Having finished dinner, I went back to training. Continuing with the raging sword training, I sank into my hatred. As I had noticed before, the more rage I felt, the faster the swirling. However, it wasn't as simple as "get angry". If I gave in to the anger, letting it control my actions, I the qi would dissipate. So in a sense, it was a gradual process of reigning in my anger.

After a further two hours of training, I had got the swirling to the level of a hurricane. In all honesty, I was surprised it had not become an orb already.

Just a little while before I planned on moving one, Alice once again knocked on the door.

Alice: can I come in.

Solomon: sure, what's up?

As she walked in, Alice was fidgeting.

Alice: um, if it's alright with you, can I sleep here tonight?

Having no problem with it, I said I didn't mind.

Solomon: sure.

Alice: thanks.

Looking at the time, it was coming up 11 at night.

Solomon: it's gotten pretty late, let's go to sleep now, we've got a lot to do tomorrow.

Alice: alright.

At this point, I pulled out dragons fire.

Solomon: I'm just going to use my training time, it should be instant for you.

Jumping into dragons fire, I continued my training. Once I left I could go straight to sleep. Pulling out the afterimage technique, I read the first instructions. Unlike the last two skills, I had to move when performing this one.

To start with it told me to fill my hand with qi. Then I had to push the qi out, covering my hand in it. lastly, I had to move my hand quickly away. I was supposed to keep the qi still, though.

Following the steps, I got the final part. As I swiftly moved my hand away, the qi around it shattered.

As soon as I tried to move my hand, the friction with the qi caused it to break.

Trying again, I put my effort into reducing the friction. Though I didn't know how, so I just made guesses. Like so I kept repeating the stages. Each time trying to reduce the friction between my hand and the qi. After 2 hours I found a how to do it. By coating my hand in two layers of qi, I could use one to reduce friction on the other.

The issue was whenever I moved, keeping the two layers absolutely still was impossible. As my control was not good enough, the layers would wobble, hitting into each other. The only way I could think to improve was to practice. So for another 3 hours, I continued to practice. By the end, I could get my hand a quarter of the way out before it broke.

Stopping the practice I used the last 3 hours in dragon's fire to cultivate. Though my qi still improved while practising, It was not even a tenth of the amount from when I cultivated.

As I had just broken through to the 3rd stage of qi cultivation, I could cultivate further. I hoped to have double my qi again by the time I made F rank. Then I could instantly breakthrough to the 4th stage.

After 3 hours I left the space. Overall I had increased my qi by 5%. at this rate, I would be halfway to the 4th stage by the time I started the next mission. Hopefully, I would be able to get the other half while in the mission.

Returning to the room Alice was still in the same place.

Solomon: done, let go to sleep then.

Alice: huh, it's that fast. How long was it for you?

Solomon: it's been 8 hours, why?

She was amazed when I told her 8 hours had passed.

Alice: just like that, 8 hours. You're really something special.

Solomon: haha, to me, you're the one that's special.

Her gaze softened hearing my words.

Standing up I began to undress. After taking off my top I noticed Alice was just watching me.

Solomon: what's up?

Instantly her face lit up red.

Alice: are, are we going to sleep naked?

Solomon: hahahaha.

Walking over to her, I leant down, whispering in her ear.

Solomon: we can if you want to.

Being put into this situation, she began to fidget.

Alice: I, I don’t mind.

In a quick motion, I grabbed her around the waist. Hoisting her up, I laid her on the bed.

Alice: oooh.

surprised by the sudden movement, she let out a cute squeak.

Solomon: if we're going naked, I'm gonna have fun undressing you.

Alice: ah, I can.

Before she could finish, I moved in for the kiss. Drawing her In, we delved into a passionate kiss. Reaching up with my hand, I began undoing her buttons.

Feeling my hands work their way down her body, she reached her arms around me.

Breaking away from the kiss, she was breathing heavily.

Alice: haah, haah.

Solomon: you seem to be enjoying yourself.

my words brought back her attention.

Alice: agh, I'm being selfish, aren't I?

Moving around, she laid me on my back before mounting me.

Alice: this time, I'll set the pace.

for the next hour, we indulged in our desires. Afterwards, Having satisfied ourselves, we went to sleep.

the next morning, we were woken with a surprise.

Pluvia: well you two had fun, didn't you.

standing at the end of our bed was Pluvia. Reacting quickly, Alice covered our bodies with the covers

Pluvia: don't worry, it's not anything I haven't seen before. Anyway, you're lucky it was me who walked in.

Solomon: uh, if there's nothing important, can you wait till we're dressed.

Realising the awkward atmosphere, Pluvia left the room.

Pluvia: Gareth and I will wait in the living room.

