Chapter 58: Testing Limits

The following morning arrived, and I tidied up before heading to the dining hall. Clad in a cloak, Chloe greeted me.

"Hi, Mr. Han."

I nodded in return.

Surprisingly, instead of the usual boiled potatoes, there were freshly baked rolls placed on the table.

"What's this?"

"It's bread. It was made by our new pastry chef."

Chloe gestured towards a middle-aged woman standing nearby, awkwardly suppressing a laugh. She was one of the newcomers who joined us just yesterday.

"Since we were lacking in wheat in our storeroom, they resorted to making bread from mashed potatoes. But now that we have a pastry chef, we should try to gather some wheat."

As I dug into the bread, I left the hall and headed towards my quarters.

This was some uplifting news.

By diversifying our food choices, we could reduce the tensions in the dining hall.

In the square, Enok emerged from the warehouse, pulling a cart loaded with supplies. Two new individuals were accompanying him.

Enok greeted me with a nod and continued on his way.

I entered the training grounds.

There, I joined Jenna, Aaron, and Dica, who were waiting for me, and together, we began our basic survival training.

As we neared the end of our practice, a familiar face appeared at the training ground. It was Edis Kallen, a formidable female recruit warrior clad in sleek dark leather armor. She nodded cordially towards me.

"Good to see you."

Quietly, I retrieved a training blade and dagger from the weapon rack. These were training weapons, without a sharp edge. With a quick motion, I tossed them towards Edis, who adeptly caught them.

"What's the purpose of this exercise?"

"If I'm going to trust you to cover my back, I need to know your true abilities. It's a simple requirement, you see."

"Well, that seems fair."

Edis offered a faint smile as she deftly spun the blade in her hand, assuming a combat-ready stance, fully prepared for battle.

I glanced at Edis's status window. After completing a significant number of tasks the previous night, her level had reached 3. Even at level 3, her stats surpassed those of Aaron, who remained at level 5. Additionally, her skill levels were also unparalleled.

She still has room for improvement.

I adjusted my grip on the wooden blade.

With a determined glint in her eyes, Edis rushed at me.

The duel concluded with my victory.

I refrained from using Wide open. The previous night, I had experienced a headache, likely a side effect of the skill. Unless it was a dire situation, I had decided to exercise restraint in its use.

Regardless, Edis couldn't match my skills.

She let out a wry chuckle and remarked, "You're quite formidable. I guess the rumor of you being a farmer was a mere fabrication."

"You seem to have misunderstood something. Jenna!"

"Yes?"

"Give it a try. Fight her using a blade."

"But my primary weapon is a bow!"

The ensuing scene unfolded as Jenna bravely wielded the training blade.

After a brief exchange, Edis caught her breath and stood upright. With a penetrating gaze, she quickly assumed her stance once again.

As the intense battle concluded, Jenna wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"Wow, that was intense. It could have gone either way."

In the end, Jenna emerged as the victor, despite the level difference balancing their respective positions.

Edis muttered with a hint of frustration in her voice, "To think that such a young girl could be stronger than me..."

"Well, she's not your average young girl. She's had her fair share of struggles, I suppose."

"If those people hadn't relied solely on their arrogance and had actually honed their skills, they would have given me a headache too."

Although Edis was currently weaker than us, she had abilities and growth values better than a 1-star rating. As her level increased, the gap would gradually narrow.

"Don't trust him! It's all just a deception he's trying to pull off! No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get close to them!" Aaron yelled with a hint of frustration while running around the track.

I decided to ignore his outburst.

After all, here, you could grow further through your efforts. Don't neglect your training, no matter who you are.

Remember that.

Relaxed, I surveyed the training grounds.

Aaron was bounding with a blockade attached to his back. Dica was using a blade, efficiently striking a wooden dummy on the right half of the training area. Alongside Edis, Jenna, and a few others, individuals were earnestly honing their skills with their weapons.

This was the result of the significant organization that had taken place yesterday. Each individual was diligently training with unwavering determination. If they wished to avoid death, they had no other choice. They needed to prove their own worth.

However, the number of students remained limited.

If we were to somehow assess the percentage of people gathered here, it wouldn't even account for half.

My thoughts drifted to the two men who clung to Enok, appearing as issues.

Opting for a support role rather than engaging in combat seemed more favorable. However, the number of positions within the support organization was limited. At best, the facilities could accommodate two people. The rest would be left idle, unable to do anything other than participate in synthesis.

It was not my concern.

I provided them with everything they needed.

It's truly up to them

 now.

My attention focused on the young man who wielded his blade with beads of sweat streaming down his face.

He had the potential for one of the primary positions. Among the people who barely escaped being chased by the Fangwolves yesterday, he stood out with his two-star rating. His name was Asher. As the first 2-star hero to emerge since Molmont, he utilized a Low-level Swordsmanship skill at Level 1.

Observing Asher keenly, I noticed his hesitant and tentative sword swings.

"You there."

"Are you referring to me?"

Asher was taken aback by my attention.

Appearing to be in his mid-twenties, he carried a sword at his waist. However, it was something modest, not a finely crafted weapon like Edis's, something that wouldn't make a sound even if it broke.

"Who else is here other than you? Come closer."

"Uh, understood."

The man approached me cautiously.

"I'm Asher Roderick."

"I see."

Such details were evident when examining his status window.

"So..."

"Did you hear the explanation about this place yesterday?"

"I did. There's a being known as the Master, and we were gathered here to fight. I've understood your words."

Taking a wooden blade from the display rack, I assumed my position.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to achieve?"

"Yes, I do."

Asher held the wooden blade with a tense expression.

However, his gaze remained fixed on me. He didn't avert his eyes or take a step back.

At least he has grasped the basics.

"What were you doing before coming here?"

"I worked as a guard for a hired fighter group."

Asher murmured, glancing at Edis.

Edis was engaged in bows and arrows practice with Jenna at the shooting range.

"Carrying supplies, standing guard, setting up camp..."

"For someone with those duties, you seem to have combat skills."

"Since I aspired to become a hired fighter before."

Asher offered a modest smile.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

I lunged forward, my sword slicing through the air. Asher's strike missed, and he stumbled backward. Nevertheless, his unwavering gaze remained fixed on me, refusing to blink even as he trembled.

Although it was just a single exchange, he showed unwavering determination.

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