For the next fifty-eight days, Kaiser Warborn did not live; he executed a flawless, agonizing speedrun of human suffering.
To the outside observer, the young master of the Warborn estate had simply lost his mind. But to Kaiser, a veteran of Korean MMO grinds that required thousands of hours of repetitive farming just for a fraction of a percent increase in drop rates, this was familiar territory.
His daily routine was a brutal, unyielding loop.
He woke up two hours before dawn. He spent the first hundred and twenty minutes sitting in absolute darkness, forcing his frail mana core to act as a vacuum for the heavy, suffocating energy of the [Basic Abyssal Breathing Technique]. It felt like swallowing crushed glass every single morning, but the results were undeniable. The brittle shell of his F-Rank core was slowly thickening, shifting from a pale, sickly gray to a deep, bruised purple.
Then came the physical conditioning. He strapped weighted iron bands to his wrists and ankles—courtesy of the estate's armory—and ran laps around the massive perimeter of the fortress until his lungs screamed and his vision blurred.
And finally, the highlight of his day: the daily beating disguised as sparring with Seraphina.
"Is that all you have, parasite?" Seraphina taunted, her crimson hair tied back in a high ponytail that whipped through the air as she launched a devastating volley of thrusts.
It was Day 45 of his training. The obsidian courtyard was slick with sweat and the faint scent of ozone.
"I'm just pacing myself, sister!" Kaiser gritted out, his wooden sword moving in a frantic blur to deflect her strikes.
He was no longer being swatted away like a fly. The +10 Agility and the continuous refinement of his abyssal mana had drastically improved his reaction time. [Otaku's Insight] was practically running on autopilot, breaking down her attack patterns into readable telegraphs.
She shifts her weight to her back foot. A heavy sweep is coming.
Instead of retreating, Kaiser smirked. He channeled a dense surge of dark mana into his calves.
Void Step.
Seraphina's wooden blade cleaved through empty air, shattering the afterimage Kaiser had left behind. Her golden eyes widened in shock. The oppressive, familiar scent of the abyss bloomed directly behind her.
"Looking for me?" a smooth voice whispered right beside her ear.
Before she could pivot, Kaiser hooked his foot behind her ankle and shoved his wooden hilt gently against her lower back, using her own forward momentum against her.
Seraphina let out a sharp yelp as her balance completely failed. She pitched backward, but instead of hitting the hard obsidian floor, Kaiser caught her. His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest to break her fall.
The courtyard fell utterly silent.
Seraphina was practically draped over his arm, staring up at him with wide, stunned golden eyes. Her chest heaved against his, and she could feel the steady, shockingly strong beat of his heart. The "weak parasite" was currently supporting her entire body weight with one arm without breaking a sweat, his raven-black hair falling slightly over his deep sapphire eyes.
"You know," Kaiser murmured, flashing her a breathtaking, roguish smile, "if you wanted me to hold you, you just had to ask. The sweeping leg attack was a bit dramatic."
A full three seconds passed as her brain short-circuited. Then, a volcanic flush of pure crimson erupted across her cheeks, spreading all the way down her neck.
"Unhand me, you absolute degenerate!" she shrieked, scrambling out of his grip so fast she nearly tripped over her own boots. She leveled her wooden sword at him, the tip trembling violently. "W-What was that magic?! You teleported! And how dare you touch me so casually!"
[Target: Seraphina Warborn. Emotion detected: Extreme Fluster, Deep Confusion, Acknowledgment of Strength.]
[Affection updated: 0% -> 8% (She is hyper-aware of you physically, but her pride refuses to accept it.)]
"It's just a little spatial trick I picked up from a dusty old book," Kaiser lied smoothly, dusting off his tunic. "As for catching you, I was merely being a gentleman. Would you rather I let you crack your skull on the stone?"
"I would rather you jump into the Abyssal Sea!" she snapped, though her voice lacked its usual venom. She was entirely flustered, avoiding his gaze as she marched toward the weapons rack. "We are done for today. Your footwork is still atrocious."
Kaiser watched her practically flee the courtyard, a victorious chuckle escaping his lips. "Tsunderes. The gift that keeps on giving."
With the physical training concluded, Kaiser retreated to the one place in the estate where he wouldn't be actively hunted for sport: the Grand Library.
It was a cavernous, circular room lined with thousands of ancient tomes, lit by floating orbs of soft, golden mana. Kaiser needed to understand the current political landscape and the exact layout of the Zenith Grand Academy.
As he reached for a heavy, leather-bound encyclopedia on the second-floor balcony, a gloved hand suddenly appeared beside his, neatly plucking the book from the shelf.
Kaiser blinked, his [Otaku's Insight] flaring a brief warning. He hadn't heard a single footstep.
He turned to see a woman standing beside him. She wore the immaculate, razor-sharp black-and-white uniform of a Head Maid. Her hair was a striking, pale silver, tied into a severe bun, and her ears swept back into long, elegant points. A Half-Dark Elf. Her eyes were a piercing, calculating amethyst, hidden behind thin, wire-rimmed glasses.
