Traveling through the game world, starting out as a third-rate villain

In this world, there are some things we can control and some things we cannot control.

This is an undeniable fact.

Moreover, one cannot be vigilant all the time while doing everything.

Sometimes, I need to focus, I need to have it all in one place, and that’s when, in a sense, I’m most vulnerable.

These were my thoughts as I felt the presence of someone in front of me after I fell.

The cheerful but annoying girl, my club president, and the strong senior. These words can be used to describe how she looks to me.

However, there is no doubt that she is also one of the most talented people in the world. Being the top sophomore and achieving this result with overwhelming advantage is not an easy task.

Not everyone can do this even if they have talent, it requires hard work.

However, imagining someone watching me while I train makes me uncomfortable. After all, I am a person who doesn't like to be around other people, which also means I don't like others around me.

So, at first, I was a little irritated that she was looking at me.

"I understand...but if you don't want to show off your skills, why train in public?"

I couldn't refute this after hearing it. I didn't have the energy to refute it. After all, I was very tired from practicing with the puppet for at least three hours.

My body was exhausted, my muscles were begging for mercy, some veins were bulging and my breathing was rapid.

But, as I talked to Maya, even when the topics were a little light, I realized that when she got serious, she was really someone to watch.

She has experience and is smart enough to use her experience to her advantage. She gave me feedback in exactly the right way.

"Hey, if you're interested, I can help you improve your mana control skills."

But it was this statement that surprised me. Helping someone without warning is not something that anyone would do.

So I thought she was trying to get something from me. No one does something selfless, especially when it takes so much time.

But when I asked her, the answer I got was something I hadn’t expected at all.

"Take it as a reward, fellow apprentice."

"So, if you are willing, I would like to help you perfect your mana control, and in return, you will help me challenge myself again, just like you did today."

She’s talking about challenging herself and her drive, and none of that is in the game.

Senior Maya doesn’t have many scenes in the game, so I don’t know her personality except for the part she shows on the surface.

However, this is not a game, everyone has their own life and experiences.

'This is an opportunity I can't miss.'

That was all I could think of. Ultimately, what I lacked was mana control, so the opportunity to learn from the best in the academy was something I couldn't turn down.

So, I accepted her offer.

......

Maya Evergreen.

A girl with a slightly different take on common sense.

But even so, she is not the kind of girl with a bad character. On the contrary, considering her behavior, it can even be said that she is a good person.

Her presence is like a beam of light, illuminating everyone around her.

Therefore, she is undoubtedly one of the most influential students in the academy. This is not only because of her family, nor because of her ranking.

It's because of her good character and excellent interpersonal skills.

"So, this is the Elemental Chamber," Morse muttered, and Maya walked in with him.

The Elemental Chamber lay before us, its entrance marked by an intricately carved arch that seemed to glow with a faint light.

He was like a light that illuminated the surroundings, but in fact, those lights were all magic elves that had absorbed special elemental properties.

It is a place reserved for students who rank highly in the academy, a privilege earned through hard work and dedicated study.

Maya walked into the Elemental Room with an excited smile, her blue eyes sparkling with anticipation and familiarity.

She turned to Morse, her voice tinged with enthusiasm. "Yes, this is the Element Room! It's one of the jewels of the academy. Not many students get to go in here."

This place was like her home, as she spent most of her time here, improving her powers and practicing magic.

Morse looked around, taking in the otherworldly atmosphere of the space, the walls seemed filled with a soft and ever-changing light, the air thick with energy. He was clearly interested, even as he maintained a calm exterior.

Even in the game he had used this place before, but most of the time, the training process was skipped through cutscenes, so he didn't pay much attention to it. But now that he was standing here, his senses could clearly feel the fresh and pure mana around him.

"Exactly," Maya continued, noticing Morse's curiosity. "What makes this place special is that it's filled with mana essence. These aren't just ordinary mana particles, they're infused with the essence of different elements - fire, water, earth, wind, and so on. It's like being surrounded by mana."

She reached out toward the glowing archway, her fingers touching the intricate carvings. "The Elemental Chamber is where students with advanced mana control techniques come to further refine their skills. The mana here is dense and varied, challenging us to adapt and improve our control."

