Alexander woke with a start, his senses immediately on high alert. He bolted upright, only to be met with a wave of dizziness and pain that forced him back down. Blinking rapidly, he took in his surroundings—the sterile smell of herbs and antiseptic, the rows of low beds, and the quiet murmurs of people moving around. He was in the camp infirmary.
"Hey, hey, easy there," a gentle voice said, pushing him back down. "You're still recovering."
Alex turned his head to see a young healer, her hands glowing with a soft, green light as she assessed his injuries. Her touch was cool and soothing, a stark contrast to the burning pain he remembered.
"Where...?" Alex began, his voice raspy.
"You're in the infirmary," the healer said. "You were brought here after the ambush. Just lie back and let me finish. I'll call Master Li."
Alex nodded weakly, his body still aching. He closed his eyes, trying to piece together his fragmented memories. The explosion, the bloodshed, Jihoon’s injury, the fight with the ambusher leader, and then the agonizing pain that had consumed him. His chest still throbbed with a dull ache, a reminder of the battle.
Moments later, he heard footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes to see Master Li entering the infirmary, flanked by several familiar faces—Jihoon, Mei Lin, Kai, Liu Yan, and Wei. Relief and concern were evident in their expressions.
"Alex!" Mei Lin exclaimed, rushing to his side. "Thank goodness you're okay."
Kai gave him a nod, his usual stoic demeanor softening. "You had us worried, man."
Liu Yan flashed him a grin. "Leave it to you to make a dramatic entrance and exit."
"How are you feeling?" Wei asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.
Alex managed a weak smile. "I've been better, but I'm still here."
Master Li stepped forward, his gaze assessing Alex with a mixture of pride and concern. "Alexander, it's good to see you awake. You've been through quite an ordeal."
"What happened?" Alex asked, his voice stronger now.
Master Li's expression grew somber. "There was an infiltration. Members of the Blood Demon Cult managed to replace some of our camp members using skin masks, a dark technique that allows them to assume the identities of others. The explosion and subsequent ambush were part of their plan to sow chaos and weaken our forces."
Alex's mind raced as he processed the information. "How many...how many did we lose?"
Master Li's eyes darkened. "We lost several good trainees and instructors. It was a terrible night, but thanks to your efforts and those of your friends, we managed to repel the attackers and prevent further casualties."
Alex's heart ached at the thought of the fallen trainees. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I wish I could have done more."
"You did more than enough," Master Li said firmly. "You killed one of the enemy squad leaders using a yang-attributed attack, which is exceptionally rare, especially for someone without a yang circulation technique. This feat, however, caused internal injuries, particularly to your heart meridian."
Alex touched his chest, remembering the searing pain. "I felt it. It was like my meridians were tearing apart."
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The healer nodded, stepping forward. "You overextended your yang Qi without proper technique, but your physique seems to have a unique affinity for it. We've stabilized your condition, but you need to rest and allow your body to heal."
Master Li's expression softened. "The tournament has been canceled due to the attack. However, because of your extraordinary talent and significant contribution in stopping the attackers, the alliance has decided to reward you. You will be granted access to our cultivation manuals to choose a technique that suits you."
A wave of relief and excitement washed over Alex. Despite the tragedy and pain, there was a silver lining. "Thank you, Master Li. I'll make sure I choose wisely."
"Rest for now," Master Li instructed. "We will discuss the details later."
As Master Li and the healer left, Alex's friends crowded around him, their faces a mixture of relief and concern.
"Man, you gave us quite a scare," Jihoon said, wincing slightly as he moved closer. His injury was bandaged, but he seemed in good spirits.
"Jihoon, you're hurt," Alex said, his voice filled with worry. "Are you okay?"
Jihoon grinned. "Just a scratch, thanks to you. You saved my life out there."
"We were all worried sick," Mei Lin added, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You were unconscious for almost a day."
"Yeah, you had us thinking you'd sleep forever," Kai joked, though his eyes showed his true concern.
Liu Yan leaned in, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "So, Alex, saving lives, killing squad leaders, and now getting access to cultivation manuals? Not bad for a day's work."
Alex chuckled weakly. "I guess I have a knack for making things complicated."
"That's an understatement," Wei said softly, his shy smile offering him comfort.
"Thanks, everyone," Alex said, his heart swelling with gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you all."
Mei Lin patted his shoulder gently. "We're a team. We stick together."
As Alex lay back, feeling the gentle hum of his Qi circulating through his meridians, his friends gathered around him.
As they talked, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. They shared stories of their training, their dreams, and their hopes for the future. Despite the simulated nature of their world, the bonds they had formed felt real and profound. Alex cherished these moments, feeling more connected to his friends than ever.
Eventually, his friends began to leave, urging Alex to rest and recover. "Get some sleep, Alex. You need it," Jihoon said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Mei Lin added, her smile warm and comforting.
"Thanks, guys," Alex replied, watching them leave with a sense of gratitude. He lay back, alone with his thoughts, the room quiet and still. Despite the chaos and violence of the past days, he felt a deep sense of peace.
After a moment, he called up his status screen to review his progress. The familiar interface appeared before his eyes, displaying his achievements and new skills.
Status Screen
Name: Alexander Rey
Level: 28
Race: Awakened Human (Tier 2)
Titles: Mana Prodigy, Martial Prodigy, Skill Prodigy, Pioneer II, Forerunner I
Mana: 7800/7800
Strength: 70
Dexterity: 72
Endurance: 70
Vitality: 70
Intelligence: 70
Wisdom: 70
Charm: 60
Free Stats: 19
Skills:
Mixed Martial Arts: (Level 58)
Sword Arts: (Level 60)
Mana Channeling: (Level 48->55)
Weapon Crafting: (Level 5->7)
Calm Mind: (Level 39->42)
Flexibility: (Level 32->35)
Enduring Strength: (Level 35->40)
Tactics: (Level 30->34)
Mana Sensitivity: (Level 52)
Intimidating Presence: (Level 30->33)
Pain Tolerance: (Level 36->40)
Tier 2:
Multitasking: (Level 18->22)
Heat Infusion: (Level 23->28)
Will Enhancement: (Level 18->24)
Light Flash: (Level 11->15)
Tier 3:
Mana Control: (Level 8->9)
Enhanced Focus: (Level 9->12)
Resilient Body: (Level 3->5)
Resilient Mind: (Level 4->6)
Mana Flow: (Level 6)