They will not be enough.
A week passed by just like that.
In the past week, Kael was put through a hell where even Althea's healing felt traumatizing. After all, every time she healed him, it meant that the torture would continue.
His instructors didn't see him as a patient who was just healed, they saw him as a man who had recovered and could now take more.
Kael could swear the instructors were competing to see who could make his life more miserable, and honestly, Kael couldn't tell who was winning!
Every contender's performance was nothing but masterful!
And Kael hated every single moment of these masterful performances.
'Tsk, if only it wasn't effective, I would have…'
Kael clenched his fists in frustration, hating how effective this method of torturing him was. Let alone others, even he was scared of his own growth.
[Name: Kael Carter]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 22]
[Level: 2 → 10]
[CE: 129/1200]
[Talent: Dragon Genesis]
[Talent Rank: SSS Rank]
[Strength: 10 → 32]
[Agility: 8 → 35]
[Speed: 9 → 34]
[Stamina: 12 → 37]
[Defense: 11 → 38]
[Mana: 3 → 41]
[Intelligence: 7 → 33]
[Charisma: 7 → 32]
…
Yes, he had just become level 10 yesterday.
His stats were almost ten times higher than when he first came here, and all of this happened in just a week.
Seeing this progress, Kael clenched his fists with a determined look on his face, prepared to have his ass handed to him again.
'He is late.'
He thought inwardly as he tapped his foot on the stone floor.
It was strange because General Deren had never been late before. Actually, all this time, Kael had never seen that man enter through the door. Every morning when he came here, the General was always here, waiting for him.
'Wait, is he on leave today?'
Kael's eyes brightened up.
Deep inside, he was still a boy full of innocence and hope.
Soon, however, his hope was crushed as General Deren walked in.
And today, the man wasn't alone.
Arlan was walking with him as well, and the instant Kael saw the gorilla man, he snorted.
"Why are you here? You are scheduled to meet the Hero in a few hours. The Hero cannot meet you currently since he has other commitments, so go away, shoo shoo~"
Kael spoke, moving his hand dismissively.
What surprised him, however, was the fact that Arlan remained silent even when he said all this. Normally, the man would lash out, ready with a retort.
Kael found it strange, and soon, he found the reason.
"Is this the way you talk to your instructor? Here I thought it was common understanding to respect those who impart knowledge to you. Do I have to arrange mannerism classes for you as well?"
General Deren spoke in a cold voice, and Kael felt a shiver down his spine.
"I-I…"
He stuttered, unable to form words in front of the General.
Arlan, who stood behind the General, smirked at him, and Kael could only glare at him with a wronged look on his face.
"Apologize."
Deren ordered.
Kael stared at Arlan and,
"I am sorry."
He gave in, not without glaring at the gorilla man, of course