Training 2

"Hmmm!" Azrael groaned softly, forcing his heavy eyelids open.

As he surveyed his surroundings, he realized he was sprawled on the veranda floor.

Panic surged through him as he attempted to sit up, only to find his eyes widening in alarm as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"Fuck!" he gasped, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

His body felt utterly immobile; every muscle and fiber screamed in protest.

It felt as if an entire mountain were pressing down on him, rendering him helpless.

"Damn it!" Azrael cursed bitterly, a wry smile creeping onto his face as he acknowledged that even lifting a finger was beyond him.

"Oh, finally awake!" came Master Arcturus's voice from nearby.

Azrael turned his head to see the old man standing just a few meters away, looking down at him with an amused smile.

"Damn it, old geezer! Why can't I move? I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of horses!" Azrael exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"Well, that's just the side effect of yesterday's intense training," Master Arcturus replied nonchalantly. "Don't worry; it'll wear off soon enough."

"Oh," Azrael nodded slowly in understanding before suddenly realizing something. "Wait... you mean a whole day has already passed?"

"Yes," Master Arcturus confirmed with a nod.

Azrael was taken aback; time had flown by faster than he'd expected.

Just then, he felt himself being lifted into the air effortlessly, Master Arcturus had scooped him up like a chick!

Staring at the old man's spindly arms in disbelief, Azrael couldn't help but marvel at the hidden strength of this seemingly frail figure.

As Master Arcturus carried him toward the back of the house, they approached a small mountain where a steaming hot spring awaited them, a breathtaking sight adorned with vibrant flowers and large white stones that exuded an ethereal ambiance.

"Wow! Old geezer! I didn't know you could enjoy life like this! A hot spring? Nice!" Azrael exclaimed, surprise lighting up his features.

Master Arcturus simply smiled without responding and then tossed Azrael toward the hot spring.

"Ahhhh! What are you doing?!" Azrael yelped as he plunged into the warm water, some splashed into his mouth and made him choke.

Regaining his footing, he emerged from the water to glare at Master Arcturus with indignation.

"Just stay there and take a good bath, you stink!" Master Arcturus called out over his shoulder.

"This will help loosen your muscles and relieve your soreness." With that final remark, he walked away, leaving Azrael alone in the soothing waters.

Azrael rolled his eyes in exasperation before shedding his clothes, leaning back against the smooth white stones of the hot spring.

As the soothing water cascaded over him, he closed his eyes and surrendered to the blissful sensation enveloping his body.

It felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket, washing away the soreness that had plagued him just moments before.

A heavy, contented smile spread across his face as he basked in this moment of pure relaxation.

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"Old geezer, I have to say you hotspring is really something" Azrael said with a playful grin as he sat across from Master Arcturus, now dressed in a fresh set of clothes, topless and donning only black pants that reached his knees.

Before him lay a table brimming with an array of delicious dishes, their captivating aromas making it hard for him to resist drooling.

"Eat," Master Arcturus commanded casually as he began to savor his meal.

"Okay!" Azrael nodded eagerly, diving into the feast before him.

"Hey, old geezer! Why is my plate almost entirely meat? And I swear I've never seen some of these meats before!" He mumbled through mouthfuls, glancing up at Master Arcturus.

"Don't question it; just know that this meat is special, not everyone gets to eat this kind. Trust me; it'll aid your training," Master Arcturus replied calmly between bites.

"Oh!" Azrael nodded nonchalantly, fully focused on devouring the food.

With each bite, he felt a warm current flow from his stomach throughout his entire body, a comforting wave that made him feel invigorated.

After finishing their meal, both men made their way to the training ground.

"What's on today's agenda for training?" Azrael asked while picking at his teeth with a toothpick, a satisfied smile still lingering on his face.

"You'll be doing the same routine as yesterday, no changes until I say so," Master Arcturus replied firmly.

Azrael simply nodded in response as they arrived at their training destination.

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Time slipped by like fine sand through fingers; four days had already passed since Azrael began this rigorous routine.

He woke up early each morning before sunrise and diligently completed every exercise Master Arcturus assigned him.

After four days of commitment and effort, he found himself adapting well, the intensity had lessened considerably compared to those initial sessions.

Remarkably enough, faint signs of weight loss were becoming evident; his body was transforming under the strain of daily training.

Each day concluded with a long soak in the hot spring followed by another hearty meal, his appetite had grown astonishingly!

He could now consume enough food meant for three to five people and still feel a twinge of hunger!

Now at the training ground after completing today's session, with sweat glistening on his bare upper body, he sat down facing Master Arcturus while panting lightly.

"Well done, kid! You're really making progress," Master Arcturus said with a calm smile as he looked at Azrael. "Your body has already adapted to the training, so it's time to move on to the next phase."

Azrael couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Finally, I won't have to endure this exhausting training anymore."

Master Arcturus chuckled softly. "Oh, you think you're getting off easy? From now on, your training will ramp up significantly. Get ready for:

- 100 push-ups

- 100 sit-ups

- 100 crunches

- 100 squats

- A grueling 100-kilometer run!

"What?! Are you trying to squeeze me to death, old man?" Azrael's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Master Arcturus.

"Stop complaining! Who was it that wanted to become a Demon Executioner? Do you really think it's going to be easy? You'll have to endure a lot if you want to achieve that goal. And let me tell you, this is just the basic training!" Master Arcturus tapped Azrael lightly on the head with his cane.

Rubbing his head in mild annoyance, Azrael fell silent for a moment before shaking his head and letting out a resigned sigh.

"Alright then, let's come here tomorrow and kick off this next phase," Master Arcturus declared as he stood up and began walking away.

Azrael followed closely behind him, their figures casting long shadows on the ground.

As they walked together into the fading light of day, one thing became clear: the journey ahead would be tough, but perhaps worth every drop of sweat.