"Chapter 248: The True Reason for Training"

When Alex stated that he didn't need to train or learn martial arts and that a single glance was enough for him to replicate any movement, everyone on the deck froze, staring at him as if he were some mythical creature. Those who had dedicated their entire lives to martial arts looked at him as if their worst enemy was standing right in front of them.

Alex himself felt a bit embarrassed under the weight of so many gazes. Even in Valhalla, when he fought against gods, he had never felt such awkward attention. Remembering how he first realized his gift—the ability to replicate any techniques he saw in manga, anime, and games—he initially thought it was just a lucky coincidence. However, his encounter with Adam opened his eyes to the true nature of his power.

Shifting his gaze to Sasaki, Akisame, and Kensei, Alex saw how they were staring at him so intensely that it felt like they were trying to burn a hole through him. He could only offer a crooked smile and shrug. Their reaction was understandable—they were shocked that he could copy any martial arts style. But they had no idea just how strong he truly was.

The others on the deck, however, who already knew Alex well, weren't as shocked. To them, it made perfect sense. They had already seen him stand upside down on the mast, move so fast it seemed like there were multiple copies of him, and disappear as if he had teleported. Rei, Saeko, Valmet, and Beatrix had known about this ability for a long time, so it didn't particularly surprise them.

That said, even Saeko had once felt a slight sense of envy. It took her months of dedicated practice to master a new skill, whereas Alex could simply glance at it once and replicate the technique flawlessly.

Seeing that everyone was still staring at him, Alex waved his hand at his students, urging them not to slack off and to continue their training.

Meanwhile, Akisame was deep in thought. He suspected that Alex's body was something akin to a legendary martial arts physique. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right.

The young fighters, including Kenichi, Miu, Renka, and their friends, still couldn't tear their astonished eyes away from Alex. He was practically their age, yet he was far stronger and more capable than any of them.

"I told you I didn't want to talk about this. And now you're all looking at me like I'm your greatest enemy," Alex muttered with a crooked smile.

"Of course we are! Do you even understand how much effort and time it takes to master martial arts? And you just casually say you can do the same thing after a single glance. If it were up to me, I'd beat you up right now," Kensei said with exaggerated frustration.

"Dad, shut up! It's your own fault for spending more time taking photos of women's panties instead of honing your skills!" Renka snapped, kicking her father.

"But… but it's my dream! This is my collection, which will become a family heirloom! It will be passed down from father to son for generations! When I complete it, I'll hand it over to your older brother!" Kensei declared proudly, nodding wisely.

"Kensei, buddy, the only way you'll pass down your collection is if your wife doesn't kill you or burn it along with you," Sasaki commented, bursting into laughter.

Alex froze for a second, processing what he had just heard, and then laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. Everyone who had heard Kensei talk about his 'family heirloom' couldn't hold back their laughter either, erupting into fits of chuckles.

At that moment, Kensei realized a bitter truth—his wife really could do it. Panicking, he frantically started thinking of places to hide his collection and ways to distract her so she wouldn't destroy his "Holy Grail."

Renka, on the other hand, decided not to wait for her mother's return and to personally get rid of the collection. However, she understood that it wouldn't be easy. So, if her attempt failed, she would gladly "turn in" her father just to watch her mother destroy his treasure.

A sly smile flickered across her face, as if she had just come up with a brilliant plan.

Alex noticed this but chose not to comment. He fully understood what Renka was thinking and what she was planning to do.

He returned to observing his students and immediately noticed how much they had improved. They were performing much better than at the start of their training. He nodded thoughtfully, realizing that his trainees had made significant progress—they no longer collapsed from exhaustion after just a few exercises.

His gaze settled on Takashi, who was still fiercely competing with Jonah. Alex watched their match for a moment but quickly lost interest. Jonah trained with a clear goal—to become stronger so he could protect his family if necessary. Takashi, however, seemed to have long forgotten why he started training. His main motivation now was to surpass his peer.

