A few minutes later, they had split up the loot. The Mana Stones were spread equally, with each person getting 5.
The gems and gold coins were also spread out, with Anders receiving the most. He also obtained the tunic.
Sera took the compass, though she was more like a placeholder, as Zayzal would most likely be using it instead.
Meanwhile, Zayzal received the potion and short sword. One of those would’ve gone to Anders, but Zayzal offered to help the man get stronger in exchange for both.
With the spoils divided and in their possession, Zayzal turned his focus to Anders. “Alright, let’s work on unlocking your potential,” he said with a slight smile.
Anders, looking somewhat apprehensive, stood ready. “How do we start?”
“The first thing you need to do is understand and acknowledge your talent fully. I’ll help you realize it,” explained Zayzal, studying Anders closely. Reaching out his arm, he placed his hand on his back and sent a pulse of mana into his body.
Thanks to the increased mana density in the dungeon, Zayzal could better see the black orb as well as control his own mana.
As soon as his mana touched the black orb within Anders’ body, the man’s eyes lit up as if he were enlightened.
“Polearm Mastery…” He muttered, feeling a little closer to the spear in his hands.
‘Polearm Mastery, huh… It seems like my guess was right. Black orbs had something to do with weapons, or maybe just martial arts in general.’ Zayzal noted, curious if there were any more colors other than the ones he’d seen already.
Pushing these thoughts away for now, Zayzal instructed, “Now that you know your talent, we can move on to the next step. You need to perceive the flow of mana within you when you wield your spear. From what I can tell, that’s the first step.”
Anders nodded hesitantly and held his spear tightly. He began with basic stabs and swings, moving slowly at first, then gradually picking up speed. His eyes were closed, trying to sense the connection Zayzal described.
Zayzal observed quietly, sending faint pulses of mana toward Anders to stimulate and guide his internal flow. He used his Pathfinder Talent to trace the lines of energy within Anders, helping him synchronize his movements with his inner rhythm.
“Feel that?” Zayzal said after a while, seeing a flicker of realization cross Anders’ face. “That’s the synergy you need. Move with it, not against it.”
Anders continued to practice, each movement smoother and more precise than the last. His body seemed to hum with energy, the polearm cutting through the air effortlessly as if guided by unseen hands.
“Good. Now, concentrate. Envision the flow within you and the weapon merging, becoming indistinguishable from one another.”
This required a deep level of concentration from Anders. The dungeon around them faded, and all that existed were him, his polearm, and the pulsing flow of mana within and around him. Hours might’ve passed or minutes - he couldn’t tell.
While this was happening, mana congregated around him and pushed its way inside his body, saturating it with energy.
From Zayzal’s perspective, he noticed that only about 10-20% of the mana was following the illusory pathways he saw. However, there wasn’t much he could do to help since this was done unconsciously.
Or rather, it required too much concentration to move his spear in sync with his mana flow, direct the incoming mana through certain pathways, and saturate his body with it. If he tried to do too much, he’d just fail at all of them.
Meanwhile, Anders could feel himself getting stronger, little by little. It wasn’t as exaggerated as Sera’s orc-like strength, but it was a refreshing sensation, like he was a dry desert that just received a torrential downpour.
He continued moving with his spear, trying to get his footwork to synergize with his weapon.
Not far from him, Sera was doing something similar. Now that she was in a dungeon, she felt she could enhance the pathways within her body to increase the density of her bones, thus making her more powerful.
Due to the increased mana density inside a dungeon, it was easier and more efficient to train one’s abilities.
Seeing that everyone was working hard, Zayzal felt a little left out.
‘How can I make myself stronger?’ He closed his eyes and tried to use his mind’s eye to ‘see’ the pathways inside him, but all he saw was the usual blackness.
‘Mind’s eye… yeah, right. What a joke.’ He bitterly muttered.
However, he refused to believe there wasn’t a way for him to get stronger. Everyone else could, so why couldn’t he?
‘I either need to copy what I see in other people, or I really do need to unlock my third eye or something.’
