[ Only Losers Can't Do Twenty:

-Open the first twenty meridians.

-Rewards: Rare Gacha Ticket 1x.

-Punishments: -20 EP.

]

Aster could feel mana moving through his body, weakly trying to reach the nineteenth meridian, but its speed and power were greatly diminished.

In fact, he himself was also extremely tired, and all he could do was barely register the words that his System showed him.

"How can I reach twenty. How can I reach twenty..." He started thinking before suddenly, an idea appeared in his head.

He suddenly controlled his mana, making it change directions and cycle through his body.

Usually, such a thing was a bad idea because the momentum would eventually be lost, and he wouldn't be able to open up more meridians.

However, Aster had an idea.

As the energy kept circling through his body, he tried concentrating hard and training in Zoroaster's Way Of Magic.

Once a person opened meridians, they would be able to gather mana and make it cycle through the body.

When a person has done enough cycles, they would be able to break through the final hurdle between an apprentice and a normal person.

Aster had, in fact, opened his meridians, making him eligible for making the mana cycle around his body. He could gather mana from outside, even though he was still in the Meridian Opening phase.

The problem lay, in fact, that he had to control the raging tide of mana inside his body precisely without making it severely injure him while also concentrating hard enough to gather mana from his surroundings.

But he didn't care.

He still wanted to risk it.

And so, Aster did just that.

His mana circled around his body as he gathered mana from his surroundings. He could feel his raging mana slowing down but becoming more refined, more steady.

'It lost in speed but gained in power? Or is it density?' He thought.

After an excruciating five minutes, He made the mana reach for the nineteenth meridian. And it broke through without any problems.

'Final one.' He gritted his teeth, repeating the process.

Once he felt confident enough, he pushed for it.

And it broke through.

[ Quest completed: Only losers can't do twenty ]

[ You have received Rare Gacha Ticket 1x ]

Aster panted as he looked at the notifications.

With a small smirk, he closed his eyes, lying on the wall.

The next morning, Aster woke up refreshed.

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It was his first time waking up so refreshed. It felt like he slept for an eternity and would never need so much sleep.

Like he had just gone through a hard training, feeling more alive.

"But what's this smell." He made a disgusted expression.

Looking down, he noticed himself being all sticky and wet.

Around him, and even on him, was a black substance that reeked.

Aster made a disgusted expression before closing in on his wall.

Survivor's corridor was able to sustain itself even without explorers. There were showers that somehow still worked and even some food that could keep about thirty survivors alive.

Alive, not full. To be full, they either had to explore or somehow get their hands on more food.

As that thought entered his mind, Aster showed a disgusted expression again.

This time, not because of the smell but the thought that entered his mind.

He remembered that the world he was in wasn't as fine as he thought it was.

Turning on the shower, Aster showered his clothes and himself. Then, he took a small bowl, filled it with water, and spilled it around the room.

Instead of rags, survivors used torn-off parts of clothing.

And just like survivors, explorers were forced to do the same.

After cleaning his room, Aster approached his door and opened it slightly.

The door looked normal. Surprising, considering that everything else except the walls was quite old and battered.

'Oh, the shower works fine somehow as well. I bet magic was used. Maybe that's why I can sense mana behind it.' Aster thought while leaning towards the door.

He wanted to spy on the survivor's conversations.

The reason was simple.

'Maybe they will let me know who is the traitor. At least a hint. If nothing else, I'd at least see... hear their real selves.'

Aster used the first magic that Zoroaster's manual taught. Enhancement.

He wasn't really proficient in it, so he could only use it on the upper part of the body instead of only the ear.

The way he used the magic was simple but required extreme concentration.

Aster had to activate Zoroaster's Way Of Magic. Then, he had to circle mana through his body.

However, there was a catch. While circling it, he had to let out bits of it through his meridians, allowing it to reach his body and enhancing it.

Of course, if he used all his meridians, he'd quickly deplete his mana. It would require much less concentration, though.

"Did those bitches bring all the food?" Aster could hear a voice from a survivor.

"Of course not. They want to keep all the grass to themselves. Maybe we should enter their room and show them why we are the man." Another survivor spoke.

"Nah, we can't do that. The biggest bitch of them all will help them. We don't want another sacrificial ceremony, do we?"

"True. One was scary enough. Thank god we survived. I can't believe what that bitch Cecil looked like."

Coincidentally, all of the people who spoke were the ones that Cecil abhorred.

Aster clicked his tongue. He didn't care about those guys, but he still couldn't help but feel disgusted that he lived together with them.

Unknowingly, he started hating them.

'Maybe Cecil was right.' Aster realized that he had made many errors in his judgment.

'Currently, I am in a tense situation. Why was I so relaxed?' He questioned himself.

But it was his true nature.

His true nature was to not be as cold-hearted and merciless.

And yet, he needed to be. At least until the traitor was revealed.

Once he felt threatened, Aster would turn extremely cold.

"I can't believe that the food only grows in the girls' room." A comment was heard.

"It is what it is. By the way, what do you guys think about the recent expedition? You think those explorers did well?"

"As if." Another person scoffed. "They barely returned alive. I bet they encountered a small animal and ran away."

"Probably hahahah." A laugh was heard from the group.

"Who do you think ran first?"

"That new guy, Aster." One of the few men conversing clicked his tongue. "Nyle and Cecil are clearly the strongest. Asher and Boar are also veterans and seem intimidating. But that guy? He is just there so he can reap the benefits."

"Agreed."

Another wave of laughter happened.

Aster narrowed his eyes. 'I don't like the way they talk, nor do I like their judgment.'

'But it's for the better. No one will question me. I'll stand by the side and let Nyle take the spotlight.'

Aster smirked, leaving his room.

He noticed a small rock to the side. Picking it up, he smirked and clenched his hand.

Using Enhancement, Aster broke it.

'I am strong now.' He grinned. 'I don't know if I'm as overpowered as Nyle, but I am surely at least on Cecil's level. Probably stronger, pure strength-wise.'

"Time to clean up some trash."