Level 2 was a small step in the world of Cultivation. But for Dyne, it was an interesting development. When he reached level 2, he could feel his strength increasing. Dyne had to adjust to his newfound strength and realized that even his movements were faster than before.

While most couldn’t notice these subtle changes, Dyne, who was an elite soldier, could catch the subtleties.

“So this is level 2?! No wonder I was at level 1. But my body is strange! It feels like I haven’t even maximized the possibilities as a human.”

“I’m impressed that you noticed it. But then again, you were the best in your world.” Strafe started to talk.

“Now that you are level two, the energy that you’ve been absorbing through that Soul technique is finally enough for it to make a circulation.”

“Circulation?”

“The energy absorption technique you received from me is a god-tiered ability. It gathers the energy of the world and imbues it inside your body. But the problem is, the energy is spread out across your body that only when you gather a certain amount of energies can you get stronger.”

“Wait. Does that mean that the energy and power are still within me? It’s just being divided?”

“Correct. There is a way of controlling the energy in your body, but of course, your body's energy is not so easily moved, and you must learn how to channel the energy around your body. This world teaches you that. Although it does it in a different form.”

“Spirit.” Dyne understood Strafe’s intentions.

“Correct. The movement of energy in one's body is needed to become an expert martial cultivator.”

“Martial cultivating? I don’t get it. Haven’t I been practicing how to utilize Spirit? You built this world and gave them naturally forming artifacts that could simulate Spirit attacks, and they have been using it to strengthen their physical combat. But I feel like this world is made weaker. As if the physical strength of this world hasn’t been maximized.”

“As I destined it. The three games that I give you are stages that will gradually make you strong on each aspect. Cultivation is a process that will take you thousands and thousands of years, and you might not even get halfway from the peak. Each world I made allows you to have a quicker way of developing each cultivation path. The Three Paths of Cultivation are not so easily mastered. Even in my world, no one can claim to have reached the peak of martial cultivation, which is the easiest of the three.”

“I’m guessing soul cultivation is the second one. And this should be the hardest one, right?”

“Yes. Soul Cultivation is the hardest, and next to it is Mind Cultivation. A Mind cultivator can perform magic and use that which you call MP. Legaia will soon introduce you to it. Basically, the leveling system helps you grasp the basics of physical cultivation. The magic that the Ra-Seru will acquire is something that links their Soul power to your physical body. This is why the MP that is drained is the host and not the Ra-Serus.”

“Oh! So that’s why it’s Vahn, Noa’s, and Gala’s MP that are drained for every magic! So the Ra-Seru become a conduit to accessing magic?”

“Yes. You might be gifted in Soul Cultivation, but who knows? What if you are not talented enough to understand the path of martial cultivation? And what if you don’t know how to use your mental energy and create magic? Legaia gives you a world that focuses on the soul but allows you to level up and learn Martial cultivation basics. It gives you a foretaste of what it is to wield magic through the Ra-Seru, and it- WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!” Strafe’s monologue suddenly stopped as it sensed that Dyne’s energy level’s were dropping.

Most parts of Dyne’s body dropped to Level 1 and even began to grow lower as if he was an average guy who wouldn’t even exercise and spend most of their time in front of the TV. It was pitifully weak! But Dyne’s right fist had an energy that was nearing the limits of Level 3!

Dyne’s expression was pale, but a relieved smirk surfaced.

“Sorry. I was just trying it out. Look, Strafe! My hands at level 3! Amazing right!? I compressed the martial energy around my body and sent it to my fist!”

Usually, only a Martial Novice genius could do this. But generally, even for Strafe himself, he could only do this when he was at Martial Formation.

“What? How? The energy in your body should be so thin that you wouldn’t even feel it exists!”

“What do you mean? This felt easier than the Spirit training, where I needed to make my hardened Soul energy move to create Spirit!”

Strafe was silent. He was complaining just what kind of a monster did the Sovereign of Dyne’s world sent him.

“Never mind. At least this means you can benefit more in this world.” Strafe was complaining and was trying to explain how Dyne did this. But if Dyne could sense the Soul, he could probably feel the energy in his body.

“I should try sparring with Bertugo when we get back..." Dyne contemplated.

