—30 minutes later—
[Your knowledge of unard martial arts has reached the required level.]
[You have acquired the skill: Unard Martial Arts Mastery.]
Mikael stopped punching and took a mont to read through the skill information displayed in front of him.
[Unard Martial Arts Mastery Tier 0 Level 1 Skill
Description: This skill is the grouping of the knowledge, experience, and mastery of the user's unard martial arts.
Benefits: Allow the users to learn and apply all knowledge related to unard martial arts faster.
20% more damage is inflicted when using your body to fight
10% more attack speed when using your body to fight.]
“Why did you stop training?” Kiara asked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
“I just learned a skill related to martial arts. I’m checking the description—give two minutes.”
“Ok, don’t worry.”
‘System, how do I level up the Unard Martial Arts Mastery skill?’ Mikael asked ntally.
[Unard Martial Arts Mastery Tier 0 Level 1 Skill: This skill can level up if the following conditions are t.
Your knowledge and experience of unard martial arts need to reach the threshold. Your actual progress is 0%
Pay 20 LP
Currently, leveling up is impossible because the user doesn’t have the Skill Leveling System.]
‘For real, this skill is actually pretty good. With it combined with my Martial Artist class, I’ll be able to learn martial arts much faster. On top of that, I’ll deal 30% more damage and attack 10% faster when I’m fighting barehanded. That’s a significant boost,’ thought Mikael.
‘The only downside is that I don’t have the Skill Leveling System, which probably ans that even if my progress hits 100%, I won’t be able to upgrade this skill to the next level. That’s going to be annoying.’
“We can continue our training,” Mikael said calmly.
Kiara looked at him, her expression shifting into one of shy hesitation. She rubbed the tips of her index fingers together, her eyes glancing up at him timidly before she finally spoke.
“I have a suggestion… sothing I believe could be really beneficial to you. Do you… want to hear it?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Kiara took a deep breath, her determination growing behind her eyes. ‘I need to impress him. Co on, Kiara—you can do it.’
“I think we should also start footwork training to go along with your martial arts. It’s really important, and it’ll improve your combat ability a lot. The only thing is…” she hesitated briefly before continuing, “you’ll need to spend 30 LP to give complete footwork knowledge, and another 20 LP to generate an obstacle course tailored for that training.”
Mikael didn’t hesitate. “That’ll bring down to 0 LP, but sure. I accept.”
[-50 LP transaction completed.]
The mont the transaction was confird, a warm glow radiated throughout the dojo. As the light faded, a new door materialized on one of the far walls.
Mikael and Kiara exchanged a glance, then began walking toward it. When Mikael pushed the door open, they were greeted by the sight of a vibrant forest clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a large dirt area dotted with wooden poles of varying heights. Imprinted into the soil were strange markings that looked like footsteps frozen mid-motion.
“Now we’ll train as if we’re fighting,” Kiara explained, stepping forward. “But this ti, we’ll only focus on footwork. No attacks—just movent.”
“Got it. Let’s begin.”
—1 hour later—
[Your knowledge of footwork has reached the required level.]
[You have acquired the skill: Footwork Mastery.]
[Footwork Mastery Tier 0 Level 1 Skill
Description: This skill is the grouping of the knowledge, experience, and mastery of the user's footwork.
Currently, leveling up is impossible because the user doesn’t have the Skill Leveling System.
Benefits: Allow the users to learn and apply all knowledge related to footwork faster.
30% faster movent speed when the user isn’t in a combat state.
15% faster movent speed when the user is in combat state.]
[Footwork Mastery – Tier 0, Level 1 Skill
This skill can level up under the following conditions:
The user’s knowledge and experience in footwork must reach the required threshold. Current progress: 0%
Pay 20 LP.
Leveling up is currently impossible because the user does not have access to the Skill Leveling System.]
“You gained a footwork-related skill?” Kiara asked, her voice tinged with excitent.
“Yeah, I just unlocked one,” Mikael replied with a calm nod.
“That’s great! If you want to keep training, we should head into the dojo and do so sparring. Does that work for you?”
“You’re the teacher here, so it’s your call,” Mikael responded evenly. “Just give two seconds—I need to disable my skill effects first.”
He turned his gaze upward slightly and spoke with firm intent, “Records, temporarily disable all the benefits granted by my current skills.”
[Request denied. Skills are intrinsically linked to the user's soul. Forcibly disabling them could cause severe damage to the user's soul.]
‘So… the skills are directly tied to my soul. That’s actually good information to have,’ he thought, taking a mont to process the implications.
“Kiara, I can’t deactivate my skills. Do you have a workaround?” he asked.
“One option is for you to give the sa skills you have,” she proposed after a mont of thought. “But it’ll cost you 30 LP.”
