Chapter 19: The Training from Hell
The faint light of dawn crept over the lawless outskirts of Florence, casting long shadows on the crumbling buildings and littered streets. The chill in the air hinted at the approach of winter, making the already dreary surroundings feel even colder. Sylas shivered as he stood in front of Diamante, the towering man's figure imposing against the dim light.
Diamante's booming voice broke the silence, sharp and commanding. "Listen up, kid! Before you can even think of using that fancy Ring of yours, you need to understand one thing: your body is your first and most important weapon."
Sylas, still groggy from lack of sleep, frowned. "But isn't my Ring the source of my power? Doesn't that mean I should focus on training it?"
Diamante's laugh echoed off the broken walls, cruel and mocking. "That's the kind of thinking that gets people killed. The weak. The trash. Do you know why the strongest people in this world are untouchable? It's because they balance their physical strength with their magical abilities. You'll learn soon enough, kid—when your body fails, your Ring won't save you."
The words weighed heavily on Sylas. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. "What do you mean?"
Diamante leaned closer, his face suddenly serious. "Your Ring is different. Dangerous. Your father told me everything. That power of yours will make you a target—people will want it, and they'll stop at nothing to take it from you. If you want to survive, you need to be prepared."
Sylas hesitated. "Will... will they really come after me?"
Diamante smirked, his tone softening for a brief moment. "Don't worry, kid. Your secret's safe with me. Now, let's stop wasting time and start your training."
---
The Training Grounds
The outskirts of the village were as bleak as Sylas had imagined. Dilapidated buildings lined the streets, and the stench of decay filled the air. Diamante led him to a clearing surrounded by rubble, the ground littered with broken weapons and discarded debris.
"This will be your training ground," Diamante declared, spreading his arms.
Sylas raised an eyebrow. "Here? It's... not exactly inspiring."
Diamante chuckled. "Inspiration won't save you, kid. Grit will. Now, here's the deal: your training is simple—push-ups, squats, sit-ups, and running. Basics."
Sylas frowned. "That's it? Isn't that too... basic?"
Diamante's grin widened. "Oh, you'll see."
In a blur of movement, Diamante appeared beside Sylas and snapped a strange bracelet around his wrist.
Sylas looked at it, confused. "What's this?"
"An artifact," Diamante explained, his tone almost gleeful. "It increases the gravity acting on your body. For you, I've set it to five times your weight."
Before Sylas could protest, Diamante snapped his fingers. The world seemed to collapse around him as the weight slammed down. Sylas fell to his knees, gasping for air.
"Welcome to hell, kid," Diamante said, clapping his hands. "Now, let's begin."
---
Diamante's regimen was merciless: 100 push-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run, all while under the crushing weight of the artifact. Every mistake in form resulted in a restart.
"Keep your back straight!" Diamante barked as Sylas struggled through his first set of push-ups. "If you can't do it right, don't do it at all!"
By the second hour, Sylas's skin had begun to crack under the strain. Blood seeped from his palms, and his muscles screamed in agony. Tears streamed down his face as he pushed himself beyond his limits.
"I... I can't..." Sylas gasped, collapsing onto the ground.
Diamante crouched beside him, smirking. "Can't? That word doesn't exist here, kid. Get up. Now."
Sylas forced himself to his feet, his legs trembling. The weight felt unbearable, but something in Diamante's eyes told him there was no room for weakness.
By the end of the third hour, Sylas was lying in a pool of blood, sweat, and tears. His body was broken, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse.
---
Diamante stood over him, arms crossed, a smirk on his face. "Not bad, kid. I didn't think you'd last this long."
Sylas groaned, barely able to lift his head.
"Now, pay attention," Diamante said, pulling out a knife. Without hesitation, he sliced his palm, letting blood drip onto the ground.
Sylas's eyes widened as he watched the blood suddenly stop flowing, the wound sealing itself in seconds.
"How...?" Sylas croaked, his voice weak.
Diamante grinned. "This isn't some fancy Ring ability, kid. This is pure mana manipulation. What you just saw is called Mana Arts."
"Mana Arts?" Sylas repeated, confusion evident in his tone.
Diamante nodded. "Mana Arts is an ancient discipline, older than Rings. A forgotten path, really. When Rings came into usage, humanity became obsessed with them, believing they were the pinnacle of power. But Rings are tools—shortcuts, even. The true potential of mana has been all but forgotten. That's why people who rely solely on their Rings often find themselves powerless against a true Mana Arts practitioner."
Sylas blinked. "Why didn't people continue researching mana itself?"
Diamante's expression darkened. "Because Rings made life easier. Humanity grew complacent, and they stopped searching for deeper truths. But those who know Mana Arts are rare and powerful. They've mastered the essence of mana, and no mere Ring user can stand against them."
---
Diamante began to explain,
"Listen up kid!! There are four branches of Mana Arts"
1. Healing: "Like what I just showed you. It allows you to heal wounds, regrow limbs, and even stave off death itself if you're skilled enough. The possibilities are limitless."
2. Strengthening: "This enhances your physical attributes—strength, speed, reflexes, and even your senses. But there's a catch: your body can only handle so much. That's why physical training is essential. The stronger your body, the more mana you can channel without destroying yourself."
3. Weaponization: "This lets you project mana onto weapons or create entirely new ones. You've got a bit of an edge here, kid. Your Ring's violet ability already involves mana projection, so this should come naturally to you."
4. Bloodline Arts: "These are unique techniques tied to specific bloodlines. Not everyone can learn them, but if you can, they're immensely powerful."
Diamante's tone turned serious. "Each branch has four levels of mastery: Beginner, Intermediate, High, and Expert. To survive, you'll need to start with the basics and work your way up."
---
Sylas stared at Diamante, a mix of awe and despair in his eyes. "But I can't even stand. How am I supposed to learn anything?"
Diamante's devilish grin returned. "Good question. That's why you're going to start with Healing. You'll need to heal yourself if you want to survive the next round of training."
Sylas groaned, feeling the weight of his situation—not just from the artifact, but from the enormity of the task ahead. As Diamante clapped his hands and announced the start of his lessons, Sylas could only muster a weak thought: "What have I gotten myself into?"
---
End of Chapter