Two weeks had passed since the demigods told us the truth behind the system and my talk with the Goddess.
From what they let us drop the second test was going to be much harder, much more dangerous, so we had to train well or we would not survive.
Fighting to live is something that has always motivated mankind, we have many examples in history, and here again people seemed to strive to live.
—Concentrate!
Every time I missed a bit Viktor gave me a slap. I was trying to circulate mana on my own without needing the system, it's the hardest shit I've ever tried in my life.
—Am I making any progress?
—A little.
I sighed.
—A little? In two weeks? I think you guys can count me dead for the next test.
—HAHAHAHAHAHA, you're making jokes about your life now?
—I'm getting used to this life.
I took the opportunity to sit on the floor while Viktor offered me a bottle of water.
—Have you found out anything else about the rest of them, or about the fish hat gang, anything we should know.
I finished drinking the water before answering.
—A couple of things, first of all why am I the only one learning to use mana while the rest are learning about Qi?
—Let's say you've been lucky.
—Lucky?
—Normally mana is a thing that appears on its own in your bodies, but Qi is a force that you can increase with training and is quite important. Until mana arises in them, there's no point in learning to control it.
—What good is it if I learn mana instead of Qi?
Viktor seemed to hesitate, but he snorted and looked me in the eye.
—Awakening. Learning to try to use mana serves to accelerate the awakening process.
Accelerate the awakening process? That sure sounds like being doped up. Without realizing it I had put a silly grin on my face.
—But tell me, any news?
—Ah, yes... –Sometimes it happens that I forget that I also work as a spy for these guys. –The gang's numbers have increased considerably, it wouldn't be strange to say that a third of us belong to that gang.
—Well, a third, that's quick to say.
—But didn't you tell me that now, since you're training with us a lot more than before, you'd keep your ear to the ground to see if anything happens?
—Yes —Viktor nodded—. But we seem to be training statues, they talk the least and we notice them more and more distant. They worry us.
I sighed as I looked at the ground. What does this group want to do?
—I'll try to find out something. See if anyone knows anything.
—Thank you. Oh, and by the way.
—Yes?
—We won't be here tonight, we have a meeting with The Goddess to discuss the difficulty of the next test.
—And the fights?
—There won't be any today.
I stood up.
—I'd better see if I can get to sleep soon or something today. Now, I have to get the awakening or I'll fall behind the rest.
—Okay, so melee combat using body reinforcement.
Does this man want me not to get up tomorrow because of the pain in my body? But the worst thing is that, stupid me, I listen to him.
When we finally finished I was sweating so much I could fill 6 liter bottles. My gray T-shirt was so wet that it looked like I had soaked it in a watertight tank. And my body ached so much that I would rather have been crushed by a steamroller than this workout from hell.
It was a little before dinnertime when I went to meet everyone on a floor that was for relaxation. It had comfy couches, lots of cushions, and room for all of us to sit quietly.
It was funny because we went from sitting the 4 of us in a room without much space to being there in the middle on big, roomy couches.
—Caelum looks like he takes a beating every day.
—I do, don't worry.
The images of Viktor punching me are the only ones I have from the last 4 hours.
It was just me, Igor and Basma this time.
—Mason with the soccer guys?
—Yes.
—Did they tell you? That there's no fighting today.
—Yes, what are we going to do?
—I want to go buy something at the store.
—It's not buying if you don't spend money, Basma.
—It's nit biying if yii din't spind miny, ninini.
—Hahahahahahahaha, whatever you say.
—I'm sure the sleeping beauty wanted to go to bed early.
—Ha, how you know me. Let's go to sleep and rest, my body is creaking with every movement.
After dinner I left Igor with Basma and went to my room, but to my surprise there were 4 people I didn't know at my door.
—You are in the way, do you know that?
—Yes, really.
—Make some room, I have to get through.
—We can't.
—There's something bothering us about you.
I raised my eyebrows as if I cared what they were saying.
—And what is it?
—Your attitude.
—If it bothers you so much, don't look.
—That cockiness as if you were above us.
—Well, I'm not going to stoop to the level of someone who wants to beat me up. I might as well say I'm not going to stoop to the level of a jerk like you.
—Zareb told me you were strong, so I brought some friends with me.
—A useless guy who needs help from others to get things done. Coward.
—Well, we have a message for you too.
—Oh, coward and messenger, you don't have any important role in your ridiculous gang, what a jerk.
—From Hiroki: 'Are these 4 enough to play with you? I'll be while playing with the bald guy and the girl.' And tell me, Caelum, are these cowards and messengers enough?
When he finished speaking I didn't answer, I just started to approach them.
—Where?
—He seems to be in the mood to play already.
—I asked you. Where is Hiroki?
—Ha, you'll have to beat me first.
My body could ache, but there are people in my way who won't leave me alone.
I started to fight against the 4 of them. Then I noticed what the Qi was doing, it was like energy hits that hurt a lot.
I won thanks to body reinforcement, but I was terrible. It had cost me much more than I expected and I had received many more blows than I expected.
—Now, tell me, where is Hiroki?
—Hahaha, you dumb, you will never reach them on time.
I give him a last punch.
I left them unconscious on the ground before I left in search of the others.
I called Basma, but she didn't pick up. I called Igor, but he didn't pick up. I called Mason and finally someone answered.
—Mason.
"Cam, what's wrong?"
—You guys having trouble over there?
"Trouble? No, we were just taking a break. Why?"
—They're the fishermen's hat gang. They're on the move. They sent 4 to me but told me Hiroki had gone off in search of Igor and Basma.
"We're on our way."
—No, leave it to me, just watch out for the ones with fisherman's caps, they seem to be up to something.
And I hung up.
They had to do something just today. The day the demigods are gone.
I tried to call Viktor but he didn't pick up.
Shit.
And when I approached the elevator I saw that there was someone I knew.
—What was it like? 'We are here to help each other', or I'm wrong, Sara?