What? Don’t tell me you are intimidated.

[Ding!]

[Skill acquired: Basic Hand to Hand combat (Incomplete)]

In an instant, Kael's expression changed.

'What?'

This was something new.

'A skill…?'

[Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)]

[Mastery: Very Low]

[Description:]

[A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.]

[Incomplete:]

[Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. Currently, the host has only mastered the first component — footwork. With precise and agile movement, the user can navigate the battlefield effortlessly and evade attacks.]

[The remaining components: strikes and counters]

…

'Basic Hand to Hand combat…?

That's a skill?'

Soon, however, Kael realized another thing.

'He wasn't just attacking me randomly,

He was instilling the footwork into my body.'

Yes, it was a cruel method, but he learned one of three components of an essential skill within a few hours, not to mention his stats had increased quite a bit as well. 

Kael couldn't think of a method as efficient as this.

And as if that wasn't enough.

His eyes fell on another thing,

[CE: 35/100]

The CE or whatever it was, it finally rose up.

Now, till now, Kael hadn't explored his system much, so he didn't know what CE was; however, he did know one thing: he, who had been constantly checking his Status ever since the training started, knew that before Arlan appeared, his CE was 0.

So the change was probably due to Arlan's training.

If Kael was right and his CE was connected to him leveling up…

Then training with Arlan was what would help him level up. 

The moment Kael concluded that, his eyes brightened up.

With a grunt, he stood up, completely ignoring the pain in his legs. He glanced at Arlan, and a wide grin appeared on his face.

"We aren't done here, are we?"

"Huh?" 

This time, the one who was taken aback was Arlan.

"Oi, brat." 

He called out.

"I didn't even hit your head; how did you lose your mind?"

He questioned, seeing the crazed look on the Hero's face; even the commander panicked a little.

He then glanced at Althea standing in the corner and,

"Come here and see what's wrong with him."

He ordered.

The last thing he wanted was for the Hero to lose his mind under his training.

Who knew what awaited him if that happened? And Arlan had zero interest in finding it out.

He had a beautiful wife and 2 daughters; he loved his life very much.

Althea, however, poured cold water on his head,

"My ability does not work on mental conditions."

Even the Almoner of Services wasn't almighty.

"It doesn't matter; come heal him anyway. The mind and body are somewhat connected."

Arlan ordered, and Althea nodded, walking towards Kael without any change in her expression.

"…"

Kael, on the other hand, observed this exchange in silence, his mouth twitching without stopping.

He, however, didn't say anything for now; despite being motivated, his legs still hurt like hell. It would be good if Althea healed him.

He would continue his training after that.

Althea approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder; once again, Kael felt a warm energy entering his body, healing all his pain and fatigue.

"Are you alright now?"

Arlan questioned.

"Yes."

Kael nodded as he took his stance again,

"Let's continue."

Arlan, however, didn't move and turned towards Althea instead,

"Your ability didn't work."

"I already said it doesn't work on mental conditions."

Althea answered.

"…"

Kael's mouth twitched again.

"Are you going to train me or not?"

He questioned with a frown, then, as if he thought of an idea, he smirked,

"What? Don't tell me you are intimidated."

It was Kael's second mistake.

Arlan's expression changed.

"Alright, fuck it."

He cursed out loud, and with his staff in his hands, he started targeting Kael's legs again.

This time, however, as Arlan advanced, Kael dodged all his attacks. His movements weren't perfect; but he still dodged everything Arlan threw at him, surprising Arlan.

'As I thought…

Now that I have learned the skill, moving my legs is easier.'

Kael noted down as he smirked.

'I can do this all day.'

And as if knowing what he was thinking, Arlan suddenly increased his speed. Kael widened his eyes, unable to even see the staff, let alone react to it.

"Aaaagghhh!!"

He screamed in pain as he fell down.

"Hmm, I guess this is enough for now."

Arlan completely ignored Kael's screams.

From his tone, however, he seemed quite satisfied for some reason.

"Heal him again."

He ordered as he glanced at Althea. 

Althea nodded and did what she was told.

Once again, Kael was healed back to full health.

"Stand up."

Arlan ordered, and as Kael stood up,

"Your overall balance seems somewhat manageable now."

Arlan observed.

"Maybe you can fight a 12-year-old girl now."

He laughed.

"I only see progress."

Kael shrugged.

He was getting used to the gorilla man's antics. 

Arlan chuckled,

"Alright, let's continue.

Now that you have the footwork down, we need to combine it with the punches you learned before.

Before, you were using your footwork to dodge my attacks; now you will follow the same footwork and approach me.

Try to gather strength from your legs and release it through your punches. Do you understand?"

Kael nodded with a determined look on his face, doing what he was told.

"No, not like this; your punches are too weak. Put more force into them.

What? Did you take it seriously when I said you could fight a 12-year-old girl now? Was that your goal all along?"

"…"

Kael's mouth twitched as he put more force into his punch.

"More power!"

"Hey! Don't lose your balance! Did you forget what I said!? Gather strength from your legs and release it through your punch.

It is the basics of basics!

How do you not get it!?"

"…"

Kael, who had already learned to ignore the guy, simply continued to strike; the more he moved according to Arlan's instructions, the more in sync his body felt.

He could feel it; with time, his punch was getting stronger and stronger.

Kael fell into a trance; with every move, he improved.

[Ding!]

[Strength: +1]

[Agility: +1]

The system showed message after message, but Kael didn't notice them; he continued to move.

Arlan, who was dodging his attacks, was finding it more and more difficult. The progress was visible to even an untrained naked eye. The pace at which Kael was improving was simply unbelievable. 

It was then,

[Ding!]

[Basic Hand-to-hand combat (Incomplete)]

[Mastery: Very Low]

[Description:]

[A foundational skill encompassing basic techniques of unarmed fighting, including strikes, blocks, and grapples. Effective for self-defense and close-range encounters.]

[Incomplete:]

[Basic Hand to Hand Combat consists of three components: footwork, strikes, and counters. The host has now mastered the first two components — footwork and strikes. With precise and agile movement, the user can maneuver around the battlefield effortlessly, while delivering powerful and accurate strikes.]

[The remaining component: counters]

[CE: 72/100]