“I’m out of LP, so that’s not going to be possible,” Mikael said with a slight shrug.
“That’s not too much of a problem,” she reassured him. “Right now, my proficiency in both martial arts and footwork is far beyond yours. So even if you’re physically stronger, we can still spar effectively.”
“Ah, right. Almost forgot—how does healing work after sparring? Do we have access to an infirmary, or is there so kind of magical healing system in place?” Mikael asked.
“Good question. With the paynt of 25 LP per hour for using the training room, you automatically receive full healing once you exit,” Kiara explained.
“Alright. Thanks for clarifying. Let’s get to it, then—no point wasting any more ti,” said Mikael, his tone more relaxed now that his concerns were addressed.
The two of them made their way into the dojo, taking steady, asured steps before positioning themselves on the mat. Without a word, they assud combat stances and faced each other, tension and focus building in the air between them.
“The rule is simple,” Kiara declared. “First one to hit the ground loses. Are you ready?”
“Ready,” Mikael answered without hesitation.
The instant the word left his mouth, Mikael lunged forward. His feet moved in a rapid rhythm, bouncing lightly with small hops to maintain agility and control over his montum as he advanced toward her.
Once he was within arm’s reach, Mikael unleashed a flurry of jabs, each strike aid not to land but to keep her occupied and on the defensive. Kiara easily parried the blows, but that was precisely what Mikael had anticipated. The mont his jab was intercepted, his body twisted, and he swept in with a low kick aid sharply at her knee.
Kiara responded with fluid grace, her superior footwork allowing her to sidestep the incoming strike. Without missing a beat, she returned to close range and retaliated with a vicious hook aid straight at Mikael’s ribs.
The blow connected with a solid thud. “Argh,” Mikael groaned, pain flashing through his body. He countered on instinct, launching a direct punch aid squarely at Kiara’s face. The impact forced her to take a step back.
“Good progress,” Kiara said with a smile, clearly pleased.
Mikael didn’t bother responding with words. Instead, he launched into another series of attacks. Kiara, however, was quick to et him head-on, countering each move with calculated precision. Mikael was forced onto the defensive, struggling to keep up.
After managing to block several strikes, he missed one—an uppercut that landed cleanly on his face, stunning him montarily. Dizzy from the impact, Mikael staggered, and Kiara didn’t waste the opportunity. In one swift movent, she swept his legs out from under him and sent him crashing to the ground.
Standing above him with a composed expression, Kiara looked down and said, “I won this one. Ready for another round?”
Mikael rose slowly, brushing himself off before answering with a smirk, “Always.”
Two hours later…
[Your progress in the Unard Martial Arts Mastery skill has reached 36%]
[Your progress in the Footwork Mastery skill has reached 24%]
Kiara’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “You’ve made excellent progress today. I’m truly happy I was able to help.”
“Yeah, you’re an amazing teacher. Thanks for the training,” Mikael replied, his tone sincere.
A soft blush colored Kiara’s cheeks as she lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes dreamy. “I’m a good teacher…” she murmured under her breath, as if reaffirming it to herself.
Gathering her courage, she looked back up at him and asked, “If I really was a good teacher… could I have a hug as a reward?”
She added quickly, her voice more nervous now, “But it doesn’t have to be a big hug! Even a small one… no, even a microscopic one would make really happy.”
Mikael noticed the deep blush on her cheeks and thought about her words carefully. ‘There’s no doubt about it—she definitely has a crush on . But… is that just because I could be said to have “created” her? Or was she programd by the Records to be like this, maybe even acting as a spy or sothing along those lines?’
‘I’ll need to watch her closely and stay cautious. Still, for now… there’s no reason to turn down a request like that. Honestly, who would say no to a girl like Kiara asking for a hug?’
“Sure, no problem,” Mikael said, his expression unreadable.
For a brief mont, Kiara had panicked after seeing Mikael drift into thought, worried that she might have said sothing wrong. But the instant she heard his reply, her face lit up with pure joy, a bright and genuine smile blooming across her lips.
She took a few hesitant steps forward, her movents uncertain but filled with anticipation, before finally gathering her courage and wrapping her arms around Mikael in a tender embrace. In that mont, Mikael felt not only the warmth of her body but also the distinct softness of two unmistakable things pressing gently against his chest. As she held him close, Kiara buried her face near his chest and inhaled deeply.
Then she took another breath… and another… and another.
Each breath seed to relax her further, as if she were drawing sothing precious from the contact. She looked like she was lting into him, her expression filled with a profound and unshakable serenity.
For a brief while, Mikael remained still, unsure how to respond to her behavior. ‘This… she looks completely in love—or maybe even obsessed. But it makes absolutely no sense. We’ve only known each other for what, four hours?’
