Chapter 68: Mission Impossible
Chapter 68: Mission Impossible
Moonlight farming district
Training grounds
David Karkovsky
I couldn't sleep well these last few nights.
I think in part it's because I pushed myself relentlessly to beat the timed lap. However I finally reached level 1 according to Aniki's standards.
Megan and Gregory already beat me to it.
Damn!
Last night I barely slept, i was probably too exited and exhausted to relax.
I'm on my way over to the 'private' lesson with Aniki.
I'm going to have my suit unlocked for 3 times gravity.a Megan, Gregory and me are having Aniki personally teach us about the next stage's training.
I'm not sure what to expect.
I arrive...
Nobody's here...
...
Am I the first?
...
Is it just me or is it still dark out.
I look around.
a tumbleweed blows past emphasizing the desolate training area.
I look at my watch...
04:55
I facepalm covering my embarrassment to an audience of 0.
I was overeager.
Aniki said to be here at 7.
Shit what do I do now, I dont want to go back.
This exhaustion is really getting to me I didn't even once look at the time this morning...
...
...
I take a seat on the ground and stare at my watch.
05:12:12
05:12:13
...
...
05:12:41
05:12:42
I feel my eyes getting heavy.
I get up and lean against the livestock scale we used for calibration.
Come on David you have to stay awa--
...
...
"David!, David!"
I hear a woman's voice.
I feel someone gently shaking me, must be my wife Jeanette.
I turn over on my other side...
"Let me sleep a bit more, honey..."
I adjust my body to get comfortable.
"Honey!¿?"
A confused voice behind me.
I feel something hard on my face.
"David, get up."
I panic as I hear Aniki's voice. What the hell is he doing in my bedroom.
I force my overcrusted eyes open.
I see a figure with my one eye. I try to focus.
It's Aniki and...
I look around rubbing my still heavy eyes as I look around.
Panic grasps my heart as it all starts coming back to me.
"Aniki."
I yelp as I panic.
This is so embarrassing.
I feel a hand on my back. Snapping me beak from my blank state of mind.
"We're about to start. Get up."
I hear Gregory
Suddenly I hear my watch beep and instinctively look at it.
07:00:01
I slowly rise steadying myself on the scale.
"I-i'm sorry Aniki. I-I mean Kaijuu-sama"
He starts laughing loudly. I calm down a bit.
"Don't worry about it. Let's begin shall we."
He waves his hand dismissing the awkward tension with a smile.
...
" Okay so before I unlock your suits level 1 capabilities. I have a final physical test you need to pass."
We look at each other a bit taken aback.
He seems to see the concern filling our faces.
"Don't worry It's not that physically demanding... however it is quite technical so pay attention."
His stern gaze meets us each in turn.
I nod.
"Does anyone remember the tournament when I became the General..."
We all nod.
"Good. Now can anyone tell me how my wives managed to do their 21 laps in only 5 minutes."
I think for a bit recalling the events. my mind is still a bit groggy from the lack of sleep.
"Yes Gregory."
"Sir you all trained under extreme weight. So Roka-sama and Felmina-sama simply ran while their suits where turned off."
Aniki gets a smile on his face as he says.
"You're half right, but did you ever wonder what the yellow slider on your left gauntlet is for?"
I look down at my left hand, noticing it for the first time.
I feel Megan's overeagerness behind me as I look back at Aniki.
"Yes Megan."
"Sir, is it for lowering your weight like you did when you first showed us the secret to your power?"
"Full marks to Megan"
She jumps up and down at Aniki's praise, lightly and excitedly clapping her hands.
He looks at her outburst and she calms down.
He turns and walks away. We follow.
He takes his wooden sword turns it on and draws a line in the dirt about 10 meters long.
Then takes 3 long steps measuring out about 3 meters then draws another line perpendicular to the first.
"Follow me, try to keep up."
A light red aura envelopes his body as he takes off.
We were ready and we keep up as he picks up speed.
The aura fades and as I start to notice a yellow aura intensify around him, the distance grows exponentially.
Until...
He suddenly stops almost instantly.
We gasp for air once we finally catch up. He hasn't even broken a sweat yet.
Aniki'sp amazing!
Once our breathing stabalizes, he continues.
"The test is simple. with your gravity down turned on at full blast you'll run back to the line I drew at full speed. When you reach it you need to stop before you cross the second."
He takes out his wooden sword again and repeats the process of drawing lines once again.
"Remember don't slow down before you reach the line, otherwise the training means nothing. After each attempt, fully stabilize your breathing before trying again."
He puts his wooden sword back at his waist.
"If you get tired. stop and try again tomorrow. Come and get me once you believe you mastered this. Remember If you fail while I evaluate you. I'll send you back to level 0... meaning you'll head back to Vincent and start from scratch ... Including hell week."
I get shivers down my spine just remembering that nightmare.
...
...
It's been a month since we started...
Once we started after Aniki unlocked the anti gravity feature we eventually painted permanent lines on the ground.
We also time one another to make sure we remain at full speed.
More and more bears joined us hoping to ascend. We had to widen the lines tenfold.
Someone is yet to pass this trial.
I'm starting to feel like it's impossible. I'm resting after my first 5 set getting ready for the second.
I feel hopeless. I suddenly notice through my exhaustion a commotion brewing. I Look around and notice Aniki heading over with Felmina-sama.
I drag my tired body up and join the crowd.
Restless murmurs start intensifying and someone finally works up the courage to speak.
It's Jeremy.
"Yes.... Jimmy."
A vein pops pn his forehead as his frustrations boil over.
He take a beat calming himself before he speaks careful not to offend Aniki.
"Sir, it Jeremy."
"Ah!"
Aniki gets this look on his face like a child that messed up.
Aniki gestures for him to continue.
"Permission to speak freely, sir"
"Granted."
Jeremy takes a deep breath then.
"Quite frankly, Sir this is impossible."
His frustration surfaces again.
Aniki holds his hand up silencing the murmurs from the crowd.
"So you're saying it can't be done, correct?"
Jeremy nods.
Aniki continues
"So if Felmina over here. Who by the way hasn't trained as hard as you lot I might add.--"
Felmina-sama playfully slaps his arm.
"Dearest husband. Don't be mean"
He clears his throat.
"If she manages to do it, you won't complain correct?"
Jeremy nods
"What about the rest of you?"
He looks around.
We all nod vigorously.
"Felmina!"
He commands her.
She walks over to the line.
"I'm ready."
"Wait. It doesn't mean anything if they don't verify you actually succeeding with their own eyes."
As he passes me he puts his hand on my shoulder and says in s soft low voice.
"Watch carefully david."
He walks past me then adresses the crowd.
"All of you stay here."
The next moment he takes off at a blinding pace scooping Felmina-sama up in a princess carry as he runs leaving the crowd stunned silent.
I strain my eyes and notice him reaching the starting position in no time at all.
It's a good 300 meters away approximately.
The next moment I see 2 huge dust clouds approach.
I focus intensely as they both approach. The crowd stands back. Aniki is ahead.
He starts cutting across her path and heads straight toward me.
I resist the urge to run as he gets closer.
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Author's note:
Hello everyone. I Hope you are all doing well.
I want to update you on some life developments after I published chapter 67.
My house was broken into and everything was stolen including the laptop I used to write. I only lost 1 chapter though. Since then I gained permanent employment and got super busy learning my new job. After a bit I started reading other novels on the site looking for entertainment. I finally, after lots and lots of procrastination decided to write again. Updates won't be everyday like before. since nowadays I only really have a chance to write on my weekends off. I'll be moving this to the Author's thoughts section in a few days.
Thank you for reading.