Morgath woke up with a determined focus. His agility had reached new heights over the past weeks, and now, it was time to complete the final phase of his body tempering -strength training. While most people around him were fixated on weapon arts, Morgath knew that he needed to finish building physical strength, he needed to catch up to people with his bare stats, unless he wanted to get overwhelmed by the strength no skill can overcome. However, he faced an immediate problem—he lacked the appropriate weights for such training.
Unlike the agility training where the forest terrain had been enough, lifting weights required specific equipment, and there was no chance of buying new ones. The economy, while recovering, was far from normal. People weren't exactly manufacturing or buying gym equipment now, production of steel weapons had become one of the biggest priorities.
"Well, time to get resourceful," Morgath muttered to himself.
He knew what he needed: exercise weights, and a lot of them. Around 300 kilograms, to have some in reserve. Surely someone, somewhere, still had weights lying around. He decided to search through the town, asking anyone who might know where he could find the equipment he was looking for.
A Hunt for the Weights
It took him the better part of a day. He visited a few old gyms that had long since closed, talked to several people, and even visited a couple of junkyards, hoping for some luck. Eventually, he got a lead. A man named Derek, who had once worked at a gym, reportedly still had some equipment left in his possession.
Morgath found himself knocking on a modest-looking house on the outskirts of town. He was mentally preparing for another conversation when the door creaked open. A tall, burly man with unkempt hair and a sour expression peered through the crack.
"What do you want?" Derek's voice was a mix of suspicion and annoyance, his eyes narrowing as he sized Morgath up.
Morgath kept his calm. "I heard you used to work in a gym. I'm looking for some exercise weights—about 300 kilograms, if you have it."
Derek's brow furrowed, but he didn't immediately slam the door, so Morgath took that as a good sign. "Yeah, so what? Why would you need weights in a world like this? You should be out there using a sword or a spear like everyone else."
Morgath smiled slightly, understanding the man's confusion. "I'm training in a way that suits me. I'm willing to pay for them, of course. How much do you want?"
Derek's eyes gleamed with opportunity. "I've got weights, more than 300 kilograms. But they won't come cheap. These days, they're a rarity, you know and from the looks of it, you want them really badly."
Morgath's hand moved smoothly into his pocket, and he pulled out a small spirit stone, holding it between his fingers. The shimmering stone caught the man's attention immediately. His greedy eyes flickered.
"One stone," Morgath said plainly. "For all of it."
Derek's lips twisted into a calculating smirk. "One stone? For that much equipment? I don't think so. Two stones, or forget it."
Morgath's expression hardened, his gaze turning icy. "Don't push your luck. One stone is more than fair. If you try to squeeze me, things won't end well for you."
Derek hesitated. He could tell Morgath wasn't bluffing. With a grunt, he nodded. "Fine. One stone."
The transaction was quick. Morgath handed over the spirit stone, and Derek led him to a dusty shed behind the house where the weights were stored. True to his word, Derek had more than enough weights. Morgath began the slow process of transporting the weights back to his parents' house, one trip at a time. It took over ten trips to move everything, and along the way, he earned more than a few puzzled stares from the townsfolk.
Strength Training Begins
With the weights now at his parents' house, Morgath set up a makeshift outdoor training space. Solid ground was crucial for this type of training, and he needed the stability that the cleared area near the house could provide. That's why he couldn't train at his own place. The surface there was too soft.
The next day, he began the strength training in earnest. He started with basic lifts, focusing on building endurance and proper form. Despite his physical enhancements, the sheer weight he was working with pushed his body to its limits. Morgath was used to intense training, but this was different. Each lift tested his resolve, straining his muscles in ways his agility training hadn't.
At one point, Morgath considered using his healing spell to recover faster, allowing him to train longer, but the system's voice chimed in, stopping him from making a crucial mistake.
[Warning: Using a healing spell during muscle training will hinder long-term growth. Muscle strength increases through micro-tears that heal naturally. Accelerating this process with spells will diminish results.]
"Right," Morgath muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "No shortcuts."
The next few weeks became a blur of lifting, resting, and eating. He carefully monitored his progress, ensuring that his form remained perfect with each lift. His muscles grew more defined with each session, and his strength steadily increased. By the end of the month, he felt the difference not just in his muscles but in how he moved—every action seemed infused with power.
After a full month of intense training, Morgath finally completed the body tempering portion of his cultivation. His muscles had grown stronger and denser, and his body felt like it was brimming with explosive power. It was time to take a well-deserved break.
For the next week, Morgath spent his time relaxing at his parents' house. He helped with daily chores, played games, and enjoyed conversations with his parents, Thomas and Angela. It felt good to unwind and recharge, especially after the grueling physical regimen he had just put himself through.
During this time, he also took a close look at his status panel, pleased with how his strength stat had caught up with his other abilities. He had completed the first major phase of his cultivation, and now it was time to focus on the next part of his plan: mastering his skills.
-[Stats]
--[Strength]: 5
--[Agility]: 5
--[Dexterity]: 5
--[Constitution]: 5
--[Perception]: 5
--[Health]: 10/10
--[Mana]: 10/10
-[Skills]
--[Swordsmanship] {Dual-wielding} -34%
--[Vitalyth] {Tier 1} -100% {Tier 2} -56% (Spell of healing)
--[Redintegrare] {Tier 1} -100%
After his week of rest, Morgath felt ready to return to his swordsmanship training. His body was in peak condition, and he knew that his skills would need to be sharpened to match his newly strengthened physique. The next logical step was to visit Kenji, his swordsmanship instructor, and ask for some sparring sessions to push his skills further.
However, when Morgath arrived at Kenji's house, something felt off. The place looked abandoned—no lights, no sound, and the yard seemed slightly overgrown. Morgath knocked on the door but received no answer.
After asking a few people in the neighborhood, he learned that Kenji had been absent for some time. Rumors were circulating that Kenji had been offered a prestigious job in the Guardians of Order sect as a swordsmanship master. Morgath had a moment of contemplation.
"So, Kenji's joined the sect…"
It made sense. He believed that Kenji was one of the most talented swordsmen alive on Earth and with the world changing, the sect would want to recruit someone with his skills to train their members. But this left Morgath with a decision to make. If he wanted to continue training with Kenji, he would have to follow him into the sect.
"Do I really want to get involved with the Guardians of Order?" Morgath thought. He had stayed out of the public eye for so long, and joining the sect would inevitably pull him into the growing political and social changes happening across the world. However, Kenji was a rare talent, and Morgath had much to learn from him. He is proficient enough that eventually with enough time he will be able to master it, but that would take too much time.
After weighing his options, Morgath concluded that entering the sect, even temporarily, might be worth it. He didn't necessarily have to stay, but if it meant continuing his training with Kenji and advancing his swordsmanship to its peak, he would take the risk.
"Alright then," Morgath murmured to himself. "Looks like I'll have to pay the Guardians a visit."
With his mind made up, he set off to prepare for his next challenge: joining the Guardians of Order.