Two days passed in a blur of focused intensity. Misaki pushed himself harder than ever before, dividing his time between meditation sessions, forge work on the remaining saw orders, combat training with his new blade and armor, and continued construction on his dwelling. Sleep became a calculated necessity rather than a luxury, measured in precise eight-hour blocks that allowed maximum recovery without wasting preparation time.
The leather armor had felt awkward at first, restricting his movements and adding unfamiliar weight to his torso and arms. But through constant wear during training, his body adapted. He learned how the armor moved with him, where it provided protection, where it allowed flexibility. The scout's blade became an extension of his arm as he practiced basic strikes, blocks, and the defensive forms Deylos had drilled into him over the past months.
More importantly, he discovered his fighting style.
He would never be a front-line warrior like Riyeak, trading devastating blows with monsters twice his size. He lacked the raw strength and the specialized combat class abilities that made such tactics viable. But what he had was speed, precision, and the analytical mind of an engineer who could read patterns and exploit weaknesses.
His style emerged through practice: quick strikes to vulnerable points, constant movement to avoid direct confrontation, using terrain and positioning to create advantages. He was learning to fight like water—flowing around obstacles, finding gaps, striking where resistance was weakest.
[Skill Advancement: Basic Combat → Intermediate Combat (12%)]
[New Fighting Style Recognized: Precision Striker]
[Bonus: +10% damage to vital points, +5% evasion]
His attributes had improved as well, the combination of physical training with real equipment and the constant chakra development creating a synergistic effect that pushed his growth faster than normal for the Jack class.
[Strength: 11 → 13]
[Constitution: 18 → 20]
[Dexterity: 13 → 15]
[Vitality: 34 → 38]
But his chakra awakening, despite aggressive meditation and forge work, had hit a plateau.
[Manipura Chakra: Stirring (85%)]
Eighty-five percent. He'd pushed it fifteen percent in two days, which was remarkable progress by any standard. But the final fifteen percent remained tantalizingly out of reach, as if some fundamental threshold prevented him from crossing into true manifestation.
On the morning of departure, Misaki found himself in the training yard with Riyeak, both of them running through final combat drills. The young giant moved with surprising grace despite his massive frame, his shield—now a proper metal one rather than a training implement—catching imaginary blows while his sword traced efficient arcs through the air.
"Question," Misaki said during a water break, both of them breathing hard from the exertion. "I've been thinking about the dungeons. We might encounter mages down there, right? People from other villages who use mana-based magic rather than chakra?"
"Probably," Riyeak confirmed, gulping water from his canteen. "Dungeon expeditions attract all types. Why?"
"How do mana users fight compared to chakra users? What are the differences in actual combat?"
Riyeak's expression grew thoughtful. He set down his canteen and gestured for Misaki to sit, clearly preparing for a longer explanation.
"It's a fundamental difference in approach," the young warrior began. "Chakra users like us, we generate power from within. Every technique we use draws on our own life energy, our own vitality. That makes our abilities extremely reliable and consistent, but it also means we have limited reserves. Use too much chakra too quickly, and you'll exhaust yourself. Push beyond your limits, and you can actually damage your spiritual channels or even die."
Misaki nodded, having read about this in the lexicon. The hard limit on chakra use was one of the system's fundamental restrictions.
"Mana users work completely differently," Riyeak continued. "They draw power from external sources—ambient magical energy in the environment, stored energy in artifacts or crystals, ley lines, dungeon cores. This means their individual attacks are usually weaker than equivalent chakra techniques because they're not channeling their own life force. But—" he held up a finger for emphasis, "—they have effectively unlimited ammunition as long as they're in a mana-rich environment."
"So in a dungeon, which is definitely mana-rich..."
"Exactly. A mana-based mage can throw spell after spell after spell, overwhelming a chakra user through sheer volume. We might hit harder, but they can attack ten times as often without tiring. In prolonged engagements, that's a massive advantage."