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the boy closely. A moment later, he noticed that Takashi occasionally cast furtive glances toward the girl in pink. Smirking, Alex nodded to himself, but then a mischievous thought flashed through his mind.

He took out his phone and started taking pictures of Takashi's expression at that moment, planning to tease him later. Unconsciously, a villainous chuckle escaped his lips as he snapped the photos. Those standing nearby looked at him in surprise, but Alex simply waved them off. He couldn't exactly tell them that he was collecting blackmail material on his adoptive son just to mess with him in the future.

"Alex, may I ask something?" Akisame's voice rang out. "I noticed from the very beginning that all your students wear identical bracelets. What are they for?"

Alex put his phone away and calmly replied, "They're special weights. I won't go into technical details—I doubt they'd be very interesting. The point is, these bracelets automatically increase in weight as soon as the wearer gets used to them."

Akisame nodded, his curiosity growing. And not just his—others were intrigued as well. Noticing their interest, Alex continued explaining how the weights worked and why they were necessary.

He had long since lost count of how many times his students had adapted to different weight levels. However, he preferred not to mention that after every training session, he secretly cast a healing spell on them. Not only did it restore their tired bodies, but it also gradually strengthened them. This was the real reason for their rapid progress, though the students themselves had yet to realize the true nature of their growth. After all, the weights artificially kept their strength at the same level, preventing them from noticing any difference. But once they took them off…

"Can I get some of those? If it's not too much trouble, of course," Akisame asked, watching Alex closely. "They're far better than our usual habit of piling random heavy objects onto our students."

"Hmm, why not? Miu, Renka, are you interested too?" Alex turned to the girls.

Renka and Miu exchanged glances, as if silently discussing the offer. Then, at the same time, they both looked at Alex and nodded in perfect sync.

Alex smirked, amused by their determination. He then shifted his gaze to Hayato, wanting to hear his opinion.

The old man immediately realized that Alex was asking about Miu and calmly nodded, giving his approval. As for Kensei, Alex didn't even spare him a glance, which instantly made him protest… only to receive yet another kick from his daughter.

Alex turned to GIR.

"Bring me three sets of weights."

The robo-dog saluted with dignity and darted off instantly. Within a minute, he was back, carrying three sets in his paws, which he promptly handed over to his master.

"Here you go," Alex said, passing the weights to their new owners.

Akisame immediately began studying them closely, and soon Sasaki, Kensei, and even Hayato gathered around him—everyone was eager to examine the unusual devices.

At the same time, Kenichi felt a chill run down his spine. A sudden unease washed over him, as if something terrible awaited him. He nervously looked around, trying to understand what was wrong… and then his eyes fell on the masters standing near Alex, engaged in an animated discussion in a tight circle.

Kenichi swallowed hard.He had a bad feeling about this.

Without wasting time, Alex silently secured the weights around Miu's and Renka's wrists. The girls barely had time to blink before a sudden heaviness crashed onto their bodies, making them involuntarily groan from the unexpected weight.

Hayato and Kensei immediately took notice of their granddaughter's and daughter's groans. Turning toward them, they saw that Miu and Renka were already wearing the weights and watched their reactions with interest. Both girls began describing their sensations—their movements became stiff, and the weight on their shoulders felt almost unbearable, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on them.

Akisame, known for his "creative" training methods for Kenichi, was genuinely impressed by such technology. He was eager to learn how Alex had created such unique weights. However, Alex had no intention of revealing his secret—these weights were made from a special metal mined in Orario's dungeon and reinforced with runes. Reproducing them in this world was practically impossible.

But Alex wasn't distracted by discussions, keeping his full attention on his team's training. He was particularly interested in Valmet, Rei, Saeko, and Beatrix.

