Kaelen woke earlier than usual, long before dawn had fully pushed the darkness aside. Last night's cultivation session should have left him buzzing with renewed clarity, but the first thing that greeted him was a sharp, stinging pain that flared through the central channel point of his chest. He clenched his jaw and sat upright, waiting for the pain to fade. It didn't linger long, but the echo it left behind wasn't pleasant.
"What was that?" He thought.
He thought of Professor Nyra worries, she had been right to look concerned.
He stretched, testing his body carefully. His limbs felt heavy for a few seconds before the familiar warmth of circulating aether steadied through him. Still, the discomfort was not pleased.
He rolled his shoulders and muttered under his breath, "Must be because of the breakthrough… my body probably isn't catching up fast enough."
But another thought crept in, uninvited and annoyingly persistent.
"Or is it because of the system?" Normal students didn't jump stages at his pace. Even prodigies with special constitutions needed far more time between stabilization cycles. The difference between him and every other student at Veyra Academy was hard to ignore.
He rubbed his chest once more. The pain had faded completely, but the reminder remained. Ignoring it wouldn't make it vanish.
The system's daily quest prompt flashed across his vision, as relentless as ever:
[Daily Quest: Strive For Strength]
10 Push-ups | 10 Pull-Ups | 1 Mile Run
Reward: +30XP | +1 Stat Point
"Right... Might as well start."
He left his dorm, the air outside still cool with early morning mist. The training courtyard was empty, which suited him perfectly. He moved through the motions, counting the push-ups and pull-ups silently. Every now and then, a flicker of faint strain shot across his chest, but he pushed through it. The run was easier. His breathing settled into a stable rhythm, and the fresh air helped dull the memory of the earlier discomfort.
By the time he returned to the courtyard gate, sweat rolled down his temples. The system chimed softly:
[Daily Quest Complete]
Reward: +30XP | +1 Stat Point
A fragment of pride slipped through him.
"Status," he called out. The blue holo interface chimed to his response—
[Host Status]
[Name: Kaelen Burn]
[Class: Chrononaut ]
[Race: Human]
[Title:None]
[Energy Level:
[Point Stage: Channel stage]
[Classification:
[Ability Grade:
[Base Level: 6 ] <930 / 1300 XP>
[System Level: 4] <530 / 1200 XP>
[HP: 250/250]
[A.E:270/270]
[Strength: 45]
[Stamina: 40]
[Perception: 35]
[Defense: 36]
[Agility: 38]
[Vitality: 51]
[Intelligence: 55]
[Stat point: 27]
Abilities
Time Authority — Tier 1 Lv. 1
Spatial Authority — Tier 1 Lv. 1
Active Skills
Flash Step Lv. 1 | Spatial Lock Lv. 1 | Spatial Warp Lv. 1 | Temporal Drag Lv. 1 | Temporal Lock Lv. 1 | Aether Manipulation Lv.1 | Spatial Lance Lv.1
Passive Skills
Chrono‑Perception Lv. 1 | Spatial Awareness Lv. 1 | Analytical Scan Lv. 1 | Energy Resonance Lv.1 | Aether Regeneration Lv.1 | Health Regeneration Lv.1
[Daily Mission]
Objective: 10 Push‑Ups | 1 Mile Run | 10 Pull‑Ups
Reward: +30 XP (Base and System) | +1 Stat Point
Penalty for Failure: Stat Reduction (‑1 Random Stat) | System Instability +5%
[Main Quest: Foundation Under Pressure–Break through the latent level in a week]
[1 Day(s), 14 Hour(s), 13 Minute(s)]
Rewards: 100xp | 5 Stat Points | 1 random skill upgrade.
Penalty for failure: Base Level deduction –one | Ten random Stat Points deduction.
[Side Quest Assigned: Victory to the beholder. Accept and win the fight]
Reward: +2700XP | +15 Stat Points | Upgrade Two skill levels of your choice.
Penalty: -2 System Level | -50 Stat Points.
Kaelen chuckled going through his status, he only just noticed that the side quest rewards were higher compared to the main quest.
