I got off at the academy platform, I could see several students lining up to get to Danger Zones with instructors and also many first years who were just arriving to move into their dorms.
Even during vacations, the academy allowed students to hone their combat skills in training centers and danger zones but only a few students would actually do so.
However, this also meant that the training centers were open and most likely vacant and with my mercenary ID, I could get some experience with Combat Arts before I went to get the last one I wanted.
Leaving the station, I got a close-up view of the academy.
The towering building, I had seen from far away was not a modern skyscraper but actually a large medieval looking castle that looked hundreds of years old. It had a large banner draped over its dome like ceiling that had the academy emblem on it and it seemed to give off a faint glow.
'I shouldn't get distracted.'
I never thought I'd see a sight like this in my life, but I wasn't here to sightsee.
Close to the grand gates of the academy was a large warehouse looking building which extended well into academy grounds.
This entrance was meant for non-academy awakened and as I got closer to it, I had to undergo several security checks before I was allowed inside.
The entrance led to a small room that acted as a front desk, but I could see the rest of the training center through glass walls.
I knew that the academy one was more impressive but this one was nothing to scoff at. Just from here I could see several weights machines, a shooting range, speed training machines and even artificial golems to train against.
Walking up to the receptionist, I gave her my mercenary ID and was let in shortly and decided to warm up before heading to the shooting range.
The treadmills had speed settings that were well above 60 km/hr and there were some weight plates that weighed 100 kilograms and above.
What was more astonishing than these superhuman settings was the fact that I was able to use them.
I knew I had superhuman abilities, but this helped me quantify it.
I could maintain a pace of 75 km/hr for 30 minutes before feeling pain but I noticed my lacking strength when I was only able to bench about 650 kg, which was not very impressive by awakened standards.
After a brief rest, I opened the briefcase I had left in front of the shooting range, taking out the black recurve bow and filling my quiver with practice arrows given by the center.
Stepping up to the platform, I saw many options that allowed me to calibrate distance, motion of targets, motion of platform, elevation and more.
However, for the time being I went with the most basic settings, 50 meters for distance and a large target.
I wanted to get the basic form of archery down before I tried anything else.
Then I closed my eyes, recalling the five-star manual that had caused me so much pain. I could once again visualize what I needed to do with much more detail than the previous manual.
Gripping the center of the bow with my right hand, I let my thumb settle into the curved grip and the other fingers curled around the other side as I retrieved an arrow with my left hand and nocked it awkwardly.
Raising my elbow, I drew the bowstring all the way back stopping right before my face and aimed at the center of the target by using the arrow as reference.
*TWISSS*
I released and the arrow cut through the air, hitting the edge of the target.
I sighed as information of the mistakes I had made flooded my mind.
Grip on the bow was too firm, my right index finger meant to guide the arrow was not in proper position.
A repeat of my dagger training took place.
*TWISSS*
Arrow was not nocked properly, 40 cm from center.
*TWISS*
Release was too late, 36 cm from center.
I kept releasing a flurry of arrows at the target with varying degrees of success, attempting to land an arrow dead center.
*THUNK*
After going through several quivers' worth of arrows, an arrow landed dead center of the target as I recalled the target to retrieve the arrows.
'Fluke.'
I was aware that I likely couldn't do that consistently at least for now and decided to continue training for a few more hours as the empty training hall was filled with the sounds of arrows being released.
Eventually, I felt my arms give out on me, especially my left elbow which hurt the most and I was unable to draw the bowstring without flinching in pain.
I decided to place my bow back in the briefcase after struggling to hit a bullseye on the minimum distance allowed in the range.
I placed all the training arrows back as I sat down to rest for a few minutes.
Looking at the time, it was already 4:40 PM, I only had about 3 more hours before I had to return home by the bus.
'I don't have time to waste.'
I got back up, I could train through the pain, I didn't have the luxury to rest. I would focus on archery today and then split up the rest of the days to focus on the other combat manuals.
Drawing the bowstring still hurt but I had to push through it, my first few shots went way off center, doing about as bad as when I had first started but soon, I was able to get back to my previous accuracy, even hitting a few dead centers again.
I gritted my teeth as the pain got worse, my arm felt as if it was on fire due to the strain, but I kept going, soon I was able to land two bullseyes in a row which gave me enough motivation to continue training.
Arrows flew at the target once again, getting more accurate with each release but they also got more painful.
"That's enough!"
A loud yell broke me out of the state of concentration, and I noticed a presence directly to the side of me.
'How cliche.'
I thought as I looked at the main character of the world I was in.