In the underground chamber where three fighters spent most of the days improving their Mana. Mateo is standing in the middle of the room where the magic circle is etched on the floor. There's a hint of fear and uncertainty on his face as he breath heavily, preparing himself for another cycle.
Far from him are Beltrand who watching Mateo with worry and Gilmore who is tense and focused. He's near on a single lever located besides the barrier magic runes.
"Mateo, are you ready?" Gilmore asked.
"Yes."
"Ok. Start releasing all of you Mana."
And just like what Gilmore asked, Mateo release all of his Mana. Unlike his first try of doing the cycle, his Mana is a lot thicker now but still far from Gilmore's Mana that looks like a thick cloud filling the room. Mateo's Mana is more a like a haze.
After releasing his Mana, Mateo stands still as he feel the magic circle beneath him boosting his Mana regeneration. The feeling is pleasant just like before, the feeling of being energized as his body glows white.
After some time. Mateo's Mana is now full.
"I'm going to... the 2nd step now."
"Ok do it."
Mateo breaths heavily and he proceeds to absorb the Mana he released earlier, and he instantly feel the pain.
"Augh!"
Mateo flinch as he experience the dreaded feeling again. Mateo feels like his entire body is slowly and forcedly expanding in atomic level. His skin is like burning, his inside feels like hell, and his mind is like going to explode.
For each second of him absorbing the excess Mana, the more the pain becomes even more unbearable. Mateo is struggling on standing still as his body hurts like it's being tortured. More Mana he got absorbed and Mateo finally reached his pre-matured limits.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Mateo's agonizing scream as his body suffers even further. There's no visible injury yet Mateo feels experience burning and expanding, the excess Mana wildly dancing inside her body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"Mateo you can stop now!" Beltrand's worried scream.
Gilmore had enough and flips the lever. The blue crystals on the walls and floors starts to glow and begins to absorbs all of Mateo's excess Mana lingering on the air quickly. It only takes few seconds for the crystals to suck all the Mana and disperse it on the ground nearby.
With no Mana to absorb, Mateo's body stops draining Mana. Mateo falls go the ground knee first before completely slumps on the floor.
Gilmore and Beltrand rushes towards Mateo to check his condition.
"Thankfully I flipped the switch on time. It seems he didn't get any serious injuries." Gilmore's assessment as he checks the unconcious Mateo.
The two helps Mateo and carried him outside the chamber where Juli is waiting.
"Another failed cycle Master?" Juli asked. Gilmore nods.
Juli picks up Mateo using his wind magic. Engulfing Mateo with an orb of wind when Mateo is carefully floating inside.
"I'm will return and carry Beltrand later."
"You don't need to remind me of that." Beltrand frowns.
Juli climbs the stairs with Mateo and the other two enters the chamber again.
"Are you ready?" Gilmore asked.
"Y-yes."
Just like Mateo. Beltrand also suffers all of the pain and agony for a moment until Gilmore flips the switch. Just like what Juli promised, she returns and now carrying the unconcious Beltrand back to the surface.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
"Aughhhh... Ouch! ouch! ouch!"
Mateo just wake up and he instantly felt the sharp pain on his entire body. He stops moving and breaths heavily, trying to get used on the pain.
He look on his side and Mateo's not surprised to see Beltrand casually eating an apple.
"We failed again huh?"
"Painfully yes. Physically, mentally and spiritually." Beltrand sigh then continues to eat the apple until he reached the core.
In the recent days, the two continues to the training and from each cycle, the pain becomes stronger and unbearable.
It was started on Level 5 where the once unpleasant feeling becomes a sharp pain that feels like a thousand needles are being stabbed on their skin.
Level 8, the needles is now feels like knives repeatedly stabbed on their flesh.
Level 10, their body feels so hot that it's comparable to diving into a lake of boiling water.
And Level 14. Where both of them stucked for a while despite trying for several times now. Mateo is unsure yet amazed how they even managed to survive the past training without dying before they reached their wall.
And Mateo is now looking on the familiar wall of what seems the infirmary where Juli brought them repeatedly.
"What do you think the problem is on why we keep failing?" Beltrand asked.
"After failing numerous times. I believe our body surrenders before we even absorb all of our Mana back."
"So we just need hold back longer in order to succeed?"
"Sounds very easy yet our body would collapse literally before we even absorb our excess Mana. Perhaps, we just reached the limit from now."
