Chapter 4: Six Days of Strength

Day Two: Rock Lifting

The sun had barely risen when Garp clapped his hands, signaling the start of Vulcan's second day of training. In the clearing, several large boulders sat, waiting for Vulcan to lift them—each one larger and heavier than the last.

"Alright, kid!" Garp boomed. "You've done enough running. Today is all about strength! Start with the smallest rock and work your way up. And no whining, understand?"

Vulcan, still sore from the previous day's forest run, nodded with quiet determination. His young body ached, but the fire in his eyes hadn't dimmed. He approached the first boulder, a smaller one about half his size, and crouched down to grab it with both hands.

"Lift with your legs!" Garp called out.

Gritting his teeth, Vulcan heaved the rock upward. His muscles strained, but the rock lifted off the ground. It wasn't easy, but he managed to hold it up for a few seconds before dropping it back to the ground with a thud.

"Good! But you've got bigger challenges ahead!" Garp grinned.

Vulcan moved to the next boulder. This one was larger, almost as big as he was. He bent down and wrapped his arms around it, his heart pounding in his chest. He lifted again, but this time, the rock barely budged. Sweat trickled down his face as he tried again, his muscles trembling under the strain.

"Don't give up now! You've got more strength than that!" Garp shouted, his arms crossed as he watched.

Vulcan gave one final heave, and the boulder lifted off the ground. He couldn't hold it for long, but the fact that he had managed to lift it at all brought a smile to his face. He dropped the rock, panting heavily, his entire body burning with effort.

"Well done, Vulcan! You're getting stronger," Garp said with a nod. "Now, go rest up. Tomorrow, we focus on something else."

Day Three: Dodging and Endurance

On the third day, Garp's training shifted focus. Vulcan had proven that his strength was developing, but now it was time to test his endurance and agility.

Garp set up a makeshift obstacle course with ropes, logs, and rocks spread out across the clearing. At the center of it all stood Garp, holding two large sacks filled with sand.

"Today's all about dodging and stamina," Garp said with a grin. "I'm going to throw these at you, and you're going to dodge. Simple, right? If you get hit, you start over. And trust me, you don't want to get hit by one of these!"

Vulcan stood at the starting line, his eyes scanning the course. His legs still ached from the previous days, but he wasn't about to back down. With a deep breath, he nodded at Garp, signaling he was ready.

"Alright, let's go!" Garp hurled the first sandbag toward Vulcan.

Vulcan's eyes widened as the massive sack of sand flew toward him. He barely managed to leap out of the way, tumbling onto the ground but recovering quickly. He sprang to his feet and started navigating the course, weaving through the obstacles as Garp continued to launch sandbags at him.

He dodged the first few easily, his small size allowing him to slip through tight spaces. But as the course went on, his stamina began to wear down. His movements slowed, and just as he neared the end of the course, a sandbag clipped his shoulder, knocking him off balance.

"Start over!" Garp called, his grin widening.

Vulcan gritted his teeth and stood back up. He was exhausted, his body sore and bruised, but he nodded and made his way back to the start.

Again and again, Vulcan ran the course, dodging sandbags, slipping through ropes, and leaping over logs. Each time, he got a little further before getting hit. By the end of the day, he had completed the course once without getting hit, and though he was utterly exhausted, a sense of accomplishment filled him.

Day Four: Climbing Again

On the fourth day, Garp stood at the base of a steep cliff that stretched high above the clearing. The rocky face was jagged, with small footholds scattered unevenly across its surface. It was the same mountain Vulcan had climbed before, but this time, Garp had a new challenge in mind.

"Alright, Vulcan," Garp said, arms crossed. "You're going to climb this mountain again. But today, I want you to carry this with you." He handed Vulcan a large backpack filled with weights. The pack was almost as heavy as Vulcan himself.

Vulcan's eyes widened as he slipped the backpack on, feeling its weight press down on his small shoulders. The challenge ahead seemed daunting, but Vulcan's calm determination pushed him forward.

"I'll do it, Grandpa," he said, his voice steady despite the strain.

"Good. Now get climbing!"

