Strength Improvement

"Knock, knock, knock—"

A sudden knock sounded from outside, followed by Linda's voice.

"Dago, your dinner."

"Come in."

The door opened, and Linda pushed in a dining cart.

The moment she entered, Linda's expression visibly changed. After setting out Dago's tableware and meal, she cautiously asked, "Sir, would you like me to clean your room again?"

It seemed she had been affected by the lingering aura of despair in the air.

When ordinary people came into contact with it without understanding what it was, they often mistook the aura for the smell of decay, rot, and corruption.

Dago shook his head and sent Linda away, telling her to come back later to clear the dishes.

He dined alone, considering how to raise his strength quickly. His progress was still stuck at the Early First Circle stage; he was only a few high-grade potions away from the Mid-Stage One-Ring.

I hope Bernal comes through and brews the high-grade potion soon.

As Dago thought, he put a piece of beef into his mouth.

He soon finished dinner and began his usual meditation practice.

In the days that followed, Dago's life settled into another calm, regular routine.

Although he had received permanent residency credentials as a core member of the Silver Tower, he still chose to stay at the Rose Inn.

The next day, Bernal sent him an ancient formula for the mental-strength-enhancing potion Dago had requested, along with the required magical ingredients.

After a massive shopping spree in Kletam City, Dago spent nearly a hundred Mid-Grade Magic Stones before barely gathering everything he needed. He repeatedly wondered whether Bernal had cheated him.

Fortunately, two days later, Bernal successfully prepared the high-grade mental-strength-enhancing potion Dago needed, which improved Dago's mood somewhat.

One month later.

In the vast forest of the Great Rift outside