"But everything changed the moment you forged a Rank-4 Orbit,"
the System's voice resonated with a newfound gravity.
"Your Qi rating didn't just grow; it exploded from 200 to 1,800.
With your current physical state, you aren't built for high-tier Martial Arts yet, but as a Magician? You've become a monster. You could even become a high-level Summoner!"
Kirish blinked, stunned. "Wow... that's incredible. But wait a second. If my rating is that high, it means I could have gotten into a Four-Star college, or even higher. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
["Yes, you could have entered a Four-Star, Five-Star, or even a Six-Star institution,"] the System replied coolly. ["But think, Owner.
High talent brings high danger. Every faction would try to kidnap you, use you, or—out of pure jealousy—assassinate you before you could grow. I am a greedy system, not a suicidal one. Safety is the first step to profit."]
Kirish went silent. The System was right. Being a "hidden dragon" was far safer than being a target.
"Fine. Your logic holds up. I'll buy the 'Light Axe' technique."
The moment the transaction was finalized, Kirish's vision blurred. Memories that weren't his flooded his mind—muscles twitching with phantom movements, the weight of a thousand strikes settling into his bones.
The 'Light Axe' wasn't just about kicking; it was about stamina. The more endurance you had, the more you could practice, and the more your strength and agility would grow in return.
Thanks to the System, Kirish didn't just learn the moves; he inherited the experience of a master. Within five seconds, he understood the 'Light Axe' better than the person who had spent years practicing it in the garden.
"Let's see what I can do," Kirish muttered.
His current stats were unique.
With 50 points in Endurance, he could withstand five times the pressure of an average human. His Strength and Agility were four times the human norm.
The 'Light Axe' fit his aptitude perfectly.
Five meters away, the pink-haired girl—
Priyanka—was panting, taking a break from her grueling session. Kirish walked up to a different dummy. The ground beneath him was dark blue concrete, cold and hard.
The dummy in front of him was a 2.5-meter 'Bear Beast' training model standing on two legs.
Kirish dropped into a stance. It looked like Priyanka's, yet... it was different.
Priyanka, wiping sweat from her forehead, noticed the newcomer.
'Is he training in the Light Axe too? But why does his stance look so... ancient?' She had practiced this style for years, but she didn't realize that her version was a modern, watered-down copy.
Kirish, thanks to the Greedy System, was using the Original Root Version.
Kirish lunged. His leg whipped out like a literal executioner's axe, striking the dummy's neck with surgical precision.
["GOOD ATTACK"] flashed on the nearby digital monitor.
He wasn't in top form—his body was still recovering—so the blow lacked raw power. But the technique? It was flawless. Priyanka watched, her jaw nearly dropping. She could see he was injured, yet his form was superior to her own.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
After fifteen strikes, Kirish's muscles began to scream. "Ouch! Ouch! I forgot I'm still a walking bruise!" he cursed under his breath, rubbing his sore shins.
Half of his energy was gone. He limped back to the bench where he had been sitting earlier.
Priyanka couldn't take her eyes off him. 'He's better than me. Much better. Is he a master? A senior? He looks like he just crawled out of a battlefield!'
She made a quick decision. She hurried to a nearby vending machine and returned with a bottle
"Senior!"
Kirish looked up. The pink-haired girl was standing in front of him, looking nervous.
She held out a bottle of Ginseng Recovery Drink—a premium beverage that cost about 150 W. You could buy a full meal at a good restaurant for that price.
"Senior... I saw your practice. Could you... could you please train me? I want to learn the 'Light Axe' properly," she said, her voice trembling slightly. In this world, no one shared their secret techniques for free. She was taking a massive gamble.
Kirish looked at the bottle, then at the girl. He realized she had recognized the "Original" quality of his moves. He took the bottle and unscrewed the cap.
"I can teach you," Kirish said, his voice calm and business-like. "But!"
"But what, Senior?" she asked eagerly.
"First, I don't work for free.
Second, my version of the Light Axe is different; you are forbidden from teaching it to anyone else without my explicit permission."
He took a sip of the drink and continued, "The full course is ten hours. You can ask as many questions as you want. The price is 3,000 W per hour. You can take the first hour and see the results.
If you don't like it, you can leave, but there are no refunds. You have five minutes to decide."
He leaned back, enjoying the expensive ginseng drink, leaving Priyanka to struggle with the choice. For a student, 3,000 W an hour was a fortune.
Will Priyanka accept the deal? Can Kirish earn his first 1,00,000 W through this pink-haired prodigy?
[To Be Continued...]
Quick Stats Update:
Kirish's Endurance: 50 (5x human)
Kirish's Strength/Agility: 4x human
New Skill: Light Axe (Original Version)
Current Mission: Earn 1,00,000 W in 15 days.
Got a theory on why the System gave him the 'Original' version? Drop it in the comments!