Taro smiled as he showed off his collection. Liu revealed his own finds more calmly.
Fifteen Iron Grade crystals and one Bronze Grade crystal.
“Experience helps you pick out the best veins.”
Liu began sorting his finds.
“But don't get too excited. Crystals are only the beginning. Complete training requires processing materials and a sealing agent. For instance.......”
He listed off materials one after another, each more expensive than the last. Then he pointed at Min.
“Processing a crystal for your Snake will probably take sea coral extract and moon algae. And the final seal most likely calls for mermaid scales.”
He shifted his gaze to Taro.
“For processing your Beetle's crystal, metal powder or deep earth rich in mana works well. And the seal might need crushed magic obsidian crystal.”
He listed more possible materials and their costs, then shook his head.
“Processing needs specific materials like those for every Beast. And the final seal is usually far more expensive.”
Ren pushed himself upright with difficulty.
“Actually, the processing can be simpler than you think, Senior.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Liu said, frowning slightly. His tone was a mixture of amusement and skepticism.
“Min's Snake is a freshwater species, not a sea one. It won't need sea coral or moon algae, only nightwater lily extract. And Taro's crystal.......”
Ren looked at his roommate.
“only has to be processed under the right moonlight. It's just the final seal that's more complicated.”
“Moonlight alone?”
Liu laughed shortly.
“The records are quite clear about the processing requirements. Centuries of research went into them.......”
“And the records also said a Beetle can't go past Bronze Grade.”
Taro muttered, recalling the morning's class.
Liu shook his head with an expression caught between amusement and pity.
“I understand that you want to help, but processing isn't something you can simplify like that. Every material has its own role.”
“My Beetle definitely responds better at night.”
Taro cut in, thoughtful.
“And the books mention that they're nocturnal.......”
“That's the Beast's nature, but crystal processing is another matter.”
Liu sighed.
“Still,”
He glanced at the mushrooms in Ren's hair.
“after the demonstration you put on today, and with Assistant Instructor Lin training you on top of it....... I suppose you've earned the right to put forward a few unusual theories.”
Ren swallowed a smile. The processing would not be the real challenge. Moonlight was free, after all.
The real problem was obtaining the sealing agent for the final evolution within a hundred days.
Liu began packing away his crystals.
“Looks to me like it's going to be an interesting term. Though I...... would still advise you to focus on proven methods before you experiment with alternative theories.”
The mushrooms in his hair pulsed softly. Ren had not expected them to believe him right away.
Least of all Liu, who had spent a whole year studying the traditional methods.
But if Taro's beetle evolved correctly.......
Taro looked down at his crystals, lost in thought.
Having watched Ren beat Kai with knowledge nobody else possessed, an alternative method did seem worth considering.
“By the way, what other exercises did Assistant Instructor Lin make you do?”
Min changed the subject as he put his own crystals away.
Ren groaned. Merely recalling it seemed to set his muscles screaming.
“I'd rather not talk about it.”
***
The next morning, Ren stopped in front of the crystal processing classroom.
Professor Wei taught two subjects, and though he had spoken clearly about the wager, Ren was not certain he had really meant both classes.
When he opened the door, laughter spread through the room.
“Look who's here!”
Jin sneered from his seat.
“To think the expert would come all the way here.”
Professor Wei stopped his explanation and raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, Mister Partinder.”
A forced, friendly smile settled on his lips.
“I did not expect to see you here. Are you not...... busy preparing for your demonstration?”
“I thought I ought to attend, just to be certain.”
“Nonsense.”
Wei waved a hand.
“The wager covered both lectures, did it not?”
Ren asked, letting the snickering wash past him.
“Of course. As I said yesterday, you have Mister Taro's Beast to help and other lectures to prepare for.”
He forced the smile again.
“Do not trouble yourself about attendance. Win, and you receive full marks. And if you lose.......”
The smile sharpened.
“attendance will be the least of your worries. So you may go....... No,”
He corrected himself with exaggerated courtesy.
“why not withdraw quietly and go about your ‘work’?”
Ren nodded and left the classroom. Just before the door closed, someone's voice brushed past him.
“He really thought he could sit in on the class, did he?”
***
The mushrooms in his hair pulsed faintly.
That left him with free time until the combat lecture. The library would be no help.
The literature on Beasts only repeated the same things, and while Professor Mei's economics was interesting, he already had the basic concepts well in hand.
‘Let's go dig up some crystals.’
He thought as he headed for the practice mine.
‘If I start now, before the other students finish their lectures.......’
Just as he sank into thought on his way to the practice mine, a cheerful voice came from behind him.
“Oh! Look who it is! If it isn't my favorite disciple!”
Assistant Instructor Lin appeared from somewhere and slung an arm around his shoulders.
