Triple X System

”Wakey! wakey.. sleepyhead!” Darwin yelled. emptying a full bucket of water directly on Kyle’s head, jolting the latter up.

”W-what the hell!” Kyle shouted in annoyance, wiping his eyes with his hand. He could see Darwin in front with the empty bucket, which made his frown widen more.

”You bastard! how dare you empty a bucket of water on me? Y-you could’ve just tapped me, like a normal human being!” Kyle yelled in anger, puffing his cheeks a bit. He didn’t like the idea he was soaking wet with water, and the only thing holding back his rage was the lingering fear of his past occurrence.

”Tapping you would be futile. This is the most effective way I could come up with. Well, it was either this or hot coal, you’re lucky this one’s still cold.” Darwin softly said in disdain, shrugging his shoulders a bit as he then proceeded to drop the bucket by the water tank.

’Fucking dwarf! one day I’ll get my revenge on all of you.’ Kyle vowed in his heart, darting a murderous glare at Darwin who simply went over to the wooden table.

’How long was I out?’ Kyle thought getting up. The last thing he remembered was devouring a ton of food, before he reached his peak and became unconscious. Other than that, he didn’t recall any other thing nor how he was now back in this prison.

’It must’ve been a dream. weird.. I thought I heard ona’s voice.’ Kyle wondered, staring at the ground. He could’ve sworn he heard ona’s voice before he went unconscious, but he wasn’t too sure as everything was blurry and his head spinning.

”If you don’t want troy to have your head on a plate, then I suggest you at least pay attention to me for the meantime.” Darwin suddenly said, garning Kyle’s attention. ”It’s your choice anyways.. I just don’t want your blood to haunt me.” Darwin sarcastically spoke, using a strange sharp tipped brown stone to sharpen a dagger.

”What are you doing?” Kyle softly asked, steadily making his way towards Darwin. He abruptly stopped just about 3 meters from Darwin, seeing the hammer besides him.

’What the hell is with him and hammers.’ Kyle grumbled, not understanding the connection this darn dawrf has with hammers.

”Calm down boy, no need to be so tensed. it’s not like am going kill you.” Darwin scoffed, glancing back at Kyle.

”At least not so soon.” He mumbled, his fingers lightly grazing the hammer. Kyle had heard him clearly with his advance hearing, and he also caught Darwin’s hand slightly caressing the hammer.

”Anyways.. let’s not dilly dally about hammers and me. Your training starts now.” Darwin proclaimed his chest puffed a bit.

”What do you know about weapons boy?” Darwin softly asked staring at Kyle.

”Weapons are equipments used to fight or inflict harm.” Kyle plainly said, making Darwin’s face contort a bit.

”Ok then smart pants. You have the basic idea of weapons in general, but what if I told you anything could be a weapon.” Darwin said, making Kyle raise a brow.

”What do you mean?”

”Think of it. Weapons aren’t only all items that inflict harm, it can be anything! Take your mind for example.. it can be considered a weapon used for both offensive, and defensive measures.”

”In battle we use weapon such as swords, spears, bows, and arrows. but in truth, our mind is the ultimate weapon we permanently posses. It’s the one that gives out commands, to each section of the body to utilize such weapons, or we’re useless.” Darwin calmly explained, broadening Kyle’s view on weapons.

”So what’s your point? We can’t use our mind to fight or block an attack from an enemy can we?” Kyle frowned shading Darwin’s words. He understood what the dwarf was trying to say, but he didn’t find it meaningful as this was real life. If one went unprepared into battle against a prepared foe, then his downfall was surely inevitably. If by miracle he wins, then it’s thanks to his weapon and sharp thinking.

”Attack me.” Darwin softly said stunning Kyle a bit.

”What?”

”I said attack me, Or don’t tell me you’ve grown soft boy.” Darwin smiled teasing Kyle. ”Oh no! I know.. your scared shitless I’ll use my hammer again. don’t worry princess I won’t use-” Darwin couldn’t finish his words, as Kyle plunged at him unable to take it anymore.

”That’s it.” A sly smirk formed on Darwin’s lips, as Kyle got close. Sidestepping at the right time, he avoided Kyle’s hit, but the latter followed up instantly with a spinning kick.

