The Author's POV Chapter 3: Ive reincarnated inside of my novel [2]

The standout feature of air trains lay in their levitation through the skies with virtually silent operation across the entire journey, establishing them as an exceptionally handy transport choice.

With their sleek aerodynamic form, air trains generated minimal drag, enabling energy efficiency and velocities up to 600km/h.

Gazing inside the train, I found myself utterly amazed.

Perhaps owing to the VIP perks I enjoyed, my allocated space included a personal desk and a snack bar for my unrestricted access.

Stretching lazily, I eased into my assigned seat and gazed out the window.

Likely due to lingering summer days, the sunlight continued to brilliantly illuminate everything even as 9 p.m. approached.

The fairly bustling station evoked a vivid movie scene you'd rarely witness in real life.

Platforms extended in orderly rows, where every few minutes air trains launched forth and fresh arrivals claimed the freed spots. Suspended above the earth, air trains attached to vast metal cables vanishing toward the horizon, propelled by unending magnetic fields for seamless, rapid transit.

- We will be departing soon, please be seated

-Clank!

A lovely voice reached my ears as doors closed on their own. Abruptly, a peculiar lift surged from below, akin to an aircraft's takeoff, lifting the air train smoothly skyward.

Seconds into the hover, the train built momentum steadily and pulled away from the station.

- Next stop, Station 15 Colington park

Absorbed by the shifting vistas racing past, I plunged into profound reflection.

En route to Clayton ridge for the [Seed of limit], I realized that bridging even part of the gap to the protagonist's strength demanded securing a sword art too.

Sword arts, or martial manuals to be precise, originated at the dawn of the second cataclysm, encompassing timeless martial techniques. Enhanced by mana, long-lost ancient methods got overhauled to channel ambient mana, astonishingly elevating dismissed techniques to peak human capabilities.

Once the mana compatibility of martial techniques surfaced, manuals skyrocketed in value, gradually vanishing from open circulation amid meddling by governments and elites.

Governments sought to block access by dangerous parties, whereas influential figures hoarded them in a bid for exclusive control.

Martial manuals divided into five tiers: 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars, 4 stars, up to the supreme 5 stars, lowest to highest.

Grades reflected peak power at mastery, with vast disparities mirroring those in human ranks.

Selecting a manual prioritized personal compatibility over raw grade.

A sword prodigy wielding a spear manual would fail to unlock its utmost power, no matter the tier.

Checking my status, my focus locked onto the profession line: [Swordsmanship lvl.1]

===Status===

Name : Ren Dover

Rank : G

Strength : G

Agility : G

Stamina : G-

Intelligence : G

Mana Capacity : G

Luck : E

Charm : G-

--] Profession : [Swordsmanship lvl.1]

==========

Coincidence or not, the protagonist shared my swordsmanship talent—a boon, given my knowledge of every cheat skill tied to his profession.

One sword art especially drew my gaze.

The [Keiki style] sword art.

Crafting sword arts for the protagonist back then, I devised three elite styles: the [Keiki style], [Levisha style], and [Gravar style], all 5-star manuals.

The [Keiki style], topping my interests, demanded otherworldly speed in unsheathing the blade.

In the world I crafted, Grandmaster Toshimoto Keiki originated this sword art. A Japanese blade master who rose to fame through his unmatched prowess, he stood among the earliest humans awakening mana amid the cataclysm's second wave.

Grandmaster Keiki had long commanded respect as a swordsman prior to the second cataclysm. Once mana flooded the world and he awakened, his mortal limitations shattered, giving birth to the [Keiki style]. A devastating sword technique where the wielder unsheathes the blade with such blinding speed that enemies detect the threat only in death. It embodied the essence of one draw, one kill.

Given its one-draw-one-kill nature, the style's weakness glared plainly: should the foe block that initial strike, your superiority vanishes.

The [Levisha style] marked the second technique. Grandmaster Levisha, awakening simultaneously with Grandmaster Keiki, devised his singular sword art.

Differing sharply from the [Keiki style], the [Levisha style] functioned in a more graceful manner. I vividly recall depicting it in the novel as a blade dance enchanting every witness. Yet for all its exquisite beauty, never underrate its peril—it proved as lethal as it was alluring.

Arguably the most equilibrated among the trio, though its offensive punch lagged behind the assault-oriented [Keiki style] and [Gravar style].

Finally, the [Gravar style], the most notorious sword art overall. Dubbing it a sword art felt overly kind. Lacking ornate flourishes or refined motions, it harnessed sheer brute force to dominate all challengers. Wild, unstructured hacks powered by the user's colossal might, effortlessly subduing foes.

What fueled its infamy? Straightforward: practitioners endured excruciating torment. Mastering the [Gravar style] required reforging the body—realigning flesh and bones to align with the technique. A barbaric ordeal potent enough to shatter the psyche of any aspirant.

While mental collapse loomed as a grave risk, successfully conquering the [Gravar style] bestowed monstrous strength that struck fear into every heart.

Now, circling back to my fascination with the [Keiki style] above the others—two primary factors drove it.

First off, the [Keiki style] ranked as my top pick from the three. And why not? Envision confronting a swarm of enemies, only for their heads to sever cleanly while you appear utterly idle. Utterly epic, right?

Second, claiming the [Levisha style] was impossible since it was the protagonist's domain. Altering the plot excessively would shatter my hopes for a tranquil existence. Besides, the [Gravar style]'s savagery made it unworthy of pursuit. Masochism holds no appeal for me.

