Thursday morning, February 27th, 2025. The fourth day since Cube's semester began.
...Lee still found it a bit strange that he was technically back in time. Especially since, to Hajin, it must be over a decade in the future, but to him it was over a year back in time.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was preparing.
Cube's class schedule was fairly straightforward.
Mondays and Fridays were lectures, like the Post-Outcall History class, along with various rotating lectures about being a Hero and the ethics required with being one. Also some various economics courses and finance management.
Surprisingly, more responsible than the average university... though this WAS a place to nurture international powerhouses.
It would be odd to not have those sorts of classes since having a Hero go rogue and become a villain...
Yeah, not a good look for Cube.
But that aside, Tuesday through Thursday were combat training days.
Tuesday was Anti-monster combat training, Wednesday was Anti-Personnel combat training.
And Thursday was independent training.
Of course, you had to record what you were doing as well as log the hours.
It was expected to spend at least four hours of independent training... probably to make sure there weren't any slackers.
The average Cube Cadet would be training in their free time anyway. But there were surely those who wouldn't do anything unless it was mandatory.
Hence the required independent training every Thursday.
As for what Lee was going to do today...
"So these are mana crystals, huh?"
...He was going to test out the purchases he made.
True to the Cube-mu delivery service's word, they had kept his package at the front desk. And it had arrived early this morning, something that he was alerted to via smartwatch.
Since he had it, now was the time to test his theory.
Holding the glittering mana crystal in his right hand, he closed his eyes and tried to feel it out.
A faint warmth. Similar to the droplet he had within his heart. But also different. More... diffuse?
"Hm." Lee tilted his head, thinking. "...Should I try it?"
He glanced at the small bundle of mana crystals.
He had bought six. It put him down 600,000 won, but if his hypothesis was correct, then it should be more than worth the investment.
As for what the hypothesis WAS...
"Back to the gravitation training room."
...Lee made sure to NOT tell Nayun or Rachel about his test.
===
Back at the Novice Training Facility.
It was 7:30 AM. Because it was mandatory independent training day, the usually empty facility was actually filled to the brim. Not just with the first years that were Lee's peers, but quite a few upperclassmen too.
But even though that was the case, no one took a second look his way.
Mostly because he was muscular and also walked like he had a clear workout plan.
And, from past experience on Earth too, if you did that, no one bothered you at the gym.
...Except for the weird girls who were there just to flirt.
Like the gaggle of female cadets Lee saw doing not so subtle suggestive workouts in front of a mirror at the corner of the gym.
But Lee walked past them all, heading to the gravitation training chamber.
Was it because Nayun was the only one crazy enough to use it? The fact that people didn't want to risk getting injured? Or because it was too early in the morning for it?
Nobody else was inside.
And on the wall... something Lee had DEFINITELY missed before, there was a glowing LED screen that read [Current Gravity Multiplier: 1].
Next to that, there was a QR code to scan with the smartwatch to adjust the rate of gravity.
...Which meant that he had definitely walked into a level of gravity training that he was NOT supposed to last time.
Knowing Nayun, it was probably at a ridiculous level. One that a mere manaless (functionally) cadet like him couldn't bear.
"...Huh. Wait." Lee stared at the QR code and the gravity display. Then he walked in the room, hesitant.
But it was the same as outside.
Meaning...
"...I can ramp it up. No, you're supposed to, right?"
Did he miss the safety orientation for using the room?
...Probably.
It seemed like it was a place where you were supposed to knock and have whoever was inside adjust the weight before you entered.
And Lee had just... entered.
No wonder Nayun was panicked.
But lesson learned.
"Right. Let's... gradually ramp it up this time."
If he had realized that was an option...
No use crying over spilled milk.
Palming the mana crystal in his hand, Lee scanned the QR code and slowly ramped up the gravity.
1.1 times...
1.2 times...
2 times...
Lee could feel it already. A heavy strain on his body, like he was being pressed by a heavy slab of concrete...
No, since it was straight down...
Wait.
"Goddammit...!"
Lee realized now what this place REALLY was.
It wasn't 'gravity.'
Because if it was just gravity, it would be suicide. A single misalignment of your body would make bones and tendons snap.
No, this was 'pressure.'
An equally applied pressure clamping down around your body like a vice.
