Ellie smirked as she watched Azad struggle through another set of push-ups, his arms trembling. "You really are a disgrace in the name of heroes," she teased, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hahaha! You can't even do 30 push-ups properly, and you're supposed to help me get my revenge on the Ender Dragon? That's hilarious!"
Azad collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, his face flushed with exhaustion. "Stop being a bully, you monster," he muttered between labored breaths. "How can you do 100 push-ups, squats, and pull-ups daily? Are you even human?"
Ellie stood over him, hands on her hips, looking completely unfazed by the intense workout she'd already completed. "Stop whining, baby girl," she said with a grin.
Azad shot her a glare. "Hmph! I'm totally normal. You are the abnormal one here!"
Choco, who had been lounging nearby, perked up at Azad's exasperated tone and trotted over, barking happily as if joining in on the teasing. The dog nudged Azad's arm with his nose, wagging his tail as though urging him to keep going.
"See? Even Choco thinks you're slacking," Ellie said, kneeling down to give the dog a few affectionate pats on the head. "You need to keep up, or you're never going to make it."
Azad groaned, rolling onto his back and staring up at the sky. "I swear, this is torture. Normal people don't do this."
Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Normal people also don't get summoned to save worlds from dragons. You wanted to be a hero, right?"
Azad sighed, knowing she had a point. "Fine, fine. What's next, Drill Sergeant?"
Ellie's smirk softened, and she knelt down beside him. "Alright, enough joking around. From now on, you're going through extreme training, and it's for your own good." Her tone was more serious now, a hint of concern behind the teasing. "You need to get stronger, faster, and smarter to survive what's coming."
Azad pushed himself up, though his body ached in protest. "Okay, okay. I'm listening."
"First, strength training," Ellie said, getting to her feet and pacing around. "You'll be doing a mix of bodyweight exercises—push-ups, pull-ups, squats—and resistance training. Gradually I'll be adding weight to your gear, so your muscles get used to carrying heavy loads."
Azad groaned but nodded. "Great. Can't wait."
"Next, we're working on speed and agility," she continued, ignoring his sarcasm. "Sprinting, dodging, and quick reflexes are key. I'll set up obstacle courses for you, and we'll practice dodging attacks from both me and Choco." She glanced over at the dog, who barked in excitement, eager to join in the action.
"Don't tell me I have to dodge his attacks too!" Azad exclaimed, looking at Choco, who was wagging his tail in blissful ignorance.
Ellie chuckled. "Choco's got better reflexes than you, so yeah, you'll be learning from the best."
Azad let out a dramatic sigh but couldn't help smiling at Choco, who was now pawing at his leg. "Fine, but if I get mauled, it's on you."
Ellie folded her arms, her expression turning more focused. "And then there's fighting. You can't just rely on brute strength. You need to learn strategy, positioning, and technique. I'll teach you how to exploit enemy weaknesses, counter different kinds of attacks, and fight dirty when it comes to survival."
"Wait, fight dirty?" Azad raised an eyebrow.
"Of course," Ellie said with a mischievous grin. "There's no honor in dying because you were too 'noble' to use everything at your disposal. If a spider's about to bite you, you kick dirt in its eyes and stab it while it's disoriented. If a skeleton's aiming an arrow, you make sure there's something between you and that arrow, even if it's another monster."
Azad winced but nodded. "Sounds… practical."
"You'll also learn how to use different weapons effectively," Ellie continued, picking up a small rock and tossing it in the air. "Sword, shield, bow, anything we can craft. I'll teach you how to adapt in the middle of a fight, and how to use your environment to your advantage. And you'll learn how to use those instincts of yours."
"Instincts?" Azad asked, confused.
"You've already got them. Remember when you fought those zombies, how you dodged their attacks and struck back without thinking? That's instinct. We're going to sharpen that, turn it into something you can rely on." Ellie's voice was firm, her confidence in him unshakable. "In three months, you'll be stronger, faster, and ready to take on whatever comes our way."
Azad rubbed the back of his neck, feeling nervous and a little excited. "Alright. Three months of hell… let's do it."
Ellie grinned. "Good. Now get back to those push-ups."
For the next three months, Azad's life became a whirlwind of brutal training. Every day, Ellie pushed him harder, testing his limits and forcing him to grow stronger. Choco was always by their side, running alongside Azad during sprints, playfully chasing butterflies during breaks, and even acting as an unexpected sparring partner when Ellie threw him into the training mix.
Azad learned to fight with a sword and shield, practicing relentlessly against Ellie's expert strikes. She taught him how to outmaneuver stronger opponents, counter-attack with precision, and rely on his agility and wits to overcome enemies that seem impossible to defeat.
The obstacle courses Ellie set up were grueling, with Azad running, jumping, and dodging through narrow paths and traps. By the end of each day, he was covered in dirt and bruises, but there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes—he was improving, little by little.
And when the three months passed, Azad stood taller, his body leaner and stronger, his movements sharper and more controlled. Ellie nodded in approval, knowing that this was just the beginning of what they would face together.
As they stood on the edge of the farm, looking out at the land they had built together, Choco barked and wagged his tail, happy to be part of their little team. Azad looked over at Ellie and gave a determined nod. "I'm ready."
Ellie smirked, resting her hands on her hips. "Let's hope you're more ready than you were before." But her smile was warm, and her trust in him was clear.
Azad chuckled, feeling a sense of confidence he hadn't known before. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."