The next day, training continued.
From the past three days of training, the schedule had become somewhat fixed.
In the morning, basic exercises like running, push-ups, and sit-ups. Jena followed my exercises exactly. I didn't specifically stop her.
After the basic exercises, weapons training began.
Though 'weapons training' merely meant me swinging a wooden sword and Jena shooting arrows at a scarecrow, we didn't slack off.
As I swung, I gradually felt like I was grasping basic techniques like power distribution and proper posture. This was evident just by looking at the skills that appeared in my status window, Low-Grade Swordsmanship and Shield Arts.
Still, it would be far inferior to a knight who learned proper swordsmanship.
Maybe if there was an expert beside me to guide me. Even just sparring might help me get a feel for things. But I was alone. Since Jena had solidified her main weapon as the bow, I couldn't ask her to spar.
The other three didn't come to the Training Ground.
Occasionally, I'd see them in a corner of the plaza, muttering to themselves about finding an exit or escaping.
Of course, there was no exit.
Two more days passed like that.
Jena and I stood facing each other from opposite ends of the Training Ground.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"I'm fine."
I tapped my shield with the wooden sword.
Jena held her bow.
Both Jena and I recognized the need for more practical training.
Fighting sword-to-sword was difficult, but there was another way.
"You might get hurt."
"As long as I don't die."
I had strained my wrist a few times by swinging the sword too hard.
The injured wrist recovered quickly. This waiting room itself seemed to have healing properties. As long as I wasn't killed instantly like Mormont, it would probably heal naturally.
One of the training methods I devised last night.
"Shoot!"
"Don't blame me!"
Jena shot the arrow.
Right shoulder. I moved my left arm.
Thwack!
With a dull thud, the arrow stuck into the shield. I pulled the arrow out and tossed it back to Jena. Perhaps because it was a practice arrow, it came out easily.
"Again."
The shooting continued.
For Jena, it was shooting practice against a live target.
For me, it was shield practice, blocking incoming arrows.
Here, I added one more condition. Attacking the scarecrow next to me while blocking arrows with the shield. Training offense and defense simultaneously.
I also consciously changed the target locations.
First, the head. Then the chest. Then the legs.
What I was doing now was similar to drawing a circle with my right hand while drawing a square with my left. I had to split my concentration in two.
"...!"
A sharp pain pierced my calf, and I crumpled to the ground.
The arrow didn't embed itself, but it grazed me, taking a chunk of flesh with it.
"A-Are you okay?"
"I told you not to worry about it."
As I knelt for a moment, new flesh grew over the wound. I stood up and dusted off my right foot. No problem. I could move.
"You should think of other methods too. Enemies won't just stand still like me, and they'll attack you too. Are you just going to stand there and shoot?"
At my words, Jena added to her training method.
Shooting while walking.
Moving shots.
As my concentration waned, the frequency of getting hit by arrows increased. There were times I nearly died. Though the wounds healed, the pain remained.
'Do I really have to do something this crazy?'
Negative thoughts crept in.
I didn't stop. If it hurts, good. It's proof I'm alive.
It's still not enough. I will climb the tower. I will survive.
And...
['Han (★)'s 'Low-Grade Swordsmanship' has increased to Lv.2!]
['Han (★)'s 'Low-Grade Shield Arts' has increased to Lv.2!]
['Han (★)' has acquired the 'Pain Resistance' skill!]
'As expected.'
I acquired Pain Resistance, considered an essential passive for warrior types.
If Pain Resistance reaches level 10, it can evolve into Combat Continuation, an A-rank skill that maintains a hero's combat power until the brink of death.
What's left is,
'Composure.'
The lower-tier skill of Combat Logic.
Leveling Composure to 10 yields Combat Logic, and leveling Combat Logic to 10 grants the ultimate skill, Clear Mind Like Still Water (Myeonggyeong Jisu). Reaching Clear Mind means immunity to any mental status effect.
Going the opposite route with Berserk Temperament, Battle Frenzy, or Berserk would also be good, but my strength lies in my extensive knowledge of Pick Me Up. Berserk, which boosts combat power at the cost of reason, would be poison to me.
