CHAPTER 3: THE PATH TO AETHERNAL ACADEMY
The morning breeze carried the faint hum of mana currents through the streets of Neo Tokyo Sector 3. The sky shimmered faintly, streaked with soft blue residual energy from the city's barrier domes. Rayne stretched his arms, the holographic quest window still floating in front of him.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
Objective: Do 100 push ups, 500 squats, And lastly run 10 miles
Penalty: Death.
Time Limit: 3 hours.
Rayne stared at it for a full minute, deadpan.
Rayne: "This system really wants me dead again, huh."
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Incorrect. My objective is to make you stronger. Death is simply a motivational factor."
Rayne: "Motivational factor my ass."
He sighed, glancing at the rising sun. The quiet streets were perfect, no one around to witness whatever humiliation this "training quest" would bring. His body still felt weak, barely recovering from hospitalization.
Rayne: "Alright, push ups first!"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Your vitality is already dropping. Would you like to enable temporary reinforcement?"
Rayne: "If that's your way of saying 'buff me,' then yes!"
A faint silver glow enveloped him, his breathing stabilizing instantly.
He grinned.
Rayne: "Now we're talking."
Minutes passed. 100 push ups later, Rayne collapsed face first onto the ground, gasping. Sweat poured down his forehead, soaking the dirt beneath him.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Objective 1 complete. Ninety minutes remain."
Rayne: "Wait….what?! It took me half an hour for that?!"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Correction: 32 minutes and 45 seconds. Would you like me to play motivational music?"
Rayne: "Play something that won't make me want to die faster."
The system paused. Then faint, heroic trumpets blared from nowhere.
Rayne: "You've gotta be kidding me."
He forced himself up, brushing off his palms. The next task was squats…. 500 of them. Rayne positioned himself and began counting under his breath.
He looked like a dying fish doing yoga in the middle of the street.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Form correction suggested. You appear to be imitating aquatic wildlife."
Rayne: "I hate you so much right now."
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Hatred detected. Emotional intensity increasing. Training efficiency rising by 8%."
Rayne glared at the floating screen.
Rayne: "You're fcking insane."
Still, he pushed through. At 400 squats, he could feel mana flowing faintly through his limbs. Every motion felt heavier, but also more synchronized.
By the 500 squat, Rayne collapsed backward, staring up at the brightening sky. Birds flew overhead, their wings glowing faintly with mana.
Rayne: "System… time left?"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"1 hour and 12 minutes remain. Final objective is the 10 mile run."
Rayne groaned.
Rayne: "You're actually serious about that…"
The system didn't respond. Instead, a countdown appeared.
[RUNNING INITIATION IN 00:05… 00:04… 00:03…]
Rayne: "Wait, no, I didn't say start-!"
[00:01]
His body suddenly jolted forward, mana surging through his legs as if invisible boosters had kicked in.
Rayne: "WHAT THE FCK SYSTEM! Did you just turn me into a race car?!"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Correction: Assisted momentum. Run efficiency increased by 120%. You're welcome."
He dashed down the street, wind whipping past his face, his shoes slapping against the mana tiled pavement. The world around him blurred. Shops, neon signs, people. Until only the road stretched endlessly ahead.
Halfway through, he began to enjoy it. The rhythm of his heartbeat synced with the pulse of the city, the faint shimmer of mana veins beneath the ground responding to his energy.
Then his body started to slow. Pain shot through his calves, his breathing staggered.
Rayne: "System… status…"
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Vitality 38%. Mana Flow unstable. Suggestion: Lower output."
Rayne: "No… I can do this…. I am no wuss"
He forced himself forward, memories flashing in his mind. His death, his past, and the promise he made."
???: "Protect my family…"
His pace steadied again. The wind howled, his vision tunneled, and for a brief moment, he saw a flicker of white light at the edge of his sight, like a phantom watching over him.
By the time he reached the tenth mile marker, his body collapsed to his knees.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Objective complete. Total time: 2 hours, 57 minutes and 13 seconds. Penalty avoided. Congratulations, King of Silence."
Rayne smiled weakly.
Rayne: "Ha… barely made it."
The system chimed softly.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
Training Result:
Vitality +10%
Mana Flow Stability +15%
Rayne looked up at the sky, sunlight warming his face. For once, he felt… alive.
[LATER THAT DAY]
Saya leaned on the doorway, arms crossed, smirking as she watched him slump on the couch.
Saya: "So that's what you've been doing since morning? You look like you fought an ogre and lost."
Rayne: "It was… worse. My opponent was cardio."
Saya chuckled, tossing him a towel.
Saya: "Well, at least you're moving. I was starting to think you'd rot before stepping into Aethernal Academy."
Rayne: "You sure talk a lot for someone who nearly burned rice last night."
Saya: "I was testing Mom's reaction speed. It's called 'combat training' Ya dork."
Sayuri's voice echoed from the kitchen.
Sayuri(Mother): "Saya! I can hear you!"
Rayne laughed quietly, leaning back. His body still ached, but his determination pushed him to go further
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"User condition optimal for next phase. Preparations for Aethernal Hunter Academy recommended."
Rayne: "Guess that means it's really happening."
Saya looked at him, her teasing tone softening.
Saya: "Ya nervous?"
Rayne: "A little. But… also curious."
Saya smiled faintly.
Saya: "Then start strong, little brother. You'll eventually grow stronger. "
Rayne smirked.
Rayne: "You mean I'll surpass you."
Saya: "Ha! I'll believe it when your mana stops flickering like a dying lightbulb."
They both chuckled. For a moment, the tension between them gradually faded..
[THE NEXT MORNING]
Neo Tokyo Station buzzed with activity. Hover rails glided silently across suspended tracks, transporting students, Hunters, and guild officers to various sectors. The Aethernal Hunter Academy insignia, a silver phoenix encased in crystal, gleamed above the main platform.
[SYSTEM PROMPT]:
"Destination locked: Aethernal Hunter Academy. Estimated arrival: 1 hour, 24 minutes."
He took a seat beside the window. Outside, the city stretched endlessly, skyscrapers interlaced with mana conduits, and drones hovering lazily in the morning haze.
Rayne: "So this is it… my journey to the world anew."