Saeko and Beatrix had already begun mastering breathing techniques, and Alex watched their progress intently. Saeko decided to learn two styles at once—Water Breathing and Wind Breathing. Her exceptional talent in swordsmanship allowed her to adapt to such contrasting techniques with ease.

Beatrix, on the other hand, chose Flame Breathing, which perfectly matched her fiery and cheerful personality. Looking at her, Alex couldn't help but think that she was like a female version of Kyojuro Rengoku.

As for Valmet and Rei, they were not to be underestimated either. Valmet, with her vast experience in knife combat, continued to refine her skills, and with Alex's guidance, her progress had accelerated significantly. Her style was becoming even more lethal.

Rei, meanwhile, was training under the direct mentorship of Brunhilde herself. For her, this was an invaluable opportunity—after all, the eldest Valkyrie was renowned for her mastery of weaponry, especially spears.

Shigure stood beside Alex, silently observing the training. She didn't engage in the Ryozanpaku masters' conversations, focusing entirely on Saeko and Beatrix. Her gaze was sharp and attentive, like that of a predatory cat waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Suddenly, she tugged at the sleeve of Alex's haori, drawing his attention. Feeling the gentle pull, Alex turned his head and met her unwavering gray eyes.

Shigure's gaze was as piercing as ever, making Alex subconsciously compare her to a cat.

"Hm?" Alex tilted his head slightly, trying to understand what she wanted.

Shigure pointed at Saeko and Beatrix, who were still practicing. Alex immediately guessed what was going on and began explaining to her the principles behind the breathing techniques they had chosen. After listening to him, Shigure nodded and returned to her observation, no longer asking questions.

Alex smirked and shook his head. He caught himself thinking once again that her behavior really did resemble that of a cat. The amusing scene even made him think about her pet, Tachimaru — a rat who somehow managed to befriend a cat.However, he quickly dismissed these thoughts, focusing on his students' training. Clapping his hands, Alex gave them a short break.

"Listen, Alex," R called out, sitting on the floor to catch his breath. "You were joking when you said you were training us to outrun zombies, right?"

"Of course, I was joking," Alex nodded, confirming the obvious. "Actually, I'm preparing you for something else."

"Then what for?" Shino asked, her voice filled with tired irritation. "This week, I almost lost my soul a few times!"

Alex scanned his exhausted students. Everyone was waiting for an explanation.

He turned his gaze to Takashi — he looked just as upset.

"Alright, I think it's time to explain why all this," Alex sighed and decided to call for the help of his loyal assistant.

But as he looked around, he realized that GIR was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did he go…?" Alex muttered, rubbing his forehead.

Then, without much thought, he loudly shouted:

"GIR! Come here!"

At the sound of Alex's loud shout, everyone instinctively pulled their heads into their shoulders and covered their ears. His voice was so powerful that even the zombies wandering near the shore turned toward the ferry. An eerie silence fell, broken only by the hurried, light footsteps.

A moment later, GIR came flying around the corner, running up to Alex and saluting.

Alex simply shook his head and, without wasting time, asked the robo-dog to bring him his bolter. However, GIR immediately protested, claiming that the bolter was his personal weapon, his honor, and his very essence. Alex rolled his eyes.

"Relax, I'll return it to you," he said, sighing.

GIR looked at him with deep offense but ran off to carry out the order. Their exchange lasted only a few seconds, but the others exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding why Alex needed the weapon of his mechanical companion.

A minute later, GIR returned with the same disgruntled expression, holding the bolter in his paws as if presenting a priceless treasure. Alex took the weapon and, inspecting it, noticed a kill counter had appeared on it.

"Looks like you customized it…" he muttered, shaking his head again.

Ignoring GIR's strange modifications, Alex turned to his students, grinning as he twirled the bolter in his hands, and loudly asked:

"Well, my dear test subjects, who wants to shoot first?"

"I do! I do! Give it to me!" came Kota's excited shout.

The boy literally teleported to Alex, grabbing the bolter as if trying to snatch it from his hands.