“Loitering in the corridor at this hour, what are you up to? Shouldn't you be in class?”
“Professor Wei gave me permission, so.......”
“Free time! What an exquisite coincidence! I happen to be free at this hour as well.”
Assistant Instructor Lin's eyes sparkled with mischief. That look alone made Ren step back on instinct.
“Actually, I was going to the mine to.......”
“To exercise? How dedicated of you! That's exactly what I was thinking about. We need to build up your core strength.”
Assistant Instructor Lin seized him firmly by the arm.
“No, I was going to collect crystals.......”
“Excellent idea!”
Assistant Instructor Lin started hauling him in the opposite direction from the mine.
“We're going to collect muscle! Although,”
She pinched his arm.
“we'll have to find it first. Kid, where are all your muscles hiding?”
“Assistant Instructor, I really do need to get materials.......”
“Oh, you need to get some endurance too. And look! We have the whole morning to train it.”
As Assistant Instructor Lin hummed cheerfully and dragged him off to the training ground, the mushrooms in his hair pulsed as though resigned.
“You know what?”
Assistant Instructor Lin smiled as she opened the training ground gate.
“Let's focus on legs today. Since you want to go to the mine so badly, I ought to help you prepare for all that ‘walking’!”
Ren let out a sigh. It seemed the universe had other plans for his leisurely morning. Very painful plans.
***
“All right, last set!”
Assistant Instructor Lin smiled.
Ren struggled to get through one more set of exercises. Every muscle screamed in the aftermath of the previous day's training. The push-ups, hard enough before, had become nearly impossible.
“I...... I can't......!”
Ren gasped. His arms trembled like aspen leaves.
“Oh?”
Assistant Instructor Lin crouched down beside him.
“Does the little expert give up that easily? After beating a boy with a Stone Scale?”
“That was...... different.......”
“True. That was luck and knowledge.”
She pinched his cheek lightly.
“This is hard work. Next time, what do you want holding up your back?”
“All of it!”
Ren attempted another push-up, but his arms gave out. The mushrooms in his hair pulsed faintly, as though worn out as well.
Assistant Instructor Lin watched him flounder a little longer, then sighed theatrically.
“Fine, fine. I suppose I've been too cruel.”
She drew a small green pill from her pocket.
“Here. This will help you recover.”
“Another magic medicine?”
“Magic, nothing. It's just my basic fatigue recovery remedy.”
She winked.
“I can't have my disciple dying after two days, can I?”
As the pill's warmth spread through his body, Assistant Instructor Lin supported him from the side so he could finish the last movement.
The pain had not vanished entirely, but at least he could move now without swallowing a scream.
***
A bell rang.
“Right on time. Combat arts lecture.”
“Is there no break?”
“After I even gave you medicine? Besides, today is a special day. Core training for everyone.”
She dragged him off to the main training ground.
The main training ground was already packed when they arrived. Professor Yang watched the students fall into their lines.
“Yesterday's assessment made it plain that many of you require basic strength conditioning. Without a solid foundation, even a powerful Beast is useless.” he declared.
The exercises that followed were similar to the ones Assistant Instructor Lin had put him through the day before, but Ren was already exhausted before they began.
“Look at that trash. Tired already?” someone whispered as Ren staggered mid-movement.
“What did you expect? With that pathetic Spore.......” another student answered with a laugh.
“Less chatter, more moving!”
Assistant Instructor Lin moved up and down between the lines, correcting postures. She stopped in front of Ren and murmured low.
“Don't mind them. Those bastards are only doing this once.”
Ren nodded. The others were only now starting, while he had already gotten through two sessions of training.
It was not that he could not do it. He was doing three times as much.
“Partinder.”
Professor Yang called out as Ren collapsed during another movement.
“So yesterday's victory was luck after all?”
Louder laughter broke out, but what Ren read in Professor Yang's voice was not mockery but a test. He got to his feet even as his legs trembled.
“No, Professor. I am simply training harder than the others.”
“Harder? Is that not proof of how pathetic you are?”
Jin jeered from his own line.
“Continue.”
Professor Yang ordered, silencing everyone. Ren did not miss the smile that flickered across his face.
For the rest of the lecture, Ren held his pace on willpower alone.
Assistant Instructor Lin had been right. To compete at his best, he needed more training than anyone else, and for longer.
The Spore had given him knowledge, but the body to put that knowledge to use he had to build himself.
The mushrooms in his hair pulsed harder, as though acknowledging his resolve. The laughter and the jeering went on, but they were only distant, faint noise now. It did not matter what they said.
They saw only the present. He was building the future. One at a time, through aching muscle.
“That wasn't so bad.”
Assistant Instructor Lin smiled as the students filed out of the training ground.
“All you need is more endurance.”