Mateo sighs after answering Beltrand's question.
"If our body is the problem. Maybe we just need to continue the Ironwood training?" Beltrand's suggestion while he peels a triangle shaped fruit called Dacrus.
Mateo got hooked on Beltrand's theory. The Ironwood training was the one that prepares their body to do numerous cycles before their they reached the current limit. If they continue the training, they can condition their body further in order to finally complete Level 14 or if possible, Level 15 and more.
"That... Might... Just... Wo-"
"That would not work. Just saying it now to avoid dissapointing yourselves and wasting your time."
Mateo and Beltrand looks on the now opened door and surprise to see Gilmore walking inside.
"Sir Gilmore." -Mateo.
"Are you two fine?"
"We just feeling a little bit of pain but we can try again later once this pain dissappears." Beltrand's report.
"Good."
"Sir Gilmore, what do you mean by "That would not work?"" Mateo asked.
"Your plan of doing the Ironwood training. Trust me, it's a waste of time because that would not improve your body anymore."
"Because we already so strong that we don't feel the struggle of the ironwood training anymore? Thus not forcing our body to improve?"
"Exactly Beltrand."
"If that's the case, what we should do now?" Mateo asked.
"It's up to you. You can stop for a while and train or force yourself to bypass Level 14 and then continue training."
"Sir Gilmore. Any tips on where we should train now?" Beltrand asked.
"It's simple really. In order to improve your body, you need go fight stronger opponents now. And with your current level, you need to fight monsters or opponents of Platinum rank or higher."
"Ah yes... Very simple indeed." Beltrand's unamused words as he can't imagine fighting Platinum rank monsters as simple as what Gilmore thinks they are.
Gilmore now prepares to leave.
"After you recover, just tell me your decision."
Gilmore walks away, leaving the two pondering.
"So what's your choice?" Beltrand asked as he picks a clump of grapes, picks one and throws it on her mouth.
"I'm going to continue and force go complete Level 14. How about you?"
"I think I gonna stop for now." Beltrand non-chalantly says.
"Why? I though we are together?"
Beltrand sighs.
"I already asked Gilmore days ago. He said that I only last 10-15 seconds for trying to bypass Level 14."
"And how is that related to our training?"
"Your longest record is 1 minute and 2 seconds. You know what that means right?"
Mateo becomes serious.
"You have a better chance to finish Level 14 than me. So just don't mind me and overcome that bitch for me. I follow you once we're strong enough to continue." Beltrand smugly says.
Mateo smiles.
"Fine fine. You bet."
The two spends the whole day just resting their exhausted until the next day that their body is in good condition. But now...
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"Only you Mateo is going to train?" Gilmore asked as he looks on the two.
"Yes."
Gilmore nods.
"It's good that you understand your limitations."
"This is just a hiatus. Once I become strong enough, I'm going to continue this cursed training." Beltrand proudly says with conviction.
The three now walks inside and Mateo do the usual starting routine.
1. Go in the middle of the room.
2. Release all of his mana and fill the room.
3. Wait and recover Mana with the help of magic circle.
Beltrand and Gilmore are on edge as they prepare themselves for the final step.
4. Absorb all of the Mana trapped in the chamber.
At first 2 seconds, the sensation is just a mild pain and then it instantlly switch into a brutal feeling of his body feels like being expanded on atomic level.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Mateo screams.
But he tries to retain control and continue to absorb all of his stray mana.
10 seconds passed and Mateo's howling scream echoes on the chamber. Gilmore and Beltrand watch, feeling dread as they understand the feeling Mateo is subjected now.
25 seconds. Mateo's screams becomes even louder as the pain intensifies. But he continue to resist and not to give up. Her golden glowing silhoutte is still standing still.
45 seconds.
"Why you still not stopping him?!" Beltrand screams to Gilmore, fully concerned for the safety of his friend.
"Not yet..." Gilmore's two words as he holds the switch.
55 seconds.
"GILMORE HE'S ALREADY DYING!"
Mateo's screams are now cackling and muffled but he still have determination to continue the training. But her body is starting to move erratic as the pain and suffering is becoming even more unbearable.
"Mateo! You can stop now! Please!"
Gilmore had enough and prepares to flip the switch but....
"d-d-don't... s-stop....."
Beltrand is shocked but disgusted on Mateo's grotesque tenacity.
