In the days that followed, Lynn holed up in his cabin, devoting himself entirely to researching the Soul Whisper Meditation Method.
A large "Do Not Disturb" sign hung prominently on his door, turning away all visitors. He immersed himself so completely that he forgot to eat and sleep, losing all sense of time.
Aboard the ship, Lynn clearly enjoyed special privileges.
While ordinary Apprentices were forced to squeeze into the noisy public dining hall, eating coarse black bread, salted meat, and thin bean soup, Lynn's meals were delivered directly to his cabin by dedicated sailors.
Today's lunch was a special Roasted Drake Leg recipe, a large lizard native to the Southern Spice Archipelago. The meat was tender and juicy, coated in a thick layer of fragrant, exotic spices.
The side dish was Blue Ice Moss Salad, a specialty of the Northern Sea Ice Plains. It was crisp and refreshing, carrying a faint magical chill that lingered on the tongue.
The staple was Truffle Wild Mushroom Risotto, favored by nobles of the Central Plains, each grain of rice soaked thoroughly in rich gravy.
It was accompanied by a glass of mellow Golden Wine and a small plate of Elf Honey Cake for dessert.
These delicacies were specially supplied to Lord Wizards. Not only were they exquisite in flavor, they also provided slight nourishment to the spirit itself. Naturally, the cost was staggering.
Fortunately, Lynn didn't have to pay in Magic Stones himself, otherwise, he would rather gnaw on black bread himself.
Even while enjoying such luxuries, Lynn raced against time, studying the meditation method with singular focus. He understood this clearly:
Power was the root of all privileges.
During this period, Mary came to visit him several times, hoping to remain by his side. Each time, Lynn refused her.
Women would only slow down his ascent.
Mary could only leave dejectedly, trailing behind the other Black Marsh City Apprentices, trying her best to blend in.
After several days of tireless effort, when the Panel's Analysis Progress finally reached 15%, Lynn gained a preliminary grasp of the Soul Whisper Meditation Method's principles.
Unwilling to wait for the analysis to fully complete, he decided to begin practicing immediately.
That evening, after eating a vegetable salad mixed with Calming Herb, Lynn made his first formal attempt at meditation.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, cleared his mind of all distractions, and followed the method precisely, guiding his mental power to rotate slowly, compressing it bit by bit.
At the same time, he sensed the omnipresent Negative Energy particles permeating the surrounding space. Carefully, he attempted to draw them into his body, merging them with his mental power and converting them into his very first wisp of Wizard Power, who he would later learn to call mana.
The process was extremely difficult.
Controlling mental power required extraordinary concentration and precision.
Ordinary Apprentices were given three months after enrollment to master meditation. Those who failed within that time were reduced to "materials."
Before stepping onto the correct path, Apprentices needed countless failed attempts, repeated explorations, and continuous corrections.
Several times, Lynn failed due to mental power disorder. Each failure sent needle-like pain stabbing through his mind.
Yet, relying on his own soul power and preliminary understanding provided by the Panel's analysis, he stabilized his mind again and again, forcibly guiding the energy back into order.
Aboard the Netherbone, enhanced by the presence of the Megalodon Specter, the ship was saturated with dense Negative Energy and Soul aura making it an ideal environment for his meditation.
After an unknown amount of time, a change finally occurred within Lynn's Spiritual Space.
He heard a faint whisper, rising from the depths of his soul, the resonance between his soul fluctuations and spirit itself.
As the whisper continued, scattered mental power gradually gathered together. Amid the chaos, it began revolving around an invisible center.
At first, the rotation was painfully slow and dangerously unstable, as if it might dissipate at any moment.
Lynn couldn't relax.
Maintaining the visualization with absolute focus, he guided the cold Negative Energy particles closer. Drawn by some unseen force, they merged bit by bit into the rotating mental vortex.
The process was slow, agonizingly so.
Time and again, the vortex shattered under the violent impact of Negative Energy. Yet each time, it reformed under Lynn's will, growing denser and more solid.
When the integrated energy reached a critical threshold, the previously illusory vortex suddenly trembled.
A faint, spectral light ignited at its core.
Then it stabilized.
The vortex rotated at a constant speed, spontaneously generating a subtle suction force. Sparse Negative Energy particles from the outside world were continuously drawn in, converted into pure Mana, and stored within.
That power then fed back into the surrounding mental force, making it even more concentrated.
The spiritual core had formed.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Lynn could no longer maintain the meditative state. His eyes snapped open, filled with uncontrollable ecstasy.
The world had changed.
He could 'see' various energies flowing through the air. He could hear Apprentices outside his door whispering about him. Even the faint creaking of the ship's wooden hull sounded crystal clear.
His mind felt astonishingly sharp. His thoughts moved faster than before.
And most importantly, his mental power had increased.
Just one successful deep meditation had not only condensed his spiritual core, but also strengthened his mental force.
This Soul Whisper Meditation Method was truly extraordinary.
Within his body, that faint wisp of mana flowed slowly, bringing with it a tangible sense of strength.
"Is this… the source of a Wizard's power?"
Lynn spread his palm, sensing the transformation within himself as heartfelt joy surged through his chest.
He had finally taken this crucial step in a foreign world.
From this moment onward, he was no longer just a mortal with talent.
He was a First-Class Apprentice Wizard.
[Wizard Ranks: (Lowest to Highest)]
[Apprentice: First-Class Apprentice Wizard, Second-Class Apprentice, Third-Class Apprentice]
[Formal Wizard: First-Ring Wizard ~ Third-Ring Wizard]
[Stigmata Wizard: Fourth-Ring Wizard ~ Sixth-Ring Wizard]
[True Wizard: Seventh-Ring Wizard ~ Ninth-Ring Wizard]
Of course, Lynn was still only a Wizard Apprentice, someone who couldn't yet cast.
But at least now the "gun" existed.
All that remained was to load it with "bullets."
With the source where he would draw his mana from established, learning spells would officially make him a true Wizard Apprentice.
The moment his mana stabilized, an itch stirred in Lynn's heart. He desperately wanted to experience casting a Wizard Spell himself.
Unfortunately, all his Magic Stones had already been exchanged with Morris. Otherwise, he would have traded for another spell without hesitation.
Maybe… he could borrow some?
After all, this ship was filled with "Generous people" from every corner of the world. Many hailed from powerful noble families and must have brought substantial starting capital.
Many had already visited him, seeking connections and hoping for "special care" in the future.
At the time, Lynn had brushed them off perfunctorily.
But now that he thought about it, if they were asking for favors, wasn't charging a "Care Fee" perfectly reasonable?
The academy's mortality rate was notoriously high. If they met with an unfortunate "accident," wouldn't their assets simply fall into the hands of enemies?
Better to entrust them to him for safekeeping.
Once he became strong enough, he might even offer them some protection.
As for repayment, that was another matter entirely.
If the Money is "borrowed" through his own ability, why should he return it?
He had never heard of a gang refunding Protection Fees.
Having made up his mind, Lynn pushed open his cabin door.
It was time to begin his "fundraising."