The Dormitory Revelation
Night had fallen, casting a tranquil silence over the academy. After a long day of training with his friends, Alaryc returned to his dormitory. As he sat on his bed, a thought crossed his mind: it had been a long time since Freya, his system, had spoken to him.
Curious, he attempted to call out to her mentally.
"Freya? Are you there?"
No response.
Alaryc frowned slightly, a tinge of worry in his expression. "Maybe she's in an update or maintenance mode," he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling.
After a few moments of reflection, he decided not to dwell on her unusual absence and went to bed, convinced she would reappear soon.
An Intense Training Session with Alicia and Silvarya
The following morning, Alaryc rose at dawn and headed to the training grounds to meet Alicia and Silvarya. With the tournament rapidly approaching, he knew they needed to improve their mastery of their elements.
"Are you both ready to push yourselves to the limit?" he asked with a determined smile.
"Ready!" they answered in unison.
Alaryc began by helping Alicia refine her precision with her water-based spells. She needed to learn to manipulate water flows with exceptional accuracy, even in the heat of fast-paced combat. He set up several challenges for her: forming liquid barriers to block incoming projectiles, transforming droplets into razor-sharp blades, and creating powerful currents capable of pushing back opponents.
For Silvarya, he focused on combining her earth and water elements. She had to learn how to use them synergistically, creating shifting terrains to trap enemies while unleashing devastating waves of water. Alaryc simulated attacks, forcing her to react swiftly and blend her elements in both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
"Don't rely solely on brute force," Alaryc advised Silvarya. "Sometimes, subtlety and control make all the difference."
The days passed with rigorous exercises, intense challenges, and Alaryc's insightful guidance. Maria and Jake, though training separately, occasionally watched from afar, impressed by Alaryc's dedication and the progress of his companions.
The Night Before the Tournament: Freya's Return
The night before the tournament, as Alaryc meditated alone in his dormitory, a familiar voice suddenly resonated in his mind.
"Master Alaryc, I have returned."
Alaryc's eyes shot open in surprise. "Freya! Where have you been? It's been so long!"
Freya responded with a tone of slight guilt: "Since your defeat against the headmistress, I've felt a deep sense of failure for not being able to assist you at that critical moment. While you were in the infirmary, I made a decision: to evolve from an advanced system into a celestial system. However, this update took a great deal of time, rendering me offline until now."
Alaryc felt a mix of surprise and understanding. "That wasn't your fault, Freya. The headmistress is incredibly powerful. That fight was nearly impossible to win."
Freya's voice softened with gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Master Alaryc. I'm glad to be at your side again. And now, I am equipped with new functionalities to help you become even more powerful."
Curious, Alaryc asked, "What new functionalities?"
With a cheerful tone, Freya listed them:
-"Unlimited inventory."
-"Equipment management and enhancement."
-"Object forging and creation."
-"Advanced combo systems."
-"Multidimensional analysis: I can now see mana flows, auras, attack trajectories, magical traps, and even high-level poisons."
-"Automatic regeneration of your injuries."
-"Direct invocation of advanced spells without the need to fuse elements."
Alaryc's eyes widened in shock at everything she described.
"But that's not all," Freya added. "I can now assist you in controlling your astral form."
This last revelation left him speechless. "You... you can really help me with that?" he asked, almost incredulous.
"Yes, Master. If you wish, I can guide you right now in your training realm."
A Transformed Training Realm
Accepting Freya's invitation, Alaryc felt himself enter a deep sleep. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in his training realm.
But something was different. The environment had changed dramatically: glowing golden fields stretched into the horizon, majestic mountains loomed in the distance, and an army of training robots stood ready.
"Welcome to your upgraded training realm, Master," Freya announced proudly.
Alaryc looked around, impressed. "This... this is incredible. Everything is so much more advanced."
"Would you like to test your astral form?" Freya asked.
Without hesitation, Alaryc replied, "Yes."
A massive aura began swirling around him. His hair turned a brilliant white, and his eyes changed—one became violet, the other golden. The energy radiating from him was so powerful that the robots were pushed back.
With a simple wave of his hand, Alaryc summoned the robots toward him. A series of battles was about to unfold...
But that is a story for the next chapter.