The fist-sized stone was adorned with green moss, and at its center rested a symbol resembling an angular hook.

Eager to engage Al, the saleswoman explained, "This is the Ever-Life stone. Our little shop's proprietor acquires dozens of these stones from her annual expedition to the Evergreen Leaf. This happens to be our last one."

After dealing with three sly salesmen, Al took an earnest approach: "Please tell me what makes this stone so valuable."

The saleswoman smiled as she described the Ever-Life stone: "This stone is imbued with the Will of the Goddess from the Evergreen Leaf. Placing it in the water you drink accelerates the body's recovery and aids with mental exhaustion."

Al's eyes widened. Sensing his interest, the saleswoman added, "These Ever-life stones typically go for 300 merits in the regular market. However, thanks to Del-Santos Collective, I can offer it to you for 115 merits."

Al quietly deliberated. If he purchased the stone, he would be down to 10 merits. However, its benefits made Al's imagination run wild. Thoughts of Cesar and his Ghillie suit flickered through his mind.

Decisively, he retrieved his C-stone and handed it to the saleswoman, allowing her to scan and extract the required 115 merits. In return, she gave him the Ever-Life stone and three complimentary canteens to fill with stone water.

Thanking the saleswoman, Al gathered his purchase and donned his helmet. He had a leather pouch where he placed his C-stone and Ever-life stone.

Every second in Del Santos Collective carried the risk of losing his remaining 10 merits. With his heart echoing within his armor, Al raced towards the exit.

To his surprise, stepping through the portal back to the earlier room triggered no pressure.

He quickly entered the room where he had purchased his armor and sword. Thankfully, the shops were occupied with attending to their customers, allowing Al to make his way towards the exit quickly.

Al returned to the first room, where he expected to find Cesar. However, there was no sign of him. The hooded figure that had attempted to extort Al was still roaming the area, trying to swindle whoever crossed his path. Al was unrecognizable under his armored helmet.

Al exited the Del Santos Collective. His eyes immediately fell upon Cesar, who stood near the entrance talking with the cultivator "Li."

"Do you know that guy?" Cesar said, pointing at the armored Al.

To Cesar's surprise, Li shook his head. Before he could address the armored figure, a familiar voice called, "Come on, Cesar, let's go!".

Caught off guard, Cesar shouted in disbelief, "What happened to speaking with each other before buying anything?"

Al removed his helmet, revealing a tired smile, and said. "Well, come on, we can discuss it on the way back to our Housing Unit. We have less than 11 hours left, and I haven't slept!"

The two made their way back to their respective Housing Units. On their way back, Al explained to Cesar everything that had occurred after passing through the first portal, including buying the Ever-Life stone.

After hearing Al speak, Cesar decided not to return to his Housing Unit.

Meanwhile, Al was back alone in his housing unit, contemplating his upcoming training session with Romann. In front of the water trough in the brightly lit room, the water reflected the armor suit he had purchased. The dark grayish steel and blood-red chest plate spoke of its resilience against the ravages of time.

The sword he had purchased bore a visible scratch, a reminder of its past battles.

The sight of his reflection comforted Al. He felt secure in the armor.

Retrieving the Ever-life stone from his belongings, he carefully placed it at the bottom of the water trough. Recalling the instructions given to him. He rested his hand upon the stone, envisioning the rune on it.

The stone ignited with a vibrant green glow, confirming its activation. Al's smile grew soft, and glowing satisfaction filled his reflection. With a yawn, he turned away from the trough and went to the farthest corner of the room.

Settling comfortably, he rested his body and mind while embracing his armor's protection. The room enveloped him in tranquility as he drifted into a deep slumber, his mind filled with anticipation for the training ahead.

~~~

Al repeatedly woke up, ascended the stairs, and opened the door, only to wake up again and repeat the cycle. He was in the grip of a dream loop. Growing frustrated, Al surrendered to the nightmare and slept through it.

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A peaceful, dark silence enveloped him. He was in a deep sleep before a shrill scream pierced his mind. Jolting upright, his senses heightened. Al instinctively reached for his sword. Yet, to his alarm, it was nowhere to be found.

The room was permeated with an intense cold despite the warmth of the crystal lights adorning the ceiling. Al moved cautiously, scanning the room for any sign of his missing weapon.

Every step he took was accompanied by a sense of being watched. His thoughts spun as he glanced towards the stairs, the only exit. "What the hell could be lurking here? It doesn't matter! I need to gain the element of surprise."

Acting swiftly, Al discarded his armor, arranged it as a decoy, and dashed forward with his makeshift dummy. He sprinted towards the stairs, wearing only his medical robe. He passed the dark room adjacent to the bright room.

The same bone-chilling scream resonated through the air once more. This time, however, it seemed to be closing in on him, racing towards him from within the dark room.

Al hurled the dummy behind him toward the darkened room. Using the dummy as a distraction, he continued his mad dash towards the exit. With each stride, he could feel the presence of approaching terror growing closer.

A sudden force grabbed his right foot just a few steps away from the door's safety, yanking him downwards. Al kicked and desperately clung to anything within reach, his nails scraping against the stone steps with such force they ripped off.

Despite his efforts, he was dragged step by step, getting closer to the threshold of the dark room with each passing moment.

Turning around to face whatever was dragging him, Al discovered nothing. He was alone on the stairs, his mind racing and his body shivering.

