A day after her [Basic Meditation] skill leveled up to level 3, Joo-Hee finally managed to fully familiarize herself with the eighteen opened mana points within her body.
Mapping out the invisible flow of mana wasn't easy, and feeling the quiet pulses of energy coursing through unfamiliar nodes was another problem. However, once the control, the balance, and the harmony had been attuned, it was all finally coming together.
Her [Verdant Growth] skill, too, was reaching a critical threshold. It needed only the lightest of pushes before it could level up. And today, she was ready to give it that push.
At her apartment, the warm morning sun filtered through the window, casting dappled light across the room.
Joo-Hee stood in front of her favorite potted house plant, the same one she'd trained with countless times now. She inhaled deeply, centered her mind, and activated [Verdant Growth].
Emerald light flowed from her hand like soft mist, more seamless than it had ever been. It wasn't just energy anymore—it felt like a part of her will, an extension of her thoughts.
With a single touch, the plant responded. The stems thickened, leaves withered, only to regrow anew, stronger and healthier than before. The entire plant seemed to breathe with her mana.
Then, with focused intent of separation, she willed the main stem to divide.
The single sturdy stalk split into sixteen smaller stems, living threads kept alive only through the life force being channeled from her mana. It was delicate work. Tedious. Taxing. But it was fun.
"This is getting easier as time goes by. This body of Joo-Hee is really gifted in terms of magic. I can even do this without my hands," she muttered to herself, while concentrating
Bit by bit, she twisted each of the sixteen segments around one another using only her will. It was a test of coherence, precision, and mental strength. One wrong tug could snap the flow. One lapse in control could cause the stems to wither mid-weave.
Ten strings done.
Then twelve.
Then sixteen.
Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her mana dipped past the halfway mark. Still, she pushed, increasing the tempo, letting the stems coil faster, sharper.
The more she pushed herself, the more vividly the plant responded. Like limbs obeying her thoughts, they curled into a rope-like bind of verdant fibers—strong, alive, and pliable.
And finally—
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[You have gained enough proficiency.]
[Verdant Growth has reached Level 3.]
_______________________
She gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly from the strain. A grin tugged at her lips as the tension bled from her shoulders. "Whew…" she exhaled. "Another progress… at last."
She stared at the rope-like plant structure. It had already healed from the forceful incision, now appearing green, sturdy, and warm to the touch.
Her heart swelled as she spoke, "Magic really is exciting... and mysterious."
There was something addictive about it. The deeper she dove, the more it responded to her. With every new level, she didn't just gain power—she felt even more connected. As if the roots, the vines, the blooms were all extensions of her soul.
"If I can keep this up," she said, gently brushing the twisted stem structure, "I could create instant bindings, restraints, maybe even walls. How useful that would be…"
Suddenly, a familiar wave of dizziness came—a sign of system information being transmitted directly to her mind.
Her eyes unfocused for a moment as knowledge of the properties of plant-type mana constructs and manipulation patterns for biofiber reinforcement flowed in. It was subtle yet useful.
She even gained new foundations of basic plant property manipulation and plant acceleration, a method to hasten the growth and control over plant life by syncing with a plant's innate vitality cycle.
Just as he was about to relax, his phone buzzed with a message from Mr. Kang Ho, a retired veteran hunter.
It was an invitation for a special training session for hunters who had recently healed from injuries.
The association was working to get them back into fighting shape, especially with gates appearing more frequently.
Jake read the message carefully, and his heart began to race.
A vivid flash of memory hit him—Joo-Hee's fear, the double dungeon accident.
Her body started to tremble at the mere thought of stepping into another dungeon.
The terror that had overwhelmed her back then resurfaced, and Jake felt it now, as if it were his own.
His hands trembled as he typed a hesitant reply, sweat forming on his brow.
"I... I'll try, Mr. Kang, but I can't promise I'll be able to attend. Can you still send me the details, just in case?"
Within minutes, Mr. Kang responded.
"I see, but make your decision fast. It's a low-rank goblin dungeon, so no need to worry too much. You still have two days. If you're not ready for the frontlines, you can always stay in the rear and focus on healing."
