I woke up, welcomed by a sight over my room—a sky that was colored with a pale, gray tone. It was, by all accounts, the early hours of the morning, judging by its splendor.
Shaking off rest, I rose from my bed and sprinkled water all over from the bowl that had been left by Chloe. Each daybreak, she would perseveringly provide water to every one of the rooms in the office.
As I stepped into the doorway, a brilliant smell stimulated my senses. Looking at the clock, it showed 5:45 a.m. I made my way to the dining area and grabbed a perfectly roasted potato from the table.
"Are you up? It's a beautiful morning," Chloe, who was hectically warming stew in the kitchen, greeted me.
I looked at the sky, considering what made it such a great morning.
"Are you going out early again today?" she inquired.
"Yeah," I answered.
I couldn't bear to miss a day of training. Plus, I needed to scrutinize the skills I acquired from the previous day's battle.
"What about joining others for a meal occasionally? It can get lonely eating alone all the time, you know," Chloe suggested.
"Maybe, if I feel like it," I answered cautiously, peeling the potato and heading toward the kitchen.
The sitting area was bustling with activity, and a sense of order had taken hold. Over time, a few rules had been laid out, one of which was gathering for meals. Soon, other residents would emerge from their rooms, having awakened from their sleep.
I, however, remained an exception to this rule.
A vivid image of Chloe's tired, yet determined eyes flashed in my mind. She had been working tirelessly. Zeeth and Hanson took cues from her in helping with the daily task of preparing meals for twenty people. It was no easy feat, and I remembered how the three of us frequently offered our help, knowing how little respite Chloe took.
With those thoughts in mind, I made my way to the training grounds.
Jenna was there, drenched in sweat as she skillfully wielded her knife.
"That girl, always claiming to need more rest, and complaining all the time about training early in the morning; this is something else."
"What's gotten into you?" I inquired.
"I don't want to end up dying!" Jenna answered, determined.
She effortlessly executed flying moves, sending off a rapid succession of hits with her knife.
It wasn't particularly surprising anymore. Jenna had an outstanding sense of balance and agility, surpassing that of other heroes. Even I struggled to keep up with her movements. With her lightning-fast reflexes, she could probably navigate various terrains and objects with ease.
Contrastingly, Aaron... I mumbled faintly.
Despite getting through last night's battle, he hadn't acquired any new skills.
He still relied on that single, basic spear technique.
Putting weights around my ankles and wrists, I adjusted their weight until they amounted to around 10 kilograms. With a determined stride, I set off on a brisk run around the training field. Jenna kept pace beside me, her presence inspiring.
Despite the speed at which we ran, I found myself not wheezing for breath.
Mid-run, I tossed the weights to the side, discouraged by the minimal impact they had on my exercise. The same applied to push-ups—they offered little challenge.
Curious, I rotated my body and performed backward arm curls.
Surprisingly, it worked.
I could feel the weight gradually taking its toll.
As my level increased, my body surpassed the capabilities of a normal person. Strength, endurance, stamina, reflexes—every aspect had undergone a remarkable transformation. If I were to return to Earth in this state, I could even consider pursuing a career in a sport.
My once ordinary adult physique had developed muscular, lean muscles. A glance in the mirror would reveal a distinct six-pack, not the bulging muscles of a bodybuilder, but the functional, utilitarian muscles of a skilled martial artist.
Oh my.
This time, I decided to challenge myself by doing push-ups with my left hand raised off the ground.
Finally, it felt like a real workout. At the same time, my body's instability demanded balance, making it a great posture to work on both strength and equilibrium.
I accessed my Status Window.
[Han Iselle () Level 9 (Exp 54/70)]
[Class: Novice]
[Strength: 23/23]
[Knowledge: 11/11]
[Endurance: 21/21]
[Dexterity: 21/21]
[Abilities: Low-level Swordsmanship (Level 5), Agony Obstruction (Level 2), Self-control (Level 3), Rage (Level 1)]
My strength increased by 3, endurance by 1, dexterity by 1, and knowledge decreased by 1.
The total growth value was 5. Since the previous level up, the growth value had remained fixed at 5. It was an exceptional and versatile value that one would typically see at the third level.
My skills had also made significant progress.
I had managed to level up my skills multiple times in a single battle. This peculiarity, known as skill awakening, was a rare occurrence that heroes experienced during combat.
Not bad.
The current trend of growth was quite promising.
Except for the fact that I acquired the unexpected skill of Wrath, everything was going according to plan. I would gradually discover how Poise and Rage could harmonize.
Maintaining a steady position, I bent my right arm and extended it.
The effect was akin to lifting and lowering a 70kg weight with a single hand. Yet, my right arm made it clear that things were not backing down.
Even though my stats had not yet reached 20, I couldn't help but wonder how much more I would change when I surpassed 100. Would I be able to smash through walls or pierce through steel plates with my fingertips, like the martial arts masters?
Unintentionally, I was nearing level 10. The timing couldn't be more perfect. I could obtain the necessary materials for advancement from the newly opened weekly prison I ventured into yesterday.
However...
"What the heck are you doing?" I asked, still in the rigid stance.
Due to my posture, my shirt had slid down, revealing my chiseled abs. Jenna gently touched them.
"Yeah, they look impressive," she answered.
"Could you please not touch them?"
"Why should I refrain? It's not like it's bothering you."
"It's bothering me, so please remove your hand."
I flexed and extended my arm, using the momentum to execute a full-body flip.
Even my recent self was capable of such acrobatic performance.
Speaking of which, this girl...
The more I observe her, the more audacious she becomes.
Despite the experience we had yesterday, she boldly persists in her behavior the next day.
But it's not up to me to say anything.
Perhaps Jenna's approach is the right one.
Let's not dwell on the past. The important thing is what we actually want to do at this moment and the tasks we can accomplish. As long as we remember this simple truth, we can remain composed even in a place like this.
From that perspective, Jenna's greatest skill might lie not in marksmanship or physical ability, but rather in those psychological aspects.
Today's
primary endurance training wrapped up rather quickly.
Although noon was still some time away, we quickly transitioned to weapon training. It was now more efficient to focus on leveling up our weapon skills instead of solely focusing on endurance. As usual, we assumed our positions.
"Arrangements seem to be in order. Shall we proceed as planned today?"
I nodded in agreement.
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