“‘Training environment’ means someone’s learning. ‘Newbies welcome’ means someone’s disposable. Read the listing carefully.”— Scavantis Diver Onboarding FAQ (removed in v2.3)The numbers clicked into place like tumblers in a lock, and something in my understanding shifted from almost to finally.One moment I was grinding through the final variables of the piercing equation, my mana trickling into the knife’s edge with the careful movements of someone defusing a bomb, and the next moment...I just got it.The way force vectors. The mathematics of convincing matter to step aside. The entire framework crystallized in my mind with the satisfying snap of a cable finding its connector.The notification appeared before I’d even pulled my hand away from the blade.[Rune of Piercing - LEARNING COMPLETE]Rune of Piercing (Level 1) Proficiency Rating: DYou may now inscribe the Rune of Piercing on objects of your choosing. Efficiency and effectiveness will improve with practice.I stared at the words, waiting for the catch.Nothing came.D-rating. Not great, not terrible, solidly in the “you technically know what you’re doing” category. I opened my mouth to complain, then snapped it shut again.Don’t haggle with the System, Dash.It might actually listen.The last thing I needed was some alien watching, deciding that my lack of gratitude warranted a downgrade to D-minus. I’d take my mediocre proficiency and keep my mouth shut.Instead, I pulled up my magic subsystem, eager to see what my progress actually looked like now that I had two runes under my belt.[Mana Subsystem: Equation Mana Subsystem]Level: 1Known Runes: 2Known Spells: NoneProgress: 2/3 runes, 0/1 spells required (...)