"Damn…" Alex muttered, flinching from the surprise.

Kota ran up so quickly that even he couldn't react in time. However, the much greater interest was sparked by the reactions of Kota's girls – they looked at him as if he were about to have an unpleasant conversation later that evening. Alex smirked but didn't interfere – the guy was asking for it.

After handing Kota the bolter, Alex watched with interest as the boy practically glowed with excitement, studying every detail of the weapon with a reverent expression.

"Alright, enough staring. Come on, shoot already," Alex encouraged him.

Kota, beaming with joy, approached the ferry's railing, preparing for his first-ever shot with the iconic weapon. Those who were familiar with the Warhammer universe immediately realized the opportunity they had missed and now cursed themselves in frustration.

Even the masters from Ryouzenpaku stopped discussing Kenichi's training and focused on the boy.

However, Alex didn't warn Kota about the recoil – he wanted to see just how hard it would throw him back.

Kota, shifting his stance several times, clearly unsure how to hold the bolter, finally made up his mind. Alex cleared his throat, hinting that Kota shouldn't waste time.

"Oh, yeah…" Kota nervously smiled, and then, holding the bolter with both hands, he squeezed the trigger.

A deafening shot rang out.

Kota, as if struck in the chest, was thrown backward with a loud thud and crashed onto his back, his eyes wide open.

Everyone present froze, watching the scene in shock. No one had expected the recoil to be so powerful that it would literally fling Kota onto the deck.

The boy lay on his back, staring at the sky, his hands trembling from the pain. However, despite this, a satisfied smile was on his face – he was happy he had fired the bolter, even if it had cost him a meeting with the deck.

GIR approached him and loomed over him with contempt.

Taking the bolter back, the robo-dog twisted its metal face and coldly said:

"You're pathetic. You're unworthy of being an Ultramarine. You do not deserve the glory of Ultramar. Your weakness has disappointed Guilliman."

Kota groaned, feeling that the moral damage was stronger than the physical one.

Hearing GIR's words, Kota involuntarily started crying. In that moment, he completely forgot about the pain in his hands, and all the joy from firing the bolter vanished instantly. No one around understood what the robo-dog was saying, but one thing was clear: GIR's words had affected Kota so much that he burst into tears like a child.

Alex sighed and shook his head, watching the spectacle. He approached Kota and carefully examined his hands. After the shot, the recoil had been strong enough to dislocate his joints, but not break any bones. With quick and skillful movements, Alex popped them back into place, but the boy didn't even react to the pain. He just continued crying, as if he didn't notice anything else.

Seeing this, Alex gestured for Kota's girls to come and take their boyfriend, getting him back to his feet. They exchanged a quick glance and then approached Kota, as though they had done something like this many times before, simply grabbing him by the legs and dragging him away.

Everyone watched the scene, following the boy's progress as he continued crying. No one mocked him – rather, they were all in confusion. They couldn't believe that the recoil from the weapon had been so strong that even plump Kota had been thrown almost a meter back.

"Now do you understand why I'm training you?" Alex asked, smiling.

"Maybe you could explain just what the hell happened here?" R interrupted, still completely bewildered. "What kind of weapon is that, that even a guy as chunky as Kota got thrown back?"

"Alright, I'll explain it more simply," Alex answered calmly. "Every day, zombies are becoming more dangerous, with new types emerging. That means soon regular ammo and weapons will be nothing more than a light tickle to them. That's why I started training you for more destructive weaponry from the start."

"You're saying you're actually going to give us something like that?" Lutz frowned. "And you really think we won't end up like Kota?"

"Something like that," Alex nodded. "As you've already seen, the recoil from this kind of weapon is extremely powerful. That's why I'm training you not just for speed and endurance, but to make sure you don't lose your arms after the first shot."

Those who had initially refused to train now looked thoughtful. They were watching Alex with a new interest. The possibility of shooting powerful weapons seemed too tempting to pass up.

