At that moment, as he completely exhausted his aura, he began to sense nearby blue particles being drawn into his aura core.
[You have fully depleted your aura. Ambient aura in the air absorbed. Capacity increased by +5 aura.]
[Energy:
Aura (Dirarnia World) F- Tier 0/100 → 105
Mana (Dirarnia World) F- Tier 100/100]
'So, to grow my aura core, I'll need to absorb the aura from the air. That's kind of a problem—how will I continue to grow my core after leaving this world? There won't be any aura or mana in the air to absorb. Hmm, I'll think about it more once I'm at the Academy and have a better understanding of how this world and its power system work!'
'At least it doesn't seem like regenerating my aura requires absorbing the surrounding aura. It's already gone up by 1 in the past few minutes while I was lost in thought. That's a relief because if I could only regenerate aura in an aura-saturated place, it would've been a serious issue.'
'Anyway, I got sidetracked, but I've actually made really good progress. At first, it took nearly a full minute to move my aura from my core to one of my hands. By the end of an hour of training, though, I've managed to reduce that time to around 20–25 seconds.'
'Even better, I found a way to increase my energy capacity while training my control, so I'm killing two birds with one stone. But while I was lucky to find a method to grow my capacity, I still haven't figured out how to increase its potency. I suppose that might require either upgrading the tier of my energy or increasing my Spirit stat.'
After finishing his thoughts, he began training his control with mana while allowing his aura to recover. Controlling different types of energy felt distinct, but there were enough similarities that he could start his control exercises at around 35-40 seconds, rather than one full minute.
He managed to train for an hour and fifteen minutes before his mana was completely depleted, which increased his capacity by another five points.
[Aura (Dirarnia World) F- Tier 32/105]
Seeing his aura partially replenished and noting the time, he estimated he was regenerating approximately 0.43 aura per minute. At this rate, it would take roughly four hours to fully recover his energy. He wasn't entirely sure how his regeneration worked, but he hoped that it was based on a percentage rather than a fixed rate, so the recovery time wouldn't increase as his capacity grew.
'I have three hours to kill now, and I can't continue training. Working on my body or doing some refining wouldn't be efficient right now.' He pondered briefly, then an idea came to him. 'I know—I could try meditating! In a lot of novels, meditation speeds up energy regeneration or recovery, so there's no harm in giving it a shot.'
With that thought, he immediately sat in a lotus position, closed his eyes, and began focusing on clearing his mind and steadying his breathing. It was challenging to stay still and keep his mind blank, but he persisted.
After some time in this position, just as he was starting to find a calm state of mind, he received a notification he'd been hoping for.
[By meditating for a prolonged period, you have learned the Tier 0, Level 1 Meditation skill.]
[Meditation - Tier 0, Level 1 Skill
Description: An active skill that can be activated when the user sits in the lotus position with a clear mind.
Benefits: While active, this skill increases the regeneration of all types of energy by 50%]
[Meditation - Tier 0, Level 1 Skill: This skill can level up once the following conditions are met.
Use the skill for 10 hours of meditation: 0/10
Pay 20 LP: 0/20]
'Great! I've unlocked a meditation skill that speeds up my energy recovery rate, giving me more time to train.'
After receiving this good news, he returned to his meditation, finding it a bit easier to clear his mind. Still, meditation was exceptionally boring for him, as it required doing nothing, but he persisted for a solid two hours.
Once his aura was finally full, he was relieved to be able to resume his control training. Anything was better than sitting still for hours.
This time, he tried a different exercise. Instead of using complete thoughts like, 'I want my aura in my left hand,' he attempted to bypass conscious thought altogether and rely more on instinct.
It was difficult. He spent a lot of time trying to control his aura without relying on conscious commands, but it wouldn't move. After much effort, though, he finally succeeded.
After this breakthrough, his success rate gradually improved from 1 in 10 attempts to 2 in 10, until he reached a point where he could control his aura as naturally as moving a limb. When you move your hand, you don't have to think about it—you just do it. His aura control reached that level.
At this stage, his aura was 'usable' in combat, though it still took around 20 seconds to coat one of his hands. But the important thing was that it was functional! This control exercise consumed even less aura than his earlier attempts, allowing him to train for five hours before running out. He then switched to training his mana control and continued this routine in the days that followed, taking only minimal breaks.
6:00 AM, July 5, 2025
It was morning, and Mikael awoke from a well-deserved sleep. This was the first sleep he'd had in the past week, and even then, it was only two short hours. Thanks to his high vitality, he hardly needed sleep anymore—though his mind still accumulated fatigue, it was significantly reduced by his vitality and especially his intelligence stats.
Mikael stretched as he got out of bed, relieved to finally be done with his control training. He sighed contentedly. 'Ah, finally finished with this tedious training. The initial thrill of controlling magical energy quickly faded, leaving only the monotony of repeating the same task over and over to get better. But now it's done!' he thought happily.
'Despite the boredom, the gains can't be denied. My control has improved significantly—I can now move my mana or aura from my core to any part of my body in less than a tenth of a second. Plus, my aura and mana capacity have grown a lot from being repeatedly exhausted.'
[Energy:
Aura (Dirarnia World) F- Tier 105/105 → 230/230
Mana (Dirarnia World) F- Tier 105/105 → 230/230]
With his increased energy pool, Mikael confirmed that his recovery rate was based on a percentage of his pool rather than a fixed number. Even though his capacity had more than doubled, the recovery time remained exactly the same—a welcome discovery for Mikael.
Most notably, he had learned new ways to use his aura. He could now coat his entire body in a blue aura. When he did this, his body becomes stronger depending on the 'strength' and quantity of aura used. The more aura he used, the higher the consumption rate, but also the greater the boost he received.
