Nova rose slowly from the bath, the water dripping from his skin. He reached for the towel, and took his time to dry himself before donning the set of clothes the maid had left for him.

Once dressed, he stepped out of the bathroom, his spear in hand, and made his way toward the nearest person he could find. It was another maid, different from the one he had met earlier. Her posture was immaculate, and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of him.

With his usual smile, Nova approached her. "Hey, where's the kitchen?"

The maid answered without hesitation. "Miss Cassidy instructed me to wait for you. I will show you to the kitchen. Please, follow me." Without waiting for Nova's answer, she turned and walked away.

Nova couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle as he followed her. 'Does nobody wait for a response around here?' he thought in amusement. Still, he followed close behind.

The kitchen's air was thick with the warmth of the stoves and the lingering scent of freshly prepared meals. To his surprise, the place was still bustling with activity, despite the late hour. Several chefs worked diligently, their focus sharp even in the middle of the night.

The maid bowed respectfully and excused herself, leaving Nova alone in the heart of the kitchen. He glanced around, noticing the meticulous order and the abundance of food, before approaching one of the chefs, a burly man in his fifties.

"Is there any food left for me?" Nova asked, his tone casual.

The chef, wiped his hands on a cloth and curiously looked up at him. "Are you Miss Cassidy's friend?"

Nova hesitated, then gave a small shrug. "I suppose that's me."

The chef nodded. "The Miss instructed us to keep some food aside for you. It's on the table over there. You can eat wherever you like." With that, he returned to his task, muttering something about sleep, as he had been given leave for the night.

Nova didn't wait a moment longer. His stomach growled in anticipation and he swiftly moved to the table, where he found an array of dishes laid out before him, more than he could ever have expected.

The food, in short, was incredible. Each mouthful was an experience in itself, and Nova couldn't help but offer silent praise to the chefs for their skill.

'If only I could have this every day', he thought, savoring the taste. 'Cassidy owes me a place to stay, after all. I'll get to eat like this every day now.'

As the thought crossed his mind, he smiled widely. The maids who passed by the kitchen door could occasionally hear his unsettling cackle, causing them to glance nervously over their shoulders, wondering if they had inadvertently stumbled upon a ghost in the kitchen.

It didn't take long for Nova to devour every last bit of the food. He leaned back in his chair, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. "A good meal after more than a day without eating. Couldn't have asked for better."

He remained at the table for a few more moments, basking in the satisfaction of a full stomach, but soon his thoughts shifted. There were many things he needed to do, things far more pressing than indulgence in good food. He rose to his feet and gave a last glance at the kitchen and left.

"Since I've already slept, it's time to train. I haven't improved at all after stepping out of the Green portal" Nova mused as he made his way toward the gym.

As he approached, the sound of movement reached his ears.

"Someone's here at this hour? Who's the madman?" Nova muttered aloud, he made his way to the spot where he had seen Victor earlier.

There, in the dim light of the gym, stood Victor. He was practicing his spear forms with tireless precision, his clothes soaked through with sweat. The rhythmic sound of his movements filled the air. When he heard Nova's footsteps, he turned, a smile breaking across his face.

"Finally woke up?" Victor called out. "Here to train?"

Nova smiled back. "Yeah. Mind if I take up some space here?"

Victor waved a hand dismissively. "Do as you wish. By the way, have you been to the kitchen? Cassie told the chefs to leave some food for you."

At the mention of food, Nova's stomach gave an appreciative grumble. He nodded. "Yeah, I'll have to thank Cassidy. The food was excellent." He paused for a moment, a contented smile tugging at his lips. 'I can't wait for breakfast.'

Victor's smile widened, clearly pleased to hear that the chefs had made a good impression. "I'm glad you liked it," he said, his voice warm. "Alright, enough about food. Let's get to training."

Nova moved to the right side of the gym, his mind already shifting gears. He stood there for a moment, pondering. 'Should I train Thrust again?'

After a brief pause, he frowned, unsure of his next step. 'Better check my status first', he decided.

