After eight days of the hellish training routine, Nick couldn’t help but stare at the skill that made it all possible as he sat up following his latest set of flat bench reps. He wished he could spare the mana to use healing hands on himself and speed up his recovery between sets, but he knew every point of mana had to go into improving his charisma magic with cloak of madness and pep talk.
Training!! (Heart of the Gym II)
Allows the trainer to select 225 individuals and help those individuals improve both their skills and their stats at a faster rate than normal so long as the user is within 308 feet of the selected individuals. Individuals selected for the skill will also not suffer penalties or drawbacks from overtraining.
Note: Number of individuals and rate of improvement will vary based on the user's charisma and skill level.
Current improvement rate: 283.2%
The skill had originally given only a few percentage points, barely enough to make a major difference, but had now reached the point that all his trainees were leveling over three times faster than if they had just started their very first gym routine. It was even more impressive in this realm too, considering they had reached Bronze Level 3 for the gym upgrades, causing the physical and magical training to be 50% more effective. Whether that was 333.2% total or 424.8% total, it didn’t matter. The end result was that Nick wasn’t the only one seeing insane gains.
If things carried on as they were, it would only be a waiting game until every member of his super squad would be stronger than any enemy they’d ever faced before by a factor of ten. Now the only thing Nick needed to win was time.
“Your strength is still too low,” Elizabeth noted, patting the bar. “Stop looking at your stat sheet and get back on the bench.”
“But it’s a pretty stat sheet . . .” Nick replied, bringing it up and spinning it toward her so she could see.
Name: Nick
Class: Trainer
Level: 47
EXP to next level: 1,237/37,150
HP: 990
Mana: 310
Unspent stat points: 0
Strength: 120 (+16)
Agility: 106 (+16)
Constitution: 111 (+16)
Aura: 32 (+17)
Magic: 71 (+13)
Charisma: 354 (+33)
Active Skills:
Training!! X (16%)
Get in the Zone! VII (26%)
Frost Giant’s Magic V (6%)
Charge VI (82%)
Straight Thrust VII (45%)
Spear Sweep VII (47%)
Healing Touch VI (3%)
Omni-Trainer's Insight V (6%)
Sorrow’s Final Laugh (62%)
Pep Talk V (42%)
Cloak of Madness V (25%)
Holy Fire V (6%)
Dragon Fist of Fury III (12%)
Aura Punch II (3%)
Correcting Bad Form! V (42%)
Lover’s Charm III (56%)
Advanced Training III (0%)
Faith of the Fervent (59%)
Pilfer (69%)
Titan's Fury (15%)
Passive Skills:
Spear Fighting IX (68%)
Sword Fighting VI (93%)
Learn the Basics VII (45%)
Nutritionist IV (1%)
Enhanced Command VI! (12%)
Sword and Shield IV (13%)
Tough Love VI (21%)
Knife Throwing (31%)
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Spear Throwing V (12%)
Survival Tactics II (45%)
Blacksmithing II (19%)
Shield Offense IV (21%)
Unarmed Fighting V (37%)
Parry Master V (91%)
Potion Master IV (51%)
Ice Sculpting II (89%)
Titles:
David’s Descendent V
Clear Intentions
Speedy Can’t Lose III
Drake Slayer III
Herbicidal Maniac
Mass Murderer
Crustacean Crusher II
Realm Ravager III
Hundredfold Victor II
Hound of Hellsing II
Redeemer of Souls
Battle Herald III
Goblin Bane
Glacial Guardian II
Frontier Warden
Elizabeth smirked as she looked over the ridiculously long list of titles and skills available on Nick’s stat sheet.
“Mmm, Nick, I knew it was probably long,” Topaz began as she finished a set of weighted calf raises and walked over to the two, “but I had no idea it was that long.”
“What? What are you two talking about?” Seo-ah demanded. She was on the flat bench, only able to look up as she did her best to hold the bar above her. The clear distraction from Topaz’s inappropriate-sounding remarks had caused Seo-ah to lose focus and nearly ruin her rep at the end of her set. Her spotter, Adele, quickly extended her hands to make sure Seo-ah didn’t get hurt.
“Relax, Seo-ah, they’re just talking about how Nick’s is super long,” Adele said.
“It is long. That Realm Ravager turned out to be pretty on point too,” Topaz remarked with a laugh. Nick knew that, while Topaz had intentionally made it sound dirty because she liked to tease Seo-ah, Adele’s words had just been accidental.
“Alright, before they get me killed, honey, they’re talking about my stat sheet,” Nick clarified, putting an end to the banter. “And, if I’m not mistaken, you all should have some long ones too.”
“Yeah, a bit but not that much,” Topaz replied. “I’ve just got the basic survival, shield, and movement skills with the rest all being potion stuff. Your stats seem all over the place.”
“I keep wanting to put my levels into charisma after looking at his sheet,” Seo-ah said as she racked the bar and got up, giving Topaz a grumpy side eye at the same time for teasing her.
“You say that, but 40 levels . . .” Topaz began and then paused as if she realized something.
“Yeah, it’s only 200 points,” Seo-ah completed her thought. “I know 200 points seemed like a lot yesterday, but with how fast we’re progressing in all key stats at the moment, it’s not much at all. We can get that in a few weeks. A year or two, and it won’t be anything.”
