"Now, now. Grab yourself a sword. You, newbie. Try copying your companion's stance."
Aiden nods. "Yes, sir."
Everyone around him takes up a fighting stance, all moving perfectly in sync.
He tried copying them, but failed, not only once, but multiple times.
Aiden grumbled. "Ugh… I didn't know this was going to be this hard."
Finally, he managed to put on an awkward stance.
The instructor flashed a wide grin filled with approval."Oho, looks like we have a fast learner here. Have you trained in any other martial arts before?"
"Should I tell them about my taekwondo classes? Wait. Taekwondo wasn't even invented in this age."
The instructor's smile slowly started becoming a frown."Are you going to leave me unanswered here? Drop down and give me 50 push-ups NOW!"
"50?! Isn't that too much, sir?" Aiden's face twitched with hesitation.
"You dare question me? 100 now! If you dare to talk back to me once again, you won't leave this class in one piece."
Aiden silently drops down, slowly completing his assignment.
The instructor snickered."Do we think we have all day? You slow bastard, hurry up."
70th push-up after 2 full minutes, taking 10-second breaks per 15 pushups.
Fatigue finally hits him.
He slumps down onto the ground.
Breathing heavily, he feels gassed out.
"Si-r, I can't do any more." He said, weakly.
"Fine, I didn't want to use this on a newbie like you."
He goes towards his desk, opens a drawer, and pulls out a long whip. Made from an ametal-like material.
But when he turned back to face the fatigued Aiden.
He didn't expect the sight before his eyes.
"Hhh—hah… hhh—hah…"
Afraid of the weapon his instructor is holding.
He decided to push out every last strength his body could produce.
Heavy sweat running down his brow.
As if he ran a marathon.
Aiden mumbled in a low voice."S-ir, i ju-st co-mple-ted 100!
"I didn't see it. So give me another 100!" The instructor grinned confidently.
Just by hearing that information.
Aiden dropped to the ground, not to do more pushups. But to take the nap he had dreamed of even since the start of the class.
He fainted due to the sheer stress and the nonexistent strength he had left.
The instructor's smile faded."Disappointing, bring him to his chambers, once he wakes up, tell him the instructor has given him an additional task, swing his sword 1000 times in a single hour."
Elara replied nervously."Isn't that a bit too harsh, sir?"
His gaze switched towards her. "Don't question me, you know what? You're finishing what he didn't! Give me 100 pushups now!"
"Gladly, sir, I've been craving a warm-up ever since I stepped foot in this class., Elara said while maintaining eye contact with the instructor's eyes.
"Oh, lord. I forgot that she's one of the alpha members."
"20, 21, 22, 23."
"WHAT? IT'S BEEN 10 SECONDS!" The instructor shouted, glaring daggers at Elara.
"Restart all over again, I wasn't looking."
"Yes, sir!"
And it kept going.
The instructor deliberately avoided looking at her, planning to purposefully assign extra tasks to his most annoying student.
The scene switches to where Aiden is lying. His new room.
It feels cramped. But it is better than living on the streets.
"...Where am I? Wasn't I in class?" Aiden said, not expecting an answer, but someone answered him.
It was Ryker, silently watching him, leaning on the door.
"You're in your new room, the boss assigned you to, you fainted 4 hours ago due to exhaustion.
"I am here to convey the words of the instructor. He has given a task you shouldn't disobey.
Swing your sword 1000 times in a span of an hour. Here is your new sword."
He throws a rugged, wooden sword at him.
"That's all, I'll be leaving now. Don't forget to take a proper rest after finishing your task."
"Wait, how did I even get here?" Aiden questioned Ryker nervously.
"Uhh, the truth is, I carried you here myself, don't get any weird misunderstandings," Ryker replied confidently.
He then steps out of the open door, closing it on his way out.
"He probably just dragged me, scraping my back on the process, wait, so that's why my back stings…"
Without hesitation. He stood out, preparing to finish his new task before the moon's rising.
"516th, 517th, 518th."
He bites down on a cloth, trying to minimize the overwhelming pain that feels like his muscles are being cut off with a burning knife.
"781th, 782th, 783th."
He's almost gassed out, once again. Losing balance frequently.
"997th, 998th, 99-"
His limp body drops to the ground. Blood is coming out of his newly opened blisters on his hands.
He hadn't finished his goal, but he sure made some progress that took real pain and blood to obtain.
[System]
Game #4 [The Path To Becoming A SwordMaster] Progress has Gone Up By 25%
Congratulations.
You Broke Through Your Limits.
+2 Strength
+1 Agility
+4 Endurance
+1 Intelligence
+2 Perception
Congratulations, You Have Leveled Up
+1 Strength
+3 Agility
+3 Intelligence
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Name: Aiden Cross
Age: 19
Level: 7
Race: Human
Status: Alive
Title(s): [The Broken One] -25% Mental Power | +10% Damage [In Use]
Aura Color: Red
Aura Core: Faint
Aura Color: Dormant
Aura Core: Dormant
--- SKILLS ---
360° Kick (Lv 2) Mockery (Lv 1) Roundhouse Kick (Lv 2) Counter Flow (Lv 1 – Locked
Fear Resistance (Passive Skill) (Lv 1)
+20% Fear Resistance +10% Mental Power
--- USER STATS ---
STR: 30+3 | AGI: 18+4 | INT: 5+4 | END: 10+4
PER: 9+2 | WIL: 9 | CHA: 1
HP: 150/150| Stamina:0/100 | Aura:15/15
EXP:11/100
Currency: 0 Aura Crystals [Faint]
12 Aura Crystals [Low Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Standard Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Bright Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Radiant Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Pure Grade]
[Would You Like To Spend 12 Low Grade Crystals On Stamina Replenishing Potions?]
[Please, Choose An Option: [Accept] - [Refuse] ]
Since Player ID 0001 Won't Respond.
We're Automatically Accepting.
+12 Stamina Potions.