'Status'

[Status]

Rank: 0

Name: Nova Grey

Species: Human

Affiliation: None

Level: 1 (300/500)

Class: None

Titles: Goblin Exterminator, King Slayer, Survivor

Stat Points: 0

Attributes:

Strength: 78 (+11)

Vigor: 75 (+7)

Dexterity: 125 (+16)

Speed: 85 (+17)

Intelligence: 41

Wisdom: 85

Will: 8

Luck: 10

Skills

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Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4021/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16274/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (841/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000)

Passive: Regeneration (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500)

'Thrust is already at level 10, but Sweep is still at 1… I've decided. I'll bring all of them to 10 before focusing on any one again.' With that resolve in mind, Nova began with Jabs.

As his spear cut through the air in rapid succession, his movements were a blur.

[Spear Jab proficiency increased]

Victor, who had been practicing nearby, glanced at Nova. He couldn't help but watch in awe as Nova executed the fastest jabs he had ever seen. With a quiet sigh, Victor thought, I really shouldn't compare myself to him. The thought kept him going, though, pushing him to improve, even if he couldn't match Nova's speed.

Hours passed, the sounds of Nova's spear striking the air like a rhythmic drumbeat. His body moved tirelessly, and his focus never wavered. Notifications continued to flood his mind, but Nova's mind had blocked them out. Each jab was a step toward perfection. His mind was solely fixed on honing his technique and achieving the ideal form.

Exhausted, Victor decided it was time to rest. Before leaving he stole one last look at Nova, his eyes filled with admiration. Shaking his head he walked off, knowing Nova's relentless focus was something he could never replicate.

Six hours later, the first rays of dawn pierced through the gym's windows, casting a soft glow across the space.

Nova finally stopped. His breath came in shallow, steady gasps as he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. He glanced toward the window, noticing the light streaming in. As he caught his breath, his eyes flickered to his skill list, eager to check his progress.

'Status'

[Status]

Rank: 0

Name: Nova Grey

Species: Human

Affiliation: None

Level: 1 (300/500)

Class: None

Titles: Goblin Exterminator, King Slayer, Survivor

Stat Points: 0

Attributes:

Strength: 78 (+11)

Vigor: 75 (+7)

Dexterity: 125 (+16)

Speed: 85 (+17)

Intelligence: 41

Wisdom: 85

Will: 8

Luck: 10

Skills

Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4021/512000), Spear Jab (9) (83474/256000), Spear Sweep (1) (841/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000)

Passive: Regeneration (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500)

'9… I can increase the mastery by one more in a couple of hours. After that, I'll start with Sweep. I also need to take a couple of hours in the afternoon to check if Jack's still waiting at that spot.' He thought before quickly returning to his relentless jabbing.

[Spear Jab proficiency increased]

Time seemed to lose meaning as he immersed himself in training.

Hours later, his body began to feel the strain, but he hardly noticed. He was focused entirely on his technique.

About halfway through, Victor returned to the gym, pausing as he saw Nova still at it. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he was speechless for a moment. Does he never rest?

Sighing, Victor decided to train on the left side, giving Nova some space to continue his intense workout.

Eight hours later.

When Nova finally stopped, his body felt like lead. His breath came in ragged gasps, his legs wobbled, even just standing on his feet was a challenge so much so that he soon fell to the ground.

Despite the exhaustion flooding his senses, he sat there in silence, trying to recover. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath.

After thirty long minutes, he slowly regained his bearings. 'That was the hardest I've pushed myself without taking a break… 14 hours of nonstop training at full speed.'

The thought passed through his mind, along with a strange sense of satisfaction. He had pushed his body beyond its limits and it felt both painful and exhilarating.

Not wasting a single moment, he called out, 'Status.'

[Status]

Rank: 0

Name: Nova Grey

Species: Human

Affiliation: None

Level: 1 (300/500)

Class: None

Titles: Goblin Exterminator, King Slayer, Survivor

Stat Points: 0

Attributes:

Strength: 78 (+11)

Vigor: 75 (+7)

Dexterity: 125 (+16)

Speed: 85 (+17)

Intelligence: 41

Wisdom: 85

Will: 8

Luck: 10

Skills

Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4021/512000), Spear Jab (10) (0/512000), Spear Sweep (7) (10372/64000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000)

Passive: Regeneration (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500)

"That's enough for now. I'll grab something to eat" Nova muttered to himself after reviewing his progress. He slowly stood, glancing over at Victor, who was still absorbed in his training. Despite taking a few short breaks, the man's relentless dedication was evident, and it struck Nova deeply.

