Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang slowly opened his eyes in the real world.

Shang was inside his room in the academy's basement, which wasn't very pleasant to look at. There was only a table, some chairs, and a bed. That was about it. It looked more like a fancy prison cell than an actual room.

The Dean noticed that Shang was back and looked at him.

"How did it go?" he asked.

Shang looked at his teacher.

"22 points."

The Dean nodded. "That's better than I expected. I feared that the weak Middle General Stage beast would be too much for you, and I also expected you to fail your fight against the Average Early Adept."

"It seems I underestimated you."

"I assume you used your peculiar Ability to gain three free points?"

Shang nodded, but his brows furrowed.

At this moment, the procedure and its effects went through Shang's head.

The procedure had upgraded his body by one level, which essentially granted him three additional points per category, giving him nine free points.

Then, his Affinity gave him three additional free points.

So, the procedure and his Affinity had given Shang twelve points in total.

Shang had left the trial with 22 points, and if he subtracted the twelve free points, he would be at ten points.

In short, without these two things, Shang's Battle-Strength was about as powerful as the Dean's Battle-Strength had been back then.

"You seem to be unhappy with your results," the Dean said as he noticed Shang's expression.

"The only reason why I got so many points was the procedure and my Affinity," Shang said. "Without them, I would have only gotten as many points as you, and several of those fights had been incredibly close."

The Dean's expression didn't change.

"So, you are disappointed that you only are as strong as the strongest and most talented warrior in the world," the Dean said.

Shang listened to his teacher, but he didn't look at him.

it might not be "appropriate"

Shang just couldn't

He wanted more.

Shang," the Dean said. "If I had access to the procedure for myself,

looked at

sound

even more advantages than

said. "Don't forget that the strongest aspects of us warriors are our techniques and our battle experience. At the moment, the gulf regarding the baseline is

can diminish a lot

only someone on the level

I had access to the procedure, and if I were on their

additional advantages are the only reasons

cold

listened to his

the truth or if he was only trying to appear more impressive to

the reward?" the

Dean had already noticed the book in

was Shang's reward, not

lifted the book and looked

will increase the Battle-Strength of all General Stage

also help

interested and extended his hand, waiting for

are supposed to do," Shang said as he put the book

retreat immediately, and his eyes focused

met him?" the Dean asked with a glint in

had a… talk. You

I abused the rules," Shang said

and he knew how unstable he

that Shang could have very likely died

it, and if it were useful, he would practice it. Then, he would probably teach the

over a century, which made the God almost appear

that Shang had talked to the God

watching their every move and that

Dean pulled the book back

mind was still on

through the entire book and internalized

and put

Silence.

at the wall as he