Originally, while penning the novel, I envisioned the protagonist wielding the [Keiki style]. Yet as the story unfolded, it clashed with his essence, prompting me to abandon it.

By a stroke of destiny, I've entered my own creation, erasing past regrets by embracing the [Keiki style]. Even better, acquiring this sword art carries no fallout, as it leaves the novel's storyline untouched.

Right after securing the [Seed of limit], I resolved to master the [Keiki style]. Luckily, its hiding spot lay close to Clayton ridge, meaning by week's close, both the [Seed of limit] and [Keiki style] would be mine.

- Next stop, Station 24 Clayton ridge

A melodic announcement from the train speakers jolted me from my reverie.

Glancing out the window, towering mountains loomed on the horizon.

Tectonic upheavals drove continents into collision, spawning colossal mountains and ridges across the globe in sudden fashion.

Clayton ridge emerged from Japan crashing into China's eastern flank, thrusting the terrain skyward to form an endless mountain range.

Gazing up at the immense, awe-inspiring peaks from below, a heavy sigh escaped my lips.

"This really isn't a novel anymore……"

Everything continues to feel surreal to me. As the novel's creator, this persistent sense of disbelief never fades. It all seems illusory. The structures, the crowds, the terrain—every detail matches exactly what I described in my story. No deviations at all. Occasionally, I ponder if this is just a figment of my fancy, with me trapped in a coma, lost in a dream. However…

Inhaling the crisp breeze and detecting the tangy, sweet, invigorating scent wafting from the pine trees ahead, I grew nearly convinced that my surroundings were utterly real.

Filled with fresh determination, I began ascending the mountain.

…

"Huff…Huff…"

The path proved far more treacherous than anticipated, leaving me gasping for air as I pressed upward. Several pauses were needed to verify my direction, since no clear trail guided me.

Three hours into my mountain trek, my breaths came ragged, yet exhaustion hadn't fully set in. Naturally, with mana already condensed within me, enduring this long was no shock.

Remember, an ordinary person lacking any mana in their body couldn't hope to reach my current spot. Still, comparing myself to regular folks makes little sense, as any academy student would outlast me easily.

Currently, I headed for the third tallest summit, home to a tiny cavern housing the [Seed of limit].

Having devoted just a few lines to its location in my novel, the cave's precise spot eludes me. I only recall it's situated on the Clayton ridge's third highest peak.

Aware that hunting for the cave resembled seeking a needle in a haystack, I'd braced myself for an exhausting hunt. With any luck, it wouldn't drag on too long, or I might end up stranded here for days—time I couldn't spare.

Reaching the base of the third highest peak, I narrowed my gaze. The sun dipped behind the summits, sharply cutting my sight.

Balling my fist, I resolved to make one final push and scale toward the third summit.

This choice was utterly rash, involving straight-up rock climbing instead of my prior hiking.

Additionally, with dusk falling and visibility dropping rapidly, the ascent grew perilous—a single misstep could prove fatal.

Scaling the heights now was pure folly, yet the protagonist wasn't pausing for me, so I hardened my resolve and inched upward.

Gripping the chilled stone, I tightened my hold and cautiously advanced. Failing to locate the cave soon would force me to bivouac atop the peak, far from perfect.

Midway up and two hours deep into the effort, numbness gripped my hands from relentless clutching. Long since vanished, the sun plunged everything into pitch black, limiting my view to mere meters.

As night deepened, biting cold intensified the ordeal. The climb had been tough earlier, but now it bordered on impossible. My body throbbed with agony everywhere.

Clenching my jaw against the burning ache in my limbs, I persevered upward.

Wedging my foot into a slim crevice, I halted and peered above.

Despite the gloom, a few meters remained visible. Focusing intently, I spotted a jutting stone at the upper left. Recalling a matching detail from my book, excitement sparked in my eyes, and I hauled myself toward it.

Pressing my palm atop the stone and bearing down, a narrow fissure revealed itself behind—confirmation I'd found the spot.

Exerting more force, I shoved the stone aside, exposing the space beyond.

"Bingo!"

Grinning broadly, I summoned every ounce of power to thrust the stone away, tumbling it into the void and creating an entry just wide enough for one.

-Bang!

Ten seconds of plummeting later, a thunderous crash echoed from the depths, chilling me to the core.

"Had that been me, I'd probably have splattered like an omelet or worse…"

Refocusing on the cavern, I eased my frame through the tight opening. Inside the narrow tunnel, I crawled ahead a short distance until a spacious chamber yawned open.

Quickening my crawl, I slipped fully into the cave.

The moment I stepped inside the cave, every ounce of energy vanished from my body, forcing me to slump feebly onto the ground. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, both in body and mind. From entering the Clayton ridge right up to reaching the cave, nothing but endless physical labor filled my time.

I trekked without pause for 3-4 hours before scaling three-quarters of the third peak. Without my prior awakening upon reincarnating into the novel, I would have collapsed from fatigue halfway through the hike.

To make it clear, extreme luck accompanied me the entire journey. Not one animal appeared. With most beasts turning berserk from mana exposure, I braced for a fight against one in the mountains, but thankfully, I came prepared with a low-grade beast repellant that drove off any creature below G-rank.

Because of the repellant, zero beasts crossed my path, which let me conserve energy and arrive at this spot more quickly.

Resting against the cave wall, I gradually recovered a portion of my strength. Peering around, nothing but a massive cave stretching beyond sight met my eyes.

A smile tugged at my lips as I rose and ventured deeper into the cave.

"It's about time I upgrade myself……"