“On the other hand, there’s no way for us to train charisma. Nick’s going to get progressively more handsome, his voice will get more addicting to listen to, and we’ll be stuck with the same skin care routines trying to make up what his charisma does naturally everyday,” Topaz grumbled. “Seo-ah, what have we done? We’re going to lose to the pretty boy. He even works out harder than we do.”
“Then we just need to double your workout routines,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle.
“Why aren’t you annoyed by this too?” Seo-ah shot back at Elizabeth.
“Because I already have 75 charisma,” Elizabeth answered with an ear-to-ear smirk. “My class, Warlord, benefits from charisma like Nick’s.”
“Your . . . Your class is Warlord?” This caused Nick to blink in confusion as he looked at her. “How does that even line up with the medicine ball?”
“A warlord can select her own weapon, and this is . . .” She frowned for a moment, the joviality of the conversation vanishing from her expression.
“You gotta leave her alone on that one,” Lou, who was walking by, said. “It’s a touchy subject in the family. Just like why Dad, despite being a paladin with a holy weapon, a sword, uses only his fists.”
“‘Cause of your mom?” Nick blurted out before his brain could stop him and remind him that the man had just said to not touch the subject.
“Yeah,” Lou replied, leaving the story unfinished as he gave Nick a lopsided frown. “Anyway, I just dropped by to tell you that Kaylee has the new list for today’s patrol. You’re with me.”
“That sounds fun,” Nick said as he watched Lou pull out a piece of paper. “Who else is in the party?”
“Well, it’ll be me,” Lou began, handing over the paper so Nick could confirm, “you, Adele, Noelle, Oliver, Elizabeth, Tabitha, and some weird chick. Maybe you know her.”
“Weird chick?” Nick asked, wondering what was up with Lou’s wording as he took the list from Lou and looked over the names. He was always impressed at the detail with which each name was listed. It wasn’t ever just eight names on a piece of paper. Rather, it said: “Adele: Added to the team for healing as the melee-heavy ensemble might sustain greater injuries.”
It was simple, clear, and concise reasoning. The team was even themed with the stress put on melee combat and how to handle formations in battle without a backline to ensure they could properly use flanking maneuvers or organize around key targets without relying on range and casters to take out the important marks. To assist in that goal even further, below the names was a list of suggested formations, strategies, and tactics based on what had been shown to work well with other groups in the snow terrain. Kaylee had really outdone herself yet again.
“We’re on the same patrol again!” Adele said excitedly to Nick as she lifted the weight in front of her completely above her head in victory. “We’re going to be the best patrol there is.”
“I’m more curious about the mysterious lady joining us this time. Brother, did you have a crush on some girl, and you’re now too shy to say her name?” Elizabeth laughed, teasing her sibling. “That’s just like you.”
“It’s Seo-ah,” Nick said, reading the last name.
“Bring your Wife to Work Day, ey?” Topaz sighed. “What is with that line up? With that many melee combatants in one group, they’re going to have to do a whole group of ranged folks to make up for it.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what seems to be the case,” Lou said, passing Topaz a sheet.
“Haha, looks like Kaylee let you bring your wife today instead of Spencer. I’m with him, Allen, Kyle the Crimson Crusader, and some others I don’t recognize, but they didn’t add his girl, Clarissa,” Topaz noted. “In fact, I think he’s the only mage on the team.”
“Well, thanks for the update, Lou,” Nick said, trying to get back to his workout. “I’ll meet you after—”
“Nope, time to sauna. We recuperate in the sauna and then head out immediately. I’m here because you were late for the check-in. Kaylee sent me to make sure you didn’t just dilly dally in the gym.”
“This coming from the biggest gym rat there is . . . Nick, you may have a problem,” Seo-ah remarked.
Adele shook her head as if he had truly erred. “That’s true. You should consider praying about it. With so many people counting on you Nick, it’s not fair for you to slack.”
“You and Adele are half the reason I’m here too,” Lou said with a sigh. “Don’t act like you’re better than him. To the sauna, all of you.”
“I just need one more set,” Elizabeth grumbled.
“And the next group needs the gym. Don’t make me tell Dad,” Lou replied, quickly pulling the older brother card as he pushed them on their way.
“Fine, fine, to the sauna,” Nick agreed as he racked the weights, wiped down the benches and machines, and then headed toward the sauna.
Despite grumbling about having to stop working out, he was actually really excited. It was rare that so many of his close friends were in the same group and even rarer that he could do a patrol with his wife. He had started to wonder if Kaylee had a grudge against him and Seo-ah for getting married without inviting her to the wedding. He almost wanted to explain it to her, that it wasn’t him who organized the event but Seo-ah. However, he decided that wouldn’t improve anything anyway.
“You know, you need to be careful,” Topaz said as they made their way to the sauna. “I don’t know about you all, but the last two patrols . . . the stupid, freaking herbivores were out in even greater numbers than before.”
“Are we really just going to keep calling that faction of bunnies, squirrels, mooses and crap herbivores? Not the ‘Woodland Critters’ or some other faction name?”
Nick shrugged. “If it works, it works.”
It wasn’t like he had a particularly better name to call them. He was even sure that, in due time, they’d just be “herbies” or “grass munchers” or something even more crude. It’s not like their name was important. The only thing he cared about was that his team got better at killing them. That was all that mattered.