Not getting agitated in any situation.
Calmly observing the battlefield.
In the tutorial and the first battle, I failed to do that. If this continues, I'll inevitably be forced down the Berserk tech tree. Composure and Berserk Temperament were mutually exclusive skills.
'Keep that in mind.'
Among Pick Me Up's thousands of skills, synergy definitely exists.
I know which skills combine synergistically.
Several more days passed like that.
Amkena didn't log in for a while. They seemed busy. I didn't consider the possibility they had quit. Even if they did, another option exists. If my predictions are correct, that's what will happen.
Slash the scarecrow with the wooden sword.
Block the arrow with the shield.
Slashing and blocking. Don't think of them as two separate actions. Combine them into one.
An arrow flies.
I don't even need to watch it all the way now. I position the shield where the arrow will arrive, then thrust my sword at the scarecrow's neck.
Yes, the sword and shield are one.
I perceived the sword and shield as 'a single weapon'.
[Tada-ran!]
[Skill Awakening!]
[Hero 'Han (★)'s 'Low-Grade Swordsmanship' and 'Low-Grade Shield Arts' combine to create a new skill.]
['Han (★)' has acquired 'Low-Grade Sword & Shield Arts (Lv.3)'!]
A refreshing sensation permeated my body.
A strange feeling of unity, as if the sword and shield had become part of my body.
"That's enough for today."
I lowered the shield.
The wooden shield bristled like a porcupine with dozens of arrows.
It wasn't just me whose skills had improved. Jena also gradually added conditions to her shooting: shooting while walking, shooting while running, double shots, etc. Her Low-Grade Archery had somehow reached level 4.
As Jena put her bow back in the weapon barrel, she said.
"But the Master doesn't seem to be coming. What if they don't come back? Do we have to stay trapped here forever?"
A hint of anxiety flickered across Jena's face.
I smirked.
"If they don't come for a month..."
"If they don't come?"
"Well, you'll see if you wait."
I returned the sword and shield to their places.
[Welcome to Pick Me Up!]
Speak of the devil.
[Loading Complete.]
[T O U C H !(Selected)]
"They finally came."
"Good. I was getting antsy just training."
"Somehow, you seem to be adapting better than me?"
"I'm quite spirited, you know."
From what I heard during breaks, Jena grew up alone in a remote forest.
Her father, who came home about once a month, died a year ago fighting monsters.
Coming out to the plaza, Isel was dragging the three men out of the dorm.
"[Just come on, I said come on! When the Master arrives, come out to the plaza. Why don't you listen? Wanna get punished?]"
I looked up at the ceiling.
Strictly speaking, the waiting room doesn't have a ceiling. Instead, a hazy gray sky floated above. This sky shines with rainbow colors when the Master logs in. Besides messages, information could be obtained through signs like this.
"Are you trying to make us fight again? I don't want to, I said no!"
"M-Money, I'll give you money! I have money at home! Send me back! I'm tired of eating only potatoes!"
"[Argh, driving me crazy!]"
Unable to hold back anymore, Isel exploded.
A fiery straight punch erupted from her tiny hand.
"Kuek!"
"[Tch, screw this, I'll write the damn incident report! Get over here! You won't come? You're all dead today!]"
[Loading....]
A moment later, the three stood in the plaza. Blood was dried under each of their noses.
[Open, Rift of Time and Spaaaace!]
[Tips/ Heroes who don't listen should be put through the wringer repeatedly. Their responsiveness improves.]
Isel, really went all out.
The Rift of Time and Space and the Armory opened. After grabbing our shield and bow respectively, we entered the Rift, and the mirror immediately began to glow.
[Climb the Tower, Save the World!]
[Main Dungeon: Current Floor - 2]
The light subsided.
[Floor 3.]
[Mission Type - Extermination]
[Objective - Annihilate all enemies!]
[Goblin Lv.5 X 4]
Field Type, Plain.
This time, the enemies were four goblins.
"Kererek!"
Three were armed with swords and shields.
