Xyenn wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and glared at Mertha, who stood across the snowy battlefield, grinning like a beast ready to devour its prey. The wind howled around them, whipping the snow into swirling eddies, but the cold was the least of Xyenn's concerns. His body ached from the earlier blow, but he couldn't afford to show weakness. Not now.
Mertha's grin widened, her fists clenched tightly, each knuckle cracking under the pressure. "Come on, brat! Show me what you've got!"
Xyenn's pupils narrowed into thin slits, his senses sharp as a blade. He could feel the energy pulsing through his veins, but without Yuuna's power fully merged with his, he knew he was at a disadvantage. He had to be smart. He had to be fast.
Without another word, he lunged forward, the snow beneath his feet exploding into the air as he closed the distance between them in a blink. His right fist shot forward in a tight arc, aiming for Mertha's ribs. But just as his knuckles were about to collide—
WHAM!
Mertha's forearm came up to block, her movements deceptively fast for someone of her size. The force of the block sent a shockwave through Xyenn's arm, numbing his fist. He gritted his teeth, pivoting on his heel as he spun into a high roundhouse kick aimed at her temple. His leg cut through the air like a whip, the sound of the wind hissing with the velocity behind the strike.
'Keep attacking, don't even stop for a second! She's stronger, but I'm faster. Ever since I've made that contract with Yuuna, my body went through significant changes and all that good stuff. I've been a little stronger, faster, and my teeth are permanently sharp. I can feel her power burning in my soul and my heart, LITERALLY its fucking hot to the point where it hurts sometimes, my body still has to get used to this change.'
But Mertha ducked, her grin never faltering. As Xyenn's kick sailed over her head, she planted her feet firmly in the snow and swung her massive fist upward in a vicious uppercut aimed at his exposed ribs.
CRACK!
The blow connected with a sickening crunch, lifting Xyenn off his feet and sending him flying backward through the air. He crashed into the ground, skidding across the snow and leaving a deep trench in his wake. Blood sprayed from his mouth, staining the white snow crimson as he struggled to his feet, clutching his side.
'Shit, she's too strong…' thought, his mind racing as he gasped for breath. 'I can't go toe to toe with her like this. Not without Yuuna's power fully backing me up. Enough with those idiotic relentless attacks. I thought I was a badass for a second.'
He wiped the blood from his lips and narrowed his eyes, watching Mertha as she cracked her neck, rolling her shoulders casually as if she hadn't just sent him flying with a single punch. Her strength was monstrous, and Xyenn knew he had to be smarter. He couldn't match her in raw power, but maybe he didn't have to.
'Her size… it's her strength, but it's also her weakness.' His mind worked quickly, analyzing her stance, her movements. 'She's fast, but not fast enough to keep up with me if I push my speed. And her attacks are wide—she's relying on brute strength. I need to stay inside her reach, where she can't use those heavy swings to their full potential.'
Mertha's grin faded slightly as she noticed Xyenn's change in posture, his stance lowering, more controlled. "What's the matter, brat? You gonna stand there all day?"
Xyenn's mouth curved into a small smirk. "Not a chance."
He vanished.
In a blur of motion, Xyenn reappeared directly in front of her, his body low to the ground as he threw a rapid series of jabs aimed at her midsection. His fists were a blur, each strike landing with precision, hammering into her ribs and abdomen. Mertha's eyes widened slightly, the force of the blows jolting through her body, but she didn't stagger. She gritted her teeth, raising her arms to block, but Xyenn was already moving.
He spun to her side, throwing a sharp elbow strike toward her jaw, but Mertha ducked just in time, her fist swinging out in a wide arc to counter. Xyenn saw it coming, his reflexes kicking in as he flipped backward, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow.
"She's adapting…" Xyenn realized, landing lightly on his feet. "I've got to keep her off balance."
Mertha chuckled, "I see you're being super cautious with a brute like me, don't get pummeled now!"
