Returning back, Raze opened his eyes and could see he was back in the cave. Everything was left untouched the way it was before he had used the astral projection skill, and the pills that had been left out had completely been used, all of them.
The energy from his body had almost completely disappeared. His chest was slightly in pain, and he could hardly feel the flow of mana or that of Qi that was in his body.
Even his palms were covered in sweat as he instantly laid down back on the floor, just taking in deep breaths.
'This state I'm in, it's affecting the Qi in my dantian as well. This didn't happen the last time I used the technique.
'The higher stage of the body, the less the mana leaked from the body. It seems that this body is more related to using the technique than I thought.
'I'm completely drained in more ways than one.'
Raze always thought he had a blessing with him, having both a magic core and a Qi dantian. Having both meant if he ran out of one, he could always use the power of the other in extreme situations.
Right now, though, that didn't seem to be the case. All of his energy had depleted from him. He had to admit, there had to be some cost since he was using a technique that would make his body appear in another world, and he had spent a lot of time there this last time.
'Taking in so many Qi pills to boost my mana isn't the best solution either. If I can increase the stage of my body more and more, things should get better for me.
'It also makes me wonder, if I reach the middle stages, if there is a way for me to use some of my Pagna techniques as well. Although it might be impossible.'
The spirit body that was created on the other side was completely made of mana, which was why he was unable to draw out his Qi.
If he did, then maybe he would have been able to put up more of a fight against Alen back there as well.
'My head is pounding as well; I guess that's the effects of the pills. I thought I had overprepared for any situation to come out of this little visit, but it seems I prepared just enough.'
'I guess it's a good thing that I won't be going back there for a while.'
After waiting for his headache to fade away and for his Qi to restore, Raze was thinking of a number of things that had happened so far, and he had come to the normal conclusion he usually did after running into a tough enemy.
'I'm too weak at the moment. I received this blazer that certainly has improved my strength, but it's not enough. For me to be strong in Alterian, I need to increase my star level.'
'And without improving my stage, I still won't be strong enough to go up against the academy either.'
Once Raze had recovered most of his Qi, he had decided it was best to leave the cave. Originally, he was going to head back to the academy, but more still needed to be done.
When leaving the cave, Raze had decided to keep his blazer on rather than change to the hooded robe he had.
The robe gathered too much attention and heat at the moment, and although the blazer would stand out in terms of most of those from Pagna, it wouldn't for all.
Since some of the merchants and those rich snobs from the general world seemed to wear clothing similar to it.
Besides, the Blazer was something that Raze needed to wear with pride.
'People will know what I look like, but it's time for the Dark Magus to hide in plain sight, while they think the real Dark Magus will have gone into complete hiding.'
When entering the city of Repton, Raze's appearance had turned a few heads here and there. With his white hair and blazer that fitted him perfectly, he stood out in more ways than one.
The general public as well as other warriors, especially the female ones, seemed to have their eyes linger on his body a bit longer.
They were noticing his well-toned body and how dignified such clothing could look.
Those that usually wore the same type of clothing as Raze didn't quite have the right body shape to go with it, and it was the first time they saw someone so fitting wear such a thing.
The word of such a well-dressed and sharp-looking person had managed to catch the eyes of someone who Raze was looking for before he could find him.
"You're a well-dressed snazzy person!" Fixteen asked in the middle of the street.
He had only seen Raze's real appearance a couple of times, in the rooms here and there, but the hood's special enchanted effect would usually cover up what he actually looked like.
"Oh, I actually returned to look for you because I have a request."
Seeing how it wasn't the best place for the two of them to talk, Fixteen had decided for both of them to head to a local drinking spot down one of the street's alleyways.
It was a prompt meeting so they hadn't gone to the usual large restaurant they would do.
The place was quite small, with only a few tables, and the two of them sat at the back ordering a couple of round-bottomed drinks. The bottles formed out of some type of clay with a cork at the top that needed to be pulled out first.
"I get a bit nervous when you seek me out," Fixteen commented. "I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, and I'm wondering why you look so different."
Fixteen himself was at the fifth stage, just a rank under Dame. When they had first met the Dark Magus that day, Fixteen would have said that he still could have taken the Dark Magus on.
Now, he had heard the rumors of the Dark Magus being a demon that could even fight against those that were in the Behemoth Clan.
And right now, there was this resounding energy flowing off him, making him feel like Dame. Fixteen wouldn't dare try to fight him on his own now, not without the help of a few others.
"I wanted to ask about a dimension gate," Raze asked. "There should be some that the Neverfall Clan owns, right? I was wondering if you would be able to help get me in one."
Returning the way Raze had come from, he was a little worried that there would be more mages present due to the mess that he had made.
So he needed a new place to absorb the crystal that had been gifted to him from Crimson Crane. It would allow him to become a 4-star mage.
And while he was in there, there was also a chance he could increase his stage to the 6th stage, making him hit the peak of the initial stage.
Raze truly wished that he could reach the middle stage before possibly going up against the academy, but it was looking less likely.
"I can get you into one. There are some that access is allowed into, as long as a payment is made, but you would have to join another group.
"And there's another thing, this dimension gate is owned by the Behemoth Clan, so it's best if you keep it on the down low."
Raze nodded; he was happy that there was a chance for him to go into another gate. He didn't need too much time in there, just enough time for him to absorb the crystal.
Then he would see what went on from there, but he did have another question to ask.
"The Behemoth Clan, they were the ones that attacked me, right? So I was just wondering, do you think it's okay if I take on the Dimension Boss as well?" Raze asked.
Fixteen started to shake his head violently and then thought about what he had heard about the Dark Magus so far.
"I mean, you've already made an enemy of them, so I guess you can do what you like, as long as you don't get caught."
It was just a little longer now, just a little longer for Raze before he returned to the academy. The assessment still had two more weeks, so he still had time before the other teachers got involved, to get as strong as he possibly could.
He just hoped the others would be alright during that time.
