Finn looked at his roommates, considering their current state. They still had over half a day left, and he was pretty hungry. First things first—food. He touched the room medallion and saw a new option for medicinal baths. It showed that he had the ability to contribute up to 100 points per day. A note indicated that the maximum medicinal bath rank was Mortal A, and anything higher required a special token.
All baths started at E rank by default, with every 100 points raising the bath a whole rank. Finn glanced at his merit points; he had earned more from the goblin fight and was currently at 197. If his roommates contributed their points daily, they could achieve a high-ranking bath, allowing him to use the talisman treatment today.
"Alright, guys," Finn said, turning to Zorak, Lyrian, and Mountain Ridge. "We need to talk about our merit points and the medicinal bath."
Zorak, looking a bit downcast, perked up. "What about it?"
Finn explained the new system. "I've got 197 points right now. Each of us can contribute up to 100 points per day. If we pool our points, we can raise the bath's rank significantly. We need at least 400 points to reach Mortal A rank, which will help us recover and get stronger faster."
Lyrian nodded thoughtfully. "I've got 220 points."
Mountain Ridge grinned. "I've got 215."
Zorak triumphantly said, "I have 255."
Finn quickly did the math. "We can contribute up to 400 points today. We can definitely reach Mortal A rank."
They all agreed it was a good plan. Finn added his 100 points first, followed by the others. As the total points accumulated, the bath rank increased from E to D, then to C, B, and finally, A. They had enough points to upgrade the bath to Mortal A rank.
"This is perfect," Finn said. "I'll use the talisman treatment today. It's going to be painful, but the benefits are worth it."
Before deciding on the medicinal bath, the four agreed to train that day—harsh conditioning and sparring amongst themselves. Zorak wanted to know Finn's combat techniques and, in exchange, offered a basic routine that increased flexibility, something all Zorath learned as children.
Mountain Ridge asked about the talisman next to Finn's bath. Finn explained its purpose: to strengthen his body by breaking it down and allowing the medicinal bath to heal him. His roommates looked perplexed, except for Zorak, who immediately said he wanted a turn.
Finn picked up the talisman and wondered if it was possible to get another one. A system prompt appeared:
*A talisman can only be used one time per day.*
Finn relayed the information to his roommates. "It can only be used once per day, but I'll let you use it if I don't have enough merit points. One of you could take a turn."
Mountain Ridge nodded. Lyrian and Zorak shared a look that Finn didn't call out, but there seemed to be an unspoken disagreement between them. Finn let it go for now and ordered gruel since he would be ordering the highest grade meal after he used his talisman and medicinal bath. The others ordered food as well, choosing better meals. Mountain Ridge opted for the highest grade.
The room filled with the sounds of eating and the quiet murmurs of conversation. They were building camaraderie, a sense of unity despite the harsh training and competition. Finn appreciated this, knowing they were stronger together.
After eating, they moved to the training area. Finn began demonstrating his combat techniques, focusing on strikes, blocks, and counters. Zorak showed them the flexibility routine, which was grueling but effective. They pushed each other hard, each trying to outdo the other, their competitive spirits driving them forward.
The quad went to the training ground after a heavy bout of conditioning which focused on stamina and flexibility; zorath's flexability training had been something that resembled yoga, Finn found it really challenging to hold the poses.
Mountain Ridge wielded his twin hammers, Zorak his saber, and Lyrian practiced with his spear, and Finn relied on his gauntlets. Each of them bore harsh bruises by the end of the session. Finn, being unarmed, was at the largest disadvantage.
Lyrian seemed to be the biggest novice. Though he was in shape before coming to the school, he was clearly new to his spear and combat in general. However, he was no pushover, adapting quickly and showing promise.
Mountain Ridge was a force to be reckoned with. His immense strength was a double-edged sword; one hit from him had taken the wind out of Finn, and he was sure he had slightly fractured a rib by the end. Despite his raw power, Mountain Ridge was surprisingly neat in his movements, a testament to his disciplined training.
Zorak fought like someone who had experienced life and death before. His attacks, while not as polished as Eddy's, definitely reminded Finn of his old teacher. The Zorath were clearly no strangers to violence, and Zorak's combat style reflected that harsh reality.
Hours passed, and they were drenched in sweat, their bodies aching but their spirits high. They sparred relentlessly, the clashing of weapons and fists creating a symphony of determination. Finn observed Zorak's movements, noting the fluidity and grace despite his bulk. Mountain Ridge's strength was formidable, and Lyrian's agility and speed made him a difficult target to pin down.
The intense training session brought them closer, each learning from the other's strengths and weaknesses. By the time they decided to call it a day, they were exhausted but satisfied with their progress.
Returning to their quarters, Finn looked at the talisman. It was time. He activated it, and it leaped to his chest, immediately creating micro-fractures in his bones and micro-tears in his muscles. This time, Finn felt the talisman heavily focus on his arms. The pain was intense, but Finn endured it, knowing it would make him stronger.
The twenty minutes felt like an eternity, but finally, the treatment ended. His arms were wracked with pain, but he made his way to the medicinal bath. The cold, soothing water enveloped him, and he felt the healing process begin. His body absorbed the medicinal properties, mending the micro-damages and making his bones and muscles stronger and more resilient.
As he soaked in the bath, Finn's thoughts drifted to the future. He wondered what other challenges the multiverse had in store for him. Whatever they were, he felt ready to face them head-on.
The exhaustion from the day's training and the talisman treatment finally caught up to him. His eyes grew heavy, and he could feel sleep creeping in. Despite the aches and pains, a sense of accomplishment filled him. He knew he had pushed his limits today, and tomorrow he would push them even further.
Finn's mind wandered as he lay in the soothing medicinal bath, feeling the warmth spread through his body. The murmurs of his roommates faded into the background as he closed his eyes, letting the fatigue take over. He felt himself drifting off, the gentle embrace of sleep wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.