Return of the Woodcutter

The rest of the training went as per usual, with a few noticeable improvements every day. Durability saw the greatest improvement. Earlier this week, he could coat his ax head or a relatively large area of his ax instantaneously. It became close to second nature. 

Thus, came the last part to gain manual control. To focus as much or less aura as possible in his entire weapon. It couldn't have been possible before because he needed more precise control over his skill. The two other exercises were just to familiarize himself with the usage of Durability. 

To feel how his aura reacted to the skill. How much it cost him to use Durability. How it flowed through his body into the weapon. How it could be controlled so that only a certain area was coated.

With all this, he now had a better grasp of his skill. 

So, even though it took him less than two seconds of focus, it was no surprise when he succeeded on his first try. Releasing more aura than necessary. The ax glowed of a denser yellow than usual. As if it had been double-coated.

Like a chocolate biscuit with double the chocolate! Tastier, and great for diabetes.

Of course, it usually costs more than other common chocolate biscuits of the same brand. Much like the aura cost of overloading Durability.

As for the skill Weight Control, he could now activate it instantaneously, without much focus. Just like Durability, it became second nature.

However, using it to increase or decrease the weight of a certain area on his weapon was hard to do, but not impossible anymore. 

Also, Gwen now allowed him and Ogoro to use Durability during their sparring, which they gladly accepted. 

Durability brought a whole new factor to consider. Why? Because their clothes could now become as hard as thick wood. Even the dirt and grass Aito would pick up "accidentally" and infused with his skill, could become as durable as pebbles.

With the usage of Durability and the previous weeks of training, Aito could win against Ogoro once every five matches. Then once every four matches. And finally, once every three matches. It was a limit Aito couldn't pass, no matter how hard he tried... for now. 

Because when Ogoro realized Aito became more proficient and deadly, he also upped his game. Engaging in spars with more vigor and ferocity. For he now acknowledged Aito as a worthy opponent. To the point he had no time to say "wrong" anymore. If he ever did, Aito would counterattack by using this slight opening.

On top of that, Aito became more agile and seemed to have gained in speed. Ogoro had to compensate with his technique. His expertise was put to the test times and times again.

By the end of the week, Ogoro was stunned by how much progress Aito had made. Normally, it would take years for people to reach that level. 

That's when Ogoro realized that, provided the right kind of knowledge, the red memory bead was truly a cheat. 

Of course, he did not forget about Aito's hard work. Because without a proper mindset ready for training that could make the most out of a memory bead, this kind of extraordinary result would have been impossible. 

To that sense, Aito's efforts were praiseworthy. 

***

The morning of the last day of training.

"How is it?" Gwen asked, eyeing Aito impatiently while making sure no unmarked one was trying to blend into the crowd of challengers ascending to the fourth floor. 

Aito rolled his eyes. She truly looked like a kid, excited at the idea of opening a Christmas present. Weird, since it was his status, not hers. 

'Whatever,' he thought, doing something he hadn't had for the past month because he had been too busy getting broken bones and bruises. 

____________

[Aito Walker]

[I. General Info]

Death: March 20th, 2030

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Age: 25

Height: 180cm

Weight: 80kg

Emotional state: Calm

Class: Lv1 Axwielder

Titles: Black Challenger, Father killer, [New] Training addict, [New] Masochist

[II. Attributes]

1. Gifts:

- [Sharpened!] Instinct (Potential to sense danger slightly before it happens. Activation is random but more frequent. Slight increase in the frequency.)

- Strength blessed (Boost strength by 1 level)

- Fury (Boost strength by 1 level when furious, minus the mindless state)

2. Skills:

Passive:

- [Level Up!] Ax Mastery Lv3

- [2 Level Up! + Upgrade] Shield Mastery Lv3 (Now incorporates Shield Bash Lv1)

- [New] Marksmanship Lv2 (Improved version of Weapon Throw Mastery Lv1 and Ax Throw Lv1)

Active:

- [Level Up!] Durability Lv2 (Slightly thicker coating)

- Fearless Aura Lv1 (Shields the host from the lesser Fear)

- [Level Up!] Whirlwind Lv2

- [Level Up!] Weight Control Lv2 (The host can now increase or decrease the original weight of an inanimate target by 3.5 times)

- [Level Up!] Pneuma Lv2 (The amount of stamina gained is slightly increased.) 

[III. Basic stats]

- Strength: Lv3

- [Level Up!] Body: Lv3

- [Level Up!] Stamina: Lv3

- [Level Up!] Agility: Lv3

- Mana: Lv2

- Destiny: Lv2 (cannot level up with Glory Points)

____________

'Hum... indeed, my mana didn't increase.' He thought. 

Gwen had warned him already that increasing mana outside of leveling up his class was difficult. It required exhausting his mana pool and refilling it times and times again. He had done so by just using his aura skills. But it hadn't been enough. To her knowledge, it would have required him to focus solely on that during his one month of training to increase his mana. 

"So?" Gwen asked. She has been dying to know the result, although she more or less already could guess it. The moderator had seen Aito's improvement with her own eyes. To her mind, he had already reached the goals last week. 

"To summarize it," Aito said, pausing to tease her and also to think about what to say next without revealing too much. "It was worth it." 

"Gahaha! See? Now you're glad you accepted my training regimen, right? Right?" She said, joyfully. Her beautiful purple eyes sparkling with content and happiness. 

Gwen liked a few things, flowers not included. She found those useless. However, progress in one's training, particularly someone she had trained every day, was akin to celebrating a birthday. 

Aito couldn't help but chuckle at this. Gwen seemed like such a brutish woman. He didn't she had such a cute side. 

Gwen then coughed, realizing she was overdoing it, then regained her previous composure. A demeanor of a mighty moderator. 

"You did great, little man. Even surpassing my expectations and reach the goals earlier than planned." She said, gazing at him with a more serious expression. 

Aito forced back a laugh. Gwen blushing with a serious face was too hilarious to him. It was so different from what he was used to. 

"Thank you," He said, with a genuine smile. "I'm truly grateful for your guidance." 

"Aye, don't mention it," she said with a wink that somewhat suited her. "It was satisfying to see you grow day by day. Also, you should have realized why I trained you if you didn't already know beforehand." 

"Yes… hum. About that," Aito said, hesitating on how to tell her he wasn't too keen on joining in the war. No, actually it was more accurate to say he hadn't thought that far yet. "Let's say, that… I need time to think about it." 

"Aye, no rush. You still have 31 days after all. Plenty of time to come up with an answer. Just let me tell you something. If you join Englad, you'll get the best training a warrior can ever hope to have. Amongst the four factions, we have the best warriors, after all. I can't force you to join us. Just think about it." Gwen said before smirking. "In the meantime, how about we replace today's warm-up with your 'reward'?" 

Aito was about to say "yes" when Ogoro—who had returned to his room last night to get some well-deserved rest—came rushing out of the second floor's staircase. Loud complaints were heard all around as he made his way through the crowd, pushing challengers aside. 

Ogoro quickly shut them up with a furious gaze that couldn't have been fueled by just their petty complaints.

He arrived by Aito's side; his fierce look mixed with something Aito knew too well and dreaded because it had cost too much before: a call for help.

"They got Sheyla," Ogoro said.