Alex sat in his dimly lit room, his mind racing as he recounted everything he knew about Etheron Chronicles. This was no longer a gameโit was reality. And that meant every hidden treasure, every legendary artifact, and every secret trial he had uncovered in his past life as a player was now invaluable knowledge.
'If I remember correctly, there's an ancient ruin in the forest near the capital... It holds a powerful sword technique. If I can acquire it, my strength will grow exponentially.'
He furrowed his brows, going through all the locations he could recall. There were potions hidden in forgotten caves that could boost one's strength, trials that granted unique abilities, and dungeons teeming with rare resources.
'Ethan Williams, the protagonist, had a massive head start because of his powerful background and the goddess's blessing... But I have something he doesn'tโknowledge of the future.'
His grip tightened. He refused to let fate dictate his path. If he was going to survive, he needed power. And to gain power, he needed to train.
---
Two Months of Training
The next day, Alex wasted no time. He ventured to a secluded clearing on the outskirts of the village near of the capital. It wasn't much, just a small open space surrounded by trees, but it was perfect for training.
At first, his body struggled to keep up. his weak muscles and low stamina couldn't execute the movements properly.
Every swing of the wooden training sword left his arms burning, every sprint left him gasping for air.
But something strange happened.
As he trained, his Dual-Soul Resonance talent began to shine.
He started grasping techniques unnaturally fast. What would take an average swordsman weeks to master, he learned in mere days. His footwork became sharper, his sword swings more precise. He adapted and improved at an alarming rate.
By the end of the first month, his Basic Swordsmanship (F) had already evolved to Intermediate Swordsmanship (E-).
His strength grew steadily. Push-ups, squats, endurance runningโhe pushed his body to its absolute limit. The once frail limbs of Alex Dragonheart were now filled with newfound vigor.
As his mastery of the sword increased, so did his mana control. At night, he would sit in meditation, drawing the ambient mana into his body, refining it. At first, it was sluggish, barely responding to his will. But his talent worked its magic, and his comprehension of mana soared.
By the end of the second month, his Basic Mana Control (F) had also improved to Intermediate Mana Control (E-).
And with it, his overall stats grew:
---
[Updated Status Window]
Name: Alex Dragonheart
Age : 16
Rank: Novice (Peak)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: None
Endurance: E-
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist