Training

[POV Lucas]

Upon seeing the system prompt, I knew I had to get stronger-and fast. Time was not on my side; I have only five months left until the academy starts and just three months until the entrance exams. With my level of talent, getting into the academy is extremely difficult, especially with the short time limit.

The only reason the original Lucas attended the academy in the first place was due to the Greymore family's sponsorship. Therefore, when he applied, the academy took notice of his application and decided to immediately enroll him. However, his actual capability was severely subpar due to his lack of effort and willingness to train.

I, on the other hand, will not make the same mistake as the original Lucas. I will use every bit of knowledge I have about the game. In this world, power is everything, and I refuse to be the weak link.

The first thing I noticed as I moved around the room was the unfamiliar lightness in my limbs. Every motion felt effortless. But there was a danger in this newly found strength. A risk of overstepping, losing control.

What I need to do now is start training

immediately. With that resolve, I changed into the appropriate training attire—lightweight, flexible clothing designed for rigorous activity—and left my room.

I headed down the beautiful corridor of the mansion. With each step echoing in the hallways, I descended the spiraling staircase and continued through the vast mansion, reaching the training wing. Honestly, having Lucas' memories was nice; otherwise, navigating my way through the mansion would have been an arduous task.

The training wing was in view. There were four doors lined up next to each other. One for each member of the family. The training room is a space designated for honing skills and building strength, something I intended to do.

I opened the worn-down wooden door and took in the sight. It was a vast room, with various pieces of equipment lined up on its walls. Countless weapons arranged neatly on the wall, heavy bags for striking, and training dummies for combat practice.

I took a deep breath as I entered the room, allowing the atmosphere of focused intensity to settle over me. What I needed to do first was allow my mind and body to be in sync. 

Unlike in other novels where the transmigrator protagonist has no issue with movement, my mind needed to acclimate to Lucas's body for total control and fluidity of the body. Moreover, the newly found strength after awakening caused more dysfunction.

I approached the center of the room and began with a series of stretches. Initially, the movements were awkward, as I wasn't used to stretching my body. However, as time progressed, I could feel my muscles loosen, allowing me greater range of motion. 

After stretching for some time, I decided I needed to improve my control. As a human awakens in the beginner rank, the body undergoes a profound transformation, surpassing the limits of a normal human, making it stronger, more agile, and, more importantly, allowing mana to flow through the veins.

I began with simple exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. For the most part, exercises like these were quite easy to do, thanks to my improved strength.

I then moved on to harder exercises that demand more physical control. I started doing one-arm pushups, lowering myself slowly to the ground, and focusing on balance. After that came a series of exercises that required delicate control.

After what seemed like hours, I came to a stop. Feeling satisfied with the results. I could feel a difference in myself, a growing confidence in the control I had over my body. It wasn't perfect; in fact, I was far from perfection, yet it was enough for me to feel like I finally owned this body and the strength that comes with it.

I then sat down and crossed my legs. The next step was to sense the mana in the air. Mana is the life force that permeates throughout the world. It is an invisible yet omnipresent energy that flows through all living things and the very air itself. After awakening, my body also became capable of harnessing mana within the body, and utilising mana was essential on the journey of becoming strong. 

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, concentrating more. Allowing the stillness of the training room to seep into me. After what felt like hours of mediating, I started to feel something. It was almost imperceptible, yet it was undoubtedly there. 

For a moment, I lost focus, and sensation faltered. I started to panic, fearing I had lost the sensation, but I realized panicking would do nothing good for me, so I steadied myself and felt the sensation once more.

It felt like a flux of energy, like the gentle current of a river flowing through the air. The feeling grew. Becoming more profound as time passed. I focused harder this time, imagining myself as a vessel for the current to flow through. 

Sensations then began to pass over my skin—tiny, fluttering tingles on my skin, a deep, resonant hum in my chest. I could feel the mana now flowing towards me. 

An odd warmth spread through my body. I could feel the mana seep into every part of my body. It felt like a pulsating force that drummed within the very depths of my body.

Finally, I opened my eyes, scanning the world before me. It was the same view, but I felt different and more connected to everything around me.

*Ding* 

[Congratulations host! You have successfully obtained 1 unit of mana.]

I looked at the prompt, feeling astonished. The feeling of mana was unlike anything I've felt before. 

"1 unit of mana," I murmured, slightly dissatisfied. 

It was a start. However, if I continue on at this rate, I wouldn't be able to become an apprentice by the start of the academy. 

I needed something to help boost the rate at which I absorb mana.

Thankfully, due to my knowledge of the game, there was a cheat item that I could use. Something the protagonist had gained, but it was useless to him. While it was useless to him, it was immensely helpful to me and my situation.