I'm overwhelmed by the intensity of the ringing in my ears.
I try to open my eyes, but the light remains blinding.
"Hey, he's getting up!" I hear Marc's distinctive voice.
As my eyes adjust, I turn to my side. He's in his blue and white striped tracksuit, his blue glasses perched on his nose. Short and round, he looks like a caricature of a nerd. If you met my friends, you'd probably laugh at our dreams, but the academy never judged us—though it certainly didn't offer much hope either. Bodyguarding has many fields, and not all require brute strength.
Back then, after we somehow graduated, Marc and Vincent became my closest allies. Marc was the genius behind the computer, while Vincent excelled as a medic. Together, we formed an ideal team.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Marc asks, his voice tinged with concern. "What are you staring at?"
I realize I'm the only one who can see the status window. Thankful I can communicate with ELL through my thoughts, I know it would be a disaster if anyone caught me talking to myself.
"I see you're awake," a doctor walks in—James. I remember him all too well. Back then, he let Damian and his gang into the infirmary after they attacked us, all to smooth things over for them. The guy's a hypocrite.
"Do you feel any pain?" he asks, feigning concern.
"I think I'm fine. If you could just discharge me…"
"No way!" He stops me from sitting up. "A blow to the head can be deadly; it could lead to a concussion." He continues, "You need to be strictly monitored."
I can tell he's buying time, just like he did before. He told the instructors I needed to be bedridden for a week to recover, giving those bastards a free pass. The stench of alcohol clings to him; he's a disgrace for a medic, and I can see the greed in his eyes, knowing he'll get paid for this charade.
"I'm sorry, man," Vin mumbles once the doctor leaves, looking completely defeated. "I had no choice."
"It's okay, dude," Marc says, draping an arm around him in a reassuring hug. Marc was always the type to let things go easily, never holding grudges. But once you knew his story, you'd understand why.
"They... they made me..." Vin's voice breaks, and he sobs quietly.
"Stop being a baby," I snap, adjusting my pillow. "We already knew those assholes were going to pull something on us."
"Yeah, exactly," Marc chimes in, patting Vin on the back. "No matter what they do, don't let them crush our spirit."
The door slams open, and Alfred storms in, his face twisted in fury. His hand is in a cast, supported by a sling around his neck. He snarls at us, veins bulging at his temples.
"You bastards!!!" he roars, eyes blazing. "I swear, I'll break every bone in your bodies!"
His eyes lock onto mine, filled with pure hatred, but I don't flinch. I just stare back. Standing behind him is someone even worse—Benny Romire. The guy is a beast, towering over everyone at 6'3", easily the most intimidating person in our rank. He smiles, but it's that eerie, fake smile that never reaches his eyes.
"Sorry about all this," Benny says with that phony tone of his, before pulling Alfred back. They walk out, but not before Alfred throws one last murderous glare at me.
Benny. The same guy who broke Marc's leg and forced him to drop out of the academy. A week from now, when that scumbag doctor helps them corner us again, I'll be the only one left enduring this place. I stayed to the end.
We did face off later, and I got my revenge, but it was long after I had graduated. He managed to graduate too, got a decent job, but a villain stays a villain. He just got better at hiding it behind a mask.
"That was... intense," Marc sighs, collapsing onto the floor. "Lex, how did you mess Alfred up that bad?" he asks, still in awe.
"Yeah, seriously," Vin adds, rubbing his belly with a wince. "The way you handled us, man, that's not something a novice should be able to do."
"Sorry about that," I say, offering a sheepish smile.
"No need to apologize. You did what you had to. I'm the one who's sorry," Vin replies, his voice soft.
Suddenly, a loud bell rings through the room.
"Shit!" Marc and Vin jump to their feet. "See you later, man!" they shout, scrambling to leave.
Morning assembly. For novice recruits like us, it's at six sharp, while the seniors have theirs at five-thirty. Though we share dorm grounds, we have different instructors and training areas.
Sigh!
ELL.
Yes… how can I help...
Status.
Leveled up!!
[User: Alexei Volkov]
[Profession: Bodyguard]
[Level: Novice]
[Nickname: None]
[Potential: Low]
[H.P: 45%]
[S.P: 55%]
[Strength: 80/1000]
[Agility: 80/1000]
[Endurance: 60/1000]
I see, I dropped in health points, the potential is still low but I gained in stamina points, strength, agility, and endurance.
I see a notification icon.