'This kid..Yuuna chose the right vessel. He's able to adapt like me, keeping his double sometimes. He first thought he could just relentlessly attack without giving me a chance to breathe, then realized that wouldn't work because of my adaptability and toughness. Guess he's not such a bonehead. He still hasn't figured out I'm able to reverse damage done to me, and make myself stronger from it. Should I tell him that? Nah, that'll be dumb. Most enemies he will run into won't just explain their abilities like idiots to the person that's trying to beat them. Yuuna wants Xyenn prepared, and I'm here to take care of that task. I won't let her down.'
Before Mertha could recover, Xyenn dashed forward again, this time feinting a punch to her face. Mertha raised her arms to block, but Xyenn twisted mid-air, his leg flashing out in a powerful spinning heel kick aimed at her exposed side.
"Got you!"
BOOM!
His foot connected, the impact creating a shockwave that sent snow flying in all directions. But as the snow cleared, Xyenn's eyes widened in disbelief. Mertha hadn't moved. The blow had landed clean, but she stood firm, her body unyielding as if made of steel.
Mertha grinned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Nice hit, brat. But you're gonna have to try harder than that. If Yuuna was here, you'd be going a lot harder wouldn't you? Lover boy!"
"L-Lover boy?! I never said I loved her or anything!"
"Ohhh please! I see the way you two look at each other. And honestly, I've never seen Yuuna flustered at a human."
"How do you even know her?!"
Mertha didn't answer.
Before Xyenn could react, Mertha's fist shot out like a cannon, slamming directly into his chest.
"GUH!"
The force of the punch was like being hit by a freight train. Xyenn's body bent around her fist, his ribs creaking under the pressure as he was launched backward again, crashing into the ground with enough force to leave a crater in the snow. He coughed, blood splattering onto the white surface beneath him as he struggled to breathe.
"Dammit… her power… it's insane…" Xyenn's pain raced, his chest heaving as he forced himself to stand. "I can't keep taking hits like that… I've got to find an opening. There's got to be a weak point…"
'There's gotta be something! I told Death himself I wouldn't lose to anyone ever again. I won't lie to myself. My whole life was a lie, the world telling me I'm not shit. Until Yuuna came, I'm someone now. I'll beat this big muscular overpowered oaf!'
As he wiped the blood from his lips, he noticed something. Mertha's stance had shifted slightly. Her right arm was hanging just a little lower than before, as if she was favoring it.
"Her right arm… she's been using it to block most of my hits. I've damaged it."
It wasn't much, but it was something. A crack in her otherwise impenetrable defense.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I've got one shot at this."
Mertha's eyes gleamed as she noticed his resolve. "So you're not giving up? Good. I was starting to get bored. Your blood has been replaced with Yuuna's blood, use your new upgraded body to win, brat! I'll get serious then, let's push you to that limit. I'll use 30%."
Suddenly, a spiral jagged dark pink halo formed over Mertha's head, glowing ominously in the morning light. Xyenn's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.
"What the hell is that—?"
'It's the same halo as Yuuna's! I don't know why she has that, but no way this is just her being 30% power! I'm fucking doomed! Yuuna..'
Before he could finish the thought, Mertha moved. Her speed had increased tenfold, her body a blur of motion as she charged at him with terrifying speed. Xyenn barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as her fist smashed into the ground where he had been standing.
BOOM!
The earth exploded beneath her fist, sending chunks of rock and snow flying into the air. Xyenn rolled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest as he dodged another punch—this one coming within inches of his face. The sheer force of the blow sent a gust of wind past him, and he could feel the ground tremble beneath his feet.
'Dammit, she's even faster now!' Xyenn thought, his mind racing as he tried to keep up with her relentless assault. 'I've got to stay one step ahead, or I'm dead!'
But Mertha wasn't giving him any room to breathe. She was on him in an instant, her fists a blur of motion as she launched a devastating combination of punches. Xyenn ducked and weaved, barely managing to avoid the blows, but the sheer force behind each punch was enough to shake the ground beneath them.