'Victor might be the hardest worker I've ever met' Nova thought, a sense of respect blooming within him. Not wanting to disturb him, he quietly left the gym and headed toward the kitchen.

On his way, he met Thomas that, without missing a beat, he jogged up to him. Thomas' face lit up with a wide grin. "Nova! Where have you been all this time?" he asked.

Nova returned the smile. "I was training in the gym."

Thomas immediately noticed the disheveled state of Nova's clothes, the evidence of his intense training session. "What are your plans now?" he asked. "You see, we were planning to head to the city soon. You're welcome to join us if you like."

Nova considered the offer for a moment. It wasn't a bad idea. He didn't mind their group; it could make the trip more enjoyable.

"Which zone are you headed to?" Nova inquired.

Thomas shrugged casually. "None in particular. We don't have a fixed plan. We just go out and follow the chaos. Wherever the most action is, that's where we head. Why are you asking? Do you have somewhere in mind?" he asked, his tone hinting at his social nature, easily picking up that Nova had a destination.

Nova replied, "I need to go to Greenwood Park."

Thomas blinked in confusion. "Where's that?"

"It's a small park near an elementary school" Nova explained. "Don't worry, it's not far. It's located in the western part of the city."

Thomas nodded enthusiastically. "I'll let the others know. We can head there together" he said, clearly eager for a change of scenery. It had been days of patrolling the same few streets, and the prospect of going somewhere new was refreshing to him.

"Let's meet in thirty minutes at the entrance" said Thomas as he made his way to the others.

Nova watched him go before strolling to the kitchen, where the chefs were bustling around, preparing lunch for the entire household. He approached one of them and leaned in, speaking quietly, "Can I get something to eat?"

The chef glanced at him before nodding curtly. "The table over there. Help yourself; we're still cooking."

Nova offered a silent nod of gratitude and walked over to the table. He chose a few dishes quickly, knowing he didn't have much time before he had to meet up with the group.

Thirty minutes later, they all gathered outside the mansion. Nova donned his now clean light armor before he stepped out, taking a quick glance at the small group gathered there. "Ready?" he asked, a slight grin tugging at his lips.

Cassidy, Rachel, Thomas, and Samuel all nodded in unison, their faces eager to get going.

Cassidy was the first to speak up. "What do you need to do at the park?" she asked. It was the first time Nova had mentioned a destination, and she wanted to know more about him.

Nova's smile deepened as he paused for a moment, a thoughtful look crossing his features. "A friend might be waiting for me there" he answered simply.

Cassidy nodded in understanding, though Rachel's curiosity couldn't be held back. She leaned in, her voice a bit too eager. "Is it a girl?" Clearly hoping for some juicy information.

Thomas chuckled, his curiosity still piqued, but he kept his ear open for Nova's reply. Samuel, on the other hand, couldn't help but mentally sigh, his lips twitching in silent resignation. Why did I end up with them? he thought, though the image of the delicious food he'd eaten earlier comforted him. Food's good. I'll endure this gossip hobby of theirs.

As the conversation continued, Nova's lips curled slightly, and a thought of Jack being mistaken for a girl struck him funny. He burst out laughing, the sound so genuine it caught everyone off guard. It was the first time they'd seen Nova truly laugh like that, a stark contrast to his usual light smile.

The others stood there, stunned, as Nova laughed heartily, the sound echoing in the air.

When he finally caught his breath, he wiped away a stray tear, still smiling. "No, it's a guy" he said, amusement twinkling in his eyes "Maybe you'll like him."

Cassidy let out a relieved sigh, though she couldn't quite figure out why. Meanwhile, Rachel and Thomas exchanged disappointed glances, feeling somewhat deflated now that there was no new gossip to chew on.

Cassidy quickly regained her composure and cleared her throat. "Alright, let's get going then. Nova, you'll be our guide since none of us know anything about this park."

Nova nodded, his smile widening. "Mhm, let's all have some fun" he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. Without another word, he turned and began walking, leading the way toward the Greenwood Park.

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