Edrik stepped up beside Kurogasa, who was watching Atlas from a distance as he ran across the volcanic terrain. Though Atlas stumbled a few tis, he quickly picked himself up each ti, pressing forward with determination.
It was already the fourth day of this intense training, yet Atlas still showed no signs of giving up.
"Master Kurogasa..." Edrik sighed.
Kurogasa gave a slight bow. "Yes?"
"You’re really pushing him to his limit, aren’t you?"
"The Lord has remarkable resilience," Kurogasa replied. "He constantly tries to break past his own limits. And, surprisingly, he succeeds."
"He’s still only in his twenties... but his ntal strength is incredible. It almost doesn’t seem real. Just what has he gone through to develop such resolve at his age?"
"I think he simply loves what he does," Kurogasa said thoughtfully. "He’s humble, even toward the troops. He treats them well, that’s incredibly rare in a Lord."
"Yes, his behavior puts to sha," Edrik admitted. "With this kind of nature and integrity, he inspires people to follow him, to the point they’d willingly give their lives for him."
Kurogasa gave a slight bow. "Losing my last battle and being summoned to serve him has been the greatest blessing, one I never imagined I’d have."
Edrik returned the bow. "I entrust the Lord to you, Master. I know you’ll bring out his best potential."
"No, not ," Kurogasa replied, shaking his head. "I only guide him. He’s the one who will do it. Watching him transform... that will be a pleasure for us all."
"Yes," Edrik agreed. "He’s truly inspiring."
[Your Iron Will talent has evolved to a new height: Unyielding Resolve, Rank-A.]
[Your ntal fortitude has reached a level where fear and distractions are significantly reduced. Even under intense conditions, you remain calm and focused.]
[Benefits: Resistance to ntal attacks, enhanced focus during complex combat scenarios, and increased endurance when under pressure.]
A notification flashed before Atlas. And hold on, what? His talent had evolved?
Unyielding Resolve? Even though it remained the sa rank, the na alone felt like a power-up. He let out a breathless laugh, a rush of energy surging through him. It was working. His training was finally bearing fruit.
So it’s happened at last. His talent had evolved too. For the first ti ever, sothing that already seed impressive had transford into sothing even greater.
Let’s push for the next one. Ti to evolve and upgrade another talent next!
And the next challenge?
Fight a Level 50 Lava Hound. Bare-chested. Barefoot. No weapon.
You’ve got to be kidding . How the hell am I supposed to kill a lava-skinned beast with my bare hands?!
The Lava Hound lood before him. Its snarling maw dripped with lava, the heat rolling off it in choking waves. Atlas’s pulse pounded as he tried to steady his breath, his mind scrambling for a plan.
Just a few paces away, Kurogasa stood watching... and smiling?
Seriously? He’s smiling? Is he expecting to get barbecued out here?!
But no. Atlas couldn’t bla anyone. He was the one who’d asked for this level of training. If Kurogasa thought he could handle it, then it ant he could.
The Lava Hound lunged.
Atlas threw himself aside, rolling over blistering stone, his heart hamring as he searched for an opening. Any opening. But even that was a problem.
Its whole damn body is on fire! I can’t even touch it without getting scorched!
The beast charged again. Faster this ti. Atlas dodged. But not without cost. A splash of molten lava struck his arm.
"Argh!" he roared, staggering back as searing pain tore through him.
He turned and bolted, clutching his left arm.
"Argh! Damn it, this hurts!"
The Lava Hound lunged again. And this ti, Atlas wasn’t fast enough.
It slamd into him. The force of the impact flung him backward.
"Damn, damn, damn! I’m gonna die!"
The beast didn’t pause. Its relentless assault continued, each step shaking the ground as it drove him into a desperate retreat. Atlas had no choice but to run, to dodge, to stay barely ahead of its fiery jaws. His legs were buckling, each stride heavier than the last. The agony in his chest burned with every breath.
This is torture!
And yet... he kept moving, gritting his teeth, too afraid to fight, too aware of how helpless he was.
But then, sothing caught his eye.
His arm, the skin, blackened and blistered only monts ago, was slowly knitting itself together.
Regeneration?
His Strength and Constitution stats must have been doing their job. Passive healing had kicked in. His body was fighting to recover, even if the pain remained as sharp as ever.
He kept running, circling the battlefield, trying to buy ti, trying not to collapse. But how was he supposed to fight sothing like this? It wasn’t just a monster. It was a walking furnace. A bite from an ordinary dog could ss you up. This thing? One hit and you were charred at.
Then, from the edge of his vision... Kurogasa.
He had shifted into a martial stance, moving through a calm, deliberate sequence of techniques. His feet shifted, arms flowing with practiced control.
What is he doing? Is he... demonstrating sothing?
Atlas’s brow furrowed. Was this supposed to be a lesson? Right now?
Kurogasa’s movents showed techniques. Positioning, balance breaking, leveraging an opponent’s force against them.
Throwing techniques...? Against that?! That thing is made of fire!
It was insane. And yet, what else did he have?
Atlas squinted, watching, morizing. If he could use the Lava Hound’s weight and speed against it... if he could shift at just the right mont...
Alright.Let’s try not to get burned to death.
Atlas mimicked Kurogasa’s movents, but as the Lava Hound approached, he hesitated.
Damn it, he thought, clenching his fists.
He sidestepped quickly and grabbed the creature’s body. ARGH! The heat seared his hands instantly, forcing him to let go and sprint away.
My fingers! Damn it, this hurts!
He kept running, trying to buy ti for his hands to heal, while Kurogasa continued demonstrating the martial arts moves.
Does he even realize this Lava Hound has actual molten lava on its skin?! Atlas cursed internally.
Atlas kept running, minutes stretching on as he sprinted with everything he had. Survival was his only thought. He couldn’t afford to stop, not with that freaking Lava Hound right on his heels.
He tried to mimic Kurogasa’s moves over and over, only to fail each ti as searing pain shot through him every ti he made contact.
Finally, in a burst of desperation, Atlas lunged, gripping the beast and screaming as his hands blistered on contact.
Motherf—! Damn it, damn it!
But he managed to twist and slam the Lava Hound into the ground.
Fueled by sheer rage, he unleashed a series of punches, fire splattering from the beast and burning his chest, arms, everywhere.
He broke away, stumbling as he ran again.
He repeated the cycle over and over. Running to recover, then charging back in to attack when he was ready.
Two hours passed. Atlas was drenched in sweat and burns, his hands raw and blistered as he struck the Lava Hound’s head again and again, letting the molten lava spill over his skin as he punched, and punched! And punched!
And at last. It happened. The notification he’d been waiting for finally appeared.
[You have killed Lava Hound Lv. 50]
Atlas exhaled sharply, every muscle trembling with exhaustion, and let himself collapse onto his back.
It’s over. Finally... it’s over.
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