The one behind held not a sling, but a crossbow.
The goblins with sword and shield approached us from the right, left, and center. The crossbow goblin was loading a bolt.
'Better equipment, better tactics.'
A natural change as the floor level increases.
The goblin finished loading and aimed the crossbow at me.
Before it could pull the trigger.
Shweeeek!
An arrow from behind pierced the goblin's forehead.
"Kyak!"
The goblin collapsed with an exaggerated motion and died.
"Well now."
"Told you. I'm useful too."
I charged forward immediately.
Attack before they can coordinate. First one. The goblin ducked, raising its shield. But there's an opening. I twisted my shoulder and thrust my sword.
Second one. Charged forward with shield raised. Met it head-on and sent it flying with my shield. Height, weight, strength – I have the advantage. Aimed for an opening and slit its throat.
Last one.
Perhaps frightened, it backed away. I slowly approached.
An arrow pierced the goblin's shin. The lower body, difficult to block with a shield. I stabbed my sword into its heart.
[Stage Clear!]
['Jena (★)', Level Up!]
[Reward – 7,000G, Leather(C) X 1, Iron Ore(C) X 1]
[MVP - 'Jena (★)']
Being selected as the MVP of the battle grants bonus experience.
This time, Jena was the MVP. Seems like killing the crossbow goblin first scored high points.
'Those guys still don't intend to fight.'
The three just watched us with anxious eyes.
Well, doesn't matter. I don't want to share experience points with guys like that anyway. No contribution in battle means no experience points.
We returned to the Rift of Time and Space.
"Huh, already?"
"This one was a bit anticlimactic."
It wasn't that the enemies were anticlimactic; we had gotten stronger.
I could feel it. Training wasn't futile. The sword and shield moved more smoothly, leaving no gaps in my movements.
"Is it over? Then we..."
Toby started to leave, then his face froze.
The door leading to the plaza was still closed.
The mirror on the left glowed.
[Selected Floor, Floor 1. Re-challenge?]
[Yes(Selected) / No]
"It's not over yet."
Jena's expression hardened as she gripped her bow.
"Looks like they're gonna put us through the wringer."
Seems like Isel's tip had an effect.
Re-challenging already cleared floors reduces the experience and rewards, but Amkena seemed to prioritize safety over climbing another floor.
[Floor 1.]
[Mission Type - Extermination]
[Objective - Annihilate all enemies!]
[Goblin Lv.2 X 3]
"Kerrek!"
Shweeeek!
"Kyak!"
One died instantly, head pierced.
Jena immediately nocked a second arrow and drew the bowstring. The arrow hit the chest of the goblin staring blankly at its companion's corpse.
And Jena drew her bowstring a third time.
[Stage Clear!]
[Reward – 1,000G]
[MVP - 'Jena (★)']
"..."
"Hehet."
The mirror glowed again.
[Floor 1.]
[Mission Type - Extermination]
[Objective - Annihilate all enemies!]
[Goblin Lv.4 X 2]
As soon as the location changed, I charged.
From behind, I heard the whistling sound of an arrow cutting through the air. I smacked the incoming arrow away with my shield.
"What are you doing!"
"Shut up, brat!"
How dare you try to hog all the experience?
Without mercy, I slaughtered the two goblins.
[Stage Clear!]
[Reward – 1,000G]
[MVP - 'Han (★)']
After repeating two more battles like that, we were finally able to exit to the plaza.
"Is it over?"
"I don't know either."
Jena turned her head sharply away from the other party member's question.
During the five consecutive battles, those guys did nothing. Once they saw us overpowering the monsters, they even had the leisure to chat amongst themselves in the back.
Pouting, Jena said.
"This is seriously killing me. How long do we have to clean up after these people?"
"It ends today."
"Ends? They show no sign of changing."
"The Master doesn't seem well-off enough to feed freeloaders."
[Master, beginning synthesis.]
[Drag and drop the hero to be sacrificed onto the hero you wish to enhance! The sacrificed hero will be annihilated.]
The Synthesis Lab door opened.