Vael moved through Velvet Reality like a predator.
Three Tyler clones rushed him.
He grabbed one by the collar and slammed his head down hard.
The clone shattered into dream-mist chunks.
"…damn."
Then another slammed into his back.
Pain shot through his ribs.
Real pain.
"What the fuck—"
He frowned.
A Tyler clone swooped in behind Vael, grabbed his face, and crushed it.
Vision flickered.
Pressure. Pain. Disorientation.
"So I can feel it in here too?"
Good.
That meant realism.
He kept fighting.
Dodging. Countering. Striking.
After a while, something felt off.
Time felt… weird.
Like he'd been there for hours.
His reactions were sharper.
His breathing more controlled.
His movements cleaner.
"…hold up."
He focused.
The dream space faded.
⏳ Reality Check
Vael opened his eyes in bed.
He grabbed his crystal clock.
Only thirty minutes passed.
He stared at it.
"…nah. That was at least three hours."
Time dilution.
A slow grin formed.
"This busted."
💪 Planning Ahead
He leaned back.
Aight. Tomorrow I study the world better.
Then train physically.
Gravity rune.
Calisthenics.
Lifting boulders.
Bodyweight sets.
He already knew workout structures from Earth.
Problem?
No proper weights here.
"…guess I gotta make my own."
Luckily, no school tomorrow.
He smirked.
"Perfect."
He went back into Velvet Reality and trained until mental exhaustion hit.
Then slept.
🌅 Next Morning
Vael walked into the kitchen.
A note sat on the table.
"Double shift. Food in the pot. — Mom"
He nodded.
Then headed outside.
🏋️ Physical Training
Gravity rune activated.
Weight pressed on his body.
He started:
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Squats.
Carrying a large boulder while walking.
Slow increases.
Controlled breathing.
His incubus healing kicked in, speeding recovery.
Muscles adapted faster than normal.
Sweat poured.
But he didn't stop.
📚 Studying the World
After training, he read.
About:
• Kingdom politics
• Race cultures
• Dangerous forests
• Monster zones
• Adventurer guilds
"…yeah, I'm adventuring later for sure."
This world was big.
Opportunity everywhere.
💰 Hustle Moves
He pulled out his crystal phone.
Called Lucien.
"Yo. Schedule me a meeting with your dad."
Lucien paused.
"…why?"
"I got an invention idea. Something useful for people without much mana."
Lucien whistled.
"…a bit ambitious, ain't you."
"Always."
They hung up.
Vael stretched.
Time for a shower.
Then maybe explore the city.
New world.
New money paths.
New power rising.
He smirked.
"…yeah, this life finna be mine."