And the reason why his heart felt like it was going to stop the last time he entered.
But...
"Alright... Let's see... if this works..." Lee murmured.
Then he realized how stupid that was and immediately shut up to get down to business.
He drew out his small droplet of mana to connect to the mana crystal.
The moment he did, he felt it. Like a secondary sense of touch. A sixth sense?
Something like that.
But he could feel like he was reaching through a bundle of slippery threads and trying to find purchase. Like grabbing a chunk of eggshell within egg yolk.
Since it was still difficult, he cranked up the gravity a bit. 2.2 times.
The moment he did, the sensation of slippery threads became firmer. Instead of slippery noodles, it felt like al dente spaghetti now.
In other words, something he could grab.
So he did, tugging it inside him.
The mana crystal unraveled with a flash of light, dissolving into his skin.
And then the pressure on his body vanished.
"Hoh?" Lee tested his grip, tensing and untensing his muscles. Then he moved around a bit and said, "This is interesting..."
It wasn't permanent. At least, Lee felt like it wasn't.
There was definitely magic power coursing through his veins right now. Not quite mana... at least, not what he called mana.
The droplet of mana he had felt like oil. But what was running along his muscles and veins right now felt like mist.
"Maybe it's like condensing sap into syrup?" Lee murmured and then tested a few martial arts strikes.
Since Lee Shin, the original, was a fan of Li Shuwen...
Lee stomped his foot and ran through some Bajiquan drills. Explosive force, quick forward movements, all techniques that readily transferred to spearwork...
"Wait."
Lee paused, a thought coming to mind.
...Wasn't Li Shuwen famous for his 'no second strike?'
A form of philosophy that every strike was meant to be fatal. But also a mythical technique that his very qi engulfed the opponent when he struck, meaning that a single point of contact was sufficient to steal their breath.
...Or something.
Lee didn't remember the full details right now.
But the detail wasn't important. The CONCEPT was.
And right now...
'This misty sensation of magic power in my body... it's pretty similar.'
The divine breath that they called qi. The cosmic wheel...
It wasn't permanent. Lee could tell. Although <Mana Manipulation> was allowing him to control the mana from the mana crystals and wield it as his own, he hadn't made that mana his.
Was it like proper cultivation?
Maybe Lee had to condense it and refine it down properly before it stayed... That, or it was like how you needed gallons of sap for a bottle of maple syrup. It was possible that he COULD control it, but that it was being burned away right now as he was using it.
But whatever the case...
'Let's try it.'
Once more, Lee focused on doing the explosive steps and strikes he remembered from Bajiquan. And with the increased pressure and magic power temporary coursing through his vein, the explosive movements sounded like gunshots from the force piercing the air.
But that wasn't the point.
If it was just Bajiquan drills, he could have done it outside the gravitation training room.
No.
Just like the first time he was here, he was trying to obtain something.
And since it worked the first time, he was sure it could again if he assessed it with a proper framework and acted upon it.
So, dissolving the mana from a mana crystal into the mist of magic power in his veins and flesh. Striking with Bajiquan. But at the last moment, instead of using that magic power to resist the pressure, shoving it out at once in the direction of his strike.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
A hundred.
Slowly, methodically, painfully.
Lee trained under 2.2 times gravity. Then when he wasn't getting the results he wanted, he increased the gravity.
2.3 times.
2.5 times.
3 times.
5 times.
And finally, back at 10 times gravity. When it felt like every cell in his body was burning from the pressure...
He heard a soft chime in his head. At the same time, his body cracked, a hazy crimson mist forming around him.
The pressure in the gravitation training room suddenly shut off. It seemed like there WERE safety measures in place to prevent reckless cadets like himself.
But Lee didn't care about that.
Instead, he stared at the updated status screen floating in front of his eyes.