'I just called out to Yuuna earlier, I can't expect her to save me at the last minute. I look like a wuss right now. No more calling for help.'
"Gotta find that weak point… her right arm… there!"
Seizing the moment, Xyenn ducked under a wide swing and drove his elbow into the crook of Mertha's injured arm. The blow connected with a satisfying crack, and Mertha let out a grunt of pain, her arm dropping slightly.
"Now!"
Xyenn spun, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to her exposed side, followed by a lightning-fast uppercut to her jaw. The impact sent blood spraying from Mertha's mouth, but she didn't fall. Instead, she grinned, wiping the blood with the back of her hand.
"You're better than I thought, brat," she growled, her voice low and dangerous. "But I'm just getting warmed up."
"Stop saying that! You're scaring me!"
"Haha! I haven't had this fun in a while!'
With a roar, she grabbed Xyenn's arm before he could retreat and slammed him into the ground with bone-shattering force. The earth cracked beneath him as the air was driven from his lungs, pain shooting through his body like fire. He gasped, struggling to breathe as Mertha loomed over him, her fists raised for the finishing blow.
But Xyenn's mind was still working, even through the pain.
'….This is so annoying.'
As Mertha's fists came down, Xyenn twisted his body at the last second, narrowly avoiding the blow and kicking off the ground with all his strength. He shot upward, his fist glowing with a dark pink hue as he aimed for her injured arm once more.
His punch connected with a thunderous boom, and for the first time, Mertha staggered. Her right arm dropped to her side, useless.
But even with her injury, she was far from finished.
Mertha grinned through the blood, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Not bad… but let's see how you handle this!"
With a roar, she charged forward, her fists swinging wildly as the battle raged on, the snowy landscape around them torn apart by the sheer force of their blows.
The wind howled through the snowy terrain, carrying with it the sharp scent of blood. Xyenn and Mertha stood in the middle of the battlefield, their bodies battered, bruised, and covered in crimson. The once-pristine snow was stained with streaks of red, the ground beneath them torn apart by the sheer force of their battle. Both were breathing heavily, their clothes torn, and their skin bruised and bloodied from the relentless exchange of blows.
Xyenn wiped the blood from his mouth with trembling fingers, his teeth bared in a feral grin. His body screamed in protest, every muscle aching from the punishment he had endured, but his mind was still racing, still planning. He had landed a few solid hits, but Mertha was a beast—an unstoppable force that seemed to only get more excited the harder he fought.
Mertha chuckled, her breath visible in the cold air. Her right arm hung limply at her side, the injury Xyenn had inflicted earlier still present, but she didn't seem to care. If anything, it only seemed to fuel her excitement. "You're not bad, kid," she growled, blood dripping from her split lip. "But you're gonna need more than a few fancy moves to put me down."
Xyenn's mind whirred, analyzing everything. 'Her right arm's shot. That's my only advantage. But she's still fast and strong, and I can't take too many more hits. I need to use the terrain, find a way to trap her. If I can exploit her injury, maybe I can create an opening.'
His eyes darted around the battlefield, taking in the uneven ground, the trenches they had carved into the snow with their brutal fight. "The snow… it's deep enough to slow her movements, but not mine. If I can get her to commit to a heavy attack, I can use her momentum against her!"
Mertha's grin widened as she saw the flicker of strategy in Xyenn's eyes. "What are you scheming now, brat?" She stomped forward, her boots crunching through the snow, each step heavy and deliberate. "Do you WANT me to pull out my hammer?!"
"Noooo! No! That's overkill!"
Xyenn darted backward, moving quickly through the snow, his feet barely making a sound as he led her toward a deeper patch. He kept his distance, baiting her with quick feints, forcing her to move toward him.
"Running away now, are we?" Mertha taunted, her voice a low growl as she charged forward, her fist raised for a massive punch.
'Now..!'
Xyenn thought, his heart pounding as he saw her commit to the attack. At the last possible second, he dodged to the side, letting her fist slam into the ground. The impact was seismic, sending a shockwave through the snow, but just as Xyenn had predicted, the snow beneath Mertha collapsed into a deep trench, trapping her legs for a split second.
