The Veilwalker

[Classroom lessons would cover teachings and facts about the universe before and after the universal calamity, survival lessons, hunters' biology and void creature biology and theories about their origin and existence.]

Xex briefly explained to Alex. His attention was immediately drawn to the study of a hunter's biology and void creatures and theories about their origin.

'Origin, huh? I guess I already have an answer to that. But for its disclosure…

… Well, only the government can do that now. For the hunter's biology study… Hmm, just maybe…' He thought to himself and refocused on what Xex was explaining.

[Additional materials would also be covered on other humanoid lifeforms discovered in the early years of when the cosmic mana waves were at their highest.]

"Humanoid lifeforms?" He questioned with a perplexed look. The only other humanoid lifeforms were the other human race branches discovered thousands of years ago, or at least that was what was known to the public.

[Affirmative. Other humanoid lifeforms similar to humans were discovered thousands of years ago during the start of the universal calamity. While information about them is available if one searches, their rare occurrences have diminished their significance to people.]

"Interesting… Looks like there is a lot to learn about." As he commented, his mind drifted to the dark space he had ventured into and recalled the number of universes out there.

"Maybe they came from other universes?" He pointed out to which Xex agreed.

[That is one of the possibilities. But if what you experienced when you survived the cosmic mana wave is anything to go by, I'd say the likelihood is more than 70%.]

"Mm… Well, thinking about it now wouldn't change anything. I'd learn about them anyway.

"Is there anything else included in the curriculum?"

His curiosity about the other lifeforms had been stirred and while he was tempted to find out more from the network, he decided to leave it to his instructors to teach as they would know better than what someone might have put on the network a long time ago.

[The section on combat lessons covers fighting other humans, beasts and void creatures. The reason for this is that fighting humans requires a different set of movement techniques and forms while magical beasts and void creatures demand a different style of fighting.]

Alex then glanced at the VR pod behind him placed close to his bed and sighed. While he has had his fair share of fights from his previous VR experiences, he wasn't all that good when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, not to mention the use of weapons.

'Ross, I know is well trained in the martial arts and as for Julia…

…. Her background should have made arrangements for her before she even awakened. Most of my classmates should also be well trained.'

When his thoughts reached his classmates, he remembered the incident with the Zen fellow and sighed, putting a hand on his forehead.

"Ah… this is going to be a nightmare."

"Xex, if I fought that Zen fellow I met today, what do you think my chances are of beating him?" He asked, turning back to the display.

[…]

Xex was momentarily silent, and Alex understood that it was making its analysis. While he did not have information on Zen Henjok, he had all the information about himself.

[While I do not have data on Zen Henjok, if his combat skills are on par with your friend, Ross, then your chances of victory would be at 43%.]

The analysis did not please Alex one bit. He knew his friend's strength all too well as he had spared with him many times. But in all those times, the number of times he won could be countered on one hand. But forty-three per cent? If compared to Ross, he should have a lower chance than what he was seeing.

"Why 43%?" he asked and the response he received made him realize why.

[Your physical stats are superior to every first-year present. So, theoretically, if you use your superior strength and speed, you can quickly put him down. But reaching top speed and strength requires certain actions and forms and you already know strength isn't the only variable required to win a fight.]

"Yeah, I know."

'I still have a long way to go if I want to become strong enough to change things.' He silently reasoned and renewed his vow to become strong.

"That should cover everything right?"

[We haven't gone over survival lessons included in the curriculum.]

"Urgh… Just give me an overview of it." He instructed, already drained from thinking about various things. He had a lot to catch up with if he wanted to stay ahead with the physical stats he had.

[Very well. Survival lessons would cover ways of navigating an unknown environment, utilizing resources around and how to make portable SOS devices to send out signals for rescue.]

All of that sounded nice and all, but at this point, he was beginning to feel exhaustion creep into his being.

"Thanks, Xex. You can end it here." Alex instructed and got up from his seat, taking off his smartwatch.

[Yes,]

He made his way towards the bathroom to clean up for the night. Arriving before the mirror, he blinked and activated his vision, turning his sclera dark against the brown of his pupils. He admired the unique beauty of it and switched between the various wavelengths.

This was the result of months of practising how to utilize his full vision prowess.

He settled on a combination of radio waves and infrared vision to mimic magnetic resonance imaging to look at his mana channels, noticing once again how different it was from others. Initially, he had thought it was nothing significant, but the more people he studied secretly revealed just how much his system differed.

The flow of mana in others showed the mana generated from all individual body cells and then channelled to various body parts when needed. However, his own showed a different arrangement. While mana was generated in cells, it never flowed into the mana channels to be directed. His channels looked dried up.

Instead, the mana generated is infused within his cells, staying there. The process was incredibly slow but still there.

When he channelled his energies to activate his light skill, there was a flow of energy in his mana veins, and they seemed to originate from somewhere else not his body. It was like his body was a vessel pulling energy from something or somewhere.

'Hopefully, it won't affect my cultivation and level up.'