Chef in the Apocalypse

He pushed through the pain, continuing to swing his dagger rhythmically. Focusing on his mana once more, he once again condensed the mana particles and shot them out like an arrow towards his arm.

Yet the timing was off again, causing another wave of pain to assault him. While it was not as bad as his previous method, it didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt like hell.

Jayce tried a few more times, yet they all ended in the same way.

Finally not able to continue swinging his aching arm, he collapsed onto the ground. Although he had told himself that he would not get agitated, the constant failures paired with the aching pain was beginning to wear on his nerves.

"It feels like my mana is always lagging behind." Jayce muttered.

He had been keeping a close eye on his mana flow, and no matter how he tried to adjust the timings it always seemed as if it would arrive too late.

"Maybe it isn’t a matter of timing, but a matter of how fast my circulation is?"

His eyes traveled to the skill that had started off this whole endeavor, giving him his first cleanse of impurities.

Mana Circulation (lvl. 1) - Your mana now circulates automatically, granting 10% increased mana regeneration and cast speed.

Would it be possible to increase the speed of his mana by upgrading this skill?

"Looks like I’ll need to add some meditation into my routine." Jayce said after a moment of contemplation. He had acquired this skill after forcefully circulating his mana throughout his meridians for the first time.

He wasn’t exactly sure how he could level up this skill, but he could only try one thing at a time.

Jayce let out an exasperated sigh, it felt like after taking one step forward he was knocked back two steps. Though he couldn’t be too angry, after all he was currently pioneering into the unknown, at least for humanity.

"First things first... This damn arm." The incessant aching of his arm made it difficult to think as it sent waves of pain straight to his brain. Once again he placed his left hand upon his forearm and willed the mana to convert into Life Mana.

After another 8 hours, Jayce had managed to destroy and repair the meridians in his right and left arm until no more impurities came to the surface. He noticed that the more times he refined them, the longer, and more mana it took to damage them.

It had gotten to the point where he could probably brute force his mana towards either arm a few times without creating any lasting damage. However, throughout the whole day he had not yet replicated a Critical Strike.

By the time the sun began to meet the horizon, Jayce had already taken close to 30 dips in the river to scrub himself clean. Were it not for his tremendous vitality, such a thing would cause a normal person of his stature to easily catch a cold.

"1 day down, 13 more to go." Jayce mumbled. Although he had been a little frustrated at his lack of progress, he at least felt that he was going in the right direction.

Having now refined his arms, he felt as if his already dexterous fingers had become even more able. Not only that, the skin on both of his arms were almost shining, looking like baby skin. His calluses from holding the dagger were also gone, giving him soft and smooth hands.

"Is this what happens when you cleanse all of your impurities?"

Jayce suddenly had an image of himself with jade white skin like a fair lady and shivered uncomfortably. ’I don’t want to be a lady boy.’ He thought inwardly.

Yet although the skin looked fair and soft, it was actually quite tough. This paired with his high vitality could probably easily block an arrow fired at 100 feet. As long as the Archer was under level 30.

While his mind was running wild with all sorts of scenarios, he finally came across the gate. Once again it began to open without a word, the familiar sound of the creaking timber and rattling chains ringing out.

Jayce shook his head and chuckled, thinking that he would have to treat the young man to a better breakfast tomorrow morning on his way out. He walked through the gates, only to see an excited Tony who looked like he had been waiting a while.

He let out an involuntary groan, remembering that he would have to tutor this idiot while making dinner. However, when he got closer he almost didn’t recognize him.

"T-Tony?" Jayce’s mouth opened wide in surprise.

"Ah, Master Jayce, I hope I’m not intruding. I just thought I would escort you to your cottage." Tony’s manners had improved leaps and bounds, talking to Jayce as if he was his Master.

"That’s all you have to say? What happened to your..." Jayce gestured at the man’s face, losing his words. He was so flabbergasted that he had not even noticed the change of address.

"Oh? My beard would only get in the way of your cooking Master. So I just shaved it off." He said matter-of-factly.

Not expecting such a simple and reasonable response, Jayce looked the man up and down, still not believing his eyes.

The man who he had almost mistaken as a crusty bandit upon his first meeting, with his dirty black beard and unkempt appearance was now a different person.

His face was refined and elegant. The once droopy and lazy looking eyes now held a fierce determination, matching well with his thick jawline and cleft chin. This paired with his chef’s attire gave him a respectable and almost domineering appearance.

Seeing Jayce just staring at him disbelievingly, he felt a little awkward. While it was true that he had let his appearance go a little after everything that had happened, he did not expect such a reaction.

"Shall we?" Tony prompted, finally snapping Jayce out of his daze.

"Ah... Sure." Jayce responded eventually.