When Polemos left Carl's tent he noticed that it was still very early as the sun was still high in the sky. Polemos was a little confused as to what to do next when a lightbulb went off in his head.
"I need to learn how to swing my axe and dagger properly, I'm pretty sure I'll be fighting more than one thing at a time. Gonna need to learn how to properly use the weapon in my hand and not get tired after a couple of swings." Polemos tried to remember something he once read from one of the many books he loved in his past, as it had a good method to train in that area.
"Yeah that should do it plus, I don't plan on learning a lot of flashy moves….only when needed will I learn those. Fancy moves have no need in a real fight, just straight forward moves and comprehension matter."
Although Polemos was speaking aloud it caught no notice or attention, but if anyone would have heard what he was saying they would just laugh as most moves used tended to be more flashy as it brought a type of confidence and style that showed one's comprehension.
If Polemos heard that he would laugh in their face, since most fights or duels usually ended with a few blows and if you focused on being 'fancy' then you'll be losing your head. The only time that might be helpful is to increase the morale of one troops or allies in a group fight or up to the individual.
As Polemos headed back to his tent he was lost in thought of ways to properly train himself and get stronger, when he noticed that there was a group of people heading out into the desert.
"Is that the hunting party? No, that shouldn't be their all on foot, there is normally always at least two riders in the party." Polemos rubbed his chin as he watched them head out into the desert, and wondered if they would all come back as the desert was a lot more dangerous than Polemos had originally thought.
"Good thing I read that book otherwise I would have been completely underprepared. I need at least two, two and a half months to even be barely prepared to fight the monsters and beasts of the desert."
Polemos shook his head and sighed as his mind started to wander to the common ranked spell books. As he was reading them he noticed that there were a few that he had an easier time to understand. It wasn't the types of elements that Polemos thought he would be good at.
"Earth, Fire, and surprisingly Water? Like I can get Earth and Fire because well I'm in the desert and those elements are everywhere, but Water? It's the complete opposite. I mean I loved water in my last life and was a pretty good swimmer but that's it. Oh well just means I need to train by the water I guess, should I use the same method from my weapons along with Mana?"
Polemos continued to ponder and think of what would be the best way to increase his strength and power. As he had plans to go into the desert to increase his battle experience.
Polemos continued on this line of thoughts up until he reached his tent.
"Well like I said before, no time like the present let's get this started." Polemos smiled as he reached to open his tent and even remembered a couple quotes from his previous world that made him smile again.
"If you are not willing to be a fool, you can't become a master." - Jordan B. Peterson.
And
"If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all." - Michelangelo Buonarroti.
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From the time that Polemos entered his tent two and a half months had flown by as he continued to study, learn, and train as his life depended on it or even more, and because of that mind set and tenacity he was able to even exceed his goal by one complete level.
Polemos was able to read over every single book twice if not three times over, he went through the brutal torture of using Mana to increase the strength of his body and stepped into the Intermediate Acolyte fifth stage. He was a little surprised he was able to increase his stage that quickly as it took him seven years previously to make it to the third stage. The only thing that he could think of was that he was no longer being tortured and abused anymore. And it allowed him to better focus his time and energy on training.
When it came to his spell and weapon techniques and spells he was able to get them all to then proficient standard and was currently stuck at a bottleneck. The only way Polemos thought to increase the standards of his weapon and spells was actual battles as it would make one need to think on the fly and stimulate the body's potential better.
Polemos was slowly swinging his axe while breathing in a very unique pattern in order to train himself. Polemos's strength wasn't the only thing to change as well, as he continued to work on his body and increase its strength and endurance he noticed that he started to change as well. He had noticed that his body was becoming more chiseled like a fighter, just without the battle experience, and the scars. He also was no longer pale but was more tanned. All in all Polemos had a very good all around increase in strength, ability, and increased his understanding of the world he was a part of.
'Yeah it looks like I'll have to go and fight if I want to increase my strength even more, just doing what I normally do just isn't cutting it but it won't stop me from daily basic practice. Well at least I was able to get a map of the nearest monster nests thanks to Carl, plus he was able to upgrade me to a harpoon allowing me to retire that wooden spear. Luckily there's quite a few Common and Elite nests, I just need to be careful and make sure I don't see a Special Elite otherwise I'm dead.'
Polemos thought as he completed his final set and breathed a long breath of air from his nose. Then looking at his reflection in the water he couldn't help but smile a toothy grin.
"Gods why couldn't I have had this body in my original life." Polemos noticed the gains he was getting and couldn't help but grin again, then shiver.
"Still only reason my body was able to look and reach this level was definitely the torture of Mana washing my skin and muscles, my bones are another story. Gods it was pure torture, it was worse then when I was buried alive and even when that damn pole went through my chest." Polemos shook his head and laughed as he put his axe in his belt and grabbed his white long sleeved tunic and went inside his tent.
'Still I feel like doing this is the right way, I just need to get the bones washed by Mana then I should be able to reach the Intermediate Acolyte sixth stage.
Easy right?'
"Looks like I need to go out tomorrow, get some supplies then head out to one of the nests to get some experience. Can't be a greenhouse flower. I need to get down and dirty." Polemos grinned as he started to make his breakfast.
"I'll wonder if I'll meet anyone at one of the monsters' nests, still it's a little weird I haven't run into anyone from Alyans group of followers at all where they all go?" Polemos pondered as he took a big chunk from the perfectly roasted fish. He was even able to reach the Skilled standard for his roasting technique for fish, Polemos couldn't believe how good fish actually tasted, till he reached the Skilled standard.
"I should ask Elder Spear or Carl if they've heard anything important going on in the tribe as I completely didn't pay attention. I was more focused on training and increasing my strength to pay attention, I should change that as it's important to know the local news." Polemos said as he finished his breakfast and headed to the water source to get some food and fill his bag before he went to the nests.
When Polemos left his tent he was equipped with his harpoon, military bag, and his axe. Ever since he started to train with his axe he decided to take it with him everywhere he went as Elder Spear said: never underestimate your opponent regardless of who it is.
The opponent so far, 'The Banished World.'
When Polemos was getting closer to the water source he noticed a disturbance.
"We'll speak of the devil and he shall appear, if it isn't one of the followers of that bastard Alyan." Polemos grinned as his eyes turned a shade darker. He also seemed to notice that the one who was trying to help resolve the dispute was Elder Spear, then Polemos saw that Elder Spear got backhanded by one of the followers' lackeys as all three of them laughed at the Elder.
The moment Polemos saw Elder Spear get hit and laughed at, made him furious as he yelled at the group in order to get their attention.
"Well aren't you the tough guys picking on someone completely older than yourselves, as well as weaker aren't you just proud masters!"
When the group heard what was said they frowned and looked to see who it was as they were slightly surprised to see someone standing up for a slave as no one cared about whatever happened to them as they were slaves.
"And who the hell are you? Some wannabe hero!?" Alyans' followers yelled back.
"Hero? No, never said I was, but I'm more hurt that you don't recognize me, Ellios, I mean you were one of my best friends." Polemos replied back, his voice ice cold.