Chapter 3: Training or Just Plain Abuse?

  Ryok snapped back to consciousness after the blow. Pain still screamed through his body, but at least he was alive. That was something. He stood—barely—as the old man raised his staff again. Ryok barely dodged before the staff came swinging toward him with terrifying speed. He was completely lost.

  “What the hell, old man?! Why are you just beating me up?!” Ryok yelled, ducking just in time. His legs were already shaking from the pain.

  The old man didn’t answer right away. He simply lowered the staff with eerie calm, as if this whole thing was business as usual. Maybe it was. Ryok couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be training or some form of twisted entertainment. Either way, he was starting to feel like a living punching bag.

  “First of all,” the old man finally growled, “not ‘old man.’ It’s Teacher William.”

  Ryok blinked. Teacher William? Seriously? It felt less like training and more like he’d been dragged into some lunatic’s personal experiment.

  Suddenly, the system interface popped up in front of him again.

  System: Choose your reward.

  1. +3 to one stats

  2. Speed Potion (short duration)

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  3. Old Rusty Sword

  Ryok glanced at the options. Speed potion? Great, he could run... except this wasn’t exactly the kind of guy you could outrun. Rusty sword? Trash. The only real choice was obvious.

  “Endurance. +3,” he muttered.

  Immediately, he felt his body stiffen, his breathing ease just slightly, the pain dulling a bit. The next blow—directly to the head again—still hurt, but it didn’t knock the wind out of him this time.

  William narrowed his eyes. Ryok hadn’t dropped. He hadn’t even screamed. He just stood there, a little straighter than before. The old man lifted his staff again, this time more cautiously. His eyes were sharper now, watching Ryok more closely.

  So this is what’s happening… He’s hitting me because I’m too good-looking, isn’t he? Ryok thought, barely holding back a laugh. A glimpse of his reflection showed that his face was still somehow flawless, even after all this abuse.

  If he can’t handle my perfection, that’s not my fault.

  William kept striking, but Ryok was adapting. His body was slow, aching, but tougher now. Each blow felt a little less devastating.

  “You’ve improved,” William muttered, surprise slipping into his voice. “Your resilience… it’s increased. You’re not like the others.”

  Ryok, still panting, tilted his head.

  “I’m Ryok,” he said simply, not caring to be formal.

  “What family are you from?” the old man asked, more curious now.

  Ryok paused, then shrugged.

  “None.”

  William was quiet for a moment, then gave a small grunt.

  “None, huh? Doesn’t matter. You’ve got guts. I’ll train you—but don’t expect mercy. Real training doesn’t hold back.”

  Ryok nodded silently. After all this, there was no way he was walking out of here the same. He had to get stronger. He would get stronger. William watched him with an appraising eye.

  “You won’t regret this, Ryok. From here on out, your life is hell.”

  William raised the staff again, ready for the next lesson.

  Ryok smirked faintly, eyes gleaming.

  “Just don’t disappoint me, teacher.”