It was all the time he needed.
Xyenn moved like lightning, his body a flash as he darted in close, his fist glowing with energy. He launched a rapid combination of punches and elbows, targeting Mertha's injured right side. Each blow landed with precision, jarring her body with sickening thuds. Blood sprayed from her mouth as her body jerked violently with each impact, but Xyenn didn't stop. He spun, delivering a savage kick to the back of her knee, forcing her down to one knee.
Mertha gasped, her breath ragged, her body quaking from the punishment. She was down.
Xyenn stood over her, panting heavily, his chest heaving with exertion. Blood dripped from his knuckles, his entire body trembling with adrenaline.
'Did I do it?! I really did it?!'
But as he looked down at Mertha's beaten form, something in his mind shifted.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and a flood of violent, brutal memories surged through his mind. Images of dragons tearing each other apart in the air, their massive bodies coated in blood as they ripped into each other with claws and fangs. He saw Yuuna, her demonic form drenched in gore as she slaughtered dragons and soldiers alike, their armor shattering under her claws. And then, the most horrifying image of all—himself, standing in a field of fire, surrounded by the bodies of draconic deities with large wings and glowing halos in a fiery red sky. He saw himself dying, torn apart by their divine power.
'It's not real..! What is this?! It's similar to that dream last night..'
Xyenn's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the memories consumed him. His eyes glazed over, and a malicious smile spread across his face, twisted and unnatural. Blood and drool began to pour from his mouth, foam gathering at the corners of his lips as he reached down toward Mertha, his fingers growing sharp, his nails like claws.
A single black wing sprouted from his back, unfurling with a grotesque crack. His body trembled with a dark, primal energy, his mind lost in the violence of the memories. He wanted to kill. He wanted to tear her apart.
"What the hell… am I doing?" Xyenn's thoughts screamed at him, but his body wasn't listening. His hand reached down, aiming for Mertha's throat, his fingers twitching with the desire to tear, to rip.
But just as his claws were about to sink into her flesh—
WHAM!
Mertha vanished in a zip of speed, her body reappearing behind Xyenn in an instant. Before he could react, her massive hand grabbed his face, her fingers digging into his skull with terrifying strength. "Snap out of it, brat!" she roared.
And then, with a brutal swing, she slammed him into the ground, the impact so powerful that the earth beneath them cracked, sending chunks of snow and debris flying. Xyenn's body hit the ground with a sickening thud, his breath knocked from his lungs as pain exploded through his back.
He lay there, gasping for air, his entire body throbbing with agony. His vision swam, the memories fading from his mind as reality set back in. What… was that? He could barely move, his muscles refusing to obey him as he stared up at the sky, his breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps.
Mertha stood over him, her jagged pink halo slowly fading from existence. She knelt down, her expression more serious now, her usual grin replaced by something resembling concern. Without a word, she reached down and grabbed Xyenn by the arm, hoisting him up effortlessly. She threw him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, his limp body hanging there as he groaned in pain.
Mertha thought, 'Another side effect on his contract happened. Yuuna's memories made him go berserker, like she was years ago. What else did he see?'
"You're a piece of work, you know that?" Mertha said, her voice lightening as she began to walk back toward the cabin. "But ya did good, brat. Real good. You'll be a fine god assassin."
Xyenn, still barely conscious, let out a weak laugh, his voice slurring as if he were half-dead. "Y-you're… so strong… it's almost… not fair…" he muttered, his head lolling to the side. "You sure you're not… cheating or something…?"
Mertha chuckled, her grin returning as she adjusted Xyenn's weight on her broad muscular shoulders. "Oh, shut up. You're just weak. We'll fix that. You're not as bad as I thought though. The fact that you kept up with men is INSANE."
Xyenn let out a small groan, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Yeah… yeah… sure… whatever you say…oaf"
Mertha snorted, entertained by his delirious ramblings. "Oaf? You've got a mouth on you even when you're half-dead, don't ya?"
