Overwhelming Firepower

At the beginning of their journey, the pace they walked was fast, but as the journey continued, they started stopping more, and the pace became slower.

That didn’t mean the journey became easier; in fact, it became harder. Lucen had taken out weighted rune engraved bracelets and anklets whose weights could be adjusted.

Lucen had asked the dwarves to make this for training purposes; he got the idea, of course, from the many physical-type anime characters. He also kinda liked the trope of showing the enemy he was wearing weights the entire time they were fighting.

The weights were something he wore regularly. He also asked the dwarves to create a few more, anticipating this moment.

He set the bracelets and anklets to increase their weights ever so slightly over time so that Alexander and Cael would not notice it at first.

Alexander and Cael thought the weights were only a simple burden meant to strengthen their bodies. That thought disappeared by the third day.

The weight had increased so gradually that neither of them noticed when their steps became heavier.

They only realized something was wrong when Alexander tried to jump over a fallen tree and nearly slammed face-first into the ground. Even Cael tripped because of the weight, but unlike Alexander, he extended one arm the moment he was about to hit the ground and stopped himself.

The worst part was that they weren’t allowed to use their aura in battle or in training. It took them quite some time to get used to the slowly increasing weight.

Still, the two did not complain and continued trying their hardest. On the fifth day, when they were nearing the destination, Lucen spoke to the two.

”You can remove the weights now.”

Alexander did not hesitate as he quickly removed the weights, and so did Cael. The moment the bracelets and anklets came off, the two felt weird.

They had become used to the added weights that it took them a few seconds to get used to not having them.

Alexander moved his arms once, then took a careful step forward. His foot landed much more lightly than he expected, almost as if the ground had less resistance than before.

Cael quietly flexed his fingers, then shifted his stance. His expression did not change, but his eyes sharpened slightly.

Lucen watched the two of them. ”As you hunt, you can use Aura this time.”

The two nodded their heads and enveloped their bodies with their aura mantles as they sprinted away.

The second they did so, they were surprised at how fast they were moving. It almost made them stumble. Alexander’s eyes widened as he adjusted his footing. It was like he was flying.

The first few steps were clumsy. His body moved farther than he expected with every push against the ground. Even a simple turn sent him sliding slightly across the dirt.

Cael had the same problem, though he recovered faster. His foot landed against a stone, and for a brief moment, his balance shifted. But instead of forcing himself back into place, he let the momentum carry him and changed direction with a clean step.

The second they encountered an enemy, they attacked, and were surprised to see how much sharper they became.

Due to the weight they were carrying before and their limited stamina, they tried their best to move as minimally as possible. Now their swords moved along the shortest path needed to reach their targets.

It wasn’t a big improvement, but it was noticeable enough that it surprised the two. They had been stuck for a few months now, but after just this simple thing that Lucen made them do, they started moving again.

Alexander looked at the monster he had just cut down, then at his own hands. His breathing was steadier than ever before, and his every movement was slightly faster than it was a few days ago.

The same thing was happening to Cael, even the Unbound Demonic Stride he copied from Lucen was getting better.

After the hunt ended, Alexander and Cael returned to Lucen carrying the monsters and wild animals they had killed.

The group ate a little bit of monster meat to get used to the poison. Lucen was already pretty much immune to the weaker poison of the monster meat and ate more than the other two.

Once they were done eating, they continued their journey. They were already near the unknown temple of the Martial God and the Heavenly Demon. Lucen wanted to get there before high noon.

Before they started walking, Alexander spoke. ”Instructor Lucen, can I continue using the bracelets and anklets?”

”Big Brother, I also wish to continue using the weights.”

Hearing their words, Lucen smiled. ’Heh, did the two of them understand the coolness of weighted training?’

Of course, he could not say that out loud. Instead, Lucen nodded as if he were a serious instructor who had planned everything with absolute dignity.

”You can continue using them, but don’t be stupid about it. If you wear weights all the time, your body will start adapting in the wrong way. Use them during training, remove them before serious combat, and never forget how your body moves without them.”

’I can’t wait to see that scene in real life. When they face an opponent and say I need to get serious as they remove the heavy weights, making the ground crack. That would be f*cking cool.’

Lucen coughed lightly and pushed those thoughts aside.

”Anyway, let’s move. We should arrive soon.”

Alexander and Cael nodded. The two wore the weights again, though this time they adjusted them to a level they could endure without ruining their movements.

The three continued walking deeper into the forest. The trees grew older the farther they went, their trunks wider and their branches thicker. Sunlight slipped through the leaves in thin golden lines, but even though it was almost noon, the place felt strangely dim.

Alexander noticed the change first. There were no birds to be found, there were no insects, or any other animals. Even the distant cries of monsters that had followed them for days had disappeared.

”Instructor, is this the right path?” Alexander asked as he unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, and so did Cael.

”Yeah, this is the right path.” Seeing the reaction of his two companions, Lucen understood what made them feel uneasy.

”Don’t worry, the reason no other animal or monster is here is that this place is the territory of powerful beings.”

When Alexander heard Lucen’s answer, he realized something. ”Are those beings the ones who will help us get stronger?”

”Correct... Well, it depends on whether you two are able to pass their test or not.”

Alexander and Cael exchanged glances. Neither of them asked what would happen if they failed. The answer was obvious. They would lose the chance Lucen had brought them here to receive.

The very notion that they could fail did not even cross their minds. They were determined to pass whatever test was given to them.

The group continued forward, but despite what Lucen said, both Alexander and Cael did not let their guard down.

The path continued for several more minutes before the trees finally opened. At the end of the forest stood a wide stone platform covered in moss and cracks.

Beyond it was an overlook where the land below could be seen stretching far into the distance. Half-buried near the back of the platform was a small structure made from dark stone.

Neither Alexander nor Cael would have guessed that such a small, half-buried structure was the temple of two beings who had surpassed mortality.

Yet as they approached, they felt an incredible pressure pushing down on them. Alexander pushed his body forward as his determination only grew the more the unknown pressure pushed down on him.

Cael, who always had a stoic expression, frowned, but like Alexander, he did not back down and continued following behind Lucen as they entered the structure.

The inside of the temple was far cleaner than its ruined exterior suggested.

There were no broken stones on the floor, no dust covering the walls, and no weeds creeping through the cracks. The air was still, almost unnaturally so, as if time itself had stopped moving inside this place.

It was pretty much an empty space with almost nothing inside except a platform that looked to have held something long gone.

”I have returned, with the two I promised.” The second Lucen said those words, before Alexander and Cael’s eyes, two individuals appeared before them.

The first stood with his hands behind his back, calm and unmoving. His deep, dark eyes held no hostility, yet Alexander felt as if every weakness in his body and heart had been laid bare. There was no pressure coming from him, but that only made him feel even more unreachable.

The second sat casually on the empty platform, one leg raised, his chin resting on his hand. A faint, amused smile curled on his lips, as if the entire world existed only to entertain him. His gaze moved from Alexander to Cael, and for a brief moment, both of their eyes shone gold.

Alexander felt something look beyond his flesh. It was as if his very soul was being stared at. They were just there, but the pressure the two were emitting at the moment made their stomachs twist violently.

The person who was grinning smiled even wider, and it was at that moment that Alexander and Cael felt like they were about to be killed. The two quickly took out their weapons and got into a defensive stance.

”Hoh, these brats.” The man sitting down chuckled. ”How interesting.”