As beasts were eyeing the city dying to attack it at any time, Blass was concentrating on his lesson within the dome.
The Gym.
Citizens had named the dome that during the five months. Blass was training every single person in the city. The dome had a limit to how many people could enter and train, but Blass had a tireless body so people divided themselves with time slots that best fit their schedule to train.
Blass also seemed to like the rigorous schedule.
“They are like white paper.”
That’s what he used to describe his 30 thousand new students. Blass wasn’t new to teaching at all, but when he made his skill and was ready to teach to others, it was long after the illumination had taken place.
The people he taught then were all corrupt men. He never thought of teaching the uncorrupt ones his unorthodox style since they needed to be taught the basics of fighting.
Even then, Blass would teach them if they were willing. However, in Blass’s world, weak ones did not have such tenacity.
Dohyuk’s world was the opposite.
If someone asked if Blass was happy with the progress of his students, he would say no. But if he were to elaborate, the students were definitely impressive and driven.
In fact, these people were at the bottom of the food chain because of their weak minds and Natures. Yet now they were concentrated on learning passionately. Even if they had no talent, they were determined to achieve success.
Also, there was another good thing about them that Blass had overlooked at first.
White paper.
There was an answer in the comparison.
‘I never would have imagined that not knowing anything could help them that much.’
These people had no fighting experience. It was a weakness in this harsh world but…
‘It’s the perfect condition to learn martial arts from the start.’
Blass then realized what he hadn’t known during the 5 months he taught the 30 thousand plus people. He was sometimes happy by the achievements that people had achieved, for example. It was a luxury that was given to him as a teacher, and he hadn’t felt that for centuries when he trained alone.
Blass came back to his senses when he heard a clashing sound and regained his focus. He was watching a duel right now between two exceptions who were not white pieces of paper.
The clash that was loud enough for anyone with low stats to cover their ears was coming from one person.
Lee Yuri.
Her whip turned into a surface as she struck every projectile that was thrown at her. However, she was barely defending herself against pieces of rock.
<<Hand of Lightning>>
Giwon’s Nature allowed him to change anything he grabbed into a throwing weapon. He was moving around Yuri as he threw rocks in different angles at her. His arms did not move; instead, his fingers quickly flicked a rock at Yuri at an incredible speed.
“UGH!”
Yuri gritted her teeth. For now, she did not allow even one rock to touch her. But even if one did, she would not be hurt. It was better for her to guard her vital organs and go for Giwon but…
“DAMMIT!!! You’re ANNOYING!!”
She couldn’t do that.
<<Changing bladder>>
Giwon’s second Nature primarily dealt with excretions — it allowed him to change what he ate and drank as a part of his energy to transform them into medicines with special effects. It wasn’t a good Nature, however, as it produced very little and didn’t work well with his power. Yet since it was in Giwon’s hands, there was no one better at utilizing the skill than him.
The hands that held the rocks were full of sweat. The sweat coated the rocks with a paralyzing effect. It was an instant effect but it was also weak. One hit on Yuri wasn’t enough to paralyze her, but it was enough to make her a little numb. With that, it would be easier for Giwon to land the second and third rocks.
That was why Yuri was annoyed. She had a perfect defense, but if she attacked, she needed to take the risk of losing. So, in the end, they were equals.
No.
“W-wait!”
It wasn’t like that anymore.
“I lost!”
With a not-too-heavy voice with a slight pant, Giwon raised both of his hands. He was out of rocks.
“I would have attacked you with bare hands in a real combat, but since we are dueling, and I don’t think I have a chance with attacking you bare-handed.”
“….”
“It’s my loss….”
“SHUT UP!” Yuri shouted with a reddened face. Her entire body was trembling with rage.
“Hey, don’t be too…”
“Shut up! Shut up like a f*cking loser! Don’t make me angrier than I already am!”
The reason for her anger was simple. She was ashamed.
Compared to five months ago, Yuri and Giwon’s stats did not change even one bit. Considering their stat points, Giwon had an average of 300 while Yuri had an average of 400. It certainly was a level difference between a Three and Four Circle.
But they both grew. Blass’s teachings had allowed them to become stronger than what they themselves could even grasp. However, it was Giwon who had a greater growth percentage than Yuri.
“Real? You said real…? You…”
If this was a real fight, Giwon would not have attacked with a rock. He would gather equipment so that it would not run out even if his Stamina ran out. And now, it was Yuri who was more tired at this point.
She was stuck. Yuri also grew in her own way, but their power difference was now almost zero.
“Take a break, and then let’s go again. Gather enough rocks. Don’t give me that crap about running out of them. Let’s fight it like it’s real.”
“If you wish.”
As Yuri was angered, Giwon was very proud of his achievement.
Honestly, both of them doubted the need to be taught Blass’s ways. They were different from Dohyuk and also different from the ‘white papers’. They were not like Blass, but they too were old-timers who had lived long lives previously. Their solid experience and knowledge about fighting and how to become strong were already set in stone.
In this case, it hindered them from learning as students. They had more power and talent than any of the white pieces of paper, but because they knew so much, it was hard for them to learn new things.
“We’ll start with the basics first.” Blass interrupted them, “Repeat the 96 movements I taught you 5 more times. If you can, do it 3 more times. And…”
“…”
“…”
Yuri and Giwon stopped quarreling and focused on Blass’s words. It was only recently that they began to see the result of Blass’s teachings. As they began seeing the effects, they realized what kind of lottery they had won. Because they had talent, they were quick to realize the change in strength.
And…
‘It’s helpful that both of them are different.’
Giwon, who liked to analyze every movement before practicing it, was faster in learning than Yuri who moved instinctively. But with their strength rank being overturned, Yuri and Giwon were trying their best to learn.
“Okay. We’ll…”
Blass tried to begin this training, but then a man ran into the dome. It was a man who was on watch from the top of the wall. He said that the beasts over at the hill were on the move.
“They are moving earlier than expected. I thought Chanyul would prepare a bit more before coming at us.”
“Well, I guess he thinks we are no match for him. Doesn’t it look like that from the outside? They think that we have no way to earn coins.”
Giwon and Yuri spoke to each other as they flexed their bodies. Of course, they thought they would be going out to face the beasts along with Dohyuk.
But… the man that came to the dome wasn’t there to inform them that the beasts were coming.
“…Hmm?”
“What?!”
As they heard the message from Dohyuk, they were shocked.