Chapter 9 - Magic?

Ryuu soon arrives at his hotel room feeling slightly overwhelmed by the contrast of his usual living quarters to this place. He placed the items that he had bought before looking around, seeing that everything was made from smooth concrete and marble that he can only dream of having.

He was immensely excited to feel something luxurious for the first time in his life. Ryuu made his way to the balcony that overlooked the vast cityscape. After a few minutes he entered his room and started to check his chat group system features.

'The skills and gacha are going to be useful. Hopefully once I use the cleansing pills it helps me get stronger.' Ryuu thought and opened his inventory and took out the book which was given by Erza.

He confirmed that it was there and took out the [ Origin Magic Book ] that was unable to be learned as it was just a vague explanation and does necessary give someone magic.

Ryuu read the content of the book and it told that mana or Etherno could be sensed by meditating or have an overwhelming emotion.

After finishing, Ryuu closed the book and stood up once again heading towards the hot tub. He decided it was best to cleanse his body while trying to sense Mana.

Once the tub was full, he took out the cleansing pill from his inventory and saw a small bottle form on his hand. He opened the lid and was instantly greeted by an alluring aroma before taking out a small pill from inside it.

'I just hope it doesn't kill me…'

Ryuu entered the bath and submerged his body enveloped in the warm water. He took the pill into his mouth and felt it go down his throat to his stomach.

'....Ah, it seems it isn't that ba—Gaah.'

He felt the surging pain and immediately tried to integrate the [ Total Concentration Breathing ] into his mind and receive the knowledge. Ryuu was able to control the regaining energy that cleansing his body.

Moments later, he took a meditating position and took deep breaths before exhaling. Ryuu focused and tried to sense the mana around him.

His deep concentration did not let him notice that change happening to his body. Ryuu's once average body gradually turned into a rather toned build, showing individual muscles and skin becoming smoother than before akin to a newborn child.

Ryuu's hair grew longer enough to reach his eyes. Though, in the process, it also produces a mucus-like substance in the water which diluted the once clear beautiful water into murky water.

As his body had a shocking metamorphosis, Ryuu slowly felt a light of some sort around him and found himself surrounded by the blood soaking red hovering light. Ryuu tried to reach out and absorbed the energy that caused his body to radiate a thick, dangerous aura.

He soon opened his eyes showing the once dark eyes turn into crimson red that could allure any woman.

Ryuu soon held out his hand trying to find what his magic was and was shocked when he heard the system.

[ You have acquired Mana energy. ]

[ You have acquired "Blood Magic" skill ]

'Blood magic? Why fuck do I have that emo ass skill!? I wanted fire or water but blood!? Are you kidding me!?'

Ryuu inwardly curses looking at the blood hovering this palmed. He sighed before trying to mold the blood, surprised that it turned into a needle before mentally solidifying the blood.

He was taken aback when it worked and quickly tried to manipulate his own blood. Ryuu was able to pump more blood than normally and circulate oxygen at a much quicker pace.

'Hmm, is this magic perhaps useful? I remember that blood bending grandma from Avatar: The Last Airbender was Overpowered. Maybe I can use it like that too.'

Ryuu knew that despite not being the one that he wanted still held merits. He recalls Carnage from Marvel who is basically a walking talking mass of blood.

'Gaaaah what is that smell!?'

Soon enough, He finally noticed the horrid smell and saw that the bath water had turned into disgusting black liquid. This causes him to quickly get out of the tub and rinse the remaining residue before looking at himself in the mirror.

He took a step back seeing his sudden change, having a more muscular build and superb handsomeness that will easily label him the most popular guy in school. However, he frowned that his height and childish face still remained.

'Dammit are you kidding me!? I want to look like an adult not a fucking kid! *Sigh* well, there's nothing I could do about it?'

Ryuu surrendered feeling like he was Napoleon. He soon unplugged the water and changed into his clothes.

'Let see how much my status has changed...'

[ Status ]

[ Name: Ryuu Cinco ]

[ Title: Administrator ]

[ Overall Power: Mid Tier 9-B

Physical Strength: Mid Tier 9-B

Durability: Low Tier 9-B

Stamina: Mid Tier 9-B

Intelligence: High Tier 9-B

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[ Extra Stats:

HP: 250/250 (Average adult man 150)

MP: 100/100

Energy: Mana ]

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[ Skills ]

Innate skills: Intuition (High Tier 9-A), Drawing (High Tier 10-A), Gluttony(???)

Passive: Lv. 3 Pain Resistance, Lv.4 Status Effect Resistance, Lv.2 Total Concentration Breathing.

Active: Lv. 3 Eskrima, Lv.2 Cooking, Lv.2 Housework, lv. 1 Blood Magic.

Inventory: 10,000,000$ ]

His overall strength was now enough to destroy solid concrete and surpass the normal human limits. Ryuu took a stance and performed Eskrima unarmed techniques, finding that it was easier and less hassle than before.

He looked at the time and found that it was already night. Ryuu was shocked that he had lost the track of time just trying to acquire magic.

'I wonder if I'm some sort of genius when it comes to magic? Maybe it has to do with the cleansing pills or is it because of the system?'

Ryuu thought vaguely about the level of mastery when it comes to learning magic. His guess was correct as without it, then he'd take several months, years, or even decades to sense Mana! He checked his chat group and still nothing.

'I'm still not tired and the others hadn't gone online since yesterday. I'm sure they intend to read not only their story but others' as well.'

He looked at his phone for a bit before shutting it down. Ryuu decided to train his body and improve his skills as he felt a sudden ache to push himself.

After several hours of strenuous exercise, Ryuu's body and overall strength had greatly improved enough for his body to not take damage from just performing his Martial Art. His whole body was covered in sweat while doing push ups and sit ups.

He did it all night without rest yet, he still hadn't felt any fatigue nor hunger and was still overflowing with vigor. Ryuu thought it was the effect of the cleansing pill.

"Haaaa...haaa….9,999...10,000! Alright, that's enough for today."

Ryuu finished his exercise satisfied by his rapid growth. It normally impossible to perfect thousands of repetitions without burn out yet somehow, he was able to without any problem.

'Ha…haa…I feel like crap…' He was panting heavily exhausted from the constant training that he just did.

Martial arts and normal exercise are two different things. Therefore, it is the reason why despite training Eskrima hadn't gained any muscle growth.

Not to mention the martial arts focus on decisive strikes to an opponent to defeat them unlike muscle growth exercises like weightlifting.

This is why muscle building would lose against professional fighters that are skinnier than them due to the difference between muscles and techniques.

'I think Justine would be proud if she saw me training.'

He went to take a shower before checking the chat group, to which he found the members were still inactive, and as he had nothing else to do, he decided to go home.

He soon arrived at his house and found that no one was there. Ryuu thought that his mother had gone to the market while his father was working. With nothing to do, he went ahead and found a place to train his magic.

"Now that I think about it, I wonder if there are magic items or charms in my world? I should look around in the market later."

In the Philippines, the majority of people believe in the supernatural and are extremely religious. Ryuu wondered if there's skills for him to buy that can appraise items. He doesn't care if it only able to see what is considered normal junk by the system.

'Wait, I should use it to find antiques that could be sold for a large sum!?'

Ryuu now thought of a way to help his parents by buying antiques and reselling them to pawnshops. He still wants to give his parents the enormous money he had but still doesn't know how.

He couldn't help but be greedy since people who lived in the bottom tended to desire wealth but unlike wealthy people those at the bottom would learn to appreciate every cent of it.