"Yep…"
'What were those visions..? I hope it doesn't happen again. That was traumatic. It felt so real..'
They reached the cabin, the door creaking open as Mertha carried him inside like a rag doll. The warmth of the fire hit them immediately, the contrast to the biting cold outside almost overwhelming. Mertha tossed Xyenn onto a chair at the table, where a large bowl of raw meat sat steaming.
Xyenn's body was now covered in wraps and bandages, one tightly secured around his forehead, and several around his torso, his shirt discarded somewhere during the battle. He looked like a mummy that had been chewed up and spit out by a wild animal, but at least he was alive.
Mertha sat down across from him, shoveling raw meat into her mouth with a satisfied grin. "Eat up, you'll need it. We're not done yet."
Xyenn stared at the bowl in front of him, his face pale as he poked at the raw meat with a fork. "Yeah, love it when my food's still bleeding," he muttered sarcastically, his voice still weak.
Mertha laughed, slapping the table hard enough to make the bowl jump. "Raw meat is what dragons snack on! And since you're becoming one, you gotta get used to this life!"
"Am I..gonna turn into a dragon?!" Xyenn exclaimed, leaning over the table.
"Hmmm, maybe!"
"Oh no.."
"Now then, any questions?"
"W-."
"Only one question. So choose wisely. The next test you pass, you can get another question, getting two next time."
"That's not fair." Xyenn pouted.
'What is the best question to ask right now? I have other chances to ask, if I survive them till next time.'
Xyenn let out a deep breath, and asked, "Who are you?"
Mertha grinned, "Hmm."
'Good first question.'
Mertha continued, "My real name is Gurda, of the Velhonen Clan. I was the leader of that clan, full of mercenaries for hire, we were kind of nomadic, we were under the guidance of the draconic god of war, Andramaken. There were other clans under him, but were specialized in martial arts while others specialized in other types of war magic. Our toughness was superior to them though, we stayed away from capitals, towns, and the outside world. Not until we were able to grow our clan into a larger group, to where we would be able to build our kingdom from the ground up."
"Why mercenaries?"
"We were good at what we did, combat. War. We were hired by other kingdoms to help them out in battle, because of our accomplishments, we were planning to save up resources and coin to create our own kingdom. At first, being nomadic meant to stay outside the public, but seeing how dangerous it was being out there, having our own kingdom would be safer for us ... .for the children. Where we were, we were outside the borders of the Skjoldar continent, the central lands. Wars between two kingdoms and their draconic gods happened rapidly around that time. We kept moving and moving, war followed us. For our clan's safety, a kingdom to house us was our only way."
"Goodness. What caused the wars near there?"
"The Iron Hills, On the western edge of Skjoldar lie the Iron Hills, a rugged region rich in minerals and metals. The people there are miners and blacksmiths, worshiping Kaldor, the draconic god of fire and the forge. The hills are dotted with dwarven strongholds and forges, where legendary weapons and armor are crafted using draconic fire. The Forge of Kaldor, a sacred volcano at the heart of the region, is said to be where Kaldor himself once forged the first weapons of the gods. Anyway, many kingdoms took advantage of all that, and wanted it for their own gain, wanting heavily blessed dragon mana weapons and armor, greed consumed them all. War started, we kept moving left and right. It was super annoying."
"What happened with your clan?"
"Ahhh, well, those draconic bastards. We stayed away from the outside world for a reason, greedy ass kingdoms wanting to take control of nomadic tribes wasn't anything new. Once they conquer one, that rips worship from the god they worshiped, making him vulnerable to death and then rebirth. And for us, king Haldrek wiped our clan out. My child..my husband..gone like that."
"King Haldrek of Vördrheim?! I'm sorry.."
"Yep. He then went off to slaughter the other nomadic clans under the draconic god of war. The king must want ultimate domination or something, knowing how much of a crazy ass heretic he is, he's obsessed with his role as a vessel as he grew up with nothing. But for some damn reason, it's gotta be a deeper reason than that."
