Chapter 12 - Tidy Up and Starting the Plan
After securing his new home, Zaboru wasted no time settling in. The first task was tidying up the interior, which was sparsely furnished and covered in a thin layer of dust. He spent the next few hours scrubbing floors, wiping down surfaces, and clearing cobwebs. Once the inside was somewhat presentable, he ventured into the bustling Ragnick market to purchase essential furniture—a basic bed, a sturdy wooden table, and a chair. Though they were the cheapest options available, they served their purpose.
Back at the house, Zaboru turned his attention to the backyard. The wild grass had grown unchecked, and scattered rocks littered the area. Armed with determination and a basic gardening tool he'd picked up at the market, he began to clear the mess. Hours passed as he uprooted weeds and piled up the stones.
By the time he finished, the sky was painted in hues of orange and purple, signaling the evening. His stomach let out an audible growl. 'Damn, I'm starving. Time to grab some food.'
Zaboru headed back to the market and bought five meat sandwiches from a street vendor. Seated on a nearby bench, he devoured them one by one, savoring each bite. 'Huft, what a meal. It's been a while since I had real food.' Feeling satisfied, he returned home.
Once inside, Zaboru sat cross-legged in the cleared living room, his focus turning inward. 'Alright, let's check my progress. System, show my status.'
Name: Zaboru Renkonan
Age: 11
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Body Status: Healthy
StatsStrength: 8Perception: 9Endurance: 10Charm: -1Intelligence: 9Agility: 8Luck: 3
Hidden Stats Effect:
More than four stats ≥ 8:
Stats lower than 4 are reduced to 0. Two additional stat points allocated to higher stats.TraitsTraining Maniac: Greatly enhances training results but causes mental distress during prolonged inactivity.Reject Weapons, Embrace Your Body (Enhanced): Severely reduces weapon effectiveness while boosting unarmed combat prowess.Throwing Hands (Enhanced): Elevates hand-to-hand combat skills to a genius level.Mana Anomaly (Type 2+): Reduces mana capacity but accelerates recovery.Martial Arts Enthusiast: Facilitates the mastery and creation of martial arts techniques.Mana Anomaly (Type 3+): Simplifies internal mana control but significantly hinders external mana manipulation.Bonus Hidden Trait:Ugly and Awkward Fucker: With a charm stat of -1, charisma cannot be increased, but all positive traits are amplified.Skills and Martial ArtsNormal Boxing: ★☆☆☆☆☆Normal Kickboxing: ★☆☆☆☆☆Normal Taekwondo: ★☆☆☆☆☆Basic Enhancement Breathing: ★☆☆☆☆☆Masochist Dream Breathing: ★☆☆☆☆☆Relaxing Breathing: ★☆☆☆☆☆Strike Breathing: ★★☆☆☆☆Body Internal Energy Coating: ★★☆☆☆☆
'Not bad for an 11-year-old. My foundation is decent, but I've got a long way to go. If I want to survive the challenges ahead, I need to expand my arsenal.'
Zaboru began outlining his plan. 'First, I need to re-learn more foundational martial arts: Muay Thai, Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Kung Fu, Capoeira, Wing Chun, Silat, Street Fighting, Aikido, Sumo, Jiu Jitsu, and more. Once I master those, I'll move on to combining techniques to create something unique.'
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'I'll also need to focus on breathing techniques that boost my overall body power. Advanced internal energy manipulation and some basic body-enhancement spells are a must. One step at a time, though.'
He nodded, his resolve strengthening. 'I'll start with Muay Thai tomorrow. Then Wrestling. One martial art per day is a reasonable pace. I'll train my body in parallel and refine my internal energy manipulation and breathing techniques to maximize my gains.'
With his plan clear, Zaboru leaned back against the wall, a small smile forming behind his mask. 'This is just the beginning. One year to prepare. Let's make it count.'
'Now, let's start Muay Thai.' Zaboru's internal voice carried an unshakable resolve as he reviewed the system's requirements for mastering the martial art.
Martial Art: Normal Muay Thai
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
Requirements:
Strength: 2 (Achieved)Agility: 2 (Achieved)
To Master:
1,000 Punches1,000 Kicks3,000 Elbow Strikes3,000 Knee Strikes2,000 Flying Knee Strikes2,000 Spinning Back Attacks1,000 Superman Punches3,000 Switch Steps
'Damn, that's a lot,' he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. 'Makes sense, though. This body hasn't practiced elbow or knee attacks at all. Let's do this and learn Muay Thai today.'
Without hesitation, Zaboru began his intense training session. He delivered punch after punch, kick after kick, seamlessly blending them with elbow strikes and knee attacks. The sharp thuds of his blows echoed through the shack as his body moved with rhythmic precision.
For eight grueling hours, Zaboru trained tirelessly, utilizing Basic Enhancement Breathing to sustain his stamina and amplify his strength. The controlled breaths aligned with his movements, pushing his limits as he repeated the techniques over and over.
By the time he completed the session, his body was drenched in sweat. Every muscle screamed in protest, and his chest heaved with exhaustion, but his lips curled into a triumphant grin.
'This is good. The best feeling ever.' He wiped his forehead with a cloth, his satisfaction radiating despite his fatigue.
But as his stomach growled loudly, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. 'I might need another meal after this. Let's head to a tavern and hope they still have food at this hour.'
The clock neared 9 PM, but Zaboru refused to rush. Deploying his Relaxed Breathing Technique, he spent 30 minutes calming his overworked body, allowing the strain to subside. Once refreshed, he cleaned up, changed his clothes, and stepped out.
Zaboru then went to a nearby shopping district and he decided to visit "Brugundy Tavern" . The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the tavern, which was still lively despite the late hour. Zaboru entered, the scent of grilled meat and freshly baked bread wafting through the air.
He placed an ambitious order:
Four servings of breadFour servings of meat stewFour servings of grilled salmonOne liter of milkSeveral glasses of water
The Burgundy tavern owner, Burgundy, a burly man with skeptical eyes, raised an eyebrow at the masked figure. He hesitated, his discomfort evident, likely due to Zaboru's unsettling aura—a side effect of his -1 charm, 'What the hell is this guy ordered? can he eat it all?'
But Zaboru paid the full amount upfront, silencing any doubts. As the food arrived, he removed his mask discreetly, revealing only brief glimpses of his scarred visage. Then, he began to eat.
Every bite was a celebration. The bread was soft, the stew rich with flavors, and the grilled salmon cooked to perfection. His body, desperate for nourishment after the intense training, welcomed the feast eagerly.
The tavern owner watched in astonishment as Zaboru devoured everything with precise focus, leaving no scraps behind. When the last bite was finished, the man nodded in approval, a rare smile breaking through his gruff demeanor. "Hah!, you sure can eat! young man!"
Zaboru burped and then put his mask back,"The food was delicious, owner! Thanks a lot! I might come back," Zaboru said earnestly, bowing slightly.
As he left the tavern, his thoughts shifted. 'Damn, that meal cost around 40 silver. I'll need a steady income to afford meals like this. My remaining balance is about 23 gold. That might last me a month at best. Ten more days until I can join the Adventurer's Guild. I need to make every coin count until then.'
His grin returned, his mind already calculating his next move.
'Let's keep moving forward. This is just the beginning.'