hree weeks had passed since Dave began training with Daniel, and today he felt a sense of satisfaction. He stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He wasn't strong enough yet, but the growth he had made in the past three weeks was undeniable.
His swordsmanship had increased tremendously. In fact, he was now nearly as good as his teacher, Daniel. And it wasn't just because of effort—his system had made it possible. Whenever Daniel demonstrated a technique, his system analyzed and copied it. All Dave had to do was mimic it once, and his body adapted. His moves became sharper, faster, and more efficient with each day.
Thanks to this strange ability, Dave had managed to learn advanced combat skills directly from Daniel. The first was Flash Step, a skill that allowed him to appear behind an opponent instantly. The second was Dash, used to close gaps between him and his enemies. And the last was Quick Strike, a sudden, powerful slash with such speed it was invisible to the naked eye of a normal human.
He opened his system interface with a thought.
---
Level: 4
EXP: 340/400
Strength: 41
Speed: 38
Stamina: 38
Agility: 38
Abilities: 0/?
Skills: 3/?
Skills List:
Flash Step (Lv. 1)
Dash (Lv. 1)
Quick Strike (Lv. 1)
---
He smiled again, satisfied with the progress. His hard work and training with Daniel were paying off, even though no one else knew. And he intended to keep it that way—for now, his system was his greatest secret.
He picked up his twin blades and strapped them to his back. With a determined look in his eyes, he opened the door to his dorm room and stepped out into the corridor.
His footsteps echoed slightly as he walked, his mind calm and focused. Today was another day of training. He had promised himself to get stronger—not just for the upcoming beast assessment, but for survival.
He was on his way to meet Daniel.
When Dave reached the beast weapons class, he found his master already there.
Daniel stood in the center of the empty training hall, holding his long blade calmly. His movements were slow and precise, his breathing steady. As always, he trained alone when no one was around. But the moment he saw Dave enter, a smile formed on his face.
"You're here early, son," Daniel said.
Dave nodded, stepping into the hall. "Of course, Master."
They always spoke like this now. Daniel had no children of his own, no student, no apprentice—until Dave. Over the past few weeks, something had changed between them. Dave called him master out of respect, and Daniel, feeling something stir in his aging heart, began calling him son. A bond had formed—silent, powerful, unspoken but understood.
Daniel knew his body was past its prime. He could feel it every time he swung his blade. The power was still there, but fading. He had seen many come and go, but something about Dave felt different. Maybe it was the boy's determination, or maybe something else. That was why he had made a choice: he would teach Dave everything he knew.
"Today," Daniel began, "you will learn something deeper. Something that exists within every living being."
Dave listened carefully as his master sheathed his blade and walked closer.
"It's called Qi," Daniel said. "The life force. It flows through your body like a hidden river. If you can understand it, control it, you can enhance your body beyond normal limits. Your strikes become sharper. Your body becomes tougher. Your senses heighten. That's the power of Qi."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"But it takes time. Years, even. Most never fully grasp it. But you… I want you to feel it first."
Daniel placed a hand on Dave's chest and closed his eyes. Slowly, a warm pulse traveled from the old swordsman's palm into Dave's body. It was subtle at first, like a tingling sensation under the skin. Then it became more intense—warmth spread through Dave's limbs, his muscles, his chest. He could feel something flowing inside him, something different from his usual strength or speed.
"That's my Qi," Daniel said softly. "Just a small portion. Use it. Meditate with it. Get used to the feeling. Once you understand its rhythm, you'll be able to awaken your own."
Dave clenched his fists, his expression serious. "I'll do it, Master."
Daniel stepped back and nodded. "Good. We don't have much time, son. You must be ready."
Dave stood in silence, feeling the gentle hum of energy within him.
This was another step forward. Another path toward power.
And he would master it.
Just then, a sudden sound echoed in Dave's mind.
Ding!
[New energy detected: Qi]
"A new energy is growing inside you. Do you want to accept or stop?"
Dave didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he said in his head.
In an instant, the warmth that had been flowing in him before was drowned out by something much larger—something deeper. This new energy wasn't the Qi his master had transferred. No... this was different. It was stronger, denser, alive. It didn't feel foreign. It felt like a part of him, something that had been buried all along, now awakened by his training, his determination… and the spark his master had given him.
He could feel it surge through him, spreading to every corner of his body. His muscles tightened, his heart beat harder, and even the air around him began to feel… different.
Daniel stepped back as a faint wave of pressure emanated from Dave.
"What…?" Daniel muttered under his breath, watching in shock. "He's… using Qi? Already?"
The old man narrowed his eyes. This wasn't normal. Not even close.
Dave opened his eyes slowly, his body still glowing faintly with energy. He looked at his hands and clenched them. "Master… I can feel it. It's not your Qi… it's mine. It's inside me."
Daniel walked closer, placing a hand on Dave's shoulder. "You awakened it. That fast… unbelievable."
He paused, then removed his hand and took a step back. "I'm taking back my Qi now. You don't need it anymore."
Dave felt the master's Qi leave his body gently, like a breeze fading in the distance. But the new energy—the one born inside him—remained, pulsing with silent power.
"Listen, son," Daniel said seriously. "Your Qi is too much for your body to handle right now. If you push it too hard, it could tear you apart from the inside."
Dave nodded.
"You need to focus. Control it little by little. And there's something else." Daniel stepped over to the side and picked up his sword. "You can merge your Qi with your attacks. Start simple. Your Quick Strike—if you add Qi to it, it won't just be fast…"
He looked at Dave with intensity.
"It will be deadly."
Dave tightened his grip on his twin blades, the glow in his eyes slowly fading as he calmed his body.
He had taken another step forward