Elric suddenly opened his eyes and realized it was still early morning.
He climbed out of the wooden tub, feeling his skin had become smooth and elastic, clearly tougher than before.
This round of training wasn't as painful as before; instead, it felt light and refreshing.
Calista floated in the air, holding a teacup, sipping elegantly, her demeanor calm and composed.
"Not bad. Today, I can teach you a new psychic skill," she said with a smile.
Elric's heart leaped with joy. Learning new psychic skills was something he had always looked forward to, and he couldn't wait to know what Calista would teach him.
"This blue high-rarity psychic skill is something I won in a bet long ago," Calista said casually, as if discussing something insignificant.
Elric's curiosity about Calista's past grew stronger.
He had a feeling that her life had been filled with incredible adventures, but she never spoke of her past.
Despite his curiosity, Elric's excitement took precedence.
He couldn't help but urge, "Teach me! Teach me now!"
He quickly put on his clothes, standing eagerly in front of Calista, waiting for the new psychic skill.
"Hold out your hand," she instructed.
Without hesitation, Elric extended his hand.
Calista lightly touched his palm, and in that instant, the knowledge of the new psychic skill appeared in his mind.
"Furious Strike? Its power is overwhelming, and with each punch, the strength increases, even rivaling some purple-grade psychic skills," Elric muttered to himself, astonished.
He opened his eyes, a bit scared as he looked at Calista, wondering where she had acquired such a skill.
"Stop staring at me," Calista said nonchalantly.
"Furious Strike doesn't require much psychic energy, but it demands a lot from your arm strength.
As a close-combat skill, if your arms aren't strong enough, you'll collapse before your opponent does," Calista explained.
Elric immediately asked, "How do I strengthen my arms?"
Calista smiled slightly, taking another sip of tea without answering right away.
Her calm demeanor made Elric feel a chill crawl up his spine, a bad premonition forming.
...
In a clearing in the Blackwood, Elric was gritting his teeth, repeatedly slamming his small arms against a large tree.
Each strike came with a pained scream, the agony spreading through his entire body, yet he stubbornly persisted.
Calista stood nearby, holding a book, completely focused on her reading, not even glancing at him.
Only when Elric tried to slack off did a green beam of psychic energy shoot from her fingertip, striking Elric and forcing him to continue.
"No slacking off, I'm watching you," she'd say.
By the time the morning passed, Elric's arms were swollen, red and hot, with some blood seeping out.
His arms were so numb they had lost all feeling.
Just when he thought the torture was finally over, Calista's voice rang out again.
"Don't be in such a rush. You still haven't practiced Roaring Gale today."
Elric's face turned pale in an instant.
Training Roaring Gale was monotonous.
Elric had to carefully gather psychic energy in his mouth, repeatedly practicing inhaling and exhaling.
It seemed simple, but in reality, it was incredibly taxing on his body, especially over long periods.
By the time the afternoon passed, his mouth was in severe pain, barely able to open.
His cheeks were puffed out like a frog's, muscles tense and sore.
When he returned to the inn, he practically collapsed onto the bed, with no strength left to move.
Lying on the bed, utterly exhausted, Elric couldn't move a muscle.
Calista appeared beside him and gently placed a palm-sized, pinkish sigil on his stomach.
This sigil, made from the Tiger Rose and Ironfruit, could quickly repair his body's injuries.
Before long, Elric drifted off to sleep.
Half a year passed, and Elric's strength had grown significantly.
His mastery of Roaring Gale and Furious Strike became increasingly refined.
...
Elric arrived early at the Blackwood Forest.
By now, he was well acquainted with the area and quickly found his usual training spot.
He took a deep breath, then suddenly exhaled, unleashing a powerful gust of wind from his mouth.
The wind howled as it struck a stone ahead, shattering it into pieces with a tremendous force.
Elric raised his fists and began delivering powerful punches to a thick tree trunk.
With each strike, his speed and strength increased, creating a fierce whooshing sound with every blow.
The impact of his fists against the trunk produced deep, resonating "thuds," causing the leaves to shake and rustle.
The tree, unable to withstand Elric's relentless attacks, finally cracked with a loud snap and fell to the ground.
Each punch carried immense power, enough to make the air tremble.
After half a year of rigorous training, Elric had reached the Second Realm.
Now, it was time to begin today's hunt.
After searching for a while, Elric finally found his prey.
Hiding in the grass, Elric's eyes were fixed on a horned wolf before him, his cold, steady knife in hand.
The horned wolf's body was scarred, evidence of many past battles.
At the moment, it was drinking water, unaware of the danger lurking nearby.
Elric held his breath, slowly adjusting his body to ensure he made no sound.
One mistake, and the horned wolf's deadly horns could easily end his life.
Time seemed to freeze.
In the grass, Elric's heartbeat slowed as he focused entirely on finding the perfect moment.
"Now!" Calista's voice suddenly echoed in Elric's mind.
Without hesitation, Elric sprang into action.
With a swift punch, he released a surge of psychic energy, forming a violent whirlwind that shot toward the unsuspecting horned wolf.
The wind pressure tore through the air with a sharp, ripping sound as it closed in on the horned wolf.
Sensing the imminent danger, the wolf leaped back, trying to evade the windstorm.
However, its previous injuries slowed its movements.
Elric, unwilling to miss the opportunity, darted out of the grass like an arrow, sprinting toward the horned wolf.
In just a few steps, he was close, and before the wolf could land, Elric appeared in front of it.
His dagger gleamed as he aimed directly for the wolf's eye, the blade flashing with a cold, lethal light.
Just when Elric thought he had the upper hand, the horned wolf suddenly twisted its body in mid-air.
It dodged the blade and aimed its sharp horn at Elric's wrist, the deadly point gleaming as it closed in.
In the nick of time, Elric reacted swiftly.
He raised his knee and struck the wolf's belly with all his might.
Thud!
The force of the kick sent the wolf stumbling backward, creating distance between them.
The horned wolf staggered back a few steps, regaining its balance, while Elric quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the horn's strike.
Breathing heavily, Elric steadied himself.
He took a deep breath, his cheeks puffing up like a toad as psychic energy surged within him, ready to transform into a violent wind force.