Vulcan approached the cliff, his muscles already sore from the past days of training. He gripped the first handhold and began his ascent, the weight on his back making the climb even more difficult. His arms and legs trembled as he pulled himself upward, each movement slower than the last.

Halfway up the cliff, Vulcan slipped.

His foot lost its grip on the rock, and for a terrifying moment, he dangled from the mountainside, his heart pounding in his chest. His grip faltered, but just as he was about to fall, he managed to find a foothold and steadied himself.

Below, Garp watched in silence, his eyes sharp.

Vulcan took a deep breath and continued climbing, his body aching with every move. After what felt like hours, he finally reached the top, collapsing onto the flat surface, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.

"You made it," Garp called from below. "Not bad!"

Vulcan managed a weak smile as he lay on the ground, too tired to move.

Day Five: Strength and Balance

On the fifth day, Vulcan's training shifted once more. This time, Garp focused on both strength and balance, setting up a series of logs and platforms over a small pond near the forest.

"You're going to cross the pond without falling in," Garp said, pointing to the rickety wooden logs. "And to make things more interesting, you're going to carry these." He handed Vulcan two heavy buckets filled with water.

Vulcan looked at the logs, his legs still sore from the climbing the day before, but he nodded and grabbed the buckets.

As he stepped onto the first log, it wobbled beneath him, forcing him to shift his weight to maintain his balance. He took a slow, careful step forward, then another, keeping the buckets steady. The logs creaked beneath him, but Vulcan kept his eyes focused, moving forward one step at a time.

Halfway across the pond, the log wobbled violently, causing Vulcan to lose his footing. One of the buckets slipped, spilling water everywhere as he tumbled into the pond with a loud splash.

Garp's laughter echoed through the clearing. "Gahahaha! You're gonna have to try harder than that!"

Vulcan, soaking wet, climbed out of the pond and grabbed the buckets again, his expression calm and focused. This time, he moved more carefully, adjusting his steps as the logs shifted beneath him. He reached the other side without spilling a drop.

Day Six: The Final Challenge

By the time the sixth day of training rolled around, Vulcan's body was sore from head to toe. His legs ached, his arms felt like lead, and his muscles burned with every movement. But even so, he stood ready in the clearing, waiting for Garp's final challenge.

"Alright, kid. You've done well this week," Garp said with a grin. "But we've got one last challenge. You're going to do everything we've done this week, back to back. No stopping. Run the forest, lift the rocks, climb the mountain, dodge the sandbags, and cross the pond. You ready?"

Vulcan's eyes widened. It was a daunting task, even for someone older than him, but he nodded. "I'm ready."

The next few hours were grueling. Vulcan ran through the forest, his legs burning with every step. He lifted the rocks, his arms shaking as he hoisted them off the ground. He climbed the mountain, his heart pounding as he pulled himself up the steep incline. He dodged sandbags, slipping and stumbling but never stopping. And finally, he crossed the pond, his balance steady despite the exhaustion weighing him down.

When it was over, Vulcan collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. His body ached, but there was a sense of pride in his heart.

Garp walked over and sat beside him, grinning. "You did good, kid. You've got guts."

Vulcan looked up at Garp, his tired eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Thanks, Grandpa."

Later that evening, after the day's training had ended, Vulcan and Garp sat around a small campfire, the warm glow flickering against the darkening sky. The flames crackled softly, casting shadows across the clearing.

Vulcan sat close to Garp, a blanket draped over his small frame. His body was still sore from the training, but his heart was light.

"You're getting stronger every day," Garp said, poking at the fire with a stick. "Keep this up, and you'll be a Marine before you know it."

Vulcan smiled, leaning against Garp's side. "I want to be strong like you, Grandpa."

Garp chuckled, his usual boisterous laughter softened by the quiet of the night. "You're on the right path, kid. Just remember, it's not just about strength. You've gotta have a good heart too."

Vulcan nodded, his eyes growing heavy with sleep. As the fire crackled and the stars began to appear overhead, the two of them sat in comfortable silence, the bond between them growing stronger with every day that passed.