He stroked the back of his hair, "Just what is this system about?"
Well he needed every advantage he could get. He wasn't going to complain.
Without hesitation, he allocated 5 point to Defense. If his body was the vessel struggling to contain the rapid rush of power, he would reinforce the vessel. Survival came first. And his increased defense would help in the up-coming fight with Jax.
...
Classes dragged longer than usual, but Kaelen forced himself through them with mechanical patience. When the final lecture ended, he headed straight for one of the academy's quieter study rooms. It was tucked at the far side of the library, where most students rarely ventured. He placed Daniel's data drive on the table and connected it to a pad.
He had watched the footage a dozen times. Now, it was time to see it differently.
"Analytical Scan," he whispered, activating the skill and focusing his intent not on a person, but on the recorded image of Jax on the screen.
[–5 A.E]
[Analytical Scan Lv.1: Scans targets/environment for weaknesses/stats/info. The system flickered.
He couldn't scan Jax directly without a confrontation, and even if he did– Analytical Scan at Lv.1 wasn't going to help. He only hoped he could pick things on the recordings, even if it was little
A series of segmented overlays appeared over the projection screen.
Kaelen leaned forward, focusing as the video replayed. Jax's movements were powerful and clean, built for overwhelming force. Watching them again with the system assistance and his Chrono-Perception made the rhythm clearer: a quick jab feint with the left shoulder dipping just slightly before he fully committed to the body check. It wasn't obvious. Even in slow motion it was barely noticeable.
But it was there.
A momentary imbalance. A pattern so ingrained that Jax performed it unconsciously. Not a weakness, it was more of a habit. A habit that created a narrow window where his weight shifted a fraction too early.
Kaelen watched it again. And again. Every loop sharpened the idea growing in his mind.
"It's not really about overpowering him," he whispered to himself. "It's timing."
He closed the projection. The study room was silent.
If he could use that fractional imbalance, even he would have a chance.
It wasn't a guaranteed victory... but a possibility. He needed everything he could get
He packed Daniel's drive carefully. The analysis was messy, incomplete, and nowhere near the perfect scan he wanted, but it was enough to form a plan.
...
Sera was already in the training room when he arrived, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. She didn't bother greeting him. She simply tossed a crystal in the shape of a sphere his way.
"Catch."
He barely managed to grab it without fumbling. The moment his fingers touched the surface, a slight pulse of aether vibrated through his palm.
"What's this?"
"A conduit focus. If all you're doing is coating your arms with aether like a blunt tool, you'll never reach the next level." She walked past him, pushing a dial on the control panel. The training dummy powered on with a low hum and stepped into ready stance. "It's still about efficiency, but we're taking a different approach."
She raised her hand, letting thin strands of pale-blue aether weave between her fingers. They thickened and curved into a semi-transparent arc.
"Aether manipulation is more than channeling aether through your limbs or your veins. You can manifest it. Shape it. Control it." The shield she formed shimmered like condensed mist. "Try it."
"But what how does it involve the— this thing focus," he asked.
"Like its name suggests, it helps for focus. Think of the harmonizing stone, but with the effects being for focus... The one you're holding is a low grade focus crystal– an F rank."
Kaelen braced himself. He let aether surge through his channels, but shaping it outside his body was far more delicate. The first attempt cracked instantly. The second one collapsed before it even formed. By the fifth attempt, Sera's brows had lowered halfway into frustration.
"Stop forcing it. You're outputting too much at once," she said. "This isn't brute strength. Think of it like balancing water on your palm. You have to guide it."
He inhaled slowly and tried again. This time, the aether curved outward, taking the rough shape of a small dome. It flickered and was unstable, but it held.
[–20 A.E]
Sera stepped closer and studied it with a slightly raised brow. "Not terrible."
Her compliment was small as always.
The dummy activated and launched forward with a sweeping strike. Kaelen lifted the aether shield. The blow connected and shattered it instantly, sending him skidding back across the floor.
[–25 A.E]
[–5 HP]
"Again."
