The slider door opened as Zeth approached the sensor, stadium lights filled the hall. Cubicles filled with students and dummies exchanging blows.
As he continued his way down the endless sea of rooms, Zeth eventually stumbled upon an available one.
After entering the room and locking the door Zeth eyed the interior, a wide assortment of weaponry sat on the right wall.
He slowly approached the wall and began to feel some of the weapons. The rugged leather displaying the innumerable amount of people who have used each weapon to hone their skills.
Zeth made his rounds throughout the room before he settled for a basic short sword. Due to his lackluster strength and snail-like speed specialized weapons are unusable.
"Battle Protocol: Gnome" He yelled into the roof.
Zeth immediately dropped into a low position, ready to counter and dodge at the shortest notice.
"Battle engaging. Be prepared" spoke a robotic voice.
Before he could react three small wooden dummies lunged at his legs, aiming to incapacitate him before he could retaliate.
"Fuck!" Zeth screamed, jumping sideways in a feeble attempt to get away from the gnomes.
He scrambled back to his feet and swung the sword, cleaving one of the gnomes clean in half. Before he could move and attack the second gnome he felt a numbing pain in his ankle.
As he glanced down, he saw torn flesh and blood oozing from a shallow piercing in his Achilles tendon.
Sweat immediately began to seep down his forehead, a level one to five enemy had nearly immobilized him within a few seconds.
"Goddamn it Erik, no matter how many times I re-watch your video you make it seem way easier than It actually is!" Zeth laughed to himself, knowing full well the reason for his injury is the lack of physical prowess he possesses.
Seemingly noticing his distraction, the remaining gnomes dived towards him, attempting to finish what they started.
Zeth glared at the gnomes before lunging towards them in a last-ditch attempt to end the fight.
The gnomes growled as they split apart, communicating and trying to find an opening to deliver the final blow.
Zeth swung his sword, slicing through one of the gnomes' stubby legs, disfiguring and paralyzing it.
"SKREEE" Screamed the last remaining gnome as it dive-bombed directly on top of Zeth.
The gnome froze, Dark and malicious eyes glaring through the disheveled hair of the predator eyeing it down.
The gnome realized the entire fight, from the very first instance, was pre choreographed by the human standing in front of it.
Zeth smiled as he jousted the sword upwards skewering the last enemy, after countless attempts to defeat the easiest enemies, he had finally done it.
As he limped down the hall to the first aid area, the fight replayed in his mind hundreds of times, each movement down to the minute details Zeth studied, combing through his mistakes and successes.
"Goddamn it." Zeth sighed, without activating his class and having access to the system he couldn't even compete with the weakest enemies.
As he opened the door to the first aid room he felt a warm sensation rush over his body, as he glanced down his wound had begun to recover at a ridiculously high rate.
Dead skin flaking off and dry blood evaporating into the air he leaned on his foot. Balancing and maneuvering to validate his recovery.
As he turned to leave and continue training, a voice called out to him from across the vacant room.
"Zeth, I'm glad you're putting everything you have into training, but you should seriously consider my offer from before." Spoke a radiant voice.
A blonde man wearing doctors attire sat across the room, glacial eyes piercing into Zeths very soul.
"Sir, everyday I'm thankful for your offer but as always, I'm going to have to decline. I don't want to limit myself to your disciple without first testing the waters of the outside world." Zeth said as he bowed to the disgustingly attractive man.
"sigh" he groaned, standing up from his chair and his head nearly hitting the ceiling.
"Listen Zeth, when you're fighting monsters like those every day for years all you start to look for is a way out." He explained, stepping closer to Zeth.
"Sir Ephis, I understand your reasoning, but you have to let me experience it for myself." Zeth spoke, standing his ground against the towering 6'10 man.
"You have no talent! No backing, no money, nothing! However, you have a mind that graces this planet only once every million years. Please, don't give up your future for a pipe dream." The towering man said somberly.
"The only reason I was allowed out of the city on expeditions is because of my unique class. But you, you don't have anything to rely on out there, one mistake and its all over." He spoke as he placed his hand on Zeths shoulder.
"Sometimes, it seems as if you can see the future. But when it comes to yourself your vision is clouded. Without receiving the buffs from Riosa you wouldn't have even stood a chance against those gnomes! Not to mention something like a rock drake which would eradicate you before you can blink." he said, pleading with Zeth to reconsider.
This scene wasn't anything new. Luka Ephis lectured Zeth time and time again, attempting to change his mind.
The unique class Druid of Life allowed Luka to passively heal anyone within a proximity of 10 meters. However, the efficiency of this healing drops off significantly when the number of people increases.
Leading him to always wish for a student, and Zeth the mysterious teen had caught his fancy from day one, even scaring him.