Hell on Alzaladan

Regret. Leo learned the true meaning of that word the very next morning. No horns or water bucket at least, but getting dragged out of bed in the very early hours of the morning was not what he needed. He also didn’t need to be put in a sparing session first thing as a “warm-up” either.

Lupa however didn’t see it as a problem. She handed him a wooden sword and then she just began to attack. While not as ferocious as her attacks the day before, not to mention her Blood Rune state, she still overwhelmed Leo. Relying only on weapon mastery barely managed to let him not get pummeled in two minutes.

Then satisfied with their long spar Lupa when up to Leo and said, “Alight drop and gove me push-ups!” Leo followed the order to the best of his abilities and started. “No no, not like that, like this.” She dropped and did a couple herself and stood back up, “See, now you.”

This went on for a good while where Leo would get tired and Lupa would remind him of his form. She didn’t keep count and after seventy Leo stop bothering because of the pain and the exhaustion.

“Ok, stop now and we’ll do sit ups!”

“Ha…. ha… already,” Leo gasped looking at her in disbelief as his arms were tired.

“Yup! No back talk!” She then equated down and held his feet, “Begin!”

With barely a break Leo began. His form was constantly adjusted by Lupa, with giving pointers and forcing him to push further than what he would have liked. After another seemingly long time, she told him to take a breather again.

As he did Leo began to fear that he knew where this was going. A certain “guaranteed” strength training routine popularized by one bald fictional super hero. He unfortunately was right.

“Ok, squats now!” Lupa then dragged him up and immediately kicked his legs into position.

“Lupa… I got to ask.” Leo said between the squats, “Did… you make this… routine yourself?”

“Yup! All me! Plus Ultra!” She yelled pumping her fists up in the air.

“I’m too… tired to know… if you’re fucking with me.” Leo let out, truly not knowing if she met others from his world. It was at least a stabling thought. He was summoned to this world, but was that the only way here? Lupa truly gave him the thousand yard stare the night before when he revealed that he was from another world. She even kept asking about it though the rest of the conversation to make sure that he wasn’t mistaken. He had to pull out his shoes for it to truly sink in for her. Wait… where did his shoes go other that? A stray thought made him think that Sophia stole them for some reason.

“Don’t lose focus! Keep going!”

“Ok!” He yelled as his body screamed.

Then after the set she told him to sit. He did and was more surprise that he even made it this far. He remembered he attempted this during a time he got delusional, but that was quickly abandoned. Taking his much needed time to breath again he laid there mentally preparing himself for the inevitable run. If only he were so lucky.

“Ok, follow me!” Lupa said as she dragged him to the a section with a dummy set up. She then handed him a wooden sword with a weight attached to it. “I’ve seen swordsmen use something like this, go ahead and swing.”

Leo looked at her in disbelief as he took the weighted sword. Arms protesting he did as he was told. Once again she guided his posture to ensure that he was doing the proper motions. At this point Leo assumed that his system screen with his stats was the only thing keeping him alive. He can feel his hands bleeding from gripping the sword so tight. He really didn’t know what was driving him at this point.

Was it his mission? The need to save the world from a threat that has only been delayed. Was it his desire to be the hero? Wanting to have is second chance with this insane start. In a new world with different expectations. Expectations… yeah his own personal expectations. The past two battles were proof that Leo wasn’t ready for this. He was talking a big game hoping his skills in the system were the deciding factor. That was just wishful thinking. Both times he had been assisted by Zentella.

He had been made her guardian yet he wasn’t doing any guarding. He needed her assistance every time. If it wasn’t for her then he would be dead. Barns showed that his fight against Dirk was just a fluke. Truly trained assassin’s unencumbered would walk the floor with him and he wouldn’t live to regret it. Lupa had showed him that his reliance on crowd control spells wouldn’t cut it anymore. He was able to get by till now, but who’s to say that the next opponent also doesn’t have a magic nullification ability? How could he keep relying on the little girl he promised wasn’t a monster?

“Good!” Lupa called after another while, “You can stop now.”

Dropping the weighted sword Leo let his arms hang there. He truly saw why people that asked to be her students all leave. Letting his body give out he fell on his back. Staring at the sky not even realizing the sun had already risen. He heard other footsteps but didn’t bother to look.

“Here…” Was all he heard before what looked to be a fruit resembling a coconut was held above his face.

Taking it he saw that Zen had woken up and was with Cor. “Thanks you two, we got to hydrate.” Lupa said as she pierced her fruit to drink.

Leo sat up taking the fruit. His was still intact, “Hey Zen… do you think you could…”

“Nope!” Lupa yelled before Leo could finish. “You want to drink? You got to piece it yourself.”

“Lupa… I don’t have claws.” Leo protested.

“I didn’t use mine.”

Leo didn’t believe that for a second. The he remembered her swift movements. Maybe she didn’t mean to use her claws. Her intention lied elsewhere. So… that would mean mana enhancement. Looking back at the fruit Leo thought about his mana… but he was too tired for it. Instead he raised and angled his hand.

ZEKE’S KILLSTRIKE

In a swift motion he had expertly sliced the top of the fruit with his hand. He then drank deeply just to get the moisture he had lost and his body craved. When he looked up he was met with surprised gazes. “What?”

“Was that your system thing?” Lupa asked.

“You didn’t need a knife.” Zen pointed out.

Leo was too tired to realize what he was doing. All he knew was the fruit had water and he wanted it. “Yeah… well… the training is working I guess.”