Training

Day 20 January

Roy stood in the center of a spacious training room within his family's mansion. The polished wooden floor gleamed under the soft lighting, reflecting the vast array of weapons and training equipment lining the walls. 

On one side, there were rows of meticulously arranged weapons: traditional katanas, sabers, and spears hung beside modern steel longswords and tactical knives. Each blade was carefully maintained, their edges sharp and ready for action.

Adjacent to the weapons, a variety of training dummies stood ready, some crafted from dense wood, others featuring advanced materials designed to simulate human resistance. There were also high-tech sparring robots, their sleek metal bodies capable of mimicking the movements of a skilled opponent.

That was everything that his father had built over the week. Yes, money could do wonders…

"Phew!" Roy breathed deeply as sweat trickled down his forehead. No, now was not the time to marvel about the training room. 

The boy stood in the middle of the training room, his breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts as he faced off against his Korean MMA teacher. Sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the polished wooden floor, but he barely noticed, his focus entirely on the man in front of him.

The MMA master, Han Tae-jun, a formidable figure with a solid, muscular build faced him with a deadpan expression. His face, marked by a few faint scars, is framed by short, black hair with hints of gray. His sharp, focused eyes and strong jawline give him a tough appearance, with a slightly crooked nose adding to his rugged look. 

The small break was cut short by the moment master Jae-Hyun moved. The teacher moved with a fluidity and speed that Roy struggled to match, if not for the man holding back, that simple punch would have broken his nose!

Every punch Roy threw was effortlessly deflected, his opponent's hands a blur as they parried each strike with precision. Despite Roy's best efforts, he couldn't break through the man's defenses. Even with his body, powered by cultivation, Roy could not hit the man. 

"Arrgh." It was infuriating for him.

"Keep your guard up, Roy!" the teacher barked, easily sidestepping a jab and tapping Roy's exposed ribs with a light, yet firm, reminder. "You're leaving yourself wide open. Always be ready for a counterattack."

Roy gritted his teeth, trying to absorb the advice. He tightened his stance, bringing his arms closer to his body, and threw a quick one-two combination. But again, the teacher swatted the blows aside with an ease that was both impressive and frustrating.

"Your punches are too predictable…" The teacher said calmly, dancing just out of reach of another wild swing. "You need to mix it up, keep me guessing. Use feints, change your rhythm."

Roy's MMA teacher was known as Master Han Tae-jun, a name that commanded respect in the world of mixed martial arts. Born and raised in the gritty streets of Busan, South Korea, Han Tae-jun's early life was far from easy. He grew up in a rough neighborhood, where survival often meant knowing how to fight. At the age of seven, he began training in traditional Taekwondo under a local master who saw potential in the boy's fierce spirit.

However, Tae-jun's thirst for knowledge and power couldn't be quenched by a single martial art. In his teens, he began to study boxing, judo, and later, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, blending these disciplines into a unique and devastating fighting style. By the time he reached adulthood, Tae-jun had made a name for himself in underground fighting circuits across Asia, where he became known as "The Iron Wall" for his impenetrable defense and calculated, punishing counterattacks.

The man was a living legend to say the least.

Roy nodded, his mind racing. He feinted a left hook, then quickly shifted his weight to deliver a right cross. For a split second, he thought he had caught the teacher off guard, but the man merely smiled and blocked the punch, his counter coming in the form of a light tap on Roy's chin.

"Better." The teacher remarked, his voice carrying a note of approval. "But don't rush it. Speed without control is useless."

After a few more intense minutes, Tae-jun raised his hand, signaling the end of the sparring session

"That 's it, boy. Better than yesterday, worse than tomorrow. I hope you understand that." He offered a rare, light smile before adding, "Let's go back to the basics. Master the principles, and then I'll let the other masters take over."

Roy bowed deeply, respect and exhaustion evident in his posture, his breathing heavy as he tried to steady himself.

At the far end of the building, a cozy cafeteria had been built. Three men sat comfortably at a polished wooden table, their postures relaxed as they sipped steaming cups of coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, mingling with the scent of polished wood. 

They were the teachers that James, Roy's father, had contracted.

The first man, a middle-aged archer with long brown hair and no beard, looked around in amazement. His piercing green eyes and weathered features hinted at a lifetime of dedication to his sport. 

"I still can't believe the deal we made." He said, a note of disbelief in his voice. "I've got enough money to retire my whole family!"

"Me neither. I thought we would just babysit some pampered young rich kid. But the boy has potential at least." Answered the second man, a tall, broad-shouldered figure in his early fifties, wore a stubbly beard and had an air of quiet authority. He shook his head with a grin.

The third man, an elderly survival specialist with a rugged face and a deep, gravelly voice, nodded in agreement.

"Well, not the best kid I've trained, but yes… he has potential." He adjusted his augmented reality glasses. "I'm more astounded by how many cultivation books they had over there. Just two days of absorbing this Qi stuff, and I feel like I got ten years younger!"

They all wore augmented reality glasses that enabled seamless communication between them, translating their languages into a common tongue and projecting relevant information directly into their field of vision. The technology allowed them to discuss their impressions of Roy and his potential without language barriers.

"So, what do you think this is all about?" asked Leopold Adler, the archery master from Europe, the youngest of them all. His sharp green eyes reflected both curiosity and unease as he sipped his coffee. "All this structure—it's not just for one kid…"

"James is… an eccentric man, to say the least," replied Nathaniel Grayson, the old survival specialist from the USA, as he stroked his gray beard, lost in thought. "We had a talk yesterday, and it seems he's planning to send Roy inside that forest…"

"That forest!?" both Leopold and the weapons master, Eero Koskinen from Finland, exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," Nathaniel continued, nodding gravely. "And now that I've started to cultivate, I see things more clearly. Look at Roy in the training room—it's been less than a month, and the boy is already nearing the Second Stage of Body Cultivation. How many people on Earth could be stronger than him at that point? I can't even imagine how long it would take me to reach that stage."

"I can't agree more with you, Master Leopold," Eero Koskinen interjected, his voice steady and thoughtful. "The world we once knew is gone. James undoubtedly has far more information than we do. And just as you said, this setup isn't just for training one person. I'm confident we'll be tasked with training many more in the future."

Leopold smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "As long as the paycheck's good, I don't care how many kids I train." He finished his coffee, setting the cup down with a satisfied sigh. "Well, it looks like it's my turn with the boy."

He stood up, stretching his arms before heading toward the training room. As he walked past Han Tae-jun, they exchanged a nod, the Korean fighter stepping aside to let Leopold take over Roy's training session.

Leopold's sharp green eyes scanned Roy, noting the exhaustion etched on the boy's face and the bruises scattered across his body. The master smirked as he saw Roy's burning gaze despite the tiredness. It was good to have such a passionate student.

Without a word, Leopold walked over to the weaponry area and selected two bows, their polished wood gleaming under the lights. He returned to Roy, handing him one of the bows with a measured gaze.

"Activate your augmented glasses, boy." Leopold instructed, his voice steady. "Today, we'll be shooting at moving targets."

Roy nodded, quickly touching the side of his glasses to activate the augmented reality function. Leopold did the same, and within moments, the training room around them transformed.

The walls and floors melted away, replaced by the towering trees and dense underbrush of an immense forest. The air seemed cooler, the scent of pine and earth filling their senses as digital birds chirped overhead. The forest wasn't real, but it felt so.

"Focus, Roy," Leopold's voice echoed through the simulated environment, a blend of calm authority. "In this forest, targets won't just stand still for you. Remember what I've taught you—precision, patience, and timing. Let's see if you've been paying attention."