The dummy's next attack was a low sweep. Kaelen focused, pouring his intent not into more aether, but into controlled aether. He visualized a smaller, denser curve of energy snapping into existence just above his shin. The sweep connected. The shield, now thicker where it was struck, held firm with a sharper crack.
*Bam*
[–17 A.E]
A grudging nod from Sera. "Better. Now move. He won't let you stand still."
He formed the shield. The dummy attacked. The shield broke. Again and again.
[–20 A.E]
[–10 HP]
[–22 A.E]
But the entire time, Kaelen was trying to time one thing: the feint-to-body-check transition he'd seen in Jax's recordings. He attempted to mimic the moment of imbalance, shifting his stance when the dummy dipped its shoulder, trying to move into the predicted blind spot.
It didn't work. Not even once.
The dummy knocked him flat several times and bruised his ribs twice.
Sera watched everything silently, her arms folded.
When he finally collapsed onto the mat, breathing hard, she walked over and crouched beside him.
"You're doing something stupid," she said, "but not random."
He met her gaze. "I saw something in Jax's recordings. A small opening."
"And you're trying to recreate it against this dummy." Her tone changed slightly; she wasn't impressed, but she was less dismissive. "You're actually planning ahead."
Kaelen didn't answer. He didn't have the energy.
Sera stood, flicking her silver hair aside with a short exhale. "Keep that mindset. Brute force won't save you. But intelligence might."
At the end of the session, as Kaelen left, Sera didn't offer encouragement, but she didn't look down on him at least.
...
The sun had begun setting by the time Kaelen crossed the academy grounds, exhaustion dragging at his steps.
Voices drifted from ahead. Unknown but one was familiar.
Jax stepped out from behind a walkway pillar, flanked by two of his shadows. His posture was as steady as ever, shoulders squared, expression calm.
It was a cold annoyance wrapped in confidence.
Kaelen kept walking, his pace was steady, his gaze was fixed ahead. He offered no greeting, or challenge.
"Look who it is," one lackey sneered. "The charity case in a hurry."
Kaelen ignored him.
"I see you've being training." Jax's eyes flicked over Kaelen as if assessing a worn-out piece of equipment. "I heard how busy you got."
Kaelen kept walking.
Jax moved slightly into his path. Not enough to block it. Just enough to inconvenience him.
"You should rest more," Jax said. "Overworking yourself before a real fight can be dangerous."
Kaelen said nothing and didn't slow.
Jax tilted his head. "Ignoring me won't make you stronger."
"And talking won't make you intimidating," Kaelen replied, stepping around him.
One of the lackeys bristled, but Jax stopped him with a raised hand.
"That confidence will get crushed soon," Jax said, still completely calm. "Try not to break too easily."
Kaelen didn't look back. He didn't need to. Every word from Jax felt like another layer of pressure settling on the days ahead. But pressure wasn't always a bad thing.
Sometimes it created diamonds.
Other times it cracked stone.
Kaelen had no intention of finding out which one he was by losing.
...
Night covered the academy by the time Kaelen returned to his dorm. The room felt unusually quiet. He placed Lira's Harmonizing Stone on the floor and sat cross-legged in front of it.
The stone glowed faintly as soon as he touched it, warm and soothing, like a gentle pulse reaching out to sync with his breathing.
The time limit of the quest was ticking. He had less a day at most left.
He closed his eyes and let his aether veins open slowly.
[Aether Manipulation Lv.2]
His breathing steadied.
His heartbeat softened.
The outside world faded.
The stone's resonance matched his inner flow until both felt like two halves of the same pulse. Aether gathered in his channels, weaving around the central point that had hurt earlier. The pain was absent now, replaced by a warm pressure that pushed outward.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
He didn't move.
He was as calm as an ocean before a storm.
The system flickered once across his consciousness;
[Main Quest: Foundation Under Pressure—Break through the latent level in a week.]
[Progress: 88%]
His breath deepened, his mind sharpened into focus.
When he finally opened his eyes, the room was completely still.
"I have to breakthrough. I only have a day left..." Kaelen thought to himself.