’Phew.. that was a close one.’ Darwin sighed, leaping back a bit.

”Well come on don’t just stand there, here.. I’ll make it easier for you.” Darwin said, placing his hand behind his back. Running, Kyle sent out a barrage of fist all to which Darwin dodged, by merely sidestepping.

’H-how is he blocking all my attacks? I know he’s slower than me, but how can he see my attacks before they land?’ Kyle wondered, frustrated he hadn’t managed to land a hit on Darwin. He was faster than the short dwarf, but somehow the latter had been perceiving his attacks before they landed.

”Stay still!” Kyle yelled in annoyance. His mind drifted to using dark flames skill, but he refrained from doing so for some reasons.

”Come on boy what would you tell ona huh? That you couldn’t land a single punch on a poor defenseless old dwarf.” Darwin mocked Kyle, scoffing a bit as he lept unto the wooden table.

Pausing a bit, Kyle was taken aback by Darwin’s words. ’Ona? what the hell does he mean by that?’ Kyle frowned, not liking where this was headed.

’Wait.. d-don’t tell me these old fucks think I have something with ona.’ Kyle inwardly said. He and ona could be considered friends, but they didn’t have a close relationship. Infact, he didn’t think she had a close relationship with anyone given her cold shoulder attitude, except falcon.

’Damn it! why does everyone close to me always get hurt.’ Kyle gritted his teeth, tightly clenching his fists. He didn’t know if he was cursed with bad luck, but one thing was for sure. good luck was far from him!

”Time’s up boy.” Darwin’s voice snapped Kyle from his trance. Looking up, he could see Darwin in front, his fist directly inches from his face. There was nothing he could do to block or dodge, but take the attack head on.

’Bam!’ Kyle was sent flying back from Darwin’s punch, as the latter didn’t hold back. Wiping his hand stained a bit with Kyle’s blood, Darwin then slowly proceeded to where Kyle was sent.

”Hey boy! are you still alive?” Darwin called out, unable to see clearly in the small clouds of dust risen up. Soon the dust settled and Darwin could see Kyle sitted on the floor, blood trickling down his nostrils.

’He’s still conscious after taking one of my fists head on.. hmm. Not bad.’ Darwin could tell Kyle was still awake, looking into his eyes.

”As I said earlier boy, the mind is humanity’s greatest weapon if utilized properly.” Darwin slightly chuckled, making his way towards Kyle. ”With the right words and reasoning, one could either mentally manipulate an individual. Just like I did with you.. To be a great weaponsmith takes years of experience and high intellect.”

”Forging a weapon is a delicate yet complex process, which involves dedication and hard work to achieve the desired goal.” Crouching a bit, Darwin lowered his head to Kyle’s level.

”So I ask you.. do you have what it takes to be a weaponsmith boy?” Darwin softly asked, to which Kyle slowly nodded surprising the former.

’I didn’t expect him to accept so easily. Did I perhaps break him?’ Darwin was a bit suspicious of Kyle’s change in attitude, but he didn’t sense anything wrong.

”Great! then we can move onto the next step of training.” Darwin smiled, but paused seeing Kyle raise up his hand.

”Before we continue, I want to thank you for your wise words teacher.” Kyle honestly said, placing his hand in a prayer form bowing his head a bit.

’What the hell is wrong with him?’ Darwin thought, uneased with Kyle’s sudden good behavior. He’d expected the latter to fume in an outrage, and fight him but seems like Kyle wasn’t such a savage mindless creature as he’d thought.

”And..” Kyle continued, making Darwin raise a brow seeing Kyle hadn’t finished talking. ”I’d also like to return a favour.” Raising his head, a crazed smile was planted on his face, with red crack lines spreading all over his sclera.

’Bam!’ Darwin couldn’t react as he was sent flying back from Kyle’s punch, crashing into some empty wooden crates.

”Hahaha!! Good.. good.. boy. You’re finally paying attention.” Darwin chuckled a bit, wiping some blood by the corner of his lips.

”I trust you’re satisfied now?” Darwin asked, to which Kyle slowly nodded with a satisfied look.

”Now then.. let’s forge some weapons!” Darwin exclaimed like a little child, excitedly clapping his hands together.