The day of the tournament was getting closer. It would be on the next day! There wasn’t all that much time left of the remaining day either. It wasn’t yet sundown, but in soon it would.

While Kaden had finally managed some progress in his magic cultivation, he still had not been able to reach second layer. He was nearly there, but not quite enough. Kaden could see the second layer appearing on his mana storage, but it had not separated yet from the first one.

“If I can’t get it done by tomorrow, all my efforts are likely wasted!” Kaden thought worriedly as he cycled his mana system.

Luckily he had some extra time that day. Most of the adults, including Aden, were setting up the arena ready for the next day.

Knock knock!

“Kaden, I made some food”. Door was knocked and it was Ann’s voice. “Once you have eaten, take some of it for your father. He must already be famished. They worked all day so that everything would be ready.”

“Mom!” Kaden felt slightly annoyed due to such disruption. “The tournament is tomorrow. I’m nearly at second layer and if I can’t get it done today, it will be too late!”

“How do you expect to gather any mana, if you don’t keep yourself well fed”, Ann replied to Kaden. “It is also said that it is good to take breaks every now and then.”

Kaden gritted his teeth, but decided to go eat. Perhaps it made sense. You had to occassionally let your mana settle down and let your thoughts relax. Still, he wasted as little time as possible. He basically shoveled the food in his mouth and swallowed. Luckily he did not suffocate due to it.

Afterwards he took up a pack full of food and went out.

The arena has been pretty much set up. At that point they were mostly finishing it up. There was usually a open area within the village for this sort of things. Sometimes for arena, sometimes something else. Kaden left the food there for his father and was planning to return home to immediately cultivate once again.

Near the arena there was Dashire’s inn. It was pretty good for such a small place. Kaden heard laughter inside. It was rather familiar voice. Jon.

Not sure why, but Kaden decided to go inside and see what was supposed to be so funny. Jon and his friends were there. They were drinking and apparently talking about some recent trip to hunt that went well.

Kaden himself wasn’t much of a drinker. He just didn’t like the taste. It also didn’t help that Peil was one of the people who believed the talks about people finding references in ruins of the ancients that these long gone humans had rules about drinking and it being harmful. There were surprisingly lot of people who thought it was a good idea. Not that it mattered to the current humans. Even slight bit of mana enhanced body could not get damaged by drinking that easily. So pretty much even children drank…

Jon and his friends were rather rowdy, though. Kaden had an idea after noticing a disgruntled maid nearby. Kaden didn’t know her very well, but she and her family had ran the inn for generations. At any rate, the girl was very unhappy about the group. Perhaps there was an advantage to be gained.

“What will you have?” Asked the girl seemingly wanting to get some other people to serve than the rowdy group.

“Nothing”, Kaden said and gave a shifty look towards Jon’s group. “I notice that Jon and his friends are having fun.”

“Oh”, the girl frowned and looked immediately unhappy. “Are you with them. Get along then. They have noisy and grabby for quite while. You have missed out.”

“Ah, so that it!” Kaden smiled. “I’m not their friend. In fact, I’d be happy to things go south for them. Since they are having so much fun today and they are messing around with you perhaps you would agree to something?”

“Huh? Fine, what are you planning?” The girl had a questioning look. She probably didn’t get this sort of requests very often.

“Tomorow is the tournament”, Kaden started. “Perhaps, if you indulged their demands and got them to party and drink more they might have pretty hard hangover tomorrow. I don’t think it will take much at this point to make that happen.”

The girl frowned. “Are you planning on cheating?”

“Cheating?” Kaden laughed. “What did I ever do. They chose this moment to get wasted so whatever happens is their fault. Besides, even if it was cheating, is this not the way things truly go? Do hunters fight beasts before weakening them with poison or wounding them? Do they bravely charge at beasts without any cleverness? You know, I think cheating is the way the world truly works.”

The girl frowned even harder. Then she waved her hand a bit. “Fine. I’ll try it. If nothing else, I will get to sell them more drinks even if they are idiots.”