Still, not all the news was good. Over the week of training, July arrived, causing him to lose one year of life expectancy, dropping from 99 years to 98. He also spent 250 LP on the apartment and internet connection. The only relatively good news was that losing a year of life was compensated with 1K LP, leaving him with a net gain of 750 LP.
After reflecting on the past week's gains and changes, Mikael checked the time and saw that he still had nearly four hours before the entrance exam for Central Academy. Considering the Academy was nearby, he estimated he could reach it quickly, even with some light jogging.
Knowing this, Mikael decided to spend the next three hours relaxing from the tiring week and having some fun. Once this time had passed, he finished his morning routine and changed into some sports clothes from this world.
Surprisingly, the clothing style here was similar to Earth's, so at least he could wear comfortable sports clothes.
'Just before I go to the Academy, there's one last thing I need to do,' he thought before asking, "System, can you limit all my physical stats to 100 until I ask you to remove the limiter?"
[Request possible for only 100 LP]
Mikael gritted his teeth and said, "Do it."
[Transaction confirmed]
In the next moment, he felt a wave of weakness wash over him. He stumbled for a few steps, struggling with the unpleasant sensation, but soon his body adapted, and he felt normal again.
Sigh.
'Honestly, I didn't want to limit my stats like this, but it's for the best. I don't know what the entrance exam will entail or if they have some kind of magic or technology that can scan a person's strength. So, at least for the exam, my stats need to truly be 100 across the board.'
'And having 100 in all stats isn't weak. Far from it—it still puts me in the talented genius territory. Most people participating in this exam are 21, meaning they unlocked their aura or mana within the last year. If they're lucky, they've had a year to train, but if they're unlucky like me, they've had a very limited amount of training time.'
'In a year, without the guidance of Central Academy, even if they're really talented and wealthy, they shouldn't be above E-rank. With my body at 100 in all stats, I'm at a level between D+ and C-. Still, I shouldn't get complacent; I'm not the only one who has trained. It's possible someone might have a stronger body or better aura than me, and if we end up fighting, it'll be a tough battle.'
After finishing his preparations, he took his iPhone (yes, they exist in this world) and left his house 30 minutes before the scheduled exam time.
Once outside, he was struck by the bustling atmosphere of the city. The streets were lively with people even at this hour. Numerous cars sped down the road, and there were even more young adults walking toward the Central Academy, all with the same goal of joining it.
Mikael joined the crowd, walking at a moderately fast pace, aware that he still had 30 minutes to spare but keeping a steady stride to ensure he arrived on time. As he walked, he took in his surroundings.
The city was a fascinating blend of fantasy and modernity, with medieval-looking buildings contrasting with modern cars. Another element that hinted at the world's fantastical nature was the occasional person dressed in medieval armor or mage robes.
After a short walk, Mikael approached the Central Academy, where the crowd of people began to grow denser. Everyone seemed visibly in awe of the academy's beauty, and Mikael shared the same sentiment.
The Academy was a colossal structure and mix between a medieval palace and a modern day university but in a even bigger format. The Academy was so big that it towered on the surrounding landscapes and it's wall seemed to touch the sky.
There was a gigantic crest of a phoenix taking flight. The emblem was magnificent, radiating a regal aura. It depicted a golden phoenix against the pristine white walls of the Academy.
These walls towered tens of meters high and were built with beautiful white stone. They were adorned with grand spires of the same pristine white. Adding to the magical atmosphere, the walls and spires were engraved with intricate symbols and runes. They glowed faintly blue, a visible pulse of magic flowing through them, enhancing the enchantment of the place.
The most striking feature was the entrance, marked by an enormous arched gateway of white stone, faintly illuminated with runes and symbols that pulsed with a blue magical light. The young adults walked through the massive gateway in awe.
Mikael followed them and arrived in a vast courtyard filled with beautiful gardens, magical-looking trees, and vibrant flowers scattered everywhere. However, his attention was more on the thousands of people around him, some chatting with friends, others silently observing their surroundings.
Not everyone behaved the same way, of course. Some were on their phones, while others, dressed in clothing that screamed "noble," looked at everyone else with an air of superiority. Mikael found these nobles rather pathetic. They were proud of their status, but they hadn't earned it—it was their parents' hard work that gave them this privilege. So, he saw no reason for them to feel superior.
As Mikael waited silently for 10 AM, he overheard parts of conversations even from over 10 meters away, amidst the loud chatter of the crowd.
"I'm so excited to be here and finally become a true mage."
His friend mocked him, "Bro, this isn't for us. We're just average. At best, we'll leave the Academy with average scores and ranks."
The first man looked dispirited, but it didn't last long. He pointed out, "Look, there's the heiress of the Mournsky family—Amelia Mournsky. I heard she's reached E- rank. Ah, she's just perfect," he said, looking smitten.
His friend smacked him on the back of his head. "Stop dreaming and focus on the exam."
The first man laughed sheepishly.
Curious, Mikael glanced in Amelia's direction and saw a beautiful young woman with long black hair and striking green eyes. She wore a calm expression and was dressed in stylish but practical sports clothes.
Amelia was surrounded by a group of girls chatting among themselves, to whom she responded politely but disinterestedly. A respectful distance separated her group from the other aspiring students, who seemed too intimidated to approach her.
Mikael found her beautiful, but nothing more. He made a mental note of her appearance because, if what the simp said was true, she was E- rank, making her quite talented and potentially a strong competitor in the exam. He still had no idea what the test would involve, so he prepared himself for anything.