Morning Routine
Alden's eyes snapped open as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains. His body felt well-rested, yet his instincts urged him to move, to train, to grow stronger.
He slipped out of bed, his movements smooth and precise, and began his morning training.
His routine was strict and methodical—something he had developed from years of disciplined training.
1. Warm-up – Light stretching, mobility exercises, and breathing techniques.
2. Physical Training – Bodyweight exercises, explosive movements, and speed drills.
3. Weapon Practice – Practicing Phantom Edge Sword and Swift Blade Style with his katana.
4. Dagger Arts & Telekinesis Control – He used Shadow Fang Dagger Art while controlling a second dagger mid-air.
5. Aura & Mana Control – Refining his Aura Reinforcement and Mana Manipulation to improve his efficiency in battle.
Sweat dripped from his brow, muscles burning with exertion, but his mind was calm. Focused.
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By the time he finished, an hour had passed. His movements had become sharper, his reactions faster.
Satisfied, he wiped himself down with a towel and headed back to his dorm.
---
Back in His Dorm
Stepping into his dorm room, Alden closed the door and exhaled.
His gaze landed on his bedside table, where a collection of mana cores sat neatly arranged.
Each core pulsed faintly, carrying the stored energy of the beasts he had slain.
---
Alden sat down and spread the mana cores out in front of him.
"I need to be precise with this."
He already knew that his own mana pool allowed him to use void step for only 16 seconds.
But if he used mana cores, he could extend that time.
F-Rank Core: 2 seconds
E- to D+ Rank Cores: 3 to 7 seconds each
C-Rank and above: ??? (He hadn't tested yet)
"I have enough to sustain voidstep for nearly a full minute… if I use them wisely."
He had been hoarding mana cores for emergencies, and tonight, he had a dangerous plan in mind.
---
As Alden was lost in thought, a familiar voice rang in his mind.
"So, what's the plan, reckless master?" Kurenai, his katana, spoke with her usual smooth but sharp tone.
Shiranui, his small fox companion, flicked her tails from the bed. "Hmph. He's up to something shady. I can feel it."
Alden smirked. "Shady? That's a strong word."
Shiranui narrowed her golden eyes. "You don't sit and count mana cores like that unless you're about to do something dangerous."
Kurenai chuckled. "Oh, I like where this is going."
Alden exhaled. "It's nothing too serious. I just need some… extra funding."
Shiranui gave him a deadpan look. "You're going to rob someone, aren't you?"
Alden shrugged. "I prefer the term 'wealth redistribution.'"
Kurenai laughed. "This just keeps getting better."
Shiranui sighed. "Tch. Why can't you just rob a dungeon like a normal person?"
"Because this is more efficient." Alden smirked.
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Alden put on a black combat jacket, gloves, and a mask that covered the lower half of his face.
His gear was light—optimized for speed and stealth.
Pocketing the mana cores, he grabbed his katana and daggers before stepping out of his dorm.
Tonight, he wasn't just hunting monsters.
Tonight, he was hunting humans.
And they wouldn't even see him coming.
---
To Be Continued…