With a steady rhythm and deep long breaths, I ran around the perimeter of the training room alongside the other students. Though not at the end, I was one of the slower ones in class and had completed fewer laps than others. Before, I would have already been heaving at the 60th lap, but now I was able to maintain a steady pace and breathe even at 80.

Somehow, Luke Reese, Leone Hendrickson, Seraphina Exise, and Kristina Steitz had already finished their hundred laps and were resting near the staircase with Zachary and Blaine being the next ones almost at the 100th.

Just five minutes were left for the class to end when my stamina started running out. I was still on the 81st lap when my breathing got heavier and heavier. As I saw even more students than yesterday finish up to the 100th lap, a bitter taste spread in my mouth.

There was no denying it anymore. This was the max I could go with the limiter. No matter how efficiently I tried to make my movements by keeping each muscle in conscious coordination, my low-ranked stamina met its end here.

In the end, the class bell rang, and I could only get up to the 84th lap.

I leaned against a wall and caught my breath, waiting for the punishment before I could leave. Mr. Claudio hit the other students with his slingshot first, soon they had all been pelleted and left, leaving only me and Mr. Claudio in the training room.

"Ralph, come here." Mr. Claudio gestured at me to approach him with his fingers. I pushed myself off the wall and walked up to him.

"Yes, sir?"

Mr. Claudio didn't say much, he simply narrowed his eyes and inspected me. He kicked my shin and then poked my shoulders.

"Hmm, as I thought." He finally spoke. "No matter how hard I work you, your stats aren't increasing. Lasting as long you do with just an E- Rank in stamina is already insane. Everyone in the class has reached E+"

I pursed my lips and let him speak.

It wouldn't increase because of the limiter. I couldn't freely admit it to Mr. Claudio, especially now after having been threatened into joining Isabella and Damian's group of criminals.

"It might increase, later on, I am sure it will." Mr. Claudio said. Despite the lack of any results, his remained a kind countenance. One that was genuinely looking toward my improvement and efforts instead of my current abilities. "But, as it stands now. You might get in some trouble soon enough, Ralph. It's about time you start looking out for yourself."

"In what sense...?" I asked. If he mentioned getting into trouble soon, then Luke and Zachy's information must have been correct.

"Listen well, Ralph. First years don't usually have to bother with this, but this is a fitting lesson for you."

Mr. Claudio raised his hand and held out two fingers. "There are two types of strength for an awakener. Being able to punch a hole into a mountain or engulf a sea in flames is not the only thing that matters. What you lack right now in power, you can make up for with preparation and technique."

"Preparation... and technique."

"Correct." Mr. Claudio nodded. "This is the last week of running, so, you have till next week to start developing your strength, ok? That's your hellish personal development assignment."

I smiled at Mr. Claudio's words and nodded. "Yes!" I said. "I'll think over it carefully and do my best!"

"Great," he softly said with a smile.

I walked away from Mr. Claudio and toward the stairs when a sharp pain assaulted the back of my head and dropped me to the ground.

"You still haven't been punished, kid."

Fuck.

***

It was already 11 PM by the time I finished reviewing my materials for the day. Even though I could manage the classes just well enough after making up for the classes I had missed, the pace was still fast enough for me to review everything again to keep them well in my mind.

I yawned and stretched my hands in my chair. Then, I pushed the chair toward the windows with my feet and rolled across the room to open them up. The fresh nightly breeze made its way into the room and brushed past my face.

I had gotten comfortable, so the chair rolled again and I turned off the lights before leaning back and spinning around mindlessly. Bored, I opened up my watch and moved around the holographic screen.

My fingers scrolled through the contact list before stopping at 'mom.'

[Mom: Fine, but make sure to not disappear without a word next time.]

[Mom: Goodnight. Eat well. Don't stay up too late.]

Those were the last unread messages she had left yesterday night, or actually, this morning.

[Ralph: Hello Mother. Are you doing well?]

[Ralph: Classes are going fine as usual. Everything is good here. Take care, goodnight.]

I thought about adding anything else, but since there was nothing, I closed the app and then the screen. Stopping the spinning chair with my feet, I got off and plopped on the bed.

"Preparation and technique... huh? He made a lot of sense."

{Did he? Host? I mean, your expertise is already at S-Rank! What more techniques do you want?}

I smirked at the system's ignorant remark and rolled over, facing the ceiling with my arms splayed out.

"That's not everything about technique, I still punch holes with my Expertise stat. It wasn't a necessity yet thanks to my strength and potential, but I would have needed to develop some technique regardless of the limiter."

{Is that so... then what kind of technique do you mean?}

"There are many things to keep in mind. From the tactics with which you approach a battle to the way you can use the terrain and maximize yourself against the type of enemy. Your preparations are also important, what weapons and skills you prepare, items, and traps you set. Once two people of equal skill meet, it will be wit that will choose the winner."

{I see. So that's what you mean by technique.}

"Correct." I nodded and narrowed my eyes. "I need to prepare and develop some techniques..."

{Umm... host...}

My eyebrows raised at the system's strange words. "What's up?" I asked.

{Do you think I can help you in some way... with developing a technique?}

Heh.

Did it think about things after that night? It sure had been rather quiet.

"And what are you going to do? Got any ideas?"

I didn't want to demotivate the system, so I stayed soft with my words.

{I don't know... doing something like that Claudio guy would be nice, huh?}

"You want to tell a person's strength by touching them? Haha—"

Wait.

Wasn't that quite genius?

"Hey, system. What did you say you could do about getting other people's statuses?"

{Um... I would be able to create a window for you if you had a skill like that}

I pushed myself up to sit upright. "And how do we do it? How do we make a skill for that?"

{...}

Fuck.

"Well, ok, ok." I closed my eyes and thought for a few seconds. "How do you tell me my status? How are you sure of it?"

{Well, getting your abilities, awakening, and skills require me to see them in action. And for the stats, I inspect your mana and run some formulas through it}

"Formulas? You've got formulas?"

{Yes, it's like. I just know them. I know what to do with them,, not what they are...? Something like that?}

Huh.

That was new information about the systems again. That systems have some things they 'just know,' I doubt those guys know this one. Or maybe, the others are not like it.

"Alright, let's see. Let's imagine I can get you the mana of the other party... Do you think you can get their stats?"

{I don't know... but I can try}

"Right. Let's give it a shot."