."
Lucy scoffed. "As if."
The spar began.
DK moved first, launching forward with speed, but not supernatural speed. No mana boost, no enhanced movement—just his own strength. Lucy reacted quickly, sidestepping his first attack and aiming a counterstrike at his ribs. DK blocked, redirecting the momentum into a grappling move rather than simply overpowering her.
Lucy barely twisted out of it in time, her eyes widening slightly.
He was reading her movements.
In their previous spars, DK had always relied on raw aggression and speed, rushing forward. He would win simply because he didn't give his opponent time to think. But now—he was thinking.
Instead of rushing, he was analyzing.
Instead of overpowering, he was redirecting.
Instead of reacting, he was anticipating.
Lucy smirked as she broke free from his grip. "Alright, you might actually be getting better."
DK grinned. "Told you."
The two continued exchanging blows, and though Lucy was still faster because of being at a higher level and also using mana, DK was catching up. He wasn't reckless. He wasn't wasting movement. Every strike had a purpose.
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't overwhelming.
But it was effective.
Lucy eventually stepped back, exhaling. "Alright, I'll admit it—you're improving. Guess almost dying really does change a person."
DK smirked, but he didn't deny it.
The next few days of travel followed a similar pattern. DK trained his body in the morning, sparred with Lucy in the afternoons, and only after everything else, he practiced his mana and corruption control.
Not together.
Not mixed.
Each separately, refining his ability to use them without relying on either.
By the time they were one day away from Dragondale, Lucy was no longer questioning his methods.
She was watching him with a different kind of interest.
"You're really planning something, aren't you?" she asked as they sat near a fire on the final night before reaching the city.
DK didn't look up from sharpening his blade. "What makes you say that?"
Lucy studied him, the firelight flickering in her sharp, intelligent eyes. "Because before, you were reckless. You ran into fights, relied on whatever power you had, and hoped for the best. Now, you're planning. You're being deliberate. It's like... you're preparing for something."
DK paused for a moment, then resumed sharpening his blade. "I am."
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
DK's smirk returned, but there was an edge to it. "For whatever comes next."
Lucy watched him for a long moment before sighing. "You're impossible."
DK chuckled, but deep inside, he knew this was necessary.
He had been reborn into this world without purpose. He had fumbled his way through, surviving on instinct and luck.
But now? Now, he had control. Now, he had power. And whatever awaited him in Dragondale, he'd be ready.