"Boss, what's that in your hand?" Ying Feng asked curiously, noticing Kael had been staring at the item for quite some time.

  "Just a little toy," Kael replied, shaking his head. He then turned his attention to Han Ming. "Snap out of it. What level are you now?"

  "L-Level 3," Han Ming stammered. He was still drowning in the despair of having mana but no spells to cast. The pain of tasting power only to have it remain just out of reach was far worse than never having had it at all.

  "Perfect. This skill book is yours." Kael handed it over, betting that the higher XP yield from the dungeon had pushed the boy to the required level.

  "Oh... alright. A skill book..."

  Han Ming accepted the item listlessly. Just as he took it, their time in the instance expired, and the trio was teleported back to the safety of the starter village. This was the system's way of preventing players from camping inside dungeons indefinitely.

  "Wait... a skill book?!" Back in the village, Han Ming suddenly snapped to attention, his eyes widening as he gripped the item. "Manager, this... this book..."

  "That’s right. It will let you learn a Wind-type spell," Kael confirmed with a nod.

  "I can actually learn magic... thank you! Thank you so much, Manager!" After receiving confirmation, Han Ming bowed deeply to Kael, his voice trembling.

  His dream was finally coming true. Even if it was only within this "New World," it was a fulfillment he had never dared to hope for.

  The beginner's guide had been very clear on how to use items. Without wasting another second, Han Ming flipped the book open right there in front of Kael and Ying Feng.

  A notification promptly rang out.

  [System: Activate Skill: Wind Blade. This requires a fee of 50 Spirit Crystals. Proceed?]

  "You really are a money-grubbing parasite, aren't you? You're even charging for skill activation?!" Kael was genuinely appalled.

  [System: Host, please refrain from slandering the System.]

  Kael nearly cursed out loud. "You're peeking at my thoughts again!"

  [System: The Host's thoughts were so intense they were practically written across his face. No peeking was necessary.]

  "..."

  Kael knew he was no match for the System's shamelessness, so he opted for silence.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Han Ming, meanwhile, didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat. He hit "Yes" immediately. Fifty Spirit Crystals was a pittance compared to the chance to learn magic.

  "I finally understand why people spend so much on microtransactions in games," Kael thought, stunned. The boy had dropped fifty crystals without a second thought just to activate a low-level, Rank 3 spell. He didn't even want to imagine the "paywall" for high-level magic. In the art of wealth extraction, the System was truly in a league of its own.

  [System: You flatter me, Host.]

  "I wasn't complimenting you!"

  Upon confirmation, the skill book dissolved into a beam of white light, surging directly into the space between Han Ming's brows. Simultaneously, fifty crystals were automatically deducted from his Membership Card.

  "It’s here... it’s actually here. The Wind Blade spell!"

  Re-opening his skill tree, Han Ming stared at the solitary Wind Blade icon, his eyes brimming with tears. The moment a lifelong dream is realized is a powerful thing.

  "Learn!"

  Han Ming dumped all three of his skill points into the spell. Instantly, a flood of knowledge regarding the manipulation of wind mana poured into his mind.

  "So that's how it works... casting it is actually this simple."

  Han Ming digested the information, feeling a sudden clarity. He raised his novice staff and pointed it toward an empty patch of ground. "Wind Blade!"

  A sharp arc of azure energy coalesced out of thin air and slashed forward. While a Rank 3 spell wasn't particularly powerful, for Han Ming, it represented a monumental, era-defining shift in his life.

  "I did it... I really cast a spell."

  He stared at his staff, overwhelmed with emotion, nearly weeping for joy.

  Ying Feng checked the time and turned to the others. "I'm out of time. If I stay any longer, I won't finish my training mission for the day. I’ve got to head out."

  "Go ahead," Kael replied. He logged out shortly after, deciding to make the most of the live-stream feature the System had enabled. The New World map was still small, and with only a few players, it wasn't as entertaining as the Multiplayer Arena just yet.

  "Today’s lesson: How to counter a Guardian Knight..."

  Han Ming was the only one who remained immersed in the New World. He spent his remaining time hunting stray Goblins in the mountains, eager to test his clumsy Wind Blades on anything that moved.

  "Time's up? Guess I’ll be back tomorrow."

  When the logout prompt appeared, Han Ming was still buzzing with adrenaline. He exited the pod, his mind still reeling from the sensation of mana coursing through his body.

  "Wait... something is wrong. Mana... I... I think I still feel it."

  As he stood up, he felt a strange, foreign presence within his body. It felt as if something new had been added to his very soul.

  "Could it be... that the mana I gained in the New World... is real?"

  Han Ming found it impossible to believe. He pinched himself hard; the sharp pain proved he wasn't dreaming.

  "Wind Blade!"

  Desperate to prove his discovery, he raised his hand and attempted to cast his only spell. A small, faint arc of wind began to condense in the air.

  Snap!

  Before the blade could launch, a crisp snap of fingers echoed through the shop, and the spell instantly vanished into nothingness.

  "No magic allowed in the shop. Since this is your first offense, I’ll let it slide. Don't let it happen again," Kael’s indifferent voice rang out.

  Han Ming froze, then jumped to his feet, his words coming out in a frantic, incoherent jumble. "Yes! Manager, I’m so sorry! I... I was just so excited!"

  "Thank you... thank you so much! I never thought the day would come where I could actually learn magic! I... I..."

  "Alright, I get it. Say no more," Kael waved him off, cutting him short.

  To be honest, Kael hadn't expected the New World Mode to have this kind of "leakage" effect either. But it explained why the System had specially adjusted the pricing and added extra fees for skill activation. To allow a person with zero aptitude to cultivate Battle Qi or Mana and learn techniques in reality... that would require an astronomical amount of energy.