*
I must admit, the next training phase was a lot more brutal than I expected. With me being the unathletic genius I was before the apocalypse, I thought that physical training would not be included in the next two weeks.
I was wrong.
Intense physical regimes remained waiting for us on a daily basis for at least 10 hours. The rest would be dedicated to innate ability training which was exceedingly strenuous.
The idea behind it was using your ability over and over again while being monitored by specialised Elite Invigorated who would then ask questions.
Sounds simple right?
Well, the fact of the matter is, using an innate ability drains stamina just like using any body part for extended periods of time.. ahem.
Thus doing this, with our enhanced bodies for over 12 hours was insane.
After a single day, I was done. I wanted to jump off a cliff.
Sandra pinned me down.
It was too brutal.
In essence, this training was extremely productive. The primary purpose of such repetitive action was to build up stamina and get used to the ability regardless of what it was.
For each of us depending on which ability he had, we were taken to different rooms were equipment befitting of our abilities would be used for the training. The rooms were called Course Fields.
They were divided into Hand to Hand combat, Artillery, Team Support, Ranged Offense and the Miscellaneous.
Most would have to attend multiple classes though.
Mine was mostly for actual combat. Hand to hand.
Guess who decided to personally smack the black out of me.
Astrid.
I had forgotten that I wanted to ask her for extra hours in training before the training started anyway.
I will admit though. It was effective. Though my muscles were aching tremendously, I felt the significant difference between my body's condition before and after.
I had used Free Roll and chosen Jorgenson's military prowess to partake in the obstacle course that was laid out in my designated area the previous day.
It was the Hand to Hand combat course field.
Essentially there were test dummies built with a very tough material that looked like black steel. Five would be set up in a rather erratic arrangement, where you were supposed to deal as much damage to all of them in the fastest way possible.
They were quite huge.
Every attack you dealt on them was recorded in order for you to measure how much damage you could do with your innate ability.
Even in my enhanced state with Commando, I barely felt a mark on the black material. The material was probably made by an Invigorated.
Luckily for me, someone chimed in to drag me away from the monotonous training after I spoke with him about handing myself over for brutal training.
It was Josh.
He convinced Astrid that he would do a better job at cultivating my ability since he 'knew my weaknesses' apparently.
Thus here we were on the second day of training facing each other.
I wore a black vest with grey tight sweat pants while facing the smiling Josh who was overjoyed when I delivered myself into his hands.
He wore the same clothing as me.
"You really refused to train with the MILF?" he said to me while shaking his head.
"No. I'll still be going over to her for training. She has a base level of strength much stronger than anyone I know. And don't talk to me about MILFs when you have your own waiting in Safe Zone 4," I said with a cheeky smile.
"Well, that is true," he said.
You're not denying it?!
I had never seen Josh in action before but considering how every strong person I had met knew him and in some ways relied on him, I hypothesised that he was definitely not your average Joe.
"Anyway let's begin. I may have rescued you from the Course Fields but it doesn't mean you won't have to attend once in a while. I'm also curious about the full extent of your abilities," he said.
"Sure," I said, as I jogged lightly on the floor with my bare feet.
This room's floor was made of a rubber like material. It was rough, making for added friction and lessening of impact if one should fall on it.
The room was large, roughly 20 meters long and 10 meters wide with off white walls that were extremely hard. Accordingly to Josh, this room could withstand a missile hit, which was reassuring.
I extended my hand and produced my pair of dice that would always appear when I called to them.
'Phew here goes,' I thought as I threw them on the ground. Free Roll was fresh off cool down and I wanted to spend that one minute using Commando to its fullest.
Dice A: 1
Dice O: 3
Naturally, in Free Roll I always get Commando in the Character Category.
The rush of knowledge was an amazing feeling. I felt through my brain, nerves and vessels a tingling like that of electricity as my body readily accepted.
My muscles tightened as I got into a stance.
Josh smiled.
"I'll be using my Innate ability too, mind you," he said.
"Sure," I said before rushing at him with an incredible burst of speed that led me right in front of him with my fist going in for a jab at his chest!
Josh remained calm and I saw his hand blur in the direction of my fist and swipe it away swiftly.
My body nimbly dropped and in one quick motion I swept the ground with my right leg in an attempt to knock him to the ground.
Again, Josh responded swiftly. I only saw him summer sault into the air and launch a vicious kick at me that made my vest rustle as if I was in the wind!
I dropped my body even lower and steadily dropped to a plank until the kick passed then launched a straight punch at Josh who had yet to reach the ground!
I felt the powerful force behind my own attack and focused to the best of my ability, looking for what move he'd use next.
The feeling of suddenly knowing martial arts and other combat techniques to a high level was insane, but addictive.
Josh spun again and brought his foot down in a axe kick that knocked my punch downwards!
This guy!
I lost balance for a bit, but with a complex motion of my feet, my body steadied and I shot forward towards Josh who finally touched the ground.
I launched two jabs that finally landed on Josh who crossed his arm and received the impact, though taking a step back in the process.
I took advantage of him being on the defensive and launched a three pronged kick fest.
A fierce kick to his thigh, side and head continuously!
I heard him groan and descend to the ground after the strike to his head but I relentlessly followed up with an overhead punch that aimed to knock him unconscious!
The force of this punch would definitely blow away a reinforced concrete wall.
This was efficient use of speed and strength!
Alone, without Commando, I couldn't do any of this, but with this ability, I could exhibit tremendous power!
As the punch was only inches away from Josh who was on the ground, I saw him extend his hand towards me and...
The next thing I knew, I slammed onto the wall on the other side of the room viciously!
I was flabbergasted!
'What the hell was that?!' I thought.
A drop of blood oozed from the corner of my mouth as I leaned on the wall.
Josh stood in a quick motion and gazed at me with a smile.
"I have to admit. In close combat you're a scary individual. Even your technique is magnificent. You show strength that rivals mine even though you're not quite there yet in that department. Good," he said as he craned his neck left and right.
"However, you're using your innate ability and I'll be using mine. Let's see how you do against it," he said hurriedly so as to cater for the time. I was under a time limit after all.
Barely ten seconds had passed since our first exchange.
I had explained the specifics of Free Roll to Josh and Astrid so they knew better than to waste time while we sparred.
I got down on all fours and propelled myself forward with great speed. I covered the fifteen meter distance between us in a second and launched a roundhouse kick towards Josh in mid-air.
As my foot reached his head, it suddenly stopped, blocked by something that refused to let me through.
'What is this?' I thought.
Josh grabbed my foot in a flash and spun me once before viciously slamming me into the ground.
Before I could even recover I saw a punch coming towards my chest with the strength to flatten a car!
Oh, I felt it!
I raised my legs despite my disorientation and clasped his incoming arm with them while my upper torso remained flat on the ground.
I couldn't stop the momentum of that punch, but I successfully guided it to the floor beside me.
The impact was insane!
It shook the floor.
However, the room remained intact.
I let go of Josh, rolling along the floor away from him before I jumped up to my feet.
The moment I landed, Josh was already in front of me, extending a punch towards me.
My body was already reacting, my arms crossing against my chest, but they couldn't reach in time.
As his punch landed on my chest, I felt that weird force add on top of his raw strength and push me away with such a speed that my vision became warped for a second before I once again slammed hard against the wall!
BOOOM!
This time I slumped to the ground, bits of dust covering my body from the wall.
This guy was insane.
I panted and groaned as I felt my bones and flesh hurt.
"Come on," he said. "Don't tell me you're done already."
I looked at him and forced my aching body to stand.
I wanted strength, right? Well, what's twelve more days of this torment?