John expressed his confusion, "This city seems too perfect. I expected more chaos, like brawls or confrontations, but it's surprisingly peaceful." Anya explained, "That's due to the dungeon. Reaching the 10th floor allows you to add another member to your team. From the 20th to the 29th floor, pairs are allowed. If you prefer to go solo, you can certainly do so and earn unique achievements based on the different methods you use to pass the levels. Moreover, clearing multiple levels consecutively grants a larger reward upon exit. For instance, clearing three levels in one go results in a more substantial reward."

The inherent unpredictability of relationships in surface cities underscores the importance of being receptive to forming alliances. An individual who is merely an acquaintance today might evolve into a valuable party member, teammate, or guildmate as one ascends to higher levels. John pondered over this notion and recognized its merit, yet he anticipated that conflicts between factions would endure. Nonetheless, these are thoughts for another day. Presently, John's priority is to approach his journey methodically, particularly as he must independently traverse the first nine levels, demanding a commitment to focused training.

John voiced a concern, inquiring, "What happens if my fly-rod breaks? I understand it's bound to me, but in the event of it breaking, how or where could I repair something like that?" He wanted to use it with confidence but was uncertain about its durability. The two girls looked at each other and giggled, reassuring him, "You can't break one. It might shatter, but you can just resummon it." This reassurance made John feel much better. Now he had a direction. One week remained until the start of classes. "That's perfect," he thought. "It gives me enough time to master fly-chi."

While they enjoyed their meal and conversation, John prepared the rest of the fish for the crows. A large flock had gathered, and there wasn't enough to go around, but once the birds had finished what John had cooked, he addressed the last crow feasting. "Tomorrow, I'll catch and cook more for you," he promised. "Next time, I'd like to share some with the other crows who haven't had a taste yet. And you're welcome to visit me in my city courtyard. I'll be training extensively, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to return. So, while I'm here, let's ensure all your crow friends get some fish." John smiled at the crow pecking at the ground beside him.

Alana asked, "If you don't mind, may I join you?" to which Anya added, "Me too." "Certainly, we can meet at the same time. I've noticed there are only a few courtyards in the academy. Whose are they?" Anya chuckled, "The city lord's, and each guild's head. The royal academy serves as the city's royal palace. Everyone who enters is granted a title: Royal Guard for fighters, Royal Mage for magic users, Royal Archer, or Royal Swordsman."

Upon successful completion of the first floor, players are rewarded with a stat sheet, which unlocks various titles and achievements that provide unique enhancements. The stat sheet significantly boosts combat capabilities by allowing players to distribute an additional ten points among five core attributes: strength, dexterity, intelligence, wisdom, and constitution. The academy requires three months of training before initial entry because many underestimate the complexities of combat. In the dungeons, once a floor is entered, it must be completed or results in death. All defeated monsters yield beast cores, which can be sold to the academy or retained for personal use, with some opting to utilize them in alchemy. Completing a floor marks the player's left hand with a number indicating the highest level achieved, which reflects the most challenging floor conquered, not the player's personal level. Players may choose to repeat the first level indefinitely; however, leveling up occurs after floor completion and is based on performance.

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John pondered for a moment. "So, on the first day of class, I need to clear the first floor. It's a smart tactic by the academy; if someone can't make it through that level, they're not worth the training." He nodded to himself, understanding more about the academy's methods. His initial task was clear: training. He decided to practice with his fly-rod, now confident it wouldn't get damaged. Moreover, he could enhance his practice using the nano line. Curious, John inquired of Max, "With the nano line, is it possible to manipulate the line? Say, if I attach a heavy sinker, could you then control the nano machines to transform the line into a sharp blade, turn it into barbed wire, or even alter its color to make it less visible?" Max responded confidently, "Yeah, I can do that easily, John."

John now had a definitive training path that he needed to integrate with Max's assistance. With his new life hanging in the balance in less than a week's time, the gravity of the situation was finally dawning on him. No longer content to simply go with the flow, John resolved to return to his place for intensive training. As nightfall enveloped the city's daytime clamor, he was in his courtyard, diligently honing his emerging fighting technique.

John initiated his training with the nano line, directing Max to alter its form into a sword's edge. This ingenuity transformed it into a weapon comparable to a 13-foot sword, notable for its lightness and razor-sharp edge, surpassing any known blade and capable of slicing through any material with ease. The unique feature of being able to resummon the line and rod if damaged ensured that John's weapon remained in immaculate condition. Throughout the week, John dedicated himself to mastering the fly-rod, integrating sword fighting techniques into his novel fly-chi style under Max's guidance. With each passing day, John's mental and physical acuity intensified. The rigorous training led to an epiphany about the nature of this cultivation world—strength is garnered through self-cultivation. This revelation was exhilarating for John, and despite the risks ahead, he felt truly alive, embracing the authentic essence of life for the first time.

With the dawn's early light as his backdrop, John initiated his day with a gentle workout to kickstart his blood flow, followed by a series of stretches. Much to his astonishment, he discovered a newfound agility that surpassed his flexibility from earlier in the week. Under Max's tutelage, his combat prowess had sharpened to a deadly edge in no time at all. Post workout, John adorned himself in the Royal Guild's ceremonial robe, its white fabric bordered with ornate gold trim. He pulled his hair into a sleek ponytail, placed his hat atop his head, and materialized his fly-rod. Upon exiting the courtyard, an unexpected companion, a crow, gracefully landed on the rod's end, choosing to rest on his right shoulder—a peculiar yet wondrous spectacle. John exuded an aura of awe and curiosity, embracing the oddity of the moment.