Master's Training

Suddenly, this old man rushed at Brian and Caesar knocking them down and started beating them. A red glint could be seen within his eyes. He looked as if he had the intent to kill.

The pair did not understand what was happening and all they saw were blinding fists flying towards them. The speed at which the old man was punching was so fast it seemed as if his fist was multiplying.

The pair tried to block but somehow they kept missing and the punches started pummeling their body.

Suddenly Caesar changed forms and lunged at the old man, claws and teeth furiously swiping. This surprised the old man and he stopped punching for a second. This gave Brian the opportunity to quickly counterattack. Due to a lack of experience, though, his punches and kicks were quite weak.

Despite this surprising interlude, the old man quickly dodged and started pummeling them once again. This process continued for around 15 minutes until he finally stopped.

"Well?" he asked, "how does it feel to go up against someone for the first time?"

Hearing this, the two immediately relaxed and slumped onto the ground. It turned out that this was a demonstration by their master. It was to show them you couldn't just say you're strong, you had to prove it. Brian felt that this furthered his philosophy, that unless you were the strongest, smartest, or ha the biggest backer, you were trash and could be oppressed.

In this world, power was everything. Reputation was everything. After realizing this, he repeated his thoughts to Caesar and then replied to his master.

"By the way master, what do I call you?"

"You will only know my name once I think you're strong enough. There are many things that I need to teach you if you want to make a name for yourself, and we don't have much time. How about this? We will stay in this world, the world of your fang, for 3 years, and if you're still not strong enough, I will take back our master-disciple status."

This satisfied Brian really well as he knew now that he needed to get stronger unless he wanted to be trodden upon. For these next three years, he and Caesar would train with all their might. What the pair did not know, though, was that these next three years were going to be hell on Earth.

---

"Okay, so now for you training plan. Starting from now you will fight each other once ev-" His master began but was cut off by Brian.

"Ummm... Master, you haven't told me what my skill is yet?"

This made his master very surprised. "What? You mean that little wolf beside you has not told you yet. Haha, no wonder you seemed so weird. You haven't accessed your skill even once. Ok, let me tell you. Your skill is a virtual class skill. Yes, I know, it seems extremely weird but just so you know, mine is as well.

You thought mine was a body enhancement of my eyes? Well you were wrong. It's actually my brain that could enhance all other aspects of m body, so I guess you could call it half-half. But since this is a virtual world, I can use my skill. This ability of mine also allows me to store up the time I can use it. That's why I can utilize it in the original world and make others think it's a body enhancement skill.

Your skill is actually very interesting. You have an improved body altogether in a virtual realm. Your strength, speed, agility, intelligence are all boosted along with your five senses becoming more honed.

But that's just the start. Your skill can also create clones of yourself, shadows if you will. They will listen to all your commands and act on their own as well. These basically mean that you can double, triple, and even quadruple your strength based on your familiarity in this skill.

Ah, it seems as if your little friend has already developed a secondary skill, Hiding. It is very useful and I recommend it to you as well.

Secondary skills can only be learnt and you can't just have it through bloodline. They are ranked similarly from Vague to Godly. The only difference is that it cannot be passed down and must be acquired through your own resources and connections. this is a secret among the upper echelons of society and you shouldn't be qualified to know this. I wouldn't have told you unless you need power so much.

The current you guys are very lacking in combat strength and experience so I shall impart two secondary skills to you. Take them as your 'apprentice gift'. Caesar, your wolf form is very powerful already but is more just raw strength. You will need to make it more concentrated and consistent. Create bursts of energy. Here, this skill is the 1000 fists skill, the one that I used against you. In your case, though, it may become the 1000 claws skill. It is a very valuable skill, so keep it well.

Brian, unlike Caesar, who can transform into a wolf, you have a very weak body. Therefore, this skill I will impart is quite sad, actually it's very sad. It is called the Ironman skill."

Seeing Brian's eyes light up with superheroes being mentioned, his master quickly explained the Ironman skill.

"The skill is actually not as profound as you think. Where other skills, such as the 1000 fists skill just requires understanding and then repetition, yours is a little different. To develop an iron body, and become an Ironman, you are going to need external influence. You can probably figure the rest out yourself."

Understanding gradually dawned upon Brian. Basically, he needed to be beaten up. The more beaten up he gets, the more he will understand the skill, and the more Ironman like he will become.

At this point, he could not help but swear, "f*ck you, old geezer, I allowed you to become my master to shape me into a world-builder and all-rounded hero, not to become a masochist."

Hearing this, Caesar burst into laughter.

The old geezer, as Brian had called him, really couldn't retort what is disciple had said. It truly was a masochist-like skill. Very terrifying. Moreover, if one wanted to make it even further with this skill, they would need to be beaten up with even harsher methods. Just thinking about this gave Brian's master a chill down his spine as he looked upon his new student with pity.

Seeing said student's eyes burn with fury he quickly changed the topic.

"Umm... also, seeing as your skill works best when your clones can take on different actions at once, I will give you one of my greatest treasures. Before I give it to you though, I need you to promise that you will never show this to anyone else."

"Hurry up, you damn old man, I have already suffered enough, now give me your treasures."

"Okay then. What I am going to give you is a pill. But not just any pill. This pill will make your body constitution back into zero, basically, as strong as when you were a baby."

Seeing the fury in his disciples eyes burn hotter, the old man quickly explained. It seems he had totally forgotten that he could easily beat up his disciple with one hand.

"Wait, don't hit me. It's actually a miraculous pill. This pill, despite lowering your constitution, will make you a blank slate. This means when you defeat others, you can absorb their skills as well. Yes, that's right, all of it. Don't be so excited, I will give it to you. Of course, you won't just get godly understanding of the skill straight away, as it is someone else's skill after all. But it is just as if you awakened a new skill. It has no boundaries that are present in secondary skills and all skills stolen are primary skills, through and through. Granted, the skills you stole have to be primary in the first place.

Also, the reason why I can't eat this skill is because of its name, the 'rebirth' pill. It completely erases every secondary skill you know and changes your innate skill back to Vague understanding. You see, it was truly fate that brought you to me. Now, quickly admire and beg your master for this pill."

"Give it to me." Brian was extremely emotionless as he just requested for the pill. He saw it as compensation for the masochist skill he received from his master.

"Oh, alright. And by the way, that is why I gave you the Ironman skill. With a body constitution of a baby, you can be easily beaten up since for the first few minutes after ingesting the pill, every thing you touch, including your clothes, will give off immense pain. Take my well-wishes to becoming a masochist."

Before he even finished the sentence, the old man had already put down the pill and started dashing away.

---

After settling down, Brian started to understand the true value of this 'Rebirth' pill. It would allow him to become a jack-of-all-trades, but also, a master of them all. Therefore, he quickly ate the pill, and started digesting the pill.

Only once it was too late, did Brian realize something.

'Oh shit, if my body's constitution is reverted to that of a baby's, wouldn't that mean that I can only window-shop the countless beauties of the world for another 12 -or-so years before my functions mature again.'

He loudly screamed out all the vulgarities he knew, which for a 16-year old, was quite a lot.

---

At this time, sipping tea in a luxurious penthouse apartment, Brian's master suddenly felt a chill in a place where the sun doesn't shine.