“Thanks”, Kaden said happily. “You are doing the right thing. Jon needs a good few setbacks. Trust me, this is for his own good.”

“Sure it is...” The girl replied and went back to work.

Kaden felt pleased that he had managed to persuade the maid to help him. Truly, he felt like being smart about things is the way to go. It might not be much of help, but still better than nothing.

Once Kaden returned home, he still felt invigorated. He had to agree that going out had been truly a good idea. It had refreshed his mind and given him time to settle down any stressful thoughts. In fact, as soon as he started circulating his mana system, he felt something. Power! He was feeling as if some limit was breaking.

Kaden quickly observed his mana storage. It was fluctuating! There seemed to be thin external layer and inside was compressing slightly. Wondrous! This was it! The second layer was separating and the older layer was compressing inside it!

Feeling joyful, he continued cycling his mana system. It still took about an hour before he felt wave of energy rush through him as second layer finally separated from the first and allowed his body to fit more mana in it than previously. His now larger mana storage was filling and as it was happening, his body absorbed its own share of the mana, becoming much stronger and better than before!

“I did it!” Kaden thought happily as he basked in the feeling of reaching new level of power. “Just in time. With this, I have fighting chance tomorrow! With rest of my preparations, I may be able to acquire resources and grow even stronger. Who cares, if I’m blacksmiths son and not a warrior. I still want to be strong!”

Kaden stood up and felt his now strengthened body. “I still need to familiarize myself with second layer today.”

After a moment of thinking Kaden had a serious look as he carefully attempted to measure his abilities. Like before, his senses seemed to have become stronger. Distance he could hear had increased significantly. This had become one of Kaden’s favorites lately. People liked to talk more freely when they thought no one was listening them. He had heard many interesting things.

As for other senses, Kaden felt like they had improved. For example, sight was improved. It was less useful in Dashire where there was often obstacles. It would be useful outside, though. What impressed Kaden this time was that he could see even greater details on short distance. He had some metal parts in his room that he had used to train his perception. He could now see more details that he had not been able to notice before, but had required carefully feeling the metal. Now he could just see it! It wasn’t surprising to Kaden since he did know these things were there, but he could now observe them directly.

It was not much, but a still noticeable increase in perception! Kaden determined this should increase his smithing ability quite a bit. He could avoid more mistakes and the mistakes that he did would be far less severe and would not result in signicant loss.

These were just examples. All senses had improved!

Kaden then threw a few punches. The strikes seemed stronger and yet more precise than before. Second layer had not just given him greater volume of mana, but also greater control. This resulted in clear increase of power.

“With all this combined, I should be able to attack easier”, Kaden surmised. He knew the toughest opponents he would face were at same level at very least. Those who were still at first layer which should be most, were probably not his opponents anymore. Problems came with people like Jon, hunter trainees, and also slightly older people who were still considered to be in same age group. They would be at third layer already. Possibly fourth. Kaden didn’t know.

While they were indeed in the same age group, but still older, this apperently would be taken into consideration according to rules. Kaden had been very distressed about it before he knew the rules. He would be considered to be performing well, if he could fight with them and not defeated instantly. Just by merely playing time and being on defense, he could get more points. It wasn’t as if you would always in the wilds run into beasts of your level. You should be expecting your opponent to be stronger than yourself and being able to still fight was good show of ability.

Kaden considered more things he could do to improve, but there was too little time left. If he had reached the second layer a bit earlier, he could have prepared better and adjusted his ideas. It was now evening and he could not skip sleep. Perhaps by using mana, he could stay awake and alert, but that used mana and he still would eventually have to get that sleep.

After a moment of consideration, Kaden decided that this would have to be enough. This was going to be his best. He would step on to the arena confidently and show just how far someone with very little resources could go! There were no thoughts of what happens, if he did not manage to perform well. He would think of that, if it came to pass, but right now it would just be unneeded burden.

Therefore Kaden decided to lie down under his blanket and go sleep. Tomorow would be his day! This was his firm belief!