Amid Max's dramatic cries of "Godfather!" Link finally returned home.
After a simple dinner, he sat down at his desk and placed the thick tome he had borrowed from the library—The Complete Guide to Moonfolk—in front of him.
To Link, the most urgent task at hand was still the same: to quickly familiarize himself with the traits and habits of different Moonfolk.
Although the term "Moonfolk" was often used as a blanket label, there were in fact countless sub-species among them, each with their own unique characteristics.
For example:
[Species: Flame Mouse]
[Power Values: 100–200]
[Innate Talents: C-rank Flame Impact, D-rank Agility]
[Species Traits: Lives in caves, poor eyesight]
[Weakness: Nearsighted—recommended to engage from a distance.]
The information recorded in The Complete Guide to Moonfolk was fairly detailed, but mostly limited to the more commonly encountered species.
When it came to more powerful Moonfolk races, the entries became noticeably brief and vague.
But that didn't concern Link too much.
After all, he had Lib—his cheat-level AI assistant.
If there was anything he didn't know, he could just ask Lib directly.
Never forget—Lib held within it the entire database of both the human race and the Moonfolk.
Still, Link knew he couldn't completely rely on Lib for everything. It was essential that he memorize some key species himself.
In real combat situations, any delay—even the time it took to ask Lib a question—could change the course of battle.
And besides, Link had recently discovered something very important about his Death Rewind talent:
Although his body's strength would reset upon death, his memories did not.
That meant…
If his Power Values were high enough, he could die repeatedly to accumulate immense knowledge and combat experience across multiple lifetimes.
Just thinking about it made Link draw in a sharp breath.
Of course, his current strength was far from sufficient for such bold strategies—so for now, it was just a theoretical idea.
After closing the book, Link didn't go to sleep. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began meditating once again.
The Frost Meditation Technique truly was brutal.
Within seconds of entering the meditative state, Link felt his mind grow hazy—his mind power completely drained.
The next morning, Link ate a quick breakfast and headed out with the membership card that Headmaster Ximar had given him, making his way to the largest training center in all of Velmoria.
Now that he had become a Level 1 Esper, aside from practicing his Flesh Forging Art and Meditation Technique daily, he also needed to start working on skill-based training.
After all, when it came down to actual battle, skills were often the deciding factor between victory and defeat.
But unlike his other forms of training, skill training couldn't be done at home. He needed the facilities and environment of the training grounds.
Fortunately, with the Headmaster's membership card, he wouldn't have to pay any fees.
After arriving at the training center, Link first registered as a member.
Then, he underwent a Power Values assessment.
Unlike other places, training centers involved a certain degree of real risk. So to ensure the safety of all members, they required an official measurement of one's Power Values before training.
Upon completing the test, Link would receive a certified badge issued by the kingdom.
This badge would serve as proof of his identity as an Esper, allowing him to skip future testing at other locations.
However, most training centers could only certify Espers below Tier 3.
Anyone stronger would need to head to a major city for higher-level assessment and registration.
In other words, with this certified badge, Link was now officially recognized as a legitimate Esper.
What surprised him even more was that Headmaster Ximar's membership card was even more incredible than he had imagined.
Using it, Link was able to reserve a VIP training room with ease and begin his skill training.
This time, Lib had selected a combo skill set for him:
Spiritual Powers CompressionShadow ArrowRocksolid Greatbow
Of these, Spiritual Powers Compression was a general-purpose skill.
Shadow Arrow came from the Shadow Clan, and was one of their racial talents.
Rocksolid Greatbow belonged to the Stonehide Race, another Moonfolk species.
As for why Lib didn't recommend stronger skills from powerful species like the Skyfiends, Titanfolk, or ancient lineages—it was simple.
Their skills were too powerful. Link's current strength wasn't enough to use them without serious risk.
Thus, he began his training.
Again and again, Link pushed himself to the limit, practicing the skills until his body felt drained and exhausted.
But with each repetition, his grasp on spiritual powers grew noticeably more refined.
In fact, while different skills might look vastly different in form and produce varied effects, they all shared one fundamental requirement:
They tested the user's control over spiritual powers.
After a full half-hour of intense practice, Link collapsed to the floor, completely spent.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel at his progress.
Even in just thirty minutes, he could feel his control over spiritual powers advancing by leaps and bounds.
There were two reasons for this.
One was his dedication and hard work.
The other was his SSS-rank talent: Spiritual Powers Manipulation.
With that talent boosting him, Link's growth potential was terrifying.
Unknowingly, dusk had already fallen outside.
Link knew that at this hour, it was no longer suitable to venture into the Wilderness Battlefield.
It would be better to wait until the next day.
Actual combat training meant heading into the Wilderness Battlefield and fighting real enemies in a controlled but dangerous environment.
After returning home and having a quick dinner, Link went to bed early to conserve his energy.
At the crack of dawn, he packed his gear and returned to the training center.
Inside, a staff member was sternly addressing the gathered Espers.
"Some of you might be looking down on this, but let me say this clearly—the Wilderness Battlefield is not as simple as you think. And it's definitely not 100% safe."
"If you run into any dangerous situations or enemies you can't handle, activate your wristband immediately to call for help."
"There's no shame in asking for help. Dying in the Wilderness Battlefield for no reason? That's what's truly shameful."
"One last reminder: 30% of all gains obtained in the battlefield must be surrendered as fees. No exceptions."
Link quietly memorized these rules.
Then he followed the training staff and boarded a rugged all-terrain vehicle headed deep into the battlefield zone.
Just before the group dispersed, the staff gave one final reminder:
"All of your wristbands have tracking functions. As long as you remain within the training grounds, we can monitor your signal."
"So make sure you're constantly aware of your position and boundaries."