Since that family meal with the whole sect, two and a half days had passed.
Only then did the deep, internal hunger Gut experienced from his first magical Body-Training Oscillation finally begin to ebb.
During that stretch, he and his junior sister Gumi—the "Starving Duo"—gained a bit of... notoriety in the culinary scene of Äußerst.
Any restaurant "graced" by the two would see its chef sighing and its kitchen staff questioning life. Everyone, regardless of their role, walked away with a new definition of what it meant to be a "big eater."
During this time, Gut felt like any food entering his body barely needed digestion. His gut instantly refined it into pure nutrients that poured through his limbs and bones.
With that kind of energy supply, how could the body not grow?
He didn't need exact numbers to know—his enhanced strength, speed, and explosiveness were evident even in daily life. It was just as Serie described: after the hunger fades, a cultivator's body enters a phase of growth.
It wasn't quite a complete transformation, but it was far greater than any gradual improvement gained from ordinary training.
Even better, this growth period was amplified by the system's Daily Task Reward Buffs, stacking onto the transformation. Though the buff only lasted a max of three hours per day, it was a sweet bonus while the enhancement window lasted.
Two and a half more days passed.
The inner hunger had fully vanished, and Gut's daily rhythm finally returned to normal.
At the farewell meal of the "Starving Duo," Gut poked Gumi's cheek, glancing over her slender frame with curiosity.
How the heck does she eat that much and stay skinny?
Truly a marvel of nature.
Five more days passed.
In a training field within Äußerst—
Gut's fists thundered through the air, occasionally producing sharp bursts.
He darted around the field with seemingly chaotic punches, and just as he reached a wooden pillar, his fists stopped—but a lightning-fast kick snapped the wood clean through with a loud CRACK, sending the top half flying.
"Phew... I've gotten strong," Gut muttered, clenching his fists, feeling the explosive energy within.
Sadly, his first Oscillation Growth Boost had now run its course.
Future progress would come only through steady grinding.
But still, the growth he'd experienced was immense.
Judging from his performance just now, the combination of his first Oscillation and daily system buffs had gifted him a year and a half to two years' worth of gains in mere days.
And that wasn't all.
As soon as he squeezed out the last drop of power from his body—
Ding!
Congratulations! You've unlocked a new Trait: [Overlimit Body]
He sat and summoned the system interface:
[Personal Interface]
[Host: Gut]
[Activated Traits: Transmigrator (Gold), Otherworldly Chef (Blue), Earthly Experience (Blue), Disciple of Mythical Mage (Blue), Fortunate (Blue), Overlimit Body (Green), Atheist (White)]
[Trait: Overlimit Body (Green)/(Growth)]
Your body, through special training, has surpassed its natural limits. Continued cultivation may lead to even stronger effects.
Minor increase to all physical limits
Slight lifespan extension
Slightly improved recovery speed
Slightly enhanced stamina
"Huh... so green is a trait grade?"
Based on the list's order, Gut deduced green was likely between blue and white—not as strong as blue, but more positive than the mixed white traits.
Still, this was his first physical trait, and a growth one at that. Gut was more than satisfied.
Especially with that last part about "enhanced stamina"... oh, the curiosity.
A week later.
At the Mage Evaluation Site, Serie sat bored atop her dais, eyes drifting lazily between her three disciples.
Gut and Gumi sat together like two hamster siblings, munching on bread and studying their Spell Books.
Lernen, the quieter one, meditated alone off to the side while maintaining the entrance barrier.
Serie sighed. No fun from him, as usual.
She let her mind drift into nostalgia—until the grand doors creaked open.
"Finally… a candidate?"
Her eyes snapped open, gaze fixed on the figure at the door.
Since the hype of the early days faded, each day's applicants grew fewer and fewer.
Nowadays, it was rare to see more than five people even pass the outer magic barrier, let alone reach the inner hall.
Understandable—mages were rare, and exceptional mages even rarer. Most of those interested had shown up already. Only the stragglers remained.
Still, Serie watched the newcomer with interest.
He was a tall, well-built man with shaggy hair and a loose uniform. In his hand was a massive wooden staff—as thick as a grown man's leg.
He looked more like a mercenary than a mage.
But as he walked confidently into the hall, Gut's impression changed.
This guy's from the military. Probably elite.
Serie noticed too, but didn't mind. She judged only talent—not background.
After testing his power and ideals, she nodded.
Accepted.
Even Lernen opened his eyes at that.
This newcomer was only the fourth disciple Serie had taken since Gumi—nearly twenty days ago.
The man kneeled and introduced himself.
"Lady Serie, my name is Saidat, a mage from the Imperial frontier in the north. I cannot yet accept your offer of discipleship. I still have a duty in the army."
Serie frowned slightly. "Then why come now instead of after your mission?"
"Because... I need your help."
Saidat didn't hide anything. His tone was earnest.
"Next month, my unit will engage a demon general—the one who destroyed my hometown. I'm not afraid to die. But if we fail, that general will ravage the nearby villages while our defenses are down."
"I fear our deaths might be meaningless."
"I'm no general. I don't know strategy. But when my brothers buy me an opening with their lives, I want to smash the deadliest magic I can into that monster's face."
"So please, Lady Serie—grant me the magic that can change the tide."
He lowered his other knee, fully kneeling.
"I'm not worthy of becoming your disciple yet. But I love magic. My first spell was a simple 'Warmth Magic' to comfort my parents during the freezing winters."
"The empire's border is cold. But that spell... was warm."
"If I survive and avenge my home, I swear I'll lay down my sword and return to be your student."
"Please, grant me... this decisive magic."
Serie sighed and stood.
"A decisive spell, hmm?"
"You do know—stronger magic takes longer to learn. Even if I gave it to you now, would you have time to master it by next month?"
"I don't know," Saidat admitted. "But if it's you, Lady Serie... I believe you'll have a way."
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