“If this world focuses on Soul attacks, and no one managed to become a good fighter except maybe the War God or that Evil God, then I better think of a way to train the Hunters. Biron Arts or Spirit Arts is strong, but if the Hunters can’t train it or is slow in sensing the Soul, then they could walk the path of a Martial Cultivator or a Mental Cultivator.” Dyne continued to consider.

Then the three continued to move North as they hunted more monsters. Sadly, Bertugo didn’t show any signs of leveling up even though he has been consuming half of the gold they get. Slimey couldn’t level up anymore since it reached a level cap.

The day passed, and Dyne could see the thick Mist from afar. 

Soon, the group finally reached the river. The river was larger than Dyne thought it would be. It sprang at about a kilometer wide and had strong currents that made it impossible to swim to get to the other side. 

After observing it, Dyne noticed the color of the soil nearby.

“Hmmm... Hey Bertugo!” Dyne smiled and called Bertugo. During their travels, several Gobu Gobu who saw them from a distance immediately retreated. Since the place was generally an open plain, Dyne found it hard to find a way to ambush monsters. The Gobu Gobu’s that noticed Bertugo’s green skin would retreat without a fight. And so, all of the enemies that Dyne killed were Evil Flys and Green Slimes.

“Let’s use this!” Dyne then began to gather the yellowish sand and created a clay mound. He then ordered Bertugo to jump in and coat himself with the yellowish mud.

Soon, Bertugo looked like a sickly Gobu Gobu.

“Eh. Close enough.” Dyne laughed.

After putting on the yellow makeup, the group began to move, following the trail of the river.

After several hours, the group was ambushed by a Green Slime and a Gobu Gobu.

The Gobu Gobu had hidden near the river while the Green Slime buried itself on the ground.

Dyne noticed the Green Slime even from afar. His training had made him very sensitive to ambushes and traps. He ordered Bertugo and the Slime to pretend as if they hadn’t noticed.

And as they approached, the Green Slime sprang up and tried to attack Bertugo’s legs, which was about to step on it.

But this step was a deadly kick. The power of a Gomboo rushed out and smashed the attack of the Green Slime. The two attacks connected, and it left a grievous wound to the Slime. But following Dyne’s command, Bertugo leaped back and fell on the ground, and began to crawl as if it was hurt.

The Gobu Gobu sprung up and rushed for Dyne.

Dyne looked at it and smirked.

The Gobu Gobu stabbed his sword-arm towards Dyne, but Dyne blocked it.

SMASH!

The blade on the arm of the Gobu Gobu couldn’t even penetrate Dyne as the Spirit energy erupted and blocked the stabbing attack.

“Now!” Dyne ordered the Slime to move.

Instead of making the Slime attack, the Slime rushed towards the foot of the Gobu Gobu and entrapped it. It was making sure that the Gobu Gobu couldn’t escape.

“Bertugo! Steal!” Dyne shouted.

Bertugo moved and performed a steal. The magic of the Evil God surfaced as Bertugo somehow took the Healing Flower of the Gobu Gobu.

Seeing this, the Gobu Gobu was enraged.

While all that happened, Dyne took the time to use one of the techniques he had secretly mastered. But after learning how difficult it was, he decided not to show it. Otherwise, Vahn and Tetsu would receive mental blows. The Soul energy surged around him.

“Spirit! So this is what it feels like!” Dyne could sense the energy around him. He could only make a single attack, but he knew he could land three consecutive Spirit attacks with Spirit. As the soul energy surged within his body, Dyne could feel the mysterious AP being contained in his body.

Dyne then rushed forward and began to attack the Gobu Gobu.

He sent a high kick to the Gobu Gobu’s face and then continued with a low kick to the leg.

Then he sent all the remaining spirit energy within his body towards his two feet.

Dyne then performed the first Arts that Vahn would learn in the game. An Art he knew, Tetsu would soon teach him.

Somersault.

Dyne jumped into a backflip and struck the Gobu Gobu’s jaw with his two feet. The force of Dyne’s somersault was so strong that the impact did not stop Dyne’s backflip, and he landed on the ground with his feet.

The Slime held the Gobu Gobo in place, causing it to feel the full force of the kick.

The Gobu Gobu fell on the Slime with weakened arms.

Dyne immediately sent a message to the Slime to grasps the Gobu Gobu tightly.

And Slimey immediately held on with its arms, and with its superior strength, it locked the Gobu Gobu in place.

“Submit, or die!” Dyne called out to the Gobu Gobu.