~~~

Gasping for air, he woke up in the same place where he had fallen asleep. His armor was still on, and to his relief, his sword was no longer missing—it was right beside him.

It gradually dawned on him that what he had experienced was a vivid nightmare. He gazed solemnly towards the dark room, the memory of the dream still sending chills down his spine.

Sleep was no longer an option. Al gathered his thoughts and stood up, walking towards the water trough where he had placed the Ever-Life stone.

There was no adequate training equipment like the gyms he was used to. "I'll just have to make do," he thought.

Al began disassembling his armor, placing each piece neatly on the chest plate, with the sword resting on top. He lifted the equipment and performed leg lunges around the room, occasionally glazing toward the dark room.

The physical exertion distracted him from the painful thoughts that had begun resurfacing. He engaged in various exercises for about an hour, pushing his body to its limits. Sweat poured down his face and body, a testament to his effort.

Finally, after completing a final set of push-ups with around 50 pounds of metal resting upon him, Al rose to his feet. He walked towards the water trough, curious to see if the Ever-Life stone would live up to its claim.

As Al approached the water trough, he was greeted by a pleasant leafy aroma. Cupping his hands together, he took the first sip, and a surge of vitality washed over him. It permeated every cell in his body.

The fatigue from his workout immediately vanished, and a renewed energy coursed through him. It was as if he hadn't exerted himself yet still had grown stronger.

He retrieved his C-stone to check the time. With around 7 hours remaining until their training with Romann, he became determined to show up prepared.

Over a few hours, Al repeatedly pushed himself to the limit, engaging in intense workouts with a violent intensity. "By the time I reunite with Cesar, I'll have made progress equivalent to several months of training!"

Al pushed his body to its limits for approximately five hours, testing his and the Ever-life Stones' boundaries. One had to give way first.

Occasionally, he would take short breaks to use the restroom, a small opening in the center of the housing unit.

However, Al soon realized that no matter how vigorously he pushed himself, he couldn't exhaust his body like he had initially. The Ever-Life water's rejuvenating effects prevented him from reaching a state of true fatigue.

Understanding this, Al decided to split the remaining 3 hours of training. During the first hour, he focused on performing push-ups relentlessly, repeating the exercise until he was in the thousands, continuing until his face hit the ground despite his attempt to rise.

Following a recovery session with Ever-Life water, he shifted his attention to squats, jumps, and lunges to thoroughly fatigue his lower body.

After each strenuous session, Al was immediately restored and recovered. He was determined to make the most of the remaining time before meeting Romann.

With the clock ticking down and less than an hour remaining until they met with Romann, Al knew it was time to finish his training session.

He decided to give his muscles one final challenge before preparing to leave. Al began curling the weighty load of his metal armor and sword, pushing his biceps to their limits until they felt like tearing.

Afterward, Al transitioned to practicing swordplay, mirroring the movements with his experienced boxing techniques.

Each punch was transformed into a precise sword thrust, the hook transformed into a slashing motion, and the uppercut became a powerful horizontal swing.

Before leaving, Al took one final drink from the Ever-Life water, replenishing his energy reserves. He also filled one of his canteens with the precious water, ensuring he had a portable supply.

As he handled the Ever-Life stone, Al noticed its glow had diminished since placing it in the water. Its usage was limited, but on the positive side, the armor felt noticeably lighter.

He picked up his long sword and quickly swung it around, feeling a newfound ease in wielding it. Ensuring he had all his necessary equipment, Al ascended the steps, briefly pausing to glance at the dark room.

Quickly turning away, Al sprinted outside, relieved that nothing had grabbed him this time.

He felt a growing sense of insecurity as he stood outside, gazing back at his housing unit. However, he would put that matter on hold for now.

Leaving the Housing Units on the outer road, his steps quickened, propelled by a surge of determination as he mentally prepared himself.