During this brief state of reverie, a notification popped up on the screen.
[Daily Combat Class Two Unlocked]
[Activation in ten seconds]
Unlike before, when Kaiza had to manually activate his classes, this one initiated itself. He reasoned that it must be the system's way of forcing him to attend, especially after the harsh punishment for being absent-minded.
"Was any player ever reluctant to attend class after punishment?" Kaiza wondered, trying to understand why the system had taken control of the activation.
Kaiza, however, wasn't concerned about the system's motives. His focus remained on learning new skills before entering military school—a goal that had lingered at the back of his mind, driving each of his actions. Without hesitation, he stood up.
[Combat Class Activation Complete]
[Combat Class Activated]
As the screen blared, reality began to shift. His room faded away, replaced by a vast, empty space—the same virtual training ground he had used before.
Kaiza, who had been lying comfortably on his bed, now found himself sprawled on the cold floor. The chill seeped through his skin as he pushed himself upright. At that moment, his sleek training suit materialized, fitting snugly against his body. His weapon also activated, though he missed the notification flashing across his screen—he had closed the interface before it could fully display.
With a quick glance, Kaiza scanned himself in the outfit. The suit, which had been slightly damaged before, was now fully restored, looking as good as new.
Then, the screen projecting his training flickered to life, displaying a new message:
[Welcome]
[Training Day Two]
[Congratulations on surviving your punishment. Now, you will retake your classes.]
[Before moving further...]
[Dear H-Kai, during your punishment, you awakened two low-rank Kishi. Instead of making them your enemies, you managed to convert them into allies. That was a clever move on your part. That's how a hero moves.]
"Hero!"
The word made something deep inside Kaiza churn with irritation. This was never his purpose in awakening the system, nor was it his goal to follow its commands like some obedient soldier. Hero? The very thought disgusted him. His pursuit of power had nothing to do with that word.
To him, this felt like the complete opposite of what he truly wanted. If sparing those low-rank Kishi was enough to be called a hero, then next time, he would make sure they were dead. The only reason he hadn't killed them before was that he lacked the strength. He had been as powerless as an ordinary human, and fighting them had never been an option. But that would change.
A small smirk curved on Kaiza's lips, though irritation remained vivid on his features.
"How did I make them my allies?" he muttered.
The system responded instantly.
[H-Kai, Kishi are highly sensitive creatures. They were able to sense the energy you emitted. You completely ignored them and had no intention of harming either of them. Because of this, they chose to follow you—not just out of curiosity, but to see if you would truly keep your neutrality even in a desperate situation. However, when you were nearly trapped, you recognized them as a potential means of escape but refrained from using them. This act earned their loyalty. You have acquired them.]
Kaiza narrowed his eyes. So that's how it happened...
"If that's the case, then what did the system mean when it said I 'bought' survival?"
There were still too many unanswered questions. It wasn't just about acquiring the Kishi—some of the terms in the system's messages remained vague. He needed answers. Whether from his tutor or the system itself, he had to understand what was truly happening, especially why his crystal balls had been deducted.
[The Kishis saved you. This was not done for free… Kishis require rewards to serve their masters. You sought their help, and they provided their services.]
"Okay… so can I summon them whenever I need them?" Kaiza asked, curious about the system's response.
[Kishis can be summoned by masters they are loyal to. Masters can raise and train them to become useful servants, requiring little or no payment depending on the Kishi.]
"That's interesting! Can I summon them in Hunt Mode, during punishment, or in real-world battles—like missions?" Kaiza pressed further, eager to understand the full extent of their use.
The system responded promptly.
[Kishis can be summoned in Hunt Mode and missions once the user has trained and leveled up to a required rank, no longer being restricted by training mode. In the real world, Kishis can only be summoned once their names have been found.]
"After training mode… and once their names are found?"
Kaiza froze for a moment, lost in thought. How am I supposed to find their names? He doubted they had birth certificates. Was there some kind of ritual? A hidden system function? He mentally sorted through possibilities, but without a single clue on where to start, frustration crept in.
Eventually, he sighed and pushed the question aside for now. There were more immediate things to focus on.
[Class begins in five seconds.]
As the countdown reached zero, the class commenced. Just like before, still images of fighters appeared on the large screen, gradually guiding Kaiza through the fighting techniques. As time passed, the movements became faster and more complex.
The first five training exercises were the basic lessons he had previously failed to learn—failures that had led to a long and grueling punishment. This time, however, Kaiza followed each movement with precision, carefully mirroring the fighters. Boredom never crept in.
It wasn't fear of punishment that fueled his focus but the slow, steady progress toward power.
After successfully completing the first five basic combat skills, Kaiza advanced to the next level—the training he was actually supposed to be doing.
A short break followed, giving him time to recover before the second class began. As soon as the countdown hit zero, he got into position.
To his surprise, the training was exactly as he had imagined—challenging and demanding more perseverance than before. The skills required discipline, strength, and sharp reflexes. He pushed through, determined to avoid another punishment. More than that, he wanted to master these abilities, not with ease, but with sheer effort.
Soon, he had successfully learned four new skills. Now, only one remained.
After a few quick stretches, Kaiza resumed his stance as the final fighter appeared on the screen, demonstrating the last set of movements. He watched closely, then began imitating them, adjusting his form as needed.
Minutes later, he had mastered the entire sequence.
A final test was initiated. Kaiza was required to demonstrate each skill he had learned, one by one, while explaining their purpose—distinguishing between attack and defense techniques.
Having paid closer attention than ever before, he executed each move with precision, answering every question without hesitation. With each successful demonstration, he moved on to the next skill, progressing through the test with ease.
Within minutes, Kaiza completed the test, earning an impressive score. With that, the session came to an end.
But it wasn't just another completed session—Kaiza was rewarded for his excellent performance in the mini-test with two Hunt Tickets, adding to the two he had already acquired. As soon as he was dismissed by his tutor, the training space dissolved, shifting back into his room.
Kaiza sank onto his couch, pulling up his system interface. A small, satisfied smirk played on his lips as he skimmed through his progress.
He couldn't help but feel excited—not just about mastering new combat skills or passing his tests with ease, but about what he had accumulated so far. Checking his total Hunt rewards after all deductions, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment. Every step, every struggle, had led to this.
And then there was the crystal ball—a weapon now in his possession. He wasn't quite sure how to describe what it meant to him yet, but he knew it was something.
Rather than feeling discouraged by the hellish trials he had endured only to walk away with a single crystal ball, Kaiza felt the opposite. He still had Hunt Tickets—he still had opportunities to prove himself and claim more.
[Daily Quest Incomplete]
A notification suddenly popped up, cutting through his thoughts. A sharp reminder of what still needed to be done.
With a smile, Kaiza closed his system and rose to his feet. Without hesitation, he headed out for his morning drill, ready to push himself even further.