Morse's interest was piqued. "So, these dense mana essences can help improve our control capabilities?"

Maya nodded, her expression becoming more serious as she explained, "That's right. When you train your skills in a higher mana density environment, it's like trying to swim upstream. It forces you to adjust and refine your control, making your manipulation of mana more precise."

Hearing this, Morse nodded. "That makes sense." Considering the time when the demon king would come, he knew that the magic power would definitely become more and more dense.

The developers explained that all mana from different dimensions will flow into this world when they converge, causing the mana density to increase. However, that is a matter for the future.

But one thing puzzled me. "If this place is filled with dense mana, why is it called the Elemental Chamber? Can't they just call it the Mana Chamber?"

This question is reasonable. After all, not all types of mana are elemental. Unique mana essences such as light, darkness, void, space, time, and telekinesis can also be consumed. Skills are diverse and characteristics are diverse, not limited to elemental types.

"You're right, but only if this place is filled with dense mana."

"So, you're saying there's more to this place?"

"Right." Maya chuckled at Morse's question, obviously expecting it. "You're a smart guy, junior. You're right, this place is not just about mana density. It's called the Elemental Chamber because there are rooms dedicated to different elements. Each room is filled with a higher density of a specific element's mana."

Morse raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "So, some rooms do have higher concentrations of a certain elemental mana?"

Maya nodded, her excitement evident. "Exactly! If you want to focus on improving your control over your fire mana, you can enter the fire chamber. The air there practically vibrates with the intense fire mana. This allows you to immerse yourself in the nuances of the fire element and adjust your control and techniques accordingly."

Morse's expression turned thoughtful. "It's like training for a specific elemental skill."

Maya clapped her hands in agreement. "You understand it exactly! For mages who specialize in a particular element, these rooms are a godsend. They act as a controlled environment where you can fine-tune your abilities, test new skills, and deepen your understanding of a particular element."

Morse's eyes lit up with understanding. "You mean each room has unique challenges and obstacles to overcome?"

Maya's smile got even bigger. "That's right! The water flow in the water room, the terrain changes in the earth room, the air flow in the wind room... everything you can think of can be simulated here. Each room recreates a situation you might encounter in the real world."

Hearing this, Morse understood why the Arcadia Hunter Academy was so highly regarded. Such preparations were not something that could be done casually.

"They really considered a lot of aspects." Morse whispered, looking at the glowing wall. He could already feel the dense mana in the air around him, which was slowly beginning to put pressure on him.

“Now, do you understand why this place is so popular?”

"Got it. After all, it's not just about refining the control of a simple element. It can also prepare for specific situations in dungeons that are filled with a single type of mana essence."

Maya's eyes flashed with approval. Morse had understood the significance of the elemental room design. "You totally understand it, junior. It's not just about mastering an element individually, but about becoming an all-around mage who can perform well in a variety of scenarios. Your idea about the dungeon is also correct. Some places will dominate a certain type of mana essence due to the characteristics of the unique dungeon."

Maya continued, "For example, there is a dungeon filled with dense dark mana. A mage who has been fully trained in the Dark Room will have a great advantage in that dungeon because they are used to dealing with this kind of mana."

As they continued their conversation, Maya walked Morse through the different rooms, explaining the details of each one.

Honestly, seeing the facilities here, Morse also wanted to improve his ranking in the academy.

He knew that student dormitories had more and better functions as their ranking increased, but he didn't expect the Element Room to have such a wide range of functions.

This is truly a rare experience.

"Okay, let's not waste any more time." Maya said. Since she used her ID card and the privilege of being the first student to enter this place, and the place was empty, she didn't want to waste any more time. "Are you ready?"

Maya did not start training with Morse immediately, not because she wanted to waste time visiting, but because Morse was already exhausted physically and mentally, so she wanted to give him some time to prepare.

"Yes, I'm ready." Morse also understood this. After all, he was a man who was good at reading other people's minds, and Maya did not hide it.

"Well, follow me," she said, and slowly walked towards where she spent most of her time. "Let's start with the basics."

At the same time, her aura suddenly changed from relaxed to fierce.

"I won't show you mercy, so you must listen to me carefully."

This was the first time Morse had seen a person become so different…