I Loaded the Mysticism Panel

Next up was the most crucial step of the Moon Nail: Piercing Needle.

This involved channeling Ether from the tail of the needle into its body, pushing it along the central axis all the way to the tip.

A speck of light materialized at the needle’s tip.

It was tiny, about the size of a grain of rice, and white with a tinge of blue-green.

Richard opened his eyes.

’He’d thought his first attempt at Piercing Needle would only produce a blurry wisp of fog. He hadn’t expected it to form a solid point.’

After unlocking [Perception], his precision in controlling the Ether Flow had gone up a notch.

’Now for the actual Casting.’

He aimed the needle at the target he’d prepared earlier: a textbook hanging on the wall.

With a flick of his wrist, the Silver Needle flew from his hand, burying itself in the book’s spine after a short arc.

THUD!

Richard walked over to inspect it.

The Silver Needle was embedded about half an inch deep in the spine. The red thread at its end swayed a couple of times before falling still.

He went to the wall and pulled the Silver Needle out.

Richard ran a fingertip over the hole. The paper fibers around the edge were scorched.

The manual had said there would be a massive damage bonus against targets that possessed Ether.

’First time Casting, and the stats are all pathetic.’

’In terms of pure physical damage, I’d have been better off just throwing a kitchen knife.’

’Then again, I have a gun now.’

’I’m no Hunter, so nothing I throw can compare to simply firing a gun.’

Still, he had to keep practicing the Moon Nail and master it as quickly as possible. He was very much looking forward to seeing what kind of Shadow Technique its reversal would unlock.

.........

Early in the morning, Richard jogged from Waste Rock Lane to the school.

He glanced at his watch as he reached the school gate. Twenty-six minutes.

He’d broken out in a light sweat, but his Breathing rhythm was steady.

During his run, the Quadruple Breathing had automatically synced with his stride.

Inhale for three beats, exhale for three beats. Every footfall landed perfectly on a beat.

He stood on the school steps for a moment and focused his awareness on the panel.

[Walking Level 2] Progress: 0%

’Just as I thought. Another silent level-up.’

He had already gone from Level 1 to Level 2 four times now.

This was the fourth.

The changes from Walking reaching Level 2, however, were a little different this time.

Richard reached his classroom building and climbed a long flight of stairs.

Climbing stairs had always been one of the most tiring things for him; his calves would start to ache after just two flights.

But today, he paused to take stock.

As he climbed the stairs, the Quadruple Breathing had automatically adjusted its rhythm.

Long exhales lessened the strain on his body while simultaneously delivering more oxygen to the muscles in his lower limbs.

He hadn’t consciously adjusted his Breathing; his body had done it for him.

[Walking Level 2] had automatically bound his Breathing Technique to the rhythm of his steps.

It would automatically adjust for regular walking, jogging, climbing stairs, or sprinting.

His body now chose the most suitable breathing cadence based on its own needs.

’Hmm... It’s like switching from a manual to an automatic.’

Now that his Breathing Technique and gait were linked, Ether would automatically circulate faintly through his body whenever he exercised.

The flow was minuscule, but constant.

After his last class, Richard headed back to his homeroom first.

He took a few heavy textbooks out of his bag and stuffed them into his locker.

He wouldn’t need them for the Fighting Club.

Students were trickling out of the classrooms and flooding the hallway, all heading for the school entrance.

As he passed a classroom for the lower grades, he saw a little boy holding up a slip of paper, asking everyone in the hall, "Does the Latin word ’rosa’ mean rose?"

When the boy got to him, he looked up and froze for a second.

"You’re that..."

"That’s me."

"So, does rosa mean rose?"

"It does."

The little boy spun around and ran toward the other end of the hall, yelling as he went, "See, I told you! You lose! You’re treating!"

Richard stood where he was, listening to the chorus of protests and jeers from the other end of the hall.

He chuckled, then continued on his way to the gym.

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