Seeing the panel, Ronan felt a slight surge of excitement.
The effects of high-intensity meditation were starting to show.
His mental energy had increased by 2%, bringing him closer to the realm of a Level Two apprentice.
A new entry had appeared in the skill list: [Energy Missile], with a proficiency of (Beginner 14/100).
"There's nothing more satisfying than seeing tangible results after working hard," Ronan sighed with emotion.
Lying on his bed, relaxing his mind and body while reviewing the day's intense practice, Ronan gradually sensed something unusual.
The process of learning [Energy Missile] had gone way too smoothly.
According to the memories of his past self, many novice sorcerers took weeks or even months to successfully learn their first zero-level spell.
But Ronan had done it in just a single day.
And this was without any guidance—he had figured it all out on his own.
"Could it be that I'm a one-in-a-million spellcasting prodigy?!"
Ronan shook his head, thinking it over. He concluded that the reason likely lay in the panel.
This mysterious character panel seemed to possess a special ability that solidified every bit of progress he made.
During his practice with [Energy Missile], he had almost completely eliminated the possibility of repeating the same mistake twice.
This became even more evident once he reached the beginner level with the spell.
After each casting, scattered insights would naturally bubble up from deep within him, providing nourishment for his next, more successful attempt.
The same went for meditation.
Ronan found it easier and quicker to enter a meditative state, and the results were getting significantly better.
"If this panel really works the way I think it does… then I've hit the jackpot," Ronan murmured to himself.
Without lighting a lamp, he gazed at the dark ceiling, bathed in moonlight from the window. Waves of drowsiness washed over him, and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.
He was simply too exhausted. At this stage, Ronan still couldn't completely replace sleep with meditation.
A New Routine
In the following days, Ronan began living a highly disciplined life.
He woke up early every morning for physical training, followed by spell practice and meditation. In the afternoons, he would spend another two hours on physical exercise, continuing until late at night.
His natural sleep time never exceeded four hours a day.
Half a month passed without him noticing.
"Uru Bazidam!"
In the tranquil oak forest, a low chant echoed.
The air around him shifted abruptly. A glowing orb the size of a ping-pong ball appeared, zipping toward a dense bush.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted, accompanied by a faint wailing sound.
Leaves, grass fragments, and dirt flew everywhere as the bush was obliterated, leaving only devastation in its wake.
"Hmm?"
From a distance, Ronan, who had just finished casting [Energy Missile], noticed something strange. He lowered his head in thought.
"Just now, I shortened the incantation and skipped several hand gestures… and it still worked!"
Ronan opened his character panel.
Sure enough, the skill icon for [Energy Missile] now displayed (Proficient 1/200) instead of "Beginner."
"Skill proficiency level increased?!"
Ronan was delighted but not too surprised. His [Energy Missile] proficiency had been stuck at (Beginner 99/100) for a day or two, so this breakthrough felt like a natural progression.
"Now that it's at the proficient level, the incantation and gestures are simplified, and casting time has shortened by several seconds."
With this new level of mastery, Ronan felt his understanding of the spell deepen significantly.
The essence of spellcasting was to resonate with energy particles using mental power. Both incantations and gestures were merely tools to help achieve that resonance.
If he could one day fully grasp the rhythm of this resonance, he could potentially cast spells instantly without incantations or gestures.
"Even with the improvements, casting still takes about seven to eight seconds. It's much faster than when I first started, but in close combat, this casting window would give an opponent more than enough time to attack multiple times."
Shaking his head, Ronan walked toward the spot where his [Energy Missile] had landed.
The ground where the spell struck revealed a two-meter-wide, half-meter-deep crater.
Inside lay the mutilated remains of a wild deer, its body barely recognizable.
Ronan crouched down, drawing his knife from his belt and carefully carving out the edible parts of the carcass.
With an attack skill finally at his disposal, he could venture into the surrounding area for light hunting. His meals now included much-needed meat.
Compared to the early days, his [Energy Missile] was now significantly faster and more powerful.
Part of the reason was the increased skill level.
The other reason was his recent advancement to Level Two Sorcerer Apprentice!
[Name: Ronan Damien]
[Age: 16]
[Talent: Non-attribute Affinity]
[Power: Level Two Sorcerer Apprentice (3%)]
[Skills: Basic Meditation (Beginner 87/100), Energy Missile (Proficient 1/200)]
After reaching Level Two, Ronan's mental energy had grown considerably. He could now cast [Energy Missile] four times in a row and still have some reserves left.
At this pace, his proficiency in [Energy Missile] would keep growing faster and faster. His meditation sessions were increasing too, like a rolling snowball. He had unknowingly stepped onto the fast track of cultivation.
"However, the energy particles are corroding my body more quickly."
Frowning, Ronan instinctively touched his chest.
Despite his improved physical condition from exercise and a better diet, the dull pain in his chest each morning had not gone away. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse.
Ronan suspected that his lungs had been damaged by the energy particle corrosion.
"I need to find a way to suppress this. Training like this isn't enough. If I could get my hands on a proper knight's physical training method, that would be much better than just fumbling around on my own."
He recalled the knights in his family's barony. One thing they all had in common was their extraordinary physical strength.
It was a pity that his former self had never taken the opportunity to train with them.
With that thought, Ronan put away his knife, stood up, and headed home with the fresh deer meat.
A few steps into the forest, he heard the rustling of leaves and soft footsteps approaching.
Ronan narrowed his eyes and stopped quietly, preparing to chant a spell at any moment.
Seconds later, a figure appeared—a middle-aged man in a dark green robe, carrying a black water flask.
The man flinched upon seeing Ronan, but his expression quickly returned to calm.
His gaze swept over Ronan and lingered briefly on the blood-stained deer meat before he stepped aside and walked past without saying a word.
Until their paths crossed, neither of them spoke.
"Hu—"
Watching the middle-aged sorcerer's fading silhouette, Ronan let out a quiet breath. He was quite satisfied with how he had handled that encounter.
Compared to half a month ago, he no longer panicked and fled at the slightest noise.
He had gained confidence.
Confidence granted by his Level Two Sorcerer Apprentice strength and his mastery of [Energy Missile].
In reality, the "dangerous" Treehouse District wasn't as terrifying as he had initially imagined.
Although it was an unregulated wilderness, most sorcerers living here were like him—weak, low-level apprentices who couldn't afford the magic stone fees required to live in the city.
He was afraid. But others were probably more afraid of him.
Most sorcerers cherished their lives and would avoid conflict unless they were desperate lunatics.
Over the past half-month, as his morning exercise range expanded, Ronan gradually got to know several "neighbors" who lived nearby.
He had even exchanged glances with a few, including the middle-aged sorcerer he just met.