Extra's Ascent-Chapter 92: Help From A Grumpy Somebody

"Kyle Dandada is my opponent? …Come on, Al, I need to think this through."

Aldrich paced, his mind racing. Was he a reincarnator or a transmigrator? The distinction hardly mattered now. Aldrich belonged to one of those categories, and the only thing that mattered was how he could use that to his advantage. If he was to survive this, he needed to rely on what he knew, if anything useful remained.

Yet, the more he thought about it, the clearer it became: knowledge alone wouldn't save him. The advantage of foresight was worthless in a world where strength was built from within, dependent on one's natural skills and raw talent. There were no golden fingers, no lucky cheats. Not really. The few that existed were either already claimed or came with conditions he was in no position to meet, not in his current state, not while stranded in a place like this.

He clenched his fists.

He was on his own. Maybe not entirely, but it certainly felt that way.

"The only thing I can do now is train, push myself beyond my limits."

His weakness had been established too many times to count. Repeating it wouldn't change anything. What he needed was a plan. And not just any plan, a strategy that would allow him to grow stronger within the next two weeks before the Veilbourne.

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Aldrich exhaled sharply.

If he trained like everyone else, he'd never catch up. The conventional path wouldn't cut it. Two weeks was too short a window for gradual improvement. He needed precision. Efficiency. A method that would maximize his growth in the shortest possible time.

"Mana control," he muttered to himself. "That's what I need to focus on first."

Training his Elemental Art was an option, but it would be pointless without a solid foundation. In a Veilbourne battle, the first one to run out of mana usually lost. A high level of mana control would allow him to use his energy efficiently, ensuring he didn't waste it through unnecessary expenditure. If he could regulate his output, he'd extend his endurance far beyond its current limit.

That was the key.

"Yeah… mastering mana control has to come first."

Once he had that down, he could move on to refining his Elemental Art, particularly his own, Lightning. It was the only one he truly owned, and he needed to focus on perfecting it rather than relying on borrowed techniques.

Aldrich stopped walking and exhaled deeply.

From this moment forward, his path was clear. No more waiting, no more hoping for miracles. Strength wasn't about having powerful allies, it was about standing on his own. He had learned that lesson the hard way. Now, all that mattered was carving his own path, no matter how brutal the process.

"If I want to improve my mana efficiency in two weeks, there's only one person who can make that possible."

He had already reached her door.

Professor Mariana.

His hand hovered over the wooden surface, ready to knock, then hesitated.

For a brief second, uncertainty gripped him. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, to find another way. But there was no other way. This was it. His only shot.

"Come on, Al… There's no time for this."

The urgency of his situation was undeniable. Every second wasted brought him closer to failure. He had no choice but to endure whatever came next, no matter how unpleasant it might be.

"This isn't about comfort. I need this, even if she's the worst possible person to ask for help."

Steeling himself, Aldrich reached for the door again—

"Mister Aldaman."

A quick voice interrupted him from the side. Precise. Controlled.

Aldrich's breath hitched as he turned, his body stiff with tension.

Professor Mariana stood there, her eyes cold and unreadable.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

He swallowed. Hard.

"Go-good evening, Professor Mariana," he greeted, his voice barely steady.

Clearing his throat, he forced himself to continue, making sure to sound composed.

"I apologize for disturbing you at this hour, but I have a favour to ask."

She studied him, her gaze assessing. Aldrich forced himself not to fidget under the weight of her scrutiny.

"Follow me," she instructed, turning to unlock her office door.

Aldrich let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding before stepping inside.

The office was simple, yet suffocating. Books lined the walls, neatly arranged, and the desk was devoid of clutter. The only thing that stood out was her presence, commanding as usual, unwavering as if she had absolute authority over this space.

Professor Mariana walked around the desk and took her seat, fingers interlaced as she regarded him from across the table.

"I've heard about your predicament," she said. "If you had any sense, I figured I'd be one of the first people you'd come to."

Aldrich said nothing, unsure how to respond.

She smirked. "It seems you deserve more credit than I initially thought."

Was that… a compliment? Or an insult wrapped in sarcasm? He couldn't tell.

"You're here because you want to grasp the fundamentals of mana control, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The words left his mouth almost instantly, his posture stiff.

How she knew his intentions crossed his mind next, but asking was a thing he couldn't bring himself to do.

Mariana leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze unwavering. "Very well, Mister Aldaman. I will teach you."

Aldrich blinked.

"You… will?"

He hadn't expected her to agree so easily. He had come prepared to argue his case, to plead if necessary. But this? This was unexpected.

Mariana's expression didn't change. "Do you take my words for a joke, Mister Aldaman?"

"No, ma'am! I just—

"The strict professor, suddenly willing to help a student she previously deemed a waste of time. Suspicious, isn't it?"

Aldrich's jaw tightened. That was what he was thinking.

She let out a quiet chuckle. "Don't be mistaken. My opinion of you hasn't changed. I still think you're an undisciplined waste of potential."

Ouch.

"Then why…?"

Why would she go out of her way to help if she thought so little of him?

Mariana leaned back. "Because, unfortunately for me, I am a professor. My personal opinions do not matter. My job is to impart knowledge to those who seek it. If you are willing to learn, then I have an obligation to teach. Irrespective of my view of you."

For a moment, Aldrich just stared at her.

He had spent so long avoiding her, assuming she was the one person who would never give him the time of day. But here she was, offering her expertise without hesitation. Maybe she wasn't as heartless as he had thought.

But then—

"There is a catch."

Aldrich sighed internally. Of course, there was.

Mariana smirked, reading his expression. "You don't need to worry. It's not a demand, more of an opportunity."

He raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Earlier today, a student came to me, expressing interest in your specialized martial art. He offered to give you pointers, free of charge. The choice is yours whether you accept or not."

Aldrich's mind raced.

If his specialized martial art is in question, there was only one he knew he had enough pride in to consider his to be.

There was only oner/y