He’d slept deeply, like a stone tossed into still water. His body was rested, but his mind hadn’t let go of yesterday’s fight.
The moment the Goblin Captain wounded Veldora.
The rage that followed.
And then—Realm Seize.
Not theory. Not imagination. Real, executed power.
The Dire Wolf King had been strong enough to rival level 15. But inside the Realm, with King of Realm guiding his instincts Quintupling his stats, the outcome hadn’t been in question. Not truly.
“You’re up, are you okay.” said Sora as she stepped onto the rooftop, hands tucked behind her back.
Ciel glanced sideways, offering a small nod. “I woke up a while ago. Just needed some air.”
“Understandable,” she said, stepping beside him. The wind caught a few strands of her hair, brushing them across her cheek.
They stood in silence for a moment—the kind that didn’t need to be filled.
“I still can’t believe you pulled the boss into your Realm,” she said eventually, voice low. “One second it was there—snarling, ready to tear us apart. And the next… just gone. Then you came back like nothing has happened, the dungeon ended just like that.”
Ciel didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained on the distant skyline. “It wasn’t planned. Just… necessary.”
Sora looked up at him. “You said you hadn’t used even twenty percent of your full power. Was that true?”
“It was,” he said simply.
There wasn’t arrogance in his voice. Just certainty. That made it scarier somehow.
She nodded slowly, absorbing that. “Whatever your class really is… it’s not just unique. It’s a game-changer.”
Before Ciel could respond, a voice called from below. “You two having a moment up there, or should I join before the world ends?”
Veldora appeared, casually vaulting the last few steps and landing beside them. His armor was freshly cleaned, and he looked far too energetic for someone who’d nearly lost an arm yesterday.
“No injuries?” Sora asked, eyeing him.
“Potion worked wonders,” he grinned. “Slept like a dead goblin.”
Sora gave him a look. “That’s disgusting.”
“Also, accurate.”
They shared a short laugh, easing the tension—but just slightly. There was still something different in the air tonight. The kind of shift that came after a battle won by more than just strength.
Veldora turned to Ciel. “So, you really soloed the hard mode boss?”
Ciel nodded.
“And inside that Realm of yours? What’s it like?”
“A world that’s mine—with infinite potential waiting to be tapped,” Ciel said. “And where that wolf learned not to underestimate me.”
He looked toward Veldora and spoke more seriously. “You guys did good in the dungeon. But good isn’t going to cut it. Veldora got injured—his arm nearly cut off. If I didn’t have this power, we would’ve been done for. That’s why I’ve decided: we’re going to train until we’re so strong no one can hurt us.”
Sora chuckled. “What’s the plan?”
Ciel’s voice turned firm. “For now, we train in my Realm—until we reach Novice Tier in our core skills. After that, we’ll grind dungeons until Second Awakening. In the upcoming Academy entrance exams, we’re aiming for the Top 10 academies—and that means no more half-measures.”
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Veldora stretched his arms. “Then we’ll need gear, rations, potions, maybe a tent… snacks…”
“No snacks,” Ciel said.
“Emergency snacks?”
Sora and Ciel said in unison: “No.”
Veldora sighed dramatically. “This Realm is going to be the grave for me.”
“Only if you slack,” Ciel said. “We leave in the afternoon for shopping.”
[Amber City – Market District, Afternoon]
The Amber City's market district buzzed with the energy of a world reborn. Magic-infused signs floated in the air, merchants hawked dungeon loot from behind shielded stalls, and awakened individuals moved with practiced ease—many of them carrying weapons or shimmering gear.
Ciel scanned the area and pointed ahead. “Let’s head to the Infinite Mana Commerce Hall. This is a branch of one of the seven sky guilds quality is guaranteed.”
Sora nodded. “Good choice. They only stock certified goods—no fakes, no curses.”
“They’re strict with quality control too,” Veldora added. “Unlike that tent selling ‘Legendary’ cloaks for ten mana.”
The hall’s structure stood in sharp contrast to the chaotic street: a clean white-blue building, geometric in design, with mana runes glowing subtly along its walls. Above the entrance floated the unmistakable sigil of a mana droplet inside a gear—the symbol of the Infinite Mana brand.
As the trio entered, they were met with cool, filtered air and an orderly interior. Shelves were arranged by category, and glowing guide lines pulsed faintly on the polished floor.
A woman in a white uniform approached them with a polite smile. “Welcome to Infinite Mana. Are you newly awakened?”
“Yes,” Ciel replied simply.
“Then allow me to guide you to the First Floor – Beginner Gear & Essentials. This floor is for First Stage Awakeners and stocked for anyone below Level 20.”
She extended her hand, and a path of softly glowing blue light appeared on the floor. “Follow me, please.”
As they walked, she added, “We’ve got categorized sections: Survival Essentials, Potions, Skill Books, Weapons, Armor, Accessories, and more. Let me know what you’re looking for.”
“We’ll start with supplies,” Ciel said.
“Alright.”
Within minutes, they were in a neatly organized section lined with stackable kits, nutrition packs, and field tools.
“I need: three months’ worth of nutrition bars, a survival tool kit, three sleeping bags, and a standard set of healing potions,” Ciel listed off.
“Very well.” The saleswoman swiped items into a floating mana-display cart that hovered alongside them.
Ciel selected:
- [High-Density Nutrition Bars – 3 Month Pack]
- [Basic Survival Tool Kit – Field Tier]
- [Sleeping Bags x3 – Foldable, Cold Resistance]
- [Healing Potion Set – E-Rank, x10]
“You’re efficient,” Sora said.
“No time to waste.”
Next, they entered the equipment area. Transparent mana-glass cases held weapons and gear, each floating on a light disc, with stat cards projected above them.
“This is where things get tricky,” Veldora said.
Ciel paused near a wall-mounted guide board labelled:
[Equipment Tier System – Infinite Mana Standard]
- Tiers: F, E, D, C, B, A , S-, S, S+ → U (Unique)
- Note: Gear has level requirements. A C-Rank Level 140 item can outperform a Level 20 S+ weapon.
Higher-tier gear offers better scaling, enchantment potential, and durability—but not always raw power for low-level users.
Sora browsed briefly before picking up a D-Rank Level 1 Staff with minor mana amplification and enhanced durability. “This should do until I can channel mid-tier spells.”
Veldora chose a D-Rank sword and a matching shield, both Level 1 with reinforced edge stability and shock resistance.
Ciel looked through the armor racks but shook his head. “No armor for now. Once we start dungeon runs, we’ll get proper drops. No point wasting mana on mismatched sets.”
As they approached the exit, their virtual cart tallied up:
Total: 529 Mana Units
Ciel paid with the mana stones he had piled up from the mana well.
The display blinked once, then faded.
“Damn,” Veldora whistled. “You’re rich.”
Ciel just smiled faintly. “More like a tycoon.”
The saleswoman handed them a sealed bag lined with spatial folds. “Thank you for shopping at Infinite Mana. May your path be steady, and your gear reliable.”
Outside, the noise of the market returned, but the trio felt different—geared, grounded, and ready.
Sora spun her new staff lightly. “Training time.”
Ciel nodded. “Let’s hit Novice Tier. Fast.”
They turned toward the outskirts, the sun high above, shadows short, resolve sharp.