Misaki processed this, his engineer's mind immediately seeing the tactical implications. "So the counter-strategy would be to end fights quickly, before they can leverage their sustained output advantage."
"Right. Or fight in environments where ambient mana is scarce, which gives chakra users the edge. But in dungeons?" Riyeak shook his head. "Mana users have home field advantage. Which is why village teams usually bring at least one mage if they can, even though most of us are chakra-based."
"Does our team have a mage?"
"No. M'lod is heavily chakra-dominant. The last mage we had moved to the capital three years ago. We'll be relying on pure chakra techniques and physical combat." Riyeak grinned. "Though with Deylos's archery, Vellin's trap expertise, and my defensive abilities, we've got a solid foundation. And you—" he clapped Misaki on the shoulder with enough force to make him stumble, "—you're our wild card. The Jack who can adapt to whatever weird situations we encounter."
Misaki appreciated the vote of confidence, even if it came with a bruised shoulder. "One more question. You mentioned planetary affinity earlier, when we were talking about chakra development. What exactly does that mean?"
Riyeak's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "Planetary affinity is... complicated. And honestly, it's one of the areas where you're at a disadvantage."
"How so?"
"Remember how the power system works? Your chakra affinities are determined by planetary positions at conception and birth. Those same alignments also create what we call planetary resonance—a connection between your spiritual channels and specific celestial bodies. When those planets are in favorable positions in the sky, your chakra techniques cost less energy to use. When they're aligned perfectly, some people can execute techniques with almost no chakra expenditure at all."
Misaki felt his heart sink as he understood the implication. "But I wasn't conceived or born on Vulcan. I don't have those planetary alignments."
"Exactly. You have no planetary affinity whatsoever. Which means your chakra techniques will always cost the full amount of life energy, with no discount from favorable planetary positions. Most chakra users can reduce their energy costs by twenty to forty percent when conditions are right. You'll never have that advantage." Riyeak's tone was sympathetic but honest. "It's another penalty of being an otherworlder who arrived physically rather than through soul transfer."
The information settled over Misaki like a weight. Not only did the Jack class make everything harder, not only did he lack the raw attributes of specialized classes, but he also had no planetary affinity to reduce his chakra costs. Every technique would be more expensive for him, every ability harder to sustain.
"Is there any way to develop planetary affinity after the fact?" he asked, though he suspected he knew the answer.
"Theoretically, yes. But it requires years of dedicated study and meditation focused specifically on attuning yourself to planetary cycles. Most people spend their entire lives trying and never achieve more than minor resonance. The few who do succeed usually started training as children and devoted themselves to it exclusively." Riyeak's expression was apologetic. "I'm not saying it's impossible for you, but with your debt situation and the need to develop practical skills for survival... spending years on planetary attunement probably isn't feasible."
Misaki sat in silence for a moment, processing yet another disadvantage to add to the growing list. But then, almost against his will, he felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"You know what? Fine. I'll work with what I have. No planetary affinity means I plan better, conserve energy more carefully, and find creative solutions that don't rely on spamming chakra techniques. It's just another constraint to work around."
Riyeak's grin returned. "That's the spirit! Besides, you're at eighty-five percent awakening without any planetary assistance. That's impressive for someone who's only been on Vulcan for six months. Most people don't reach that level until their second or third year of focused practice."
"Speaking of chakra," Misaki said, standing and dusting off his training clothes, "I still don't fully understand something. People keep saying chakra isn't magic, but it looks like magic. Fire manipulation, earth walls, healing light—how is that different from what mages do?"
"It's about the source and the mechanism," Riyeak explained, also standing and retrieving his gear. "Mages use formulas, incantations, and structured spell patterns to shape external mana into effects. Their magic follows rigid rules and requires precise execution. If you interrupt their casting, disrupt their focus, or remove their mana source, their abilities fail completely."
He tapped his chest over his heart. "Chakra is internal. It's our own life energy expressed through opened spiritual channels. There are no incantations to interrupt, no external sources to cut off. The abilities manifest as extensions of our own will and understanding. A mage casts a fireball spell. A Manipura-awakened chakra user generates fire from their own internal energy. The end result looks similar, but the process is fundamentally different."