"Does this bastard plan to wipe out the god of war?"
"Seems like it." Mertha shoved more raw meat in her mouth, chewing ferociously as she tried to talk. "He's been on a 100 year campaign of killing all those who worship the draconic god of war. Wanting him to die and be reborn. I don't know why."
"You want to avenge your people then.."
"Yep. I want to personally take the king's heart, and spread its blood droplets on their graves. Then I want to turn this kingdom into our home base. We'll kill the draconic god of snow, and remake it in my clans image. I'll fulfill the role of creating a kingdom for my clan, even if they're all dead, the legacy and shit won't stop with me."
"So that's why you're here? Owning a pub and all that?" Xyenn found himself eating the raw meat like it was normal food.
'I'm actually eating raw meat. Gross. But it's good.'
Mertha started to drink a wooden cup of ale, "I'm here to study everything. Literally laying out my strategy if need be. I study every nook and cranny in the capital and towns. I listen to town criers closely because they give insight on all continents of the world, I made a hunter and adventurers only pub to hear stories from them, knowing how they go all over the world. For my son, and my husband, I will avenge them and do anything."
Xyenn stood up, saying, "I'm glad you're with us then."
"Hm?"
"I've never really been the hero type or anything or said anything super courageous, but I'll make sure you get the killing blow on King Haldrek. On one condition…"
Mertha grinned, replying, "Oh? What's your deal?"
"Next time we spar, go 100%."
"100%? Are you insane, kid?!"
"Yes. I wanna make sure you get your kingdom. Draconic bastards don't deserve it. I'll kill anything that stands in our way of victory. I have my own goals, Yuuna has hers, and you have yours. I never had friends, you two are my first companions I've ever had and technically I don't really want you guys to fail, then I'll think I'm responsible and I hate that feeling, since I'm kinda the chosen one and I feel super responsible for everything that's bound to take place, so I'm gonna be overpowered as hell for all of us. Your clan deserves the dream that was taken from them. And as much as I hate the draconic deities, they don't deserve anything nice like a kingdom. I want to train harder than I ever did before. So go 100% next fight, Deal?"
"What's this all of sudden? You just met me, I'm an OAF remember?"
"I had just met Yuuna and promised to keep her alive. She had helped me, giving my life a little bit more meaning. And you're helping me right now, so not to sound corny as hell, but I gotta return the favor. No one's ever fucking helped before I met you guys. It pisses me off each time I think about it. I'm gonna rub this all in their faces, they're gonna see I've moved up in the world. They're gonna see how awesome I really am."
…Mertha laughed and she stood up, shaking his hand, making it crack.
"OW OW OW OW! You oaf!" Xyenn cried.
Mertha continued to laugh, "That's a deal then!"
"Okay, so what's your relationship with Yuuna and why did you grow a halo like her—."
Mertha lifted Xyenn, and slammed him through the table, smiling, "You already used your free question pass! More training!"
"Huh?! We just sat down!"
"Yuuna wants you to be stronger when not fused with her! When you get stronger away from her, it makes your fused dragon form stronger! Don't you want that?"
"Oooooh, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT EARLIER?!"
"Didn't ask."
"You bastard…"
"Haha! Let's go."
Xyenn stood up grumpy, stomping away muttering under his breath in a funny way, and Mertha watched him with a grin.
She saw her own son in him, the same attitude, the same laugh, the same gestures, and Mertha looked into the sky, thinking, 'He's gonna die, isn't he? Stupid thoughts…my paranoid thoughts. I had the same thoughts with my son and husband, and now they're gone. I can't let Xyenn die on my watch, Yuuna trusts me. And I can't let that frail brat Xyenn go out to these deities. Not to these bastards. I'll build our kingdom, my husband and son. I won't let anyone else around me die, I didn't survive for so long to lose. Failure is not an option. I'll do everything in my power to make our dream come true. I'm not a waste of space, I'll win.'