The former sounded great, and he could surely do it, but from what he’s observed, everyone was slightly different. Copying someone else’s pathways might not translate so well to his own body. Even if it did, he didn’t know what the consequences would be.
Perhaps he just needs to gain more mastery and control over his [Pathfinder] talent and discover its potential uses.
‘Thankfully, I have my [Adaptability] talent and Sera, or else my life would’ve been a lot harder.’ He thought, glancing at Sera before taking a seat and pulling out what he believed to be a potion.
He stared at the winged shoes. ‘Maybe this can help me get stronger? Winged shoes generally symbolize something like agility, right? Will taking this make me faster if I drink it?’
Uncorking it, the scent of fresh air burst out of the glass. He stared at the semi-green liquid and steeled his nerves.
‘Well, there’s only one way to find out! Adaptability, don’t fail me now!’
Then, he raised the potion to his mouth and gulped it all down.
Not even a few seconds later, he felt a cooling sensation throughout his body, converging on his joints and muscle insertions. However, most of it was centered around his legs or, more specifically, his feet.
“Woah~!” He exclaimed.
Zayzal could feel a burst of energy radiating through his lower extremities, charging every fiber of his muscles with newfound strength and agility.
There was a buoyancy, a lightness to his steps that wasn’t present before. It was as though the very air under his feet provided support, lending speed and grace to his movements.
“Zayzal, what happened?” Sera inquired, noticing the slight glow in his eyes and the evident change in his demeanor.
“I drank the potion with the winged shoes symbol,” he explained, flexing his legs experimentally, feeling the responsive surge of power. “I think it enhanced my agility and speed.”
“That sounds amazing!” Anders remarked, a touch of envy in his tone as he took a break from his focused practice. “Should come in handy.”
“Absolutely,” Zayzal agreed, hopping lightly on the balls of his feet. “I feel ready to take on anything.”
The two watched him for a little longer before they went back to training. They didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
Zayzal wasn’t much different. He wielded the short sword and began swinging it just to get a feel for the weapon. One thing about his [Adaptability] talent was it allowed him to ‘adapt’ to whatever weapon he was using.
Although it didn’t suddenly make him talented or an expert by any means, it did help him grasp which movements and muscles worked best for him. However, proper form and techniques eluded him.
The three of them stayed in the dungeon for a while until, eventually, Zayzal got bored and began looking around. Since there was a secret room along the staircase down, maybe there was one within the ‘boss room’.
He sent mana into his eyes and started searching for any clues, but after a few minutes, he was left disappointed as he didn’t find any.
So, without any choice, Zayzal went back to swinging his weapons, even doing some bodyweight workouts just to get a better feel for his talent.
It wasn’t until another hour later that Sera and Anders stopped their training session.
As Sera and Anders ceased their exercises, an unmistakable air of fatigue yet satisfaction enveloped them. Their bodies were worn from the exertion, but the glow in their eyes suggested a sense of accomplishment and newfound power coursing through their veins.
“It’s time to leave,” Sera declared, her voice steady despite the strain her training session put on her mind and body. She cast a glance toward the rest of the dungeon as though bidding farewell to a defeated adversary.
“Agreed,” Anders responded, wiping the sweat from his brow with a worn sleeve. He gripped his spear with renewed confidence, feeling the synergy of his movements and mana flow as never before.
Zayzal, noting the consensus, sheathed his short sword and approached his companions.
Without further words, the trio turned their backs to the echoing silence of the dungeon's heart, beginning their ascent toward the surface.
As they moved, the dungeon’s oppressive atmosphere gradually lightened, the shadows retreating to reveal more of the stone walls.
Emerging from the dungeon's entrance, the daylight, even though blocked by the overcast sky, seemed exceptionally bright and welcoming. The fresh air greeted them like an old friend, filling their lungs with a sweetness that only freedom could offer.
“Let’s go get some rest!” Anders said with a large but tired smile.
“Sounds good.” Replied Zayzal.
“Whatever.” Sera shrugged, but she was probably the most exhausted out of the three.
With them all in agreement, they headed back to the camp.
