After I got beaten up even more until I could barely move, the training finally stopped.
Arthur summoned a healer to heal me. All my injuries were restored completely, and not a single scratch remained on my skin. After letting me rest for only about five minutes, we resumed the training and continued beating me up again without mercy.
But this time, it was different.
I had to use my lightning to enhance my own body, forcing it to move faster while I dodged and attacked Arthur. Every time my stance faltered or my control broke even slightly, I was forced to start again from the beginning until it was burned deeply into my mind that every single mistake I made would get me killed in a real battle.
"Faster, keep moving faster! Let the lightning inside your body push you beyond your limits, my prince!" Arthur screamed as I dashed toward him with lightning crackling violently all over my body.
My blood boiled as I felt the lightning running through my veins, wild and untamed. My figure almost blurred as I appeared instantly at Arthur's left side, slashing toward his ribs with everything I had.
There was a sudden increase in my speed, barely noticeable.
But Arthur noticed it.
For a beginner, he's doing decently, Arthur thought silently.
However, no matter how fast I believed I was moving, I still looked like a sluggish creature in Arthur's eyes. The man-vampire was simply that kind of monster.
He blocked my attack effortlessly by lifting his stick slightly to the left.
Pain shot violently through my arms as if I had slammed into solid stone.
But no.
It was just a damn stick.
Arthur retaliated instantly by driving his knee toward my chest with terrifying force.
Sensing the incoming danger, I chose not to dodge. Instead, I moved my left arm hurriedly and blocked the knee with my palm.
I regretted that decision instantly.
The impact from his knee broke through my defense easily.
Sharp, unbearable pain exploded through my wrist, and my hand became completely useless.
"Ughhh!" I groaned in pain as I jumped backward to create distance between us.
But Arthur didn't allow it.
In a swift, almost invisible motion, he was already in front of me again.
He punched me directly in the center of my chest.
The breath was violently ripped from my lungs.
I felt something crack inside of me.
I coughed up blood.
There go my ribs.
My body was launched backwards, and my sword flew out of my hand helplessly before my body hit the ground hard and rolled several times across the dirt.
My breathing became shallow and painful.
Every breath felt like broken glass stabbing my lungs from the inside.
Arthur walked toward me slowly.
His shadow fell over my face.
"Hmm, can you get up?" Arthur asked curiously, observing me like I was some kind of experiment.
"Of course I can't, you fucki—"
Before I could finish my sentence, I coughed up more blood violently.
"Tsk. My dear Prince, you only lasted two minutes this time. I should call that an improvement since earlier you only lasted thirty seconds," Arthur said as he grabbed his chin thoughtfully and nodded to himself in approval.
My bloodshot eyes glared at him with pure hatred.
Arthur summoned a healing potion and handed it to me.
I drank it.
A pleasant cold sensation spread throughout my body as the potion's effects activated. My broken ribs healed instantly, as if he had never shattered them in the first place.
"Why did you have to hit me so hard?" I asked bitterly as I stood up slowly.
Arthur shrugged casually.
"No pain, no gain, Prince."
"Stop calling me prince."
"As you wish..." Arthur smiled.
"...prince."
Why doesn't the sun just burn this bastard alive?
I raised my hands dramatically in the air, completely fed up with his shenanigans and existence.
"Let's get back to it," Arthur said as he threw my sword back toward me.
"Now, I will attack. Get ready."
"Oh, give me a break," I gritted my teeth.
Arthur ran toward me with the happiest, most terrifying smile.
He then proceeded to beat me mercilessly until I finally lost consciousness.
—
When I woke up, the sky was already dark.
I felt pain all over my body despite having no visible injuries, since Arthur had already healed them.
Then I noticed a letter resting on my chest.
I opened it.
It was from Arthur.
It said he had to run an errand for the Empress and would only see me tomorrow.
"That fucker beat me unconscious and then left." My shoulders trembled with anger.
I took a deep breath.
"Phew... calm down, Lucas. His time will come. It will definitely come."
I sat down in a lotus position and began absorbing stellar energy, circulating it carefully throughout my body.
After a few minutes, I looked up at the stars.
The Lupus constellation had already formed clearly.
I called upon it.
Then I heard Virgil's annoyed voice.
⌈Hah, it's already time?⌋
My consciousness faded instantly.
But this time, I didn't have a seizure.
I was grateful for that.
—
I found myself back in Virgil's dimensional space.
It still felt unreal.
The different planets floating in the dark sky, the endless stars, and the vast ocean of white lilies surrounding me created a scene beyond imagination.
It was truly beautiful.
I turned around, intending to look for Virgil.
But I didn't need to search.
How could I miss a giant black wolf that dominated the landscape?
Virgil was lying down as usual with his eyes closed. This time, however, he was not switching into his Eldritch form like yesterday, nor was my soul damaged.
"Yo," I waved casually.
Virgil opened his left eye lazily.
⌈I didn't think time would pass so fast. I didn't expect to see your ugly face again so soon.⌋
"Huh? Ugly?" I replied, offended. "I'm one of the most handsome people in my world. Did you not know?"
⌈In your world, kid. In other worlds, you'd probably be the ugliest. Meanwhile, my beauty is universal.⌋ Virgil said proudly.
Great.
First Arthur, and now my own god.
I have to deal with two insufferable beings.
"Can we please start? This is the last day, so I want to learn as much as possible because I won't be seeing you for six months. Especially the spells. I need to learn them."
⌈Fine. Start practicing the first and second techniques. Your control, power, and speed are still poor. I'll teach you other things when I'm satisfied.⌋
I didn't complain.
I knew he was right.
I was nowhere near the level of control Virgil demonstrated yesterday.
And I also knew I wouldn't reach that level while I was still in the first rank.
⌈Oh, and I gave you a bit of control over this place. You can summon anything within my capabilities,⌋ Virgil said lazily.
"Damn, you can do that?" I was astonished.
I imagined a weapon.
A sword materialized instantly in my hand, exactly as I envisioned it.
⌈Perks of being a god, kid. Now stop disturbing me and start training.⌋
Damn, this guy is unbelievably lazy when it comes to teaching.
Without wasting any time, I took a stance and began practicing the first technique.
The thrust.
The plan was simple.
I would practice the thrust without using stellar energy first.
Only after mastering the movement naturally would I enhance it.
As I performed my first thrust, I immediately noticed a small difference compared to yesterday.
I was faster.
Since I wasn't wearing the weights, my movements felt lighter and sharper.
Arthur's training was already showing results, even after just one day.
Realizing this, I decided to wear weights here as well.
With a single thought, cuffs weighing fifteen kilograms each materialized around my wrists and ankles.
The weight hit instantly.
My body trembled slightly, but I remained standing.
I did not fall to my knees like before.
I took a thrusting stance.
And thrust forward.
It was slower than I expected.
I couldn't perform multiple thrusts in one motion like Virgil.
I barely managed one.
But that didn't stop me.
I wanted to become strong.
Strong enough to control my own fate.
Strong enough so that my life would never again be decided by someone else's hands.
I took a deep breath.
And moved again.
Slowly.
But steadily.
Time here flowed differently.
Which meant I had all the time I needed.
Virgil watched me from a distance with one eye slightly open.
⌈Hoh? Not bad, kid.⌋ he muttered with amusement.
Then he closed his eyes again.
And fell back asleep.