The sun had barely begun to rise over the snow-covered hills when Xyenn found himself standing outside, shivering—not from the cold, but from dread. His body still ached from the day's sparring battle, his ribs bruised, and his muscles sore. Every breath he took felt like someone was stabbing him in the side, and yet here he was, standing in knee-deep snow, staring at Mertha, who was grinning like a maniac.
"Alright, brat!" Mertha clapped her hands together, her breath visible in the icy air. "It's time for you to get stronger. You're lucky you've got that dragon blood of yours, or you'd probably be dead by now. It's better to train when you're super injured!"
Xyenn rolled his eyes, groaning. "Lucky? I feel like I got hit by a hammer, then ran over by a pack of horses, twice."
"Sooo dramatic!"
Mertha ignored his complaints and stretched her arms, her muscles bulging under her thick coat. "Quit whining. You want to survive in this world, don't you? Yuuna's not always gonna be there to save your scrawny ass."
Xyenn groaned again, rubbing his sore shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. What kind of torture do you have planned for me today?"
Mertha's grin widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, you'll see. First up: snow boulder pushes."
Xyenn raised an eyebrow. "Snow boulder pushes? That doesn't sound so ba—"
Before he could finish, Mertha kicked over a massive boulder, easily twice his height, into the snow in front of him. The thing was covered in frost, looking like it had been pulled straight from a frozen mountain.
"Push it," Mertha said casually, crossing her arms.
Xyenn's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?! That thing's the size of a house!"
Mertha shrugged. "You got dragon blood, right? This should be a piece of cake."
Xyenn glared at her, muttering under his breath, but he stepped up to the boulder. He pressed his hands against the cold stone and pushed with all his might. His muscles strained, and his already sore body screamed in protest, but the boulder didn't move an inch.
"Come on, Xyenn, put your back into it!" Mertha shouted, laughing.
"I am putting my back into it!" Xyenn growled through gritted teeth. "My back is about to break in half!"
He pushed harder, his feet digging into the snow, and with a groan, the boulder finally shifted… about half an inch.
"Great, only… infinity more inches to go," Xyenn muttered, his face red with effort.
Mertha watched, thoroughly entertained. "Don't stop now, brat! You've got a long way to go!"
'She's insane!'
After what felt like hours of pushing the boulder—he'd managed to move it about ten feet before collapsing onto the ground—Mertha decided it was time for the next exercise.
"Alright, time for some sprinting," she said, clapping her hands together.
Xyenn groaned, still lying in the snow. "Sprinting? I can barely stand…"
Mertha grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet. "None of that. You're gonna sprint from here…" She pointed to a distant tree, barely visible through the snow. "…to there."
Xyenn squinted. "That's like… a mile away! Through snow!"
Mertha grinned. "Dragon blood. Strong legs. You'll be fine."
Xyenn sighed, rubbing his face. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Before he could argue any further, Mertha gave him a hard push. "Go!"
Xyenn stumbled forward, his legs already feeling like jelly, but he started running. The snow was deep, making each step feel like he was wading through quicksand. His feet sank into the cold with every stride, and after only a few yards, his chest was burning.
"This is ridiculous!" Xyenn panted as he pumped his arms, his boots crunching through the snow. "I fought dragons… I fought you… and now I'm being reduced to a snow-plowing dummy?!"
Mertha's voice boomed from behind him. "Quit complaining and run, runt! You're not even halfway to the tree yet!"
Xyenn grumbled under his breath, his breath coming out in ragged gasps as he kept pushing forward. His legs screamed, and his lungs burned, but he refused to stop. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the tree, collapsing against it, his body drenched in sweat despite the freezing cold.
"Alright!" Mertha's voice called out from across the snow. "Now run back!"
Xyenn's head flopped back against the tree, his eyes narrowing to slits. "I… hate… you…"
'I'm starting to regret the promise I made! I'm running away!'
The next exercise involved lifting a massive fallen log that Mertha had conveniently "found" in the woods nearby.