"What do you mean to stop?! You're literally dying right now!" Beltrand scream as he watch his friend suffer. Mateo's screams echoed on the chamber.
"Sir Gilmore!?" Beltran looks on Gilmore as he's the one that holds the switch. His looks begs for Gilmore to stop the suffering.
But to his horror. Gilmore release his grip on the switch.
"Gilmore?!" Beltrand questions his decision.
"I believe he can do it now." Gilmore says with a serious expression on his face.
Beltrand's jaw just drop as he was now uncertain and confused. Should he stop the training? Should he just watch Mateo? His answer is to just stand still and wish that Mateo and Gilmore's confidence are correct.
Mateo meanwhile masters his strenght to absorb the remaining mana. Every part of his body hurts like hell, burning and his mana feels like bursting out of his body yet Mateo just grit his teeth.
His Mana cloud meanwhile are becoming smaller and smaller. But it also becomes slower until he reach the point where its like Mateo can't absorb anymore. He kneels as his body is slowly betraying him.
"Mateo-" Beltrand hesistate to continue his words, he regains courage and screams to Mateo.
"DO IT YOU FUCKING IDIOT! DO IT!"
Mateo masters one burst of strenght. He stand up and...
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
With one courageous scream and all of his remaining strenght, Mateo absorbs all of his Mana. If moves quickly again towards him. Mateo resist all the intense pain for few seconds until finally, Mateo absorbs all the potent Mana completely.
.
.
.
And finally bypass Level 14.
The moment Mateo stops, he starts to fall automatically as his body is totally exhausted. Mateo, in front of everyone is losing conciousness as his continues to drop.
But before he even hit the hard cold floor. Gilmore dashes towards Mateo and catch him on his stomach.
Gilmore quickly checks Mateo and makes a sigh of relief as he doesn't see any injury.
"Good job Mateo." Gilmore's compliments the unconcious Mateo with a smile.
Beltrand running towards the two.
"Is he ok?!" Beltrand asked.
"He's fine. Besides visible injury, I think it's not life threatening nor crippling."
"Phew! I'm glad."
"But still, he needs to be examined for any abnormalities. Let's go and bring this reckless bastard to the infirmary."
Belfrand nods. Juli enters the chamber after knowing that that training is complete. Using her magic, she lifted Mateo carefully and they now walks up on the spiraling stairs.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
"Aughhhhh.... My head...."
Mateo slowly wakes up while holding his head due to the sudden sharp pain on his temple.
After calibrating himself, he observes the surroundings. He expected that he would see Beltrand on the bed on his side but he didn't see Beltrand at all, and then he remembers.
"Ah, he didn't take the training."
He prepares to leave the bed but when he tried to stand straight, Mateo's legs feels very fragile. His legs shakes for a while before he sits on the edge of the bed.
"What?" Mateo is confused. Not only that her body feels so beaten and weak, he also suddenly feel hungry. Mateo see the fruits on the desk in the side of his bed.
Without hesistation, he gobbled all the fruits until he feels energized again. Mateo tries to stand again, he managed to stand but his steps and posture is wobbly making him lean on the wall.
Mateo leaves the infirmary in search for Gilmore and Beltrand. His objectives leads him outside of the Vandril Mansion where he finally see the two.
Beltrand quickly notices him due to his faded white shirt and pants. A smile of relief appears on his face.
"You're finally awake."
"Yo Beltrand."
Mateo walks closer to the two. Gilmore now pay attention to Mateo. Meanwhile, Beltrand's expression changed to annoyance.
"If you're not on a sorry state. I probably punched you in the face right now."
"Hey hey what the fuck I did to you to deserve such hate?" Mateo's annoyed question.
"Because you almost die you dipshit!" After sometime shouting his frustratioms to Mateo, Beltrand sigh.
"You know what, just forget about it. So, are you feeling fine?"
"Still feel a little weak. The moment I wake up, I feel so hungry that I eat all the fruits in the infirmary."
"Perhaps because you slept for 2 days." Gilmore finally joins after watching the two banters to each other.
"I see... I'm not even surprised." Mateo chuckle as he remember his 1 week sleep after the Reverse Tower incident.
But his laughter abruptly stop when he remember something.
"Wait how about my training? Did I manage to finish Level 14?"
Gilmore smile. "Yes."