===
[Status Screen]
Name: Lee Shin (Hanja read as 'Different' 'Belief')
Age: 16 (Biological, Western standard)
[Variable Stats]
Strength: 5.12 => 5.15
Stamina: 5.12 => 5.15
Speed: 5.12 => 5.15
Perception: 10
<You are well-versed in tropes, fiction, and other areas. No matter the circumstance, you can perceive at least a vague root of its existence.>
Vitality: 5.12 => 5.15
Magic power: 1.2 => 1.3
<Your body does not naturally generate magical power. Additional methods are necessary.>
[Invariable Stats]
Intelligence - 10/10
<You possess knowledge that does not exist and cannot exist in this world. This collection of knowledge across numerous fields in your previous life have been synthesized and converted as raw intelligence.>
Perseverance - 9/10
<You have been driven to the brink and faced the abyss of death numerous times. You have been presented the choice to end it all numerous times and yet chosen life. Moreover you have turned your life around and bounced back further each time. This has been recorded as great perseverance.>
Luck - 0/10
<You are not accepted by the rules of this world, and you do not accept them in turn. Any luck-based events are converted to 'causality' events. Without sufficient plausibility, outcomes cannot occur when they involve you.>
Charm - 8/10
<You have a natural ease and charisma around you from knowing who you truly are at your core and accepting all of it in its totality.>
[Gift]
Lightning Thrust <Static Gift> - Wreathing oneself in mana, lunge forward at a blinding speed for a thrust.
Maverick <Static Gift> - You do not abide by the world's rules. Luck will never be on your side. In return, you are not constrained by the world's limitations.
[Arts]
Self Command (Proficiency 100% | MAX)- You are able to always control your actions. You cannot be manipulated by external powers.
- Immunity to abnormal mental conditions
- Immunity to mental control abilities, magic, skills, and authorities
- Can ignore physical limitations at the cost of critical damage to the body
Mana Manipulation (Proficiency 25% | Low rank) - An ability gained at the brink of death. You have forcibly awakened a physical sense for mana, as well as a method to control it utilizing biological processes.
- Can completely control one droplet of mana
- Mana under your control will not dissolve, but instead return to the body after eliciting the magical effect
- If proficiency is improved, can dominate and assimilate other sources of mana into your body.
(New!) No Second Strike [Rederived] (Proficiency 1% | Lowest Rank) - Taking the premise of Li Shuwen's no second strike as a core combat philosophy, the principle of 'engulfing the opponent with Qi' has been applied with mana. Every physical strike has a chance to stun the opponent. Effect amplified against opponents utilizing mana reinforcement or magic power. At High Rank, mere killing intention may be fatal due to shocking the opponent's parasympathetic nervous system.
[Physique]
Disruptive Mana Physique
- The nature of mana within your body trends towards chaos.
- You are unable to use magic.
- You ignore the magical aspect of magical attacks.
===
Lee stared at the status screen. Then he pumped a fist into the air. "Yes! Now to-"
The speakers crackled to life and a monotone voice echoed, slightly synthetic.
*Cadet Lee Shin, Rank 999. You have exceeded safety limits in utilizing the gravitation training room. Please exit at the earliest convenience. Further usage of the gravitation training room will be disabled until you have departed from the location.*
Cube's automated safety system... that apparently existed.
Huh.
Well, that was mildly annoying.
...Then again, it was probably for the best.
Lee walked over to a nearby towel to grab it and wipe his sweat... only to pause when the white towel was immediately stained crimson.
"...Oh." He quickly pulled out his phone to check his appearance. And then he grimaced when he realized that it looked like he was drenched in blood. And now that he stopped to think about it, he smelled like blood too...
No wonder the safety protocols kicked in.
Lee felt fine. The magic power temporarily stored in his body was definitely keeping it at a safe level... but it seemed like this was the equivalent of that body tempering thing in murim novels where blood mist formed from the impurities being expelled.
Probably.
...Hopefully it wasn't his cells literally liquifying.
He had read once that it was possible. It's why there wasn't really any large lifeforms in deep water after all. The pressure there made cell walls literally collapse in on themselves...
'Actually, let's get out of here.'
Lee would rather not test that thought...
And yet he knew that if he stuck around some more, he might get the urge to test other hypothesis on mana manipulation.
Like the Peruta circuit.
...He REALLY wanted to see if he could make that spiraling mana circuit.
...But he should also probably do that mathematics on it first.
'...Yeah. Let's properly theorycraft it first.'
Although he was itching to try out more things, Lee deliberately walked himself out of the gravitation training room.
...Or he started to.
But then he noticed that he was literally dripping blood everywhere, so he took a bit to wipe himself up first.
'Back to the dorms for a second shower, I guess...'