Alex clapped his hands, signaling everyone to resume training. However, another plan was already forming in his mind. After they arrived in Okinawa, he intended to help his students awaken their chakra. If they learned how to strengthen their bodies with it, they wouldn't be blown away by the recoil of Ultramarine weapons.

The training came to an end. Now, most of his students were no longer lying on the ground as if on the brink of death but were sitting, trying to catch their breath. Sweat covered their faces, but their eyes sparkled with determination. Alex smirked and cast a healing spell on everyone, then walked over to the girls, helping them stand and making their way to the control cabin.

As soon as they arrived at the rest area, the girls collapsed with relief onto soft mattresses, clearly not planning to move anytime soon. GIR and MIMI immediately started giving them massages.

Once the procedure was finished, the robo-dogs ran off to play with the children, and Alex just shook his head, watching their carefree behavior. He understood that they sometimes got bored on the ferry. During the day, they entertained themselves with video games with Alice or other activities, and at night, they manned the ship, allowing Alex and the girls to sleep peacefully.

Alex was just about to lie down next to Valmet when Koko turned on the series, and the girls immediately sprawled on the free spots, continuing to watch Supernatural. Gradually, night settled in. One by one, the girls fell asleep, while Alex, trapped in a circle of arms around him, couldn't seem to close his eyes.

Carefully, so as not to wake anyone, he slipped out of the embrace and left the control cabin. However, in the darkness, someone was watching him closely; blue eyes glimmered, tracking his every movement.

Stepping onto the deck, Alex lit a cigarette and looked up at the star-filled night sky. The sight always calmed him. A quiet voice broke the silence, and he lowered his gaze, noticing R and Lutz standing watch for the night. Waving at them, Alex exchanged a few words before heading off in search of what he needed.

After some time, he found a lounge chair and a small table. He dragged them up to the roof of the ferry, made himself comfortable, placed an ashtray, drinks, and snacks on the table, then leaned back, enjoying the view of the stars.

A few minutes later, he heard light footsteps. Someone was coming up to him. Alex turned his head and saw Saeko, dressed in a light pajama set.

"Can't sleep?" he asked as she approached.

"No," Saeko shook her head. "You suddenly left, and I thought I'd check where you were going."

Saeko sat on the lounge chair next to Alex, leaning slightly against him. Alex smiled and, pulling her into his embrace, wrapped her up so she wouldn't get cold in the night. As soon as she was in his arms, Saeko smiled softly, nuzzled her nose into his chest, and closed her eyes.

Alex slowly ran his hand through her silky hair, giving her a chance to relax. Feeling his warm, soothing caresses, Saeko sank deeper into the moment, her breathing becoming steady and calm.

"So, what are you doing here?" she asked, lifting her head to look into his eyes.

Alex smirked.

"Couldn't sleep. Decided to go outside for a smoke. Besides, the light of the stars always calms me down," he said, looking up at the sky. "I thought I'd just enjoy them all night, as usual."

Saeko smiled, then shifted her position so she could also comfortably watch the stars. She rested her head on his arm, and they both enjoyed the night sky together.

Alex wasn't interested in the names of the stars or constellations. To him, they were just distant lights flickering in the endless dark. He started telling Saeko simple facts—how many of those stars had already burned out long ago, but their light was only just reaching Earth. Saeko listened with curiosity, pressing closer to him.

For a moment, Alex fell silent, and Saeko looked at him questioningly.

"Shigure, you don't have to hide. I know you're here," he said without turning his head. "Instead of watching from the shadows, just join us."

In the darkness, a barely perceptible sound was heard, and within a second, a slender figure appeared on the roof of the ferry. Shigure nimbly and silently jumped up to join them, standing nearby. Her face, as usual, showed no emotion.

"How did you notice me?" she asked in a monotone voice.

Alex smirked.