"Phew! All of those torture, I'm glad it paid off."
"Still... We should never do that again."
"I agree with Beltrand. I only allowed you to force yourself because I feel that you truly believe you can do it. But we can't do that stunt in the higher levels now." Gilmore's opinion.
Mateo nods because not only he agrees to Gilmore's words but also he scared on how painful the higher levels are if 14 almost kill him from what he think is numerous times already.
Gilmore slowly walks towards the mansion.
"Let's go inside and eat. Mateo, eat a lot so you can recover your energy and join Beltrand to test your strenght later."
Gilmore's invitation makes Mateo salivate a little bit as he imagines all the food. He wipes his droll and both him and Beltrand follows Gilmore for a hearty lunch.
.
.
.
.
After eating a enormous amount of food. The two finally have the time to test their new strenght with Gilmore's command.
"Lift an Ironwood log for me."
Without question, Mateo and Beltrand quickly follows and they walk to the pile of huge Ironwood logs. They prepare themselves for a heavy lifting but...
"Huh?"
The two almost falls to the ground due to out-of-balance, shocked on how easy they lifted the logs that weeks ago makes them struggle hard to even attempt on lifting.
"W-what?!" Mateo is surprised on revelation. He didn't even carried the log on his shoulder but instead just casually placed on both of her hands.
"This is... Absurd..." Beltrand as swing the log like a bat.
"You just don't have any problems lifting them?" Gilmore asked to confirm something.
"No problems at all. It's more like I'm lifting a twig compared to what we experienced weeks ago." Mateo's answer. He drops the log to the ground which makes a loud thud, shakes the ground and creates a deep dent on the soil. Mateo's eyes widen when he see that the log is not fake at all.
"The Mana Potency training really work wonders to your body."
"But we didn't use any mana at all?" Beltrand's confusion.
"Once your mana reach higher quality. It can also passively enhance your body in small amount. From passive strenght boost, increased recovery of wounds and fatigue and more. Ok both of you, now jump with all your force but don't use Mana."
Mateo and Beltrand follow Gilmore's order and pose themselves for the jump.
"Let's see who can jump higher." Mateo's challenge.
"Sure!" Beltrand's confidently agrees.
"Ready....... JUMP!" Gilmore starts the challenge.
The two jumps using their full physical strenght. They look down and see Gilmore becomes smaller.
Mateo reach a maximum of 8 Meters while Beltrand reach 10.
"Ha you lose!" Beltrand's smugly teasing.
But in Mateo's mind. It's undeniably a huge boost on their capabilities. He didn't manage to achieve such height while jumping in the past, even using Mana.
The two lands gracefully. Like a superhero.
"That's... Amazing." Beltrand's thrilled reaction.
"Now that we see how tall you can reach without Mana. Lets now look on your next jump but this time use Mana."
"Ok this time I'm going to win." Mateo's proud words.
"In your dreams." Beltrand's smug rebuttal.
The two pose themeselves again but this time, they infused their legs with Mana. And with Gilmore's command. The two jumps again but their power creates small crater beneath each of their feet.
"WHA-?!" Beltrand and Mateo are surprised on the unfamiliar strenght.
And the two reach the maximum height of their jump. Mateo reach 25 Meters while Beltrand reach 23 Meters.
"See?" Mateo's smug reaction as he look down on Beltrand who just sigh and admits defeat.
"Because you're 1 level above me."
"Reasons."
The two laugh as they now falling to the ground.
The two landed again gracefully but their landing creates minor shockwaves.
"So what do you think?" Gilmore asked.
"This is... Absurd. To think we can reach this level of power in just short amount of time." Beltrand's opinion.
"But its truely not a easy way to train. If we start from the scratch like from just a Bronze rank, we might give up anyway. Thankfully we're both already experienced adventurers." Mateo's review as he look on his palms. He can still feel the surge of power.
Gilmore nods in agreement on Mateo's words.
"Sir Gilmore. I have a request?"
"What is it Mateo?"
"Can show us your Mana jump?"
Beltrand's also got excited on Mateo's request. Gilmore smirks.
"Please step aside."
The two moves on a distance Gilmore suggested. Gilmore prepares himself for the jump and...
.
.
.
SWOOSH!
The two are confused when they see that Gilmore suddenly dissapears in a blink of an eye. But their confusion was replaced by panic when a sudden shockwave almost sent them flying.
