Chapter 292: Noah’s Skill Advancements
Having visited Ichigo, Noah no longer carried any lingering obligations at the resort. With nothing left to hold him there, he returned to his room, summoned the portal, and stepped through into the familiar interior of his shop.
The first thing he did was check on Lola. She remained immersed in training, her focus unbroken, the soft sound of her breathing filling the air. The sight did not surprise him. Not much time had passed since he last saw her, and progress at her level demanded persistence rather than haste. Satisfied that she was committed, Noah turned his attention to his own path.
He could have trained at the resort, yet he preferred the shop for reasons that went beyond comfort. The mana density here far surpassed that of the resort, each breath drawing in energy that seeped directly into his body. The atmosphere itself carried a quiet serenity that sharpened his concentration. More importantly, within these walls, he faced no risk of interruption. The shop was his domain, both sanctuary and forge, and every session here carried him further than hours spent elsewhere.
He lowered himself into a seated position, straightened his spine, and closed his eyes. Mana gathered at his call, drawn by the abundance in the air. Noah cycled through his regimen, shifting from one skill to another with a calm rhythm. Mana control came first, a steady circulation that polished the channels of his body. Wind manipulation followed, his senses sharpening as he tested finer adjustments to flow and pressure. Then, his Body tempering training, his body hardening under the weight of circulating energy.
Time slipped from his awareness. Each repetition carried him deeper into focus, every small improvement stacking on the last. The rich environment amplified his progress, while the countless hours of accumulated practice gave him a solid foundation to build upon. The rhythm of advancement took hold, and Noah surrendered himself to it completely.
When he finally drew a long breath and opened his eyes, nine hours had vanished. The passage of time felt almost unreal, as though the world beyond the shop had stood still while he worked. His body thrummed with fatigue, yet underneath the weariness lay a profound sense of accomplishment. Noah could feel it in the strengthened flow of mana within him, in the sharpened control of his techniques, and in the certainty that he had stepped closer to the strength he sought.
[Your skill Body Tempering has reached Level 12!]
[Your skill Mana Control has reached Level 12!]
[Your skill Wind Manipulation has reached Level 12!]
[Your skill Aura has reached Level 12!]
The simultaneous advancement across multiple skills represented significant progress toward adept-rank capabilities. Each skill reaching Level 12 brought Noah closer to his goals of becoming strong enough to protect himself. Unfortunately, he was still far away from being able to do so.
The training session had yielded clear progress, yet Noah knew he had not reached his limit for the day. He resolved to continue, but prudence guided him to pause first. Hours of concentrated effort had drained both mind and body. Enhanced though his physique might be, he remained a mortal, bound to the same needs as anyone else. Sustained peak performance demanded rest as much as exertion.
He opened his shop inventory and withdrew a small meal. A piece of bread still warm with its magical freshness, and two bottles of iced tea. Sitting cross-legged, he tore into the bread and washed it down with a long pull from the first bottle.
"Aahh."
The cool liquid slid down his throat, a reliever of the fatigue clouding his senses. Its taste was as good as always, and its refreshing quality delivered instant satisfaction. When the bottle ran dry, he set it aside and reached for the second. He did not drink it for the effects it had, but simply because he liked the flavour and wanted to feel refreshed.
Leo, alert to the meal, perked up and padded closer. Noah offered him another bottle, and the lion accepted eagerly. Tilting his head back, Leo swallowed the contents in a single gulp. A low purr rumbled through his chest as his eyes softened, the sound of his contentment filling the room more vividly than words could.
Noah chuckled quietly and gave the young beast a fond scratch along the neck. The bond between them deepened in moments like these, when simple companionship felt as vital as any training exercise.
Ten minutes passed in quiet silence, enough for the magical nutrition to take effect and for tension to loosen from Noah’s muscles. His breathing steadied, and the weariness in his mind receded. Though short, the break had left him sharper and steadier than before.
He rose and returned to his training spot, lowering himself into the familiar position once more. A clear mind, a body restored, and a companion close at hand—these formed the foundation for continued growth. Noah exhaled slowly, gathering focus, and prepared to dive back into his regimen with renewed concentration.
In what felt like an instant, another sixteen hours vanished into the current of training. When Noah finally surfaced from his deep focus, his eyes opened to a cascade of glowing notifications.
[Your skill Body Tempering has reached Level 13!][Your skill Mana Control has reached Level 13!][Your skill Wind Manipulation has reached Level 13!][Your skill Aura has reached Level 13!]
He let out a measured breath, absorbing the meaning of the results. Twenty-four hours had passed in the shop since he began this cycle. The idle room was no longer on cooldown; it was open again, ready for use in another round of advancement. In the outside world, however, only half that time had slipped away. The dimensional time ratio had worked exactly as intended, giving him the luxury of progress without sacrificing too much of the real-world schedule.
A faint rustle drew his attention. Leo stirred from his nap, golden mane shifting as he lifted his head up.