"Heh, it's a secret. But if you want, stay with us. We've got snacks and drinks. You can join Tachimaru."

Shigure slowly nodded, moved closer, and, after looking around, realized there was almost no free space left. Quickly finding a solution, she lay down on the other side of Alex, placing her head on his other arm.

Alex was slightly surprised but said nothing. Meanwhile, Tachimaru, not wasting any time, jumped onto the snack table, skillfully opened one of the packages, and began munching contentedly.

Alex resumed his story from where he had left off. After a while, Saeko and Shigure had fallen into a deep sleep, comfortably settled next to him.

Seeing that his mistress was asleep, Tachimaru simply shrugged and returned to his meal. Alex, realizing he was once again sandwiched between two girls, merely smirked. Perhaps this time he would actually manage to fall asleep.

Alex was woken by a voice. Opening his eyes, he saw that Saeko and Shigure were still asleep, and for a moment, he couldn't figure out who was calling him.

Listening closely, he quickly realized it was Shizuka. She was standing below and trying to shout up to him.

Carefully slipping out of Saeko's and Shigure's embraces, Alex approached the edge of the roof and looked down.

"Alex-kun!" Shizuka waved joyfully. "It's morning, breakfast is ready, time to come down!"

Alex nodded, then turned and walked over to the girls.

Shigure was the first to wake up. She suddenly opened her eyes, immediately sprang up from the lounge chair, and jumped back, glancing around. After confirming everything was fine, she looked at Alex, nodded briefly, and then, without saying a word, took Tachimaru and disappeared from sight.

Alex watched her leave, wondering what was going on in her head, but decided not to focus on it.

After waking Saeko, he went downstairs with her for breakfast.

Glancing at the route map, Alex realized that it would take several more days to reach Tanegashima. This city would be their last stop before Okinawa.

After thinking for a moment, Alex decided he could spend some time making small modifications to the HMMWV that the girls usually used for raids. Explaining his plan, he heard offers of help but knew that, in the end, they would just sit by and watch him work. However, Alex didn't mind the company, and in the end, Koko decided to join him.

Taking the troublesome trio—GIR, MIMI, and Stitch—along, they headed to the HMMWV. Before starting the modifications, Alex carefully inspected the vehicle from all sides. With the current resources, global changes weren't possible, but even small improvements could significantly enhance its performance.

After determining the scope of work, Alex instructed GIR, MIMI, and Stitch to clear a workspace while he and Koko went to fetch tools. They headed to the warehouse where supplies and equipment were stored, but when they opened the door, they were met with quite a curious sight.

"Oh, how cute you two are," Alex smirked, hinting that they weren't alone.

In front of them, Toji and Kyoko were passionately kissing. Alex hadn't expected feelings to develop between them but was glad that, even in these times, someone had managed to find a partner.

Toji and Kyoko froze, hearing his voice, and then turned their heads in sync. They met the gaze of Alex and Koko, who were watching them with genuine curiosity.

"Ahem... I hope you're not going to spread rumors about this?" Toji asked with a slight embarrassment.

"Why are you embarrassed? You're a grown man, Toji. Or are you afraid of revenge from the other guys?" Koko teased with a playful smile.

"Koko's right," Alex nodded. "You're an adult, and your relationship with Kyoko is normal. You like her, she likes you. What's there to be embarrassed about? If the guys complain, it's only out of jealousy. At least now you've left the 'single dogs' club! Congratulations, I wish you happiness! I'm so proud of you..." he said with exaggerated drama, like an old father whose child had finally found a partner.

Koko played along, theatrically pulling out a handkerchief and wiping away imaginary tears, congratulating Toji and Kyoko on their "new stage in life."

Toji sighed heavily, realizing that his true enemies weren't the guys in the group, but Alex and Koko, who were thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Alex had a little more fun but, upon finding the necessary tools, pulled Koko behind him.

"Don't get up to mischief," he smirked, closing the door behind him.

To be continued...

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