Xyenn stared at the log, which was at least ten feet long and almost as thick as his torso. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm pretty sure this tree could be classified as a building."
Mertha smirked. "You're gonna lift it, brat. Over your head. Ten times."
Xyenn's face twisted into a look of pure disbelief. "Over my head? Ten times? I can barely feel my arms!"
Mertha crossed her arms, her grin never fading. "Dragon blood."
"Stop using that as an excuse for everything!" Xyenn snapped.
Reluctantly, Xyenn bent down, wrapping his arms around the log. He gritted his teeth and heaved, veins popping in his arms as he tried to get the damn thing off the ground. His legs shook, and his back screamed, but after a moment of struggle, he managed to lift the log up to his waist.
"Good! Now overhead!" Mertha shouted, clearly enjoying this way too much.
Xyenn let out a strangled grunt as he hoisted the log higher, finally managing to get it above his head, his arms trembling violently. "This… is… madness!"
"One!" Mertha counted, laughing. "Nine more to go!"
By the time Xyenn was done with the log lifts, his arms felt like limp noodles. He was panting heavily, his breath fogging up in the cold air. He barely had time to catch his breath before Mertha dragged him over to the next "exercise."
"Now you're gonna punch these ice blocks," Mertha said, gesturing to a row of solid blocks of ice that she had somehow arranged in the snow.
Xyenn blinked. "Wait, punch them?"
"Yep," Mertha said with a grin. "Dragon blood. You'll be fine."
Xyenn stared at the ice blocks, then at his already bruised and battered hands.
'I swear, if shes says 'dragon blood' one more time…"
But there was no getting out of it. With a deep breath, Xyenn raised his fist and threw a punch at the first block of ice.
CRACK!
His fist hit the ice with a sharp crack, sending a jolt of pain shooting up his arm. "OW! Damn it, that hurt!" he growled, shaking out his hand.
"Keep going, brat!" Mertha called from behind him. "You've got four more to go!"
Xyenn groaned, but he kept punching, each hit sending another burst of pain through his already sore body. By the time he got to the last block, his knuckles were split, and blood was dripping down his fingers.
"This is insane…" Xyenn muttered, shaking out his hand. "I'm going to lose my knuckles at this rate."
Just when Xyenn thought it couldn't get worse, Mertha decided on the final exercise of the day.
"Alright," she said, standing in front of him with her arms crossed. "Now you're gonna carry me across this field."
Xyenn's eyes widened in horror. "You want me to carry you? You're like… a walking mountain!"
Mertha grinned. "Damn you! I'm only 800 pounds of muscle! That's skinny! Now, Pick me up and carry me across this snow. It'll build your endurance."
But there was no point in arguing. With a deep sigh, Xyenn bent down and wrapped his arms around Mertha's waist. He grunted as he tried to lift her, his legs shaking under the weight.
"Come on, Xyenn!" Mertha laughed. "Put some effort into it!"
With a final groan of effort, Xyenn managed to lift Mertha off the ground, his legs wobbling as he took one shaky step forward.
"This is the dumbest thing I've ever done…" he muttered, each step feeling like it would be his last.
By the time he reached the other side of the field, he collapsed into the snow, panting heavily, his entire body limp with exhaustion. "I'm… done…"
Mertha stood over him, grinning like a proud coach. "Not bad, brat. You survived."
Xyenn groaned, lying flat on his back in the snow. "Barely…so what's next? I'm gonna carry your huge boulder size lumps of shit to a hole in the ground?"
Mertha stomped on Xyenn, saying, "You're funny. Little man. Next, is a quest. I know you've heard of the notice boards in each town and capital. We're going back to the town where my pub is and taking one. You need a taste of a real mission. Starting tomorrow! Go do whatever you want right now, I'm gonna go work out."
"Yep yep, have fun."
'A quest, I've never taken one before. I've always seen hunters and adventurers at the notice boards with their guilds collecting them all the time. I'm really moving up in the world.'