A few minutes later, they had split up the loot. The Mana Stones were spread equally, with each person getting 5.
The gems and gold coins were also spread out, with Anders receiving the most. He also obtained the tunic.
Sera took the compass, though she was more like a placeholder, as Zayzal would most likely be using it instead.
Meanwhile, Zayzal received the potion and short sword. One of those would’ve gone to Anders, but Zayzal offered to help the man get stronger in exchange for both.
With the spoils divided and in their possession, Zayzal turned his focus to Anders. “Alright, let’s work on unlocking your potential,” he said with a slight smile.
Anders, looking somewhat apprehensive, stood ready. “How do we start?”
“The first thing you need to do is understand and acknowledge your talent fully. I’ll help you realize it,” explained Zayzal, studying Anders closely. Reaching out his arm, he placed his hand on his back and sent a pulse of mana into his body.
Thanks to the increased mana density in the dungeon, Zayzal could better see the black orb as well as control his own mana.
As soon as his mana touched the black orb within Anders’ body, the man’s eyes lit up as if he were enlightened.
“Polearm Mastery…” He muttered, feeling a little closer to the spear in his hands.
‘Polearm Mastery, huh… It seems like my guess was right. Black orbs had something to do with weapons, or maybe just martial arts in general.’ Zayzal noted, curious if there were any more colors other than the ones he’d seen already.
Pushing these thoughts away for now, Zayzal instructed, “Now that you know your talent, we can move on to the next step. You need to perceive the flow of mana within you when you wield your spear. From what I can tell, that’s the first step.”
Anders nodded hesitantly and held his spear tightly. He began with basic stabs and swings, moving slowly at first, then gradually picking up speed. His eyes were closed, trying to sense the connection Zayzal described.
Zayzal observed quietly, sending faint pulses of mana toward Anders to stimulate and guide his internal flow. He used his Pathfinder Talent to trace the lines of energy within Anders, helping him synchronize his movements with his inner rhythm.
“Feel that?” Zayzal said after a while, seeing a flicker of realization cross Anders’ face. “That’s the synergy you need. Move with it, not against it.”
Anders continued to practice, each movement smoother and more precise than the last. His body seemed to hum with energy, the polearm cutting through the air effortlessly as if guided by unseen hands.
“Good. Now, concentrate. Envision the flow within you and the weapon merging, becoming indistinguishable from one another.”
This required a deep level of concentration from Anders. The dungeon around them faded, and all that existed were him, his polearm, and the pulsing flow of mana within and around him. Hours might’ve passed or minutes - he couldn’t tell.
While this was happening, mana congregated around him and pushed its way inside his body, saturating it with energy.
From Zayzal’s perspective, he noticed that only about 10-20% of the mana was following the illusory pathways he saw. However, there wasn’t much he could do to help since this was done unconsciously.
Or rather, it required too much concentration to move his spear in sync with his mana flow, direct the incoming mana through certain pathways, and saturate his body with it. If he tried to do too much, he’d just fail at all of them.
Meanwhile, Anders could feel himself getting stronger, little by little. It wasn’t as exaggerated as Sera’s orc-like strength, but it was a refreshing sensation, like he was a dry desert that just received a torrential downpour.
He continued moving with his spear, trying to get his footwork to synergize with his weapon.
Not far from him, Sera was doing something similar. Now that she was in a dungeon, she felt she could enhance the pathways within her body to increase the density of her bones, thus making her more powerful.
Due to the increased mana density inside a dungeon, it was easier and more efficient to train one’s abilities.
Seeing that everyone was working hard, Zayzal felt a little left out.
‘How can I make myself stronger?’ He closed his eyes and tried to use his mind’s eye to ‘see’ the pathways inside him, but all he saw was the usual blackness.
‘Mind’s eye… yeah, right. What a joke.’ He bitterly muttered.
However, he refused to believe there wasn’t a way for him to get stronger. Everyone else could, so why couldn’t he?
‘I either need to copy what I see in other people, or I really do need to unlock my third eye or something.’
