Holographic Training

I gently press the panel just like how Jack did for registering us in the Obsidian Shadow. The panel opens with a list of options for me to choose related to the training starting with the dummies which has defense equal to Low-E grade and the highest being High-D grade.

'This will be a good chance for me to practice my Ice Wave skill.' I thought and activate the training with the dummies.

"This is... harder than I... expected!" I say out loud struggling to control my breathing. It's been three days since I entered this training facility. I am fighting a Sand Scorpion hologram at Low-E grade in a desert environment created by the hologram devices and it has a stronger defense than I expected.

Except for taking rest and eating, I haven't stopped my training and have got a good proficiency in using Ice Wave. Since my family knows I am out for special training and will be in a safe environment, thanks to uncle Jon who convinced them to send me out for a few days, I don't have to worry about them, for now at least.

Controlling my breaths, I swing my sword at the scorpion which uses its pincer to block and at the same time using it's tail to attack from the top which I block using the shield that is in my other hand.

This doesn't feel like a Low-E grade animal, but a monster with higher intelligence from the dungeons. This is my first training fight in this room and it already proves too difficult for me to handle as I chose this scorpion which has better defense due to its hard skin.

Since I want to focus on the Constitution, I am not using the Ice Armor which is making it more difficult than it should be and the heat is not helping. I don't want to be a person depending only on the skills and strength, but also tactics and strategies which, if used correctly will give victory over stronger enemies.

I want to be more of a strategist or tactician rather than being a brawn using strength and skills to win. I need to know the fighting style of this monster to win and with my focus, it will take more time for me to understand it and find an opening to beat it.

I will have to find a way to increase my mental strength that will increase my focus and right now, the only way I know to do that, is the Battle Exercise. I am still stuck at the first move of the second set as it is more painful than the first set.

I still grit my teeth and start performing the first move which immediately makes me feel dizzy due to the immense pain I feel in my entire body. I try to focus on the fight as this pain helps me in strengthening my attacks which gets me one step closer to victory.

After a few seconds I feel my energy drained and on the verge of collapse where Shona ends the training and calls for the emergency medical team that is always ready to treat the people like me who tries to overdo themselves in the training.

It is not the first time this is happening to me as I have already lost consciousness twice from the time I have started my training here. It is because the medical facility available anytime is what keeps me pushing through every time.

The only issue with the medical team is that they will not allow me to get back to my training for two hours once I get my strength back. They have already tried to explain to me why I should not over exert myself and focus on keeping my body at my peak level.

They have no idea why I am focusing this much on becoming more powerful and I want to keep it that way. They already know I am a training maniac, thanks to Dawn in that part, they have decided to keep me in the med bay for the entire day to keep me away from training.

I have no other option than to stay in the med bay for the rest of the day as the training room doors will not open for me unless I get the permission from the medical team to use them. I have already tried it and failed, multiple times.

The next day, I started my training again. This time, I am forced to train with monsters that have lower defense and have to increase it gradually after defeating them with ease. This is the advice I got from the medical team. It is not just advice, but an 'order' which I must follow.

BEEP

After a few hours of training, my holowatch beeps to indicate a new text message. I open it after I kill the hologram of a Vile Snake I have been fighting before opening it. I see it is from Jack, whom we started calling as Lieutenant due to the militaristic structure of the Obsidian Shadow. I am a little confused as the text message just says "We need to meet."

I reply back "When? Where?" And get a reply within seconds saying "Now. Out."

I am even more confused why he wants to meet me all of a sudden. I take a few deep breaths to gain my composure and open the door of the training room to go to the temporary room they have given my team to rest. I want to refresh myself before meeting him as I am fully covered with sweat due to the training.

When I open the door I see him standing in front of the training room, waiting for me. I look around to see no one else in the corridor indicating I am the only one he is going to meet.

I look at him with inquiring eyes and he just says "Go home, get rest." To which I shake my head saying "No, I can't. I still need to train."

He again says with a stern voice staring at me "That was an order kid. Go and meet your family, NOW."

I have no other option but to follow the order I have now as I can't disobey his direct order.