Slinking back down, I let out a sigh of relief.

Solomon: haaah.

Alice: well, that was awkward.

Solomon: so it was. Anyway, let's get dressed. We've got lots to do.

Getting out of bed, we both quickly got dressed.

Walking out of the bedroom, we entered the living room. Sat on the sofa waiting were Pluvia and Gareth.

Solomon: sorry for the wait.

Gareth: it's fine, originally I wanted to wait for you to wake up. But Pluvia insisted we woke you up.

He had an apologetic look on his face. He probably understood what had happened.

Solomon: well, what's done is done. Anyway, I said I would give everyone their orders.

Sitting down on the sofa, I began to explain everyone's jobs.

Solomon: first, I'll explain what we're doing today. Let me know if you disagree with anything.

After receiving a nod from everyone I continued

Solomon: today the first thing we'll do is test your talent.

Pluvia: so you've learnt about talent.

Solomon: much more than that, I've tested my own.

Not understanding what talent was, Gareth spoke up.

Gareth: what's talent?

Solomon: let me explain a few things first. I have found a way to learn skills without the system.

Alice: WHAT! How is that possible?

I already knew this news would come as quite a shock. If I had known before I would not have wasted a token.

Solomon: in the recreation tab of the exchanges is a filter called training manuals. These manuals describe the methods to train and learn new skills. With a flick of my hand, I brought the verdant mountain gale book into my hand.

Solomon: there like this.

Handing over the book, Alice and Gareth inspected it. As I guessed, Pluvia already knew about them.

Alice: so all you have to do is follow these instructions, is it really that simple.

Pluvia: HAHAHAHA, simple? It would take most people three months to learn that skill. Even then they would not be able to use it to its full potential.

Bursting out into laughter, Pluvia was amused by their naivety.

Gareth: thr, three months, why would it take so long?

Solomon: it's nowhere near as easy as it looks.

Chiming in, Alice asked me about my new trick.

Alice: is this how you learnt to do that tentacle thingy?

Before I could respond, Pluvia jumped in.

Pluvia: YOU GAINED INSPIRATION ALREADY?

Unsure about the meaning of the term, I explained my new ability to her.

Solomon: I don't know what inspiration is, but what happened was after training in this skill I could apply my energy differently.

Holding out my hand to her, I made a qi tentacle. Then to display its use, I picked up a nearby cup.

Pluvia: that's, that's too crazy. How high is your talent?

Solomon: it's 100

To my surprise, Pluvia fell back into her chair.

Pluvai: ha,haha,hahahaha,HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Suddenly she began laughing like a madman. After recovering herself, she sat back up.

Pluvia: you know, I keep thinking you're out of surprises. But then something like this happens.

Both Alice and Gareth were completely clueless about her reaction.

Alice: why's she so surprised with your talent?

Solomon: well, the average talent is 5 to 10, even the talented have over 15. As far as I've heard, the most talented person below me had 47 talent.

Though they didn't understand completely, they had grasped that my talent was colossal.

Gareth: wow, congratulations. So, how do we test talent?

Solomon: we'll use guild bot. He can test you.

Alice: alright, let's go then.

With a thought, the four of us were in the guild plane.

Solomon: guild bot, test Alice and Gareth's talent.

As Pluvia knew about it, I imagined her talent was already tested.

Guild bot: testing, testing. Results, Gareth 23. Alice, 29.

Surprisingly, both of their talents were well above average.

Solomon: wow, you both have good talents. Congrats.

Alice: haha, it's still nothing compared to yours.

It seemed that my ludicrous result had taken away from their results.

Solomon: don't say that. with your talents, you won't have trouble learning skills. It should take 12 days to learn a G rank skill.

Hearing so, both of them were astonished.

Gareth: tw, twelve days. Is that it, really?

Solomon: haha, that's right. Now that you've got your result, I would recommend buying a training manual.

Alice: but it's got to cost a lot, being that it gives you a skill and all.

Though it was a logical assumption, it was not so.

Solomon: nope, they're very cheap. The most expensive I've seen cost 50 points.

Gareth: only 50 points. For a G rank skill. Then the skills in the system are ripoffs, right?

Like before, they were following the same train of thought as me. So I explained to them the benefits of the system.

Solomon: not completely, the skills in the shop are instantly learned to perfection. That means as soon as you get them you can use them to their fullest. With these manuals, even if you can use it after 12 days, it will take longer to perfect them.

Gareth: so it's a difference between instant improvement and gradual improvement?

Solomon: more or less. But for now, don't think too deeply on it. Just find yourselves a manual.

Following my instructions, they went off to the computers. Taking the opportunity I went over to Pluvia.

Solomon: if you don't mind, could you tell me all you know about talent and training manuals?