The hug lasted close to a full minute before Mikael gently placed his hands on her shoulders and nudged her back slightly. As their bodies separated, he saw that Kiara was wearing an euphoric smile, her eyes unfocused, seemingly lost in a dream.
“Kiara, I’m going to head out now. Our ti here is almost up,” Mikael said calmly. “But it was nice getting to know you and training with you.”
“Yeah… this ti was simply blissful,” she replied, her voice soft yet intense. Her gaze locked onto his with startling focus. “But… you will co back, right?”
“I’ll co back. Don’t worry,” Mikael said in a reassuring tone.
Turning away, he addressed the Records aloud, “Records, I want to leave the training room and be taken to the place where I can choose the next world I’ll go to.”
[Request accepted. You will be transported to the Hub in 5 seconds.]
Five seconds later, Mikael vanished in a burst of blue light, his body dissolving into luminous particles.
The instant he disappeared, Kiara remained frozen for a heartbeat before lifting her hands to her face. A crazed glint appeared in her eyes as her expression twisted into sothing disturbingly unhinged. Like a broken recorder stuck on a single phrase, she began repeating over and over, “He hugged … he hugged …” all while smiling manically, her fingers trembling against her skin.
It was the kind of scene that would’ve sent shivers down Mikael’s spine—but sadly, or perhaps fortunately, he was no longer there to witness it.
As the teleportation concluded, Mikael found himself once more in the place he had dubbed the ‘cosmic library’—an endless expanse filled with glowing pathways and ancient tos that stretched beyond the horizon.
“System, what exactly is this place?” he asked aloud.
[You are currently in the Hub. This is the central hub from which you can access other worlds, trade resources, and interact with other beings from your world.]
“I’ve been wondering since I first arrived… where are the other people from Earth?” Mikael asked, his tone sharpened by curiosity.
[You are currently unable to interact with other players from your world. Only after one full week has passed since the start of your ti in the Records will you gain access to the true Hub. At present, you are still within the false Hub, a temporary zone ant for new players during their first week.]
“Are there any rules that apply once you're in the Hub with other players?”
[Yes. There are clear rules: all forms of combat, attacks, killings, and theft are strictly prohibited within the Records. If you wish to engage in any of these four forbidden actions, you must do so in an alternate world or within a designated area such as the Arena.]
[Should you break these rules, a penalty will be enforced. The fine will vary depending on the severity of your offense and your personal strength. However, if the cri is deed too serious, or if you have multiple infractions, you may be eliminated imdiately.]
“Alright, thanks for the information.”
[It is my duty,] replied the Records’ emotionless feminine voice.
‘That response only strengthens my suspicion that the Records are so form of sentient entity. If that really is the case, it’s probably safer to remain polite. Provoking an omnipotent being sounds like a terrible idea,’ Mikael thought.
“Records, can you recomnd a world where I can farm both levels and LP efficiently?”
[World matching criteria found.]
[Goblin Dens]
World Type: Unique World
World Power Levels: Tier 0
Description: A compact world populated by weak goblins organized into small tribal groups.
Optional Quests:
[Kill Goblin 1
Objective: Kill 1 goblin.
Reward: 100 LP]
[Kill Goblin 2
Objective: Kill 10 goblins.
Reward: 300 LP]
[Kill Goblin 3
Objective: Kill 100 goblins.
Reward: 700 LP]
[Kill Goblin 4
Objective: Kill 500 goblins.
Reward: 1.4K LP]
[Kill Goblin 5
Objective: Kill 2,000 goblins.
Reward: 2.6K LP]
[Bye Bye Tribe
Objective: Annihilate an entire goblin tribe.
Reward: 500 LP]
[No Leader]
Objective: Kill the chief of a goblin tribe.
Reward: 400 LP]
[I Am the Leader
Objective: Beco the leader of a goblin tribe.
Reward: 400 LP]
‘Of all these quests, the only ones that aren't worth it right now are Kill Goblin 4 and Kill Goblin 5. They're just too ti-consuming for the amount of LP they offer.’
‘If I complete the other quests properly, I should be able to collect around 2.4K LP and gain a few levels too. Still, the difficulty of the world seems a bit high,’ Mikael thought.
He instinctively reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and felt the cold grip of his Glock.
‘Even if the world's power level matches mine, it shouldn't be too dangerous. Goblins are typically weak creatures, so as long as I stay cautious, it should be manageable. The only real threat is the goblin chief, but even if he's stronger than , a bullet to the head should be more than enough to deal with him.’
“System, I want to enter the Goblin Dens world.”
[Teleportation initiating in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…]
The next instant, Mikael was enveloped in the now-familiar flash of blue light and vanished from the Hub.
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Glad you’re walking this path with .
— End of Chapter —
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