[TARGET ACQUIRED: Elara Vance (Head Maid of the Warborn Estate, Master Assassin)]
[Current Affection: 10% (She views you with mild, clinical curiosity due to your recent anomalous behavior.)]
[Warning: Target possesses advanced stealth and poison capabilities.]
"The Compendium of Imperial magical Institutions," Elara read the title, her voice a perfectly measured, icy alto. "An ambitious choice, Young Master Kaiser. Previously, your reading material consisted entirely of illustrated fictional romance."
Kaiser didn't miss a beat. He leaned against the bookshelf, projecting an air of relaxed confidence he didn't entirely feel. A master assassin maid? Add it to the list.
"A man's tastes change, Elara," Kaiser smiled, reaching out and gently taking the book from her grasp. Their gloved fingers brushed for a fraction of a second. "Fictional romance is terribly predictable. I find reality is suddenly offering a much more... engaging challenge."
Elara's amethyst eyes narrowed a fraction of a millimeter. She adjusted her glasses, studying his face. "Indeed. The estate staff has noted your... sudden burst of vitality. You have not visited the infirmary in nearly two months. Lady Isolde is convinced you have resorted to forbidden stimulants."
"Let my mother believe what she wants," Kaiser chuckled softly, stepping slightly closer. "But between you and me, Elara? The only stimulant I've found is the realization that I have entirely too many beautiful, dangerous women in my life to stay weak."
He offered her a playful wink.
Elara did not blush. She did not fluster like Seraphina. Instead, a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of her pristine lips.
"Arrogance is a common side effect of sudden mana development, Young Master," she stated flatly, bowing perfectly from the waist. "I shall prepare your travel bags. The carriage for the Imperial Capital departs in two days."
[Target: Elara Vance. Emotion detected: Amused Suspicion.]
[Affection updated: 10% -> 12%.]
As Elara silently melted into the shadows of the library, Kaiser let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He was playing with fire on a daily basis.
Day 60. The Eve of Departure.
Kaiser sat cross-legged on his bed, the moonlight streaming through the gothic windows. The countdown timer that had been hovering in the corner of his vision for two months finally ticked down to zero.
[System Notification: Preparation Phase Complete.]
[Compiling Host's current status...]
The blue screen expanded, and Kaiser couldn't help but grin at the results of his torture.
[Host: Kaiser Warborn (Formerly Victor Ken)]
[Mana Core Level: E-Rank (High Density Abyssal Core)]
[Physical Attributes]
Strength: D-
Agility: D
Vitality: D+
Charm: SSS (Active Disguise: A+)
[Active Skills]
[Basic Abyssal Breathing Technique (Lv. 4)]: Passive mana regeneration increased. Can now coat limbs in thin abyssal aura for enhanced blunt force.
[Void Step (Lv. 2)]: Range increased to 10 meters. Mana cost reduced by 15%.
[Otaku's Insight (Lv. 2)]: Can now passively read basic mana flow in opponents to predict low-tier magical attacks.
[Current SP: 120]
He had successfully dragged himself out of the 'F-Rank Trash' category. He was still weak compared to the monsters he was about to face at the Academy, but he was no longer defenseless. He had a solid foundation.
The heavy oak doors of his bedroom swung open, lacking the usual violent kick from Seraphina.
Isolde Warborn stood in the doorway, her blood-red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. She wore a casual evening gown of black silk that somehow made her look even more intimidating than her spiked armor.
She stared at him for a long time, her gaze heavy and suffocating. Kaiser met her eyes smoothly, sitting up straight.
"The carriage leaves at dawn," Isolde spoke, her voice chillingly calm. "The entrance exam consists of three phases. Written, Magical Aptitude, and Practical Combat. Over ten thousand applicants will be there. Only three hundred will be accepted."
She stepped into the room, stopping at the foot of his bed.
"I have watched you over these past two months, Kaiser. You have grown... slightly less pathetic. You have learned a few dirty tricks." Her lips curled into a predatory smile. "But dirty tricks will not save you from true aristocratic power. If you fail, the execution order stands."
Kaiser swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing up to face her. Despite the massive gap in their power, he didn't flinch.
"Don't worry, Mother," Kaiser said, his voice dropping to a smooth, resonant timbre. He allowed a flicker of the pure black abyss to bleed into his sapphire eyes for just a second, a silent challenge. "I have no intention of dying. In fact, I plan on taking the number one spot. Make sure you clear a space on the mantle for my acceptance trophy."
Isolde's breath hitched microscopically. The sheer, overwhelming audacity of the boy was staggering. For a fleeting moment, she didn't see the weak political hostage she had despised for years. She saw something entirely different. Something... dangerous.
[Target: Isolde Warborn. Emotion detected: Disbelief, Frustration, Dark Intrigue.]
[Affection updated: -38% -> -30%.]
"We shall see," Isolde whispered coldly, turning to leave. "Do not be late, parasite."
As the door clicked shut, Kaiser cracked his knuckles. The tutorial was over. The real game was about to begin.
"Next stop," Kaiser grinned. "Zenith Grand Academy."