"So chakra is more reliable but more limited, while mana is less reliable but potentially more powerful?"
"Essentially, yes. Though 'powerful' is debatable. A fully awakened chakra master can do things that would exhaust an entire team of mages. But achieving full awakening is incredibly difficult, whereas mages can reach high competency much faster through study." Riyeak checked the position of Ulth'rk in the sky. "We should probably head to the gate. The others will be arriving soon."
They made their way to the eastern gate, where supply carts were already being loaded for the expedition. Misaki recognized several faces from around the village—loggers who would serve as porters, a healer's assistant who would handle medical supplies, and two experienced hunters who would scout ahead during the journey.
Vellin arrived first, the diminutive scout leader looking even smaller under the weight of her pack, bow, and various tools. But her eyes were sharp and alert as she surveyed the assembled group, clearly cataloging strengths, weaknesses, and potential problems.
Deylos came next, moving with the quiet efficiency of someone who wasted no motion. His bow was already strung, and his quiver held what looked like specialized arrows with different colored fletching—probably various types for different tactical situations.
"Team Seven, present and accounted for," Vellin said formally, though her tone carried a hint of dry humor. "Misaki, you look significantly less likely to die than you did six months ago. That's encouraging."
"I try my best not to disappoint," Misaki replied.
Chief Shy'yao approached, his ceremonial robes replaced with more practical traveling clothes, though he still carried an aura of authority that made everyone straighten slightly. Behind him walked Lyria, carrying a leather medical bag marked with healer's symbols.
"Team Seven," the chief began, his voice carrying across the gathering, "you depart for the Ruins of Kel'shara, our ancestral claim site. The journey is approximately seventy-five hours through contested borderlands. You will establish camp and await the barrier collapse in seven days. Your objectives are threefold: survival, resource acquisition, and reconnaissance of any unusual dungeon activity."
He paused, his eyes moving across each team member. "This year's planetary alignments are unusual. The mages at the capital have noted aberrations in the mana flows. Be prepared for unexpected conditions within the dungeon. And remember—" his gaze lingered on Misaki for a moment, "—the dungeon does not care about your debts, your class, or your circumstances. It will kill you if given the opportunity. Work as a team, trust your leader's judgment, and return alive. Dismissed."
Lyria approached Misaki as the team began final preparations. She held out a small cloth pouch.
"What's this?" he asked, taking it carefully.
"Emergency chakra restoration pills. If you over-extend your Manipura and feel your channels starting to tear, take one immediately. It won't prevent the damage entirely, but it will slow it enough to give you time to disengage." Her amber eyes held his with unusual intensity. "Don't be a hero down there. You're at eighty-five percent awakening, which means you have some heat manipulation, but it's not fully stable. Push too hard, and you could permanently damage your spiritual channels."
"I'll be careful," Misaki promised, tucking the pouch into his belt.
"And Misaki?" Lyria's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Come back. The village needs innovators like you. I need—" she caught herself, cleared her throat. "Just come back."
Before Misaki could respond, Vellin's sharp voice cut through the farewells. "Team Seven, we move in five minutes. Last equipment checks, now!"
Misaki took one final look at M'lod—the village that had become his home, the people who had taken in a dying stranger and given him a chance to survive. His half-finished dwelling stood at the edge of the settlement, a testament to how far he'd come and how far he still had to go.
Five gold coins. An impossible debt that hung over everything like a sword.
But maybe, just maybe, the dungeons would provide the opportunity he desperately needed.
[Quest Update: Debts and Consequences]
[Dungeon expedition begins]
[Time remaining to repay debt: 360 days]
[Current debt repayment: 0/5 gold]
Misaki adjusted the straps on his leather armor, checked that his scout's blade was secure in its sheath, and joined his team at the gate.
The journey into the unknown was about to begin.