I was taken aback but what Cristal just said.
I couldn't help but wonder about her intentions. 'Pick up my sword? Is she going to train me? But why now? Does she have some kind of secret training method?'
What she said about a mysterious person who watched over already made me a little bit conflicted because it sounded like this person was different from the one that I couldn't remember the face. 'They are not the same person, are they? This is getting a bit confusing... My head is a mess."
[Master, you should focus on what's important now. I will answer all of the questions that I can answer when the right time comes. For now, you need to be aware of your position and the things that need your immediate attention.]
"Do you think I don't know that already?"
Thinking back about what happened during that incident I realized something.
I remember that I was able to float, but I still couldn't figure out how I did it.
'If I manage to build some kind of armor or even something like a propulsor, then it will greatly increase my mobility and range of attack. The plasma sword worked fine too. It still needs some adjustments, but it's effective again monsters.'
Along with these, I also wanted to build something that could detect enemies and sneak attacks, but it was a lot of work.
'Well, I don't know what kind of enemies I will be facing, nor when I will face them, but from the look of it, they will be a millions of time stronger and smarter that a minotaur,' I said to my self as I glanced at Cristal who was floating in front of me. 'Fortunately, It seems like this AI could help me with various things from now.'
Moreover, even if it was just a possibility, I didn't want to die for a second time, so I thought that at least, it was better if I could protect myself and my family, even if I didn't become a hero or sonething of sort.
[Master, I know that you are trying to change yourself. However, it's not that easy when you do it. I don't have feelings, but if I have to give an example, then it's like trying to rewrite the source of an already working software from the scratch.]
I understood what Cristal wanted to insinuate. "I know that, and I am doing my best."
[Master, I will help to get stronger but you need to trust me. Before you can do anything, you first need to understand clearly your current level and we will decide what you need to improve from there. That's why let's test your limit at the training ground.]
Cristal said these words in her emotionless voice. Then, she headed toward the door, as if telling me to follow her.
"Yeah, you are right." I said, and I picked up the plasma sword that I kept hanging on my belt and walked towards the door.
I wasn't expecting to miraculously become a God of war, but I wanted to get stronger, so I decided to listen to Cristal.
I needed to find something to make up for the shortcomings and turn this power of mine into the ultimate weapon.
*****
Cristal floated next to me as I walked across the roofed walkway, and headed towards the training ground.
People were staring at me with puzzled eyes again. I didn't know why but I felt that these people were gossiping about me.
Well, there was the mysterious black box that floated by itself, so it was understandable that people would be surprised.
After walking for a while, I finally arrived at the training ground which was situated in a detached area a little bit away from the Castle.
It was an open field where people could train with dummy monsters and mannequins—spare among themselves or challenge their agility, their stamina, and their strength, in special training grounds that were equipped with traps.
Unlike what I expected, there were a lot of people on the training ground. I theorized that the incident stimulated their survival instinct, and they wanted to get stronger.
When I arrived at the training ground, the people who were training there stopped what they were doing and looked at me weirdly. It was as if they were asking why I was there.
Seeing them, I kept my composure and moved to a free spot where I could test my strength on a dummy monster.
Cristal had not said anything since we left the room. I assumed that she didn't want to attract more attention than she already did, but after I moved to a more suitable spot, I needed to know what she was planning to make me do.
"So, what do I do now?" I asked.
[Swing your sword multiple times, to begin with. Imagine that your mother is attacked by monsters, and you need to kill every monster only with one slash.]
"Okay... Then?"
[Master, just do it.]
"Well, I guess I will listen to you for now…"
I activated my plasma sword and then held it with both hands. I tried to remember what happened during that incident, that feeling was I slashed these monsters one by one.
Then, I gathered my strength in my abdomen, my legs, and arms. When I felt my muscle tensing up, and my limbs overflowing with energy, I lowered my stances and swung my sword multiple times.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
I swung my sword and tried to recreate the movement that was vaguely engraved inside of my memory.
Satisfied with what I did, I asked Cristal. "So how was it?"
I could hear some chatters among the crowd of people that were present on the training ground.
[Look at what you did yourself, master.]
Cristal didn't answer my question directly but instead projected my recorded performance for me to see.
I was shocked by what I saw. I couldn't believe that this was my current level. "I didn't think it will be this bad!"
[Do you need to rewatch it closely?]
Embarrassed by what I saw, I panicked a little. "Wait, wait… I've seen enough!"
Inside the video, I didn't move as I pictured inside my head at all. My movements were so sloppy and so unrefined.
[What do you think? From what I can see, I don't think you can even beat a single goblin with this.]
I was completely sure that Cristal was mocking me, even though she should be emotionless.
I learned swordsmanship, so why did it end up like this? Well, I focused too much on developing my power so I didn't really work on any kind of martial arts even if I trained my body. I realized that I was wrong. But at that time, I didn't think I needed something like that if I wanted a peaceful life. If I was strong, then I would certainly be drawn to stronger people after all. More trouble.
"Tch... I know that I lack skills, but just I need to focus on my training from here. It seems like I can't avoid trouble anymore."
[I know everything I need to know about you, master. Dif you think that physical training alone will make you a swordsman? As of now, don't have the necessary processing ability to predict moves, calculate all of the various probabilities, and make mental simulations of the most optimal outcome. You need to start from the basics, and develop your skills.]
"I know that," I said, feeling like Cristal was just saying the obvious.
[You need to remember your goal, master.]
****
:::[Third person POV]:::
While Adam was struggling on the training ground, a person was standing in a dark alley somewhere in the capital of Kepalta.
"Yes, I have finished cleaning up. The kid didn't seem to be that exceptional yesterday, but today, he did something unexpected. I believe further observation is needed. As for the one who showed potential, I believe that the Lord had already made his move. That's all for today's report."
The person seemed like he was talking to someone using a communication device.
"Yes, I understand. I will continue monitoring the boy. For our God!"
After that, he made sure that no one followed him and he walked toward the main street, then blended with the crowd.