When the wind settles. There's now a sizable crater on the ground.
They quickly look above and see what seems a dot on the clear blue sky.
"What the hell?" Mateo's shocked reaction.
"Whooooaaaa!" Beltrand's amazement.
And then the dot slowly becomes bigger and then quickly until it lands to the same crater making another shockwave and gust of dust and wind.
When everything settles down. They look on the crater and see Gilmore standing proudly on the same crater.
"So what do you think?" Gilmore's smug question.
"How high even is that?!" Mateo's still amazed question.
"I think 300 Rams."
"300 Rams?!" Both Mateo and Beltrand's shock.
1 Rams which equivalent to 5 Bricks in lenght is like equal to 1 meter. Mateo realized that Gilmore's jump is like equivalent to a Skyscraper.
The two just stop thinking and sigh.
"You're truely a Hero's descendant Sir Gilmore." The only words that came out from Mateo's mouth.
"I'm still far from Hero Glydel." Gilmore humbles himself.
The two do more test of strenght until it's time for them to leave the Vandril residence. Mateo and Beltrand already packed their things and now outside of the Mansion, saying their farewell to Gilmore and Erika.
"We going to return once we are confident that we can continue the training." Mateo proudly said.
"Same here." Beltrand agrees with confidence.
"That's exactly what I want to hear. My home is always open to you... As long as you fulfill your promise." Gilmore's words as he gives a soft laugh. Mateo chuckle.
"With such demand. Maybe we should also request to be trained with Vandril swordsmanship."
Gilmore laughs on Mateo's joke.
"You know that it's a family secret."
The two bows and says their farewell but...
They catch something fast coming behind them. When they look at it, it was a gold Vandril badge.
"Present those to the guards so they can allow you to enter easily."
The two smiles and nod before walking away. Erika waving her hand.
When the two reach the middle of the lush garden. Juli appears from behind the flowery bush.
"Juli? Oh hello." Mateo's surprised reaction.
Juli smiles to Mateo and then look at Beltrand. Where she runs and gives him a kiss.
"What the fuck?" Mateo's surprised reaction.
Juli then hugs Beltrand tight.
"You going to return right?" Juli asked.
"Of course. That's a promise."
After some time. Juli breaks the hug and says her farewell to the two. Then Mateo and Beltrand continues their walk.
"When did your relationship start?" Mateo asked.
"Since we repeatedly lifted those heavy logs."
"Fuckin hell dude. I thought you only a brothel cassanova. So your words about making moves on Juli is not a joke at all."
Mateo sigh.
"I just hope this is not a big deal for Sir Gilmore. I'm just amused that something like this already happening behind my back."
"Because you're too focused on the training. Maybe next time try to make move to other maids." Beltrand's smug suggestion.
Mateo chuckle.
"My appearance is too irregular for this world for some girls to fall over. And now that you know I'm from another world, it must be obvious right?"
As Mateo looks on the gate. Beltrand look at him with a sad expression on his face.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
That day is also the planned time for Grand Ecstasy to meet up on Mateo's Nattunnia home. And now Mateo, Beltrand and Sophia is waiting for Claustrine in front of the home before they pick up Shirna from Earth.
"Claustrine is surely late." Sophia's bored opinion.
"Should we visit her?" Beltrand's suggestion.
"What do you think Sophia?" Mateo asked for her opinion.
"It's already 2 hours since the scheduled time. I'm also starting to get concerned for her."
"Well let's-"
"E-everyone... I'm here."
The three simultaneously look on their left and all of them are in shock and horror.
"Oh my Goddess!" -Sophia.
"What the fuck happened to you?!" -Beltrand.
"Claustrine?!" -Mateo.
"G-guys what's w-wrong?"
But Claustrine is not aware that her friends' shock is due to her thinly, pale and sleep depraved appearance like she's just days away from death.
"W-why the shocked face? Come on, l-lets goooo..."
The three calms themselves then looked on each other.
"Should we have a short vacation on Earth?" Mateo's suggestion.
"Of course thats necessary at this point!" Sophia's quick approval.
"Yeah. We need to return this dumbass on her healthy form."
"???" Claustrine is confused as she watch her friends talk to each other but her sleep depravations makes her difficult to focus on things.
The supposedly regroup and quest to test their new strenght turns into an instant vacation due to Claustrine's ghastly appearance.