The chaos of the battle against the monsters had subsided, leaving Ling and his fellow awakened individuals buzzing with adrenaline. After successfully defending against the initial wave of creatures, they gathered in the training hall once more, eager to refine their skills and learn how to harness their newfound powers.
Ling stood at the front of the hall, his heart still racing from the earlier confrontation. He glanced at the holographic interface hovering before him, which displayed his current stats and skills:
[Ling Chen]
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 15
Potential: Infinite
Skills:
Light Burst – Level 2
Absorption Log: Energy Residue (Lesser Void Beast)
"I can't believe I leveled up already," he thought, a mix of excitement and pressure coursing through him. "I need to keep pushing myself."
Professor Armitage entered the training hall, a determined look on his face. "Welcome back, everyone! Today, we will focus on honing your abilities through targeted training sessions. Each of you will have the opportunity to work with mentors who specialize in different areas."
Ling felt a surge of anticipation as he listened. This was his chance to learn from experienced awakened individuals and gain a better understanding of how to control his powers.
"First up," Armitage continued, "we'll divide into groups based on your talents. Those with combat-oriented abilities will work on offensive techniques, while those with support or utility skills will focus on teamwork and strategy."
Ling quickly scanned the room for Mei Lin. He spotted her chatting with a group of other healers, her face glowing with excitement. He made his way over to her.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked, grinning.
"Absolutely! I can't wait to learn more about my healing abilities," she replied enthusiastically. "I heard they're going to teach us how to enhance our skills in combat situations."
"Sounds like we'll be a great team," Ling said, feeling a sense of camaraderie growing between them.
As groups began to form, Ling found himself placed in a small circle with other combat-focused awakened individuals. Among them was Kai Zhang, who looked equally eager.
"Let's see what you've got now that you've leveled up," Kai said with a competitive grin. "I'm ready for a challenge!"
Ling chuckled nervously but felt encouraged by Kai's enthusiasm. "Let's do it!"
Their mentor for the session was an older man named Master Jiro—a seasoned warrior with years of experience battling monsters. He stood before them with an air of authority, his presence commanding respect.
"Today, we'll focus on combining your abilities with teamwork," Master Jiro announced. "Strength lies not just in individual power but in how well you can work together as a unit."
Ling listened intently as Master Jiro explained various combat strategies and techniques for coordinating attacks. He demonstrated how to create openings for teammates by distracting enemies or using their powers in tandem.
"Remember," Master Jiro said, "communication is key. Always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate your teammates' moves."
As they practiced drills, Ling felt the energy within him thrumming with excitement. He focused on channeling his light energy into controlled bursts while coordinating with Kai and another teammate named Rina, who had awakened a talent for enhanced speed.
"Rina!" Ling called out during one drill as they faced an imaginary foe. "I'll distract it while you flank from the left!"
"Got it!" Rina replied, darting off with incredible speed.
Ling summoned his energy and unleashed a burst of light toward their imaginary enemy—a creature conjured by Master Jiro for practice. The radiant beam struck true, illuminating the area around them.
"Nice shot!" Kai cheered as he followed up with a powerful punch aimed at the creature's midsection.
They worked seamlessly together—Ling providing cover fire while Rina zipped around to create openings for Kai to strike. With each successful maneuver, Ling felt more confident in his abilities and their teamwork.
After several rounds of practice, Master Jiro gathered everyone together again. "Well done today! You've all shown great potential as a team."
Ling beamed at the praise but felt an undercurrent of pressure building within him. He knew that while he had made progress today, there was still so much more to learn—especially about harnessing his unique powers through the holographic system interface.
As they wrapped up their training session, Ling approached Master Jiro for guidance.
"Excuse me, Master Jiro?" Ling said respectfully. "Do you have any advice on how I can better utilize my Infinite Ascension System?"
Master Jiro regarded him thoughtfully before replying. "Your system is unique—it allows you to absorb energy from defeated foes and grow stronger over time. Focus on understanding what types of traits you want to absorb based on your encounters."
Ling nodded eagerly as he absorbed the information. "So I should pay attention to what kinds of monsters I face?"
"Exactly," Master Jiro affirmed. "Each creature has its own strengths and weaknesses. By learning from them and absorbing their traits strategically, you can tailor your abilities to suit your fighting style."
Feeling invigorated by this insight, Ling thanked Master Jiro and rejoined Mei Lin and Kai as they discussed their training experiences.
"How did it go?" Mei Lin asked eagerly.
"It was amazing! I feel like I'm starting to understand my powers better," Ling replied excitedly.
"That's great!" Mei Lin smiled brightly. "I learned some new healing techniques that could really help us during battles."
Kai chimed in with enthusiasm. "And I'm ready to take on any monster that comes our way! We're going to make an unstoppable team!"
As they left the training hall together, Ling couldn't help but feel hopeful about their future endeavors. They were growing stronger not just individually but also as a united front against whatever challenges lay ahead.
But deep down inside him lingered an unshakable question—what would happen when they faced true monsters? Would their training be enough?
Little did they know that soon they would be tested beyond their limits—pushing them all toward greatness or forcing them to confront their deepest fears.