Time flows like water, silently slipping by.
In the blink of an eye, only a few days remain before the Bloodline Altar opens.
Ron stands at the entrance of the Simulation Battle Device, but his mood is completely different from last time.
Gone is the anxiety in the face of the unknown, replaced by the anticipation of returning to the battlefield.
The previous encounter with the Tiger Race’s Weapon Master Aksa had brought him significant gains.
Not only did his swordsmanship break through to mastery, but he also gained a deeper understanding of combat.
This time, he came with a clear goal in mind.
"Ron the Apprentice!" a familiar voice called from the control room.
Ron turned his head to see a middle-aged man in an Alchemist’s robe waving at him.
"Master Grissom," Ron bowed slightly in greeting.
Grissom was the Alchemist responsible for maintaining the Simulation Battle Device in the school, also a familiar acquaintance Ron met through Thompson.
"I heard your ranking in the candidate wizard sequence has risen significantly?"
Grissom chuckled as he walked over and patted Ron on the shoulder: "You’re truly the school’s burgeoning genius Alchemist."
"Thank you for the compliment," Ron humbly replied, though a note of determination flashed in his eyes:
"Today, I want to challenge the Tiger Race’s Weapon Master once more."
Grissom raised an eyebrow: "Aksa? That’s a ’difficult’ level opponent, and last time’s record showed you could hold your own against him, which really surprised me."
"But this time, it’ll cost a little less," he said, lowering his voice:
"Thompson put in a word for you; since you’re someone who intends to use the simulation device regularly, I can charge you only 5 Magic Stone Fragments."
"Thank you, Master." Ron handed over 5 Magic Stone Fragments, secretly delighted.
As his standing in the candidate wizard sequence rose, the resources and connections he could access also expanded continuously.
These changes, although subtle, were indeed real.
"I’ve already fine-tuned the device," Grissom said while walking:
"Since you’ve had a successful battle record, Aksa’s data model is already linked with your spirit, theoretically making this duel smoother."
Ron nodded, having gained a basic understanding of how the Simulation Battle Device worked.
It wasn’t just about simply creating an opponent; it extracted information from the user’s spirit, creating a battle environment most suited to the current user.
"Good luck." Grissom stopped in front of the console and made a gesture to invite him in.
Ron took a deep breath and stepped through the familiar heavy iron door.
Darkness enveloped him, followed by the familiar sensation of a Spiritual Power scan.
It felt as though countless tiny tendrils gently brushed across his body, gathering information about his state.
When the light returned, Ron found himself standing in an arena completely different from last time.
This was a much broader battleground, surrounded by ancient stone pillars and a ground covered with rough gravel.
In the distance, the horizon displayed a strange dark red hue, like an eternal dusk.
"This is..." Ron looked around and, unlike last time, he could roughly identify the place:
"It resembles the 3rd Floor of the Abyss, the ’Black Sand Wilderness’, as recorded in books?"
"Keen observation, young apprentice," a deep and familiar voice came from behind.
Ron turned to see Aksa’s towering figure standing about ten paces away.
The Tiger-man wielded a giant sword, appearing even more formidable than last time.
"Long time no see, Master Aksa." Ron nodded slightly, showing a touch of friendliness in his eyes.
"It’s only been a few months."
Aksa’s amber eyes glistened with readiness for battle: "But your aura has changed significantly. I can feel it, you’ve gotten stronger, young man."
Ron did not deny it; instead, he drew the sword from his waist.
"I hope this time I can provide you with an even better opponent," he said with a smile, slowly taking a starting stance.
Aksa nodded, his giant sword slicing an arc through the air: "Let me see your improvement!"
Before the words finished echoing, the Tiger-man launched into an aggressive attack!
Compared to their last bout, Aksa’s assault was noticeably more fierce.
The giant sword cut through the air, raising gusts that kicked up a thin mist of sand and gravel from the ground.
But to Ron’s surprise, he was able to handle Aksa’s attacks with surprising ease this time.
Swords clashed, producing a crisp metallic sound.
It was as if Ron’s body instinctively remembered the optimal countermeasures, naturally reacting in the best possible way the moment the giant sword attacked.
The sensation was both familiar and unfamiliar—familiar with the rhythm of battle, unfamiliar with this composed sense of control.
In their last battle, he could barely keep pace with Aksa’s rhythm.
Now, he could even spare attention to observe subtle changes in his opponent’s expression during the duel.
"Remarkable progress!" Aksa exclaimed, simultaneously changing his move; the giant sword suddenly switched to a sweeping attack, aiming directly at Ron’s waist.
Rather than retreating, Ron advanced slightly, leaning back while his longsword swiftly thrust forward, targeting the Tiger Master’s right arm.
This thrust was as quick as lightning, incredibly precise!
Aksa was forced to break off his attack and shift his giant sword to block.
The swords clashed once more, this time producing a muffled boom, reminiscent of thunder.
There was a trace of surprise in the Tiger-man’s eyes.
Ron’s lips curled upward; with the support of mastery-level swordsmanship, every strike of his carried the trait of [Sharpness Unveiled].
He could precisely pinpoint his opponent’s weaknesses while gaining a speed boost when striking.
More importantly, during this period, his bloodline activation level reached proficiency, causing his physical attributes to improve continually.