Of course, the fact that Mikhail's battle-strength would weaken if the current trend continued was only considered by the more forward thinking of the Muscle Refinement Camp.
Even some of the powerful young adults like Amir, Azalea, and Myles had failed to think about that. At least, they didn't think of it until they noticed everyone had stopped treating Mikhail like a newbie towards the end of the day…
His training would grow to become far more intense as the days continued.
"That's it for today! I'll see you all tomorrow!"
Everyone began stashing the weapons back in the stone sheds, before departing. Mikhail and the top geniuses of the generation shared some banter, but like the previous day, they left him behind after a brief while.
Unlike yesterday though, he did not leave.
"I see you're still carrying your spear. Tell me, why is that?" the healer asked, her voice stern.
"I have a simple request… Help me train more!"
The woman crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow as she scanned the young teenager. She had been watching Mikhail closely since he was new, and she knew how driven he was after watching his duels.
This simple request was genuine.
She had grown used to adolescents in Mikhail's age group trying to feel her up under the guise of training, and she dealt with all of them the same way.
It could definitely be considered a form of training, to put it lightly.
"Hmph. Okay. Today, I'll teach you one of the most valuable lessons a Pneuma can ever learn."
Although Mikhail was a different case from those depraved youngsters, he would also receive this training.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Mikhail felt as if he was standing before an incredibly tall mountain, one that he could never hope to climb. This, was the natural pressure a stronger being casually exuded. She had not even exerted her Spiritual Pressure on him.
The healer, and any elite one could think of for that matter, actually had to keep their natural aura restrained.
If they didn't, those weaker than them would constantly feel a looming sense of dread and uneasiness. The Tribe would transform into a bastion of peace into a fortress of violence if they let their natural pressure spread unchecked.
Suddenly, this oppressive and domineering mountain became a harbinger of death in Mikhail's subconscious as azure sparkles began to rise from the ground all around the woman. The amount of sparkles grew at an absurd pace before he realized what they were.
Tiny droplets of the Water Element!
Then, in an instant, the ground under her feet exploded with sparkling azure water. And defying all logic, the water began flowing upwards and formed an array of tentacles that casually swayed back and forth around the woman.
"Come, attack me!"
Mikhail's innate sense of fear grew even stronger. He felt as though attacking would lead to his death.
But surely that wouldn't be the case?
This was only training!
His feelings and his rationality clashed, yet his instincts overrode them both. His mental turmoil grew stronger as he dashed forward, yet he didn't stop, and pressed forward!
SHLUK! SHLUK! SHLUK!
Before he could even begin to stab forward with his spear, three tentacles immediately stabbed straight through his body. He let out an agonized grunt as he felt his left leg, right arm, and stomach all being stabbed straight through to the other side.
These weren't small stab wounds either. Giant gaping holes had been torn into him, and the tentacles of water were slowly dyed red as they stayed in place. He could feel the churning of the water in his wounds, and it was painful.
It was like he was being grounded away from the inside out.
SHLUK! SHLUK! SHLUK!
Three more tentacles stabbed into him. His remaining leg and arm had been pierced. And another hole had opened up in his torso.\
And then, he was lifted up into the air with quite a bit of force.
Shluk!
Finally, a tentacle pierced through his chest, destroying his heart.
Immediately, an intense sense of anxiety struck at Mikhail.
He began violently writhing as he tried to use all his power to free himself from the tentacles. Yet it was no use, an intense pressure bore down into his very being, freezing him in place.
Mikhail's eyes grew listless as the pain he was feeling began getting drowned out by a permeating sense of… Nothingness.
'So… this is what dying feels like?'
His consciousness was beginning to fade, and his eyes became glossy as he lost his ability to focus on his surroundings. He was going to die… Again.
Contrary to his expectations though, his consciousness began to recover and he began feeling reinvigorated. His sight regained clarity, and he looked down to see that the tentacles had become a vibrant green.
He then looked up at the scary woman, and saw something he had never seen before. She was smirking.
Mikhail couldn't help but glare at her as his gut reaction. The feeling of almost dying… It wasn't pleasant at all. He had never come that close to dying before.
She seemed to notice his glare, and her smirk grew wider.
The tendrils of water gently set him down on the ground, so that he was standing on his own two feet again.
"Again! Come at me like you mean it! Didn't you want to train?! Was that just tough talk to make yourself feel good? I'll make you train until you pass out, now, boy!!"
Mikhail grit his teeth and involuntarily sucked in a seemingly chilled air. His instincts were now telling his body to run, even if Mikhail barely felt the fear his body was trying to make him feel.
He began to back away, but suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure press into the core of his very being. He finally felt a tinge of proper fear at that point. Being able to walk away gave his mind some leeway, but now…
Now he was trapped.
The woman in front of him right now was scarier than any beast he had ever fought against, scarier than anything he could remember.
She was absolutely terrifying!