Noah stood in the middle of the training room, panting heavily. His knuckles ached from repeated punches, and his legs felt like they were made of lead. Alice had pushed him harder than ever before, drilling him on precision strikes, dodging techniques, and stamina drills until he thought he might collapse.
"Again," Alice barked, tossing him the training baton.
Noah groaned but obeyed, gripping the baton tightly. He lunged at the practice dummy in front of him, putting all his weight into a swing. The baton struck with a satisfying crack, and the dummy wobbled but didn't fall.
"Better," Alice said, nodding. "But you're still telegraphing your moves. Try to keep your stance tighter."
"Yeah, sure," Noah muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Right after I figure out how to keep my lungs from exploding."
Alice smirked. "Welcome to the grind."
As Noah caught his breath, the now-familiar translucent screen materialized in front of him, hovering faintly in the air:
[Noah Greene - Level 4]
Strength: 12 (+7)
Stamina: 10 (+6)
Agility: 9 (+4)
Intelligence: 6
Skills:Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 2), Basic Evasion (Lv. 1), Energy Surge (Active)
[Milestone Unlocked: Novice Combatant!]
You have completed 100 hours of training.
Passive bonus granted: +2 Strength, +2 Stamina.
Noah stared at the screen, blinking in surprise. "Wait… did that just say 100 hours? I've been training that much?"
Alice chuckled. "Grindstone hours are different. It measures effort, not just time."
He frowned. "Effort? So if I half-assed it, the system wouldn't count it?"
"Exactly." She gave him a pointed look. "Which is why slacking off isn't an option."
"Great," Noah muttered, though a small part of him couldn't help but feel a spark of pride. Seeing his stats grow, seeing tangible proof of his progress—it was motivating in a way he hadn't expected.
"Alright," Alice said, clapping her hands. "That's enough baton work for now. Let's switch to agility drills. I want to see how fast you can react under pressure."
By the time training ended, Noah was drenched in sweat, his muscles screaming in protest. He stumbled into the common area, collapsing onto a worn couch. Dante was there, polishing a massive hammer that looked like it could flatten a car.
"Rough day?" Dante asked, not looking up.
Noah groaned. "Is it always like this?"
Dante chuckled. "Pretty much. But you're doing fine, kid. Better than most rookies, actually."
"That's… oddly encouraging," Noah said, his voice muffled by the couch cushion.
Before Dante could respond, a new notification appeared in Noah's vision:
[New Quest Unlocked!]
Objective: Spar with a team member.
Reward: Skill Upgrade – Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 3).
Noah sat up, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Wait, I have to spar with someone now? Can't I get a break?"
Dante raised an eyebrow. "A quest, huh? Sounds like the Grindstone's trying to push you forward. Lucky for you, I've got some free time."
Noah's stomach sank as Dante stood, hefting the massive hammer onto his shoulder.
"Uh, maybe I'll pick someone… less terrifying?" Noah suggested weakly.
Dante grinned. "Don't worry, rookie. I'll go easy on you. Probably."
The sparring session was exactly as brutal as Noah had feared. Dante was relentless, his movements surprisingly quick for someone his size. He didn't even use the hammer, instead relying on punches and kicks that left Noah scrambling to dodge.
"Come on, kid," Dante said, smirking. "You've got the stats—use them!"
Noah gritted his teeth, gripping his baton tightly. He waited for Dante to make the next move, his eyes locked on the older man's stance. When Dante lunged, Noah sidestepped and swung the baton upward in a desperate arc.
It connected.
Dante grunted as the baton struck his side, and for a split second, Noah felt a surge of triumph. That is, until Dante countered with a lightning-fast sweep that knocked him flat on his back.
"Not bad," Dante said, offering him a hand. "You've got potential, but you need to trust your instincts more."
Noah groaned as he took the offered hand, letting Dante pull him to his feet.
[Quest Complete!]
Reward Granted: Beginner Combat Proficiency upgraded to Lv. 3.
[Skill Unlocked: Parry (Lv. 1)]
Allows the user to deflect incoming melee attacks with precise timing.
The notification made Noah's exhaustion feel a little less unbearable. He glanced at Dante. "Thanks… I think."
Dante chuckled. "Anytime, rookie. Just don't forget to pay me back when you're strong enough to give me a challenge."
Later that night, as Noah lay in bed, staring at the faintly glowing Grindstone in his hand, he felt something new. It was determination.
End of Chapter 13.