[Skill unlocked: Iron vice 3/10]
Hey ELL… how was I able to obtain the skill?
Answer... when the user is either attacked by a unique skill or is able to use he is automatically able to unlock or obtain the skill.
In other words, I unlocked Iron Vice when I used it on Alfred.
Yes…
Okay and if someone uses a skill on me I will be able to obtain that skill?
Yes
Sweet!!! Just my luck
My skill tab is still locked just one skill.
Does the same concept apply to other stats?
Not really, just the skill but other stat will rise with an increase with your experience points.
Experience points?
Users permission to access mental tab.
Grant access...
Loading….
The screen switches to a darker tab.
Mental Stats
[P.P: 30/1000]
[E.P: 10/500]
[Perception: 9/10]
[Willpower: 8/10]
[Focus: 7/10]
[Tactical Foresight: 6]
What? I have that little powerpoint? And what is with that experience point?
Since you are ranked Novice, you have only the potential of having such a powerpoint and for the experience point, since you just had your first combat experience it has leveled up.
Oooh, I see. And what is with the rest, aren't they supposed to be under-skill? Why my mental stat?
Those are skills any fated bodyguards are born with. Are natural talent that will grow, are affected by your natural growth and experience point.
Damn, being a novice really sucks.
How do I level up without just depending on experience points at my current state?
For any normal bodyguard novice, basic exercise will help increase your powerpoint which you can use to boost other stats.
Basic exercise?
Would you like me to plot a training schedule?
I need to level up. In a week's time, they will strike, in a year I will lose my mentor and after nine months, I fail to protect Isabella.
I need to be strong, I need to advance to a level I can take on those fuckers from the Malin family.
Accept
Beeep!!!
Loading…
Do you want to save data?
A yes and No button
Save
Saving data…
The screen goes blue before switching to the status window and then daily training window.
[User: Alexie Volkov]
Daily exercise
Daily Quest: Strength Training Routine
Objective: Increase overall physical strength to enhance power points by completing a series of high-intensity strength exercises.
Daily Tasks:
Weight Lifting: Max Rep Challenge
Task: Bench press, squats, and deadlifts with increasing weight.
Round 1: 60% of body weight, 10 reps per exercise.
Round 2: 75% of body weight, 8 reps per exercise.
Round 3: 90% of body weight, 6 reps per exercise.
Final Round: Max body weight (or beyond if possible), 3 reps per exercise.
Reward: +5 Power Points for completing each round without failure.
Explosive Training: Tire Flip & Sledgehammer Smash
Task: Flip a heavy tire across a 30-meter distance and follow it up with 30 sledgehammer strikes to the tire.
Tire Flip: 10 flips per set, 3 sets total.
Sledgehammer Strikes: 30 strikes per set, alternating hands, 2 sets total.
Reward: +3 Power Points per completed set.
Bodyweight Strength Circuit
Task: Perform a circuit of bodyweight exercises in quick succession with minimal rest in between.
Pull-ups: 15 reps.
Push-ups: 25 reps.
Pistol squats: 10 reps per leg.
Plank hold: 2 minutes.
Burpees: 20 reps.
Reward: +2 Power Points per exercise, +10 Power Points for completing the full circuit without resting.
Endurance Strength: Weighted Carry
Task: Carry two heavy sandbags (50-70kg each) for a distance of 100 meters. Complete 3 rounds, resting only after the distance is covered.
Sandbag Carry: Focus on grip strength and posture while maintaining speed.
Reward: +5 Power Points per completed round.
Bonus Task:
Last-Man Standing: Max Time Hold
Task: Hold a heavy object (such as a 30kg plate or a kettlebell) overhead or in a front-rack position for as long as possible. Each second you hold improves your endurance and focus under pressure.
Hold Time: Target is 2 minutes, but pushing past earns extra points.
Reward: +10 Power Points for holding past 2 minutes.
Completion Bonus:
Complete all tasks within the day's time limit (3 hours) to receive an extra +20 Power Points and unlock an advanced strength challenge for the next day.
Failure Penalty: Missing any of the exercises or not finishing the quest in the allocated time results in a -10 Power Points deduction. No excuses, only results!
What in God's name, seriously am a sick patient, and what is with the penalty, deducting that much PowerPoint? Hey ELL.
No reply.
Seriously ignoring me like this.
Sigh as I lean backward.
I could achieve almost all of them, luckily the infirmary has an improved gym and I can access the training ground at night when everyone has retired to sleep.