The days passed in the same manner—training nearly every day, with a single rest day after the general endurance test. But that was only if they managed to finish the long-ass jog that came with it.
Normally, a routine like this would've bored Victor to death.
But not this time.
This time, he was kind of ecstatic. Every day was a challenge. And Victor welcomed challenges.
Thanks to the constant training and the surprisingly decent meals he got during his "special training" with Jeffrey, he'd started to grow into his stats. His body looked a lot fuller than the skinny, starved mess he'd been when he first arrived. Not ripped or anything like that—but he didn't look like he was a step away from death's door anymore.
Despite that, he hadn't leveled up again.
Sure, he was still chasing down Tier 0 creatures—lesser beasts like before—buthadn't gained a single level. Naturally not a single stat point either.
He could feel subtle improvements, especially in stamina and agility, but nothing big enough to register on his status panel. It was like his body was finally catching up to the stats he already had. Before, it had felt like he was wearing someone else's muscles.
Now? Now it was starting to feel like they actually belonged to him.
Especially his agility. It was his highest physical stat, but it took time and effort to actually use it well. He had to learn how to move right— how to use his speed effectively.
One time, they gave him a snake-like lizard creature to catch—a Tier 0 beast with gleaming scales and split eyes. It was called a Venomtail Crawler. The beast had dark green
leathery scales, a long neck and those signature slit pupils. Its tongue flicked like a serpent's and it moved on four short and stubby lizard legs. The thing looked like a twisted blend between a snake and a Komodo dragon. But it was fast, not quite as quick as the Frostspike Hare, but way more aggressive. And venomous.
Victor could feel it when it first appeared—the malice, the hunger. It didn't try to avoid him like the hare had.
No. This thing wanted to kill him.
So he couldn't use the same tricks. No sneaky corner traps. No clever baiting. This fight was about speed, reflexes, and positioning.
He dodged and circled it.
Going behind it to try and aim for its head.
It wasn't easy. He had more than a few close calls, but in the end, he managed to bring it down.
After that fight, he had wondered when he'd finally be assigned a Tier 1 creature.
But something told him he wasn't ready.
So he asked Caelum.
"You can't even begin to imagine the gap between Tier 0 and Tier 1," Caelum said calmly. "As I am, I could snap your neck where you stand. And you wouldn't be able to stop me."
Victor didn't doubt it.
Caelum continued, "A Tier 1 magic beast or monster? It would be way more stronger and faster. You wouldn't stand a chance."
Then something else Caelum said stood out.
"Wait… are magical beasts and monsters different?" Victor asked.
"Yeah. Fundamentally, magical beasts can harness mana—the energy of the world. Monsters can't. They just absorb mana to boost their bodies, special traits and their eventual evolution. But they never gain sapience. Just base instincts that drive them to consume and evolve."
Caelum's tone was serious but patient. "Magical beasts, though? They can think. Some even learn to communicate as they evolve. Most of the strongest creatures in the world are beasts with intelligence no less than that of humans. I've heard that some can even take in the human form."
Victor nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
There was still so much he didn't know.
And he still had so far to go.
He was loving this world more and more, the more he discovered.
Three weeks had passed since he woke up in this world. If he wasn't training with Jeffrey, he was running laps or doing strength drills with the others. And whenever he could, he exercised with Caelum.
Caelum, though? He spent most of his time meditating.
Victor asked him once why he did it so much.
"I'm circulating my family's cultivation technique," Caelum explained. "It helps strengthen my core and energy control. But with these crap conditions, I barely make progress."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Think you could teach me?"
Caelum gave him a complicated look. He kept looking at Victor with a contemplative light in his eyes for a few seconds, before he just shrugged and replied.
"Sure. When you've trained your body to its peak and can't grow anymore. Right now, you're not ready."
Victor blinked.
"I mean, you're progressing fast. Freakishly fast," Caelum said. "At this rate, you'll be ready to advance in like five months, give or take. Which is crazy by the way. Most people take one to five years before they're ready to move forward."
Victor whistled, a bit impressed with himself.
"How long did it take you?" he asked.
Caelum's lips curled slightly. "Three months."
"Of course," Victor muttered.
"I had better food. Top-tier trainers. The best conditions," Caelum added.
"Yeah, yeah. We can't all be nobility."
Victor leaned back against the wall of their cell. He didn't comment on the jab.
"So... how do I know when I'm ready?"
"You'll feel it," Caelum said simply. "Like you've hit a wall. Nothing works anymore. That's when you start focusing inward."
Victor nodded.
That was good to know.
But as Caelum's words faded, Victor suddenly remembered something.
It had happened a few days ago—something important. Something that gave him a hint about what they were truly being trained for.
It started during one of his sessions with Jeffrey. Everything had been normal until Jeffrey suddenly told him to follow.
They walked through the stone halls, but this time, the path was different. Not the usual way to the training grounds.
Victor had a very sharp memory—he was sure it was above average at least—and he was also sure he had never taken this path before.
It was darker and more secluded.There wasn't the usual torches on the wall for illumination.
Eventually, light started flickering at the end of the corridor.
As they got closer, Victor began to hear it—metal clashing against metal.
By the time they reached the source, what he saw made him pause.
He saw the back of a familiar figure. It was the older boy who had once threatened the dark-haired kid for their reward meal.
He was fighting someone in the middle of the coliseum.
And he was winning.
Every move was clean, brutal, and efficient. His opponent was good—but this guy was better. Quicker feints. Sharper counters. And a stronger form.
Eventually, he disarmed the man and drove his blade into his shoulder—then he pushed down. All the way to the man's gut.
It was a gruesome sight. Victor couldn't even imagine the level of strength required to basically divide someone in two.
As he walked out of the arena, he spotted Victor standing at the corner with Jeffrey.
He smiled.
A long, creepy smile.
Then he licked the blood off his sword and walked away without a word.
Victor turned to Jeffrey, raising a brow.
Jeffrey mistook his look for one of fear.
"Relax," he said with an amused chuckle. "He's not in your bracket. He can't challenge you even if he wanted to."
Victor said nothing.
"Fights between the fighters here are rare," Jeffrey added. "Only happens once a week, maybe. You'll be fighting monsters more than anything else."
Victor nodded slowly.
He didn't correct Jeffrey. But deep down...
He knew he wasn't scared.
He was excited.
Something in him stirred at the idea.
He finally turned his thoughts back to the system panel and checked his quest log.
Quest Complete
Raise INT & CHA to 10
Reward: Ability Unlocked— (Analysis)
Victor scrolled down to his ability tab.
> Abilities: Analysis…
His eyes gleamed.