The next day, Arin didn't leave his room. The runic structure inside his semi-core remained stable, and the energy flow no longer scattered. Each circulation followed a clear path, steady and controlled, without breaking midway. He began the first layer of body refinement.
Before this, even with effort, he could only complete two full cycles in a session. Eighteen days of training had barely pushed him to that level, and every attempt required focus just to maintain the flow.
Now it was different. The energy moved under the guidance of the runic structure, stable and direct, with minimal loss. What once required effort now followed a defined path, allowing each circulation to complete without interruption.
The skin layer required repeated circulation across the entire body.
Nine cycles formed bronze skin.
Eighteen reached iron skin.
Thirty-six led to steel skin.
Seventy-two completed adamant skin.
For most people, reaching bronze skin alone took close to a year.
Arin didn't focus on that. He focused on the cycles.
The progress didn't come without cost. As the sessions continued, a steady pressure spread across his skin. It wasn't sharp, but it didn't fade either. Each new cycle added to it, and the later ones demanded more control than the earlier ones.
Resources were consumed quickly. The energy crystals he had stored reduced day by day, and the repaired dispenser barely supported the flow at this level. Even then, it wasn't stable, forcing him to adjust his pace without stopping completely.
Fifteen days passed like this. The increase wasn't smooth, but it was continuous. By the end of the final session, he stopped and checked the result.
He could now complete eleven full cycles in a single session.
From two cycles to eleven.
In just fifteen days.
Bronze skin had already formed.
Without using an artificial core.
The runic structure hadn't increased his strength directly. It had reduced loss and stabilized the flow, allowing each cycle to complete fully. The improvement wasn't explosive, but it was consistent, and that consistency created the gap.
His body still carried the strain. The pressure remained under the skin, steady and present, reminding him that pushing further without control would only cause damage.
Normal people needed a year.
He had done it within forty days.
That difference was enough to give him a slight chance at entering the top hundred.
If he continued like this—training, eating, and resting without interruption—reaching the second stage in four to five years was possible. If he followed the normal path, it would take eight to ten years, which was already considered the level of a genius.
He let out a slow breath and allowed himself a small smile.
Finally.
It was his turn.
Only one day remained before the academy exams. The academy was located in the central district, and he would need to move there before the test. Ren had already sent a message that morning. They would leave tomorrow, stay the night near the academy, and head in early for the examination.
Arin glanced at his wrist. The bracelet was still exposed, its structure too noticeable for something he intended to keep hidden. He spent some time modifying it, adding a thin metal casing around the outer layer without affecting its function. When he finished, it looked ordinary, like a common protection bracelet used by many.
Nothing about it stood out anymore.
With that done, there was nothing left to prepare. The next morning, he packed a few basic items into a small bag and stepped outside.
He stood there quietly, waiting for Ren.
The academy exams would begin tomorrow.