In the end, even after the System's constant help, Kael's body couldn't take any more abuse, and the moment he completed the twentieth lap, he collapsed on the stone floor with a thud.
"Haaahh... Haahh... Haah..."
His vision blurred with sweat. He couldn't feel his legs anymore, his arms felt like they might tear from their sockets, his chest heaved, trying to gather as much oxygen as it could get. It was his body's way of protecting itself.
Kael honestly felt like his body was giving up. Even breathing felt like a chore right now.
Seeing his state, Deren walked over and crouched beside him, his piercing blue eyes meeting Kael's.
"You are weaker than I thought."
He spoke, not very impressed.
Kael just stared at the giant in front of him, he didn't even have enough strength to rebut him, not even in his thoughts.
"We need to put in a lot of work."
Deren shook his head as he spoke like a disappointed father, then, with cold eyes, he declared,
"Tomorrow, we double the distance."
Hearing those words, Kael just closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to sleep. His exhaustion was finally catching up.
"Well, well, well. Would you look at that?"
Suddenly, a loud voice full of mockery was heard.
"The Great Hero of Nerathis, already tasting the sweet embrace of the floor, eh? Should I bring a pillow, or is the stone comfy enough for ya?"
Kael frowned. Normally, he would have completely ignored whoever it was because of how exhausted he was. His instincts, however, told him that he wasn't going to like what was coming next.
His instincts were usually correct.
He barely lifted his head and his eyes caught sight of another towering figure approaching him. The man was broad-shouldered and wore a brownish tank top that didn't hide his muscles.
His blonde hair was tied back in a loose braid, and his bright green eyes sparkled with energy. There was a wide grin on his face, making him seem… unhinged…
Seeing the man, who looked in his early 30s, Deren spoke in a low voice.
Arlan stood upright, his previous casual attitude disappearing in an instant. Clearly, the man respected Deren from the bottom of his heart.
"Don't go easy on that child."
He spoke as he momentarily glanced at Kael.
Arlan was taken aback. He wasn't expecting General Deren to show such a reaction. However, noticing that the General was staring at him, Arlan nodded, not wanting the General to wait.
"As you command, General Deren!"
Deren nodded back as he then walked out of the training hall.
Kael, who heard their conversation, felt his body tremble.
He realized that his instincts were right… yet again…
And as if confirming his thoughts,
"Commander Arlan Stormhold,"
Althea, who had appeared next to Kael, informed,
"He has been appointed to oversee your hand-to-hand combat and weapons training."
You mean there's more?"
Kael's body shook. He felt like his world had turned upside down.
Arlan, who heard those words, laughed out loud.
"Of course, there's more!
A Hero isn't forged in one day, lad!
Strength, endurance, and now skill. I'm here to make sure you can handle yourself when you don't have your Bond to bail you out.
Get ready for some fun!"
As much as the feeling of that foreign energy strengthening his body was addictive, and as much as Kael wanted to get stronger at an ever-faster rate, right now, he was in no condition to train anymore.
Heck, let alone train, he couldn't even move right now.
In the end, the child inside him that he had been hiding all this while came out and,
"I… I can't. I can't even move. Look, my arms are noodles, my legs are jelly—m-my entire existence is food-based right now. I'm in no condition to—"
Before he could finish, Althea knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Her palm glowed with a soothing, golden light and suddenly, warmth surged through Kael's body.
In an instant, all the pain and fatigue he felt before disappeared as if it were a dream.
His energy returned as if he'd woken up from the best sleep of his life, his muscles felt rejuvenated, stronger even.
Stunned, Kael stared at his 'Almoner of Services' and,
"You… you could do that this whole time!?"
"As I mentioned before,
Any form of service you require, I will handle it.
Healing is one of them."
Althea answered without any change in her expression. It was as if what she had was no big deal.
"Why didn't you use it before!?"
Kael practically shouted.
"I'm not allowed to heal you during training. General Deren's orders."
"But aren't you my Almoner of Services?"
Kael questioned again, sounding like a child whose mother took his friend's side instead of his.
"I can go against his orders if you want me to, but that would only make your training even harder. I do not advise it."
Althea answered and this time, Kael turned silent.
"So why heal me now?"
He questioned, curious.
"General Deren's training session is over.
Commander Arlan's training session is about to begin."
"You can't be serious…"
Arlan chimed in, flexing his arms dramatically.
"Now get up, lad. The day's still young, and you've got a long way to go if you want to survive out there.
We will start with the basics today,
Throwing a proper punch!"
In the end, Kael stopped complaining and stood up, his body, which was now full of strength, was now ready to take whatever Arlan prepared for him.
Yes, he was severely overestimating himself and underestimating the man standing in front of him.
The grin on Arlan's face only widened as he clapped Kael on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward.
Kael groaned in pain.
Arlan, however, completely ignored him and walked forward.
"Alright, lad! Follow me."
Kael's hand-to-hand combat training was about to begin.