Jake sighed in relief at the understanding tone.
"Thanks, Mr. Kang," he replied before hanging up the phone.
Sitting in silence, Jake stared at his trembling hands.
"What should I do?" he muttered.
"I just told myself that joining a party right now was ridiculous, but now this opportunity shows up, like the heavens are pushing me into it."
His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled with the decision.
He wanted to grow stronger—there was no denying that—but was he ready to face a dungeon?
For the next thirty minutes, Jake lay on the sofa, wrestling with his thoughts.
He could feel Joo-Hee's fear, the instinctive aversion to anything dungeon-related.
But at the same time, he knew that if he wanted to progress faster, he couldn't avoid it forever.
With a sudden burst of resolve, Jake sat up, slapping his cheeks to snap himself out of it.
"Okay, let's do it. Just once. I'll face this fear and move forward."
He stood up, determined to make the most of the next two days before the dungeon.
"Status," he said, the familiar discomfort of using the system lingering, but it was the only way to see his progress.
His stats appeared in front of him once again:
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[Sage Enlightenment System]
.
Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Level: 2 (30/150)
HP: 160/160 | MP: 290/290
.
Stats:
— Strength: 18
— Dexterity: 16
— Vitality: 16
— Magic Power: 29
— Intelligence: 23
— Wisdom: 20
.
Skills:
— Healing Touch (Skill Level 2 - 24%): Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.
— Verdant Growth (Skill Level 3 - 0%): Manipulation of plants and nature, enabling the user to control and accelerate plant growth.
— Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 2 - 57%): A protective barrier formed from natural energy, capable of shielding the user and others from harm.
— Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 3 - 9%): Fundamentals of sword fighting, focusing on precision and control.
— Basic Meditation (Skill Level 3 - 12%): Enhances the user's ability to sense and manipulate internal mana, aiding in the recovery of magic power and increasing the effectiveness of other mana-based skills.
_______________________
Jake sat on the edge of the sofa, deep in thought.
His eyes scanned the system's display, taking in his stats.
The small improvements from his consistent training were noticeable, but they still hadn't reached the point he desired.
He already knew something was off a few weeks ago—these weren't Lee Joo-Hee's original stats.
As a B-rank healer, she must have been far more average than this before her death.
The degradation of her abilities was clear, likely a result of her trauma and the events leading up to her death.
It was as if her mana reserves had shrunk over time.
"Joo-Hee probably had way more mana than this," Jake muttered to himself.
He was certain of it. Her being a B-rank wasn't just for show.
He sighed.
He had a long way to go before he could recover her original mana reserve.
But he had a plan. It wasn't going to be quick, but it was a start.
He opened the status window again, focusing on his mana pool and magical abilities.
Increasing his mana capacity was now his priority, and the best way to do that was through [Basic Meditation].
It had proven to be a reliable tool in refining his control over mana, and little by little, he knew he could build up what had been lost at the expense of sacrificing a portion of his sleep.
"Slow and steady," Jake whispered, leaning back on the sofa.
His goal was clear: raise his mana and sharpen his skills before the dungeon dive.
He decided to dedicate the next two days to an intense regimen.
First, he would practice his healing and plant magic.
[Healing Touch] would be vital in the upcoming dungeon, especially since he had decided to stay in the rear as a healer.
His role would be to support, but he needed to be ready for anything.
[Nature's Embrace], his defensive trump card, would offer protection in case things went sideways.
And [Verdant Growth] could bind enemies or create barriers if necessary.
"The healer role it is," Jake said, clenching his fists.
"I'll play it safe for now, but I won't be useless. I'll contribute in some ways, I guess."
With a solid strategy in place, Jake stood up and stretched.
His determination was renewed.
"I'll try to overcome this fear in her stead," he murmured.
"This isn't just about surviving anymore. It's about becoming stronger, step by step."
He closed his eyes and began to meditate, feeling the natural energy flow through him, slowly but steadily increasing his mana pool.
This was the beginning of his true preparation.