The former sounded great, and he could surely do it, but from what he’s observed, everyone was slightly different. Copying someone else’s pathways might not translate so well to his own body. Even if it did, he didn’t know what the consequences would be.
Perhaps he just needs to gain more mastery and control over his [Pathfinder] talent and discover its potential uses.
‘Thankfully, I have my [Adaptability] talent and Sera, or else my life would’ve been a lot harder.’ He thought, glancing at Sera before taking a seat and pulling out what he believed to be a potion.
He stared at the winged shoes. ‘Maybe this can help me get stronger? Winged shoes generally symbolize something like agility, right? Will taking this make me faster if I drink it?’
Uncorking it, the scent of fresh air burst out of the glass. He stared at the semi-green liquid and steeled his nerves.
‘Well, there’s only one way to find out! Adaptability, don’t fail me now!’
Then, he raised the potion to his mouth and gulped it all down.
Not even a few seconds later, he felt a cooling sensation throughout his body, converging on his joints and muscle insertions. However, most of it was centered around his legs or, more specifically, his feet.
“Woah~!” He exclaimed.
Zayzal could feel a burst of energy radiating through his lower extremities, charging every fiber of his muscles with newfound strength and agility.
There was a buoyancy, a lightness to his steps that wasn’t present before. It was as though the very air under his feet provided support, lending speed and grace to his movements.
“Zayzal, what happened?” Sera inquired, noticing the slight glow in his eyes and the evident change in his demeanor.
“I drank the potion with the winged shoes symbol,” he explained, flexing his legs experimentally, feeling the responsive surge of power. “I think it enhanced my agility and speed.”
“That sounds amazing!” Anders remarked, a touch of envy in his tone as he took a break from his focused practice. “Should come in handy.”
“Absolutely,” Zayzal agreed, hopping lightly on the balls of his feet. “I feel ready to take on anything.”
The two watched him for a little longer before they went back to training. They didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
Zayzal wasn’t much different. He wielded the short sword and began swinging it just to get a feel for the weapon. One thing about his [Adaptability] talent was it allowed him to ‘adapt’ to whatever weapon he was using.
Although it didn’t suddenly make him talented or an expert by any means, it did help him grasp which movements and muscles worked best for him. However, proper form and techniques eluded him.
The three of them stayed in the dungeon for a while until, eventually, Zayzal got bored and began looking around. Since there was a secret room along the staircase down, maybe there was one within the ‘boss room’.
He sent mana into his eyes and started searching for any clues, but after a few minutes, he was left disappointed as he didn’t find any.
So, without any choice, Zayzal went back to swinging his weapons, even doing some bodyweight workouts just to get a better feel for his talent.
It wasn’t until another hour later that Sera and Anders stopped their training session.
As Sera and Anders ceased their exercises, an unmistakable air of fatigue yet satisfaction enveloped them. Their bodies were worn from the exertion, but the glow in their eyes suggested a sense of accomplishment and newfound power coursing through their veins.
“It’s time to leave,” Sera declared, her voice steady despite the strain her training session put on her mind and body. She cast a glance toward the rest of the dungeon as though bidding farewell to a defeated adversary.
“Agreed,” Anders responded, wiping the sweat from his brow with a worn sleeve. He gripped his spear with renewed confidence, feeling the synergy of his movements and mana flow as never before.
Zayzal, noting the consensus, sheathed his short sword and approached his companions.
Without further words, the trio turned their backs to the echoing silence of the dungeon's heart, beginning their ascent toward the surface.
As they moved, the dungeon’s oppressive atmosphere gradually lightened, the shadows retreating to reveal more of the stone walls.
Emerging from the dungeon's entrance, the daylight, even though blocked by the overcast sky, seemed exceptionally bright and welcoming. The fresh air greeted them like an old friend, filling their lungs with a sweetness that only freedom could offer.
“Let’s go get some rest!” Anders said with a large but tired smile.
“Sounds good.” Replied Zayzal.
“Whatever.” Sera shrugged, but she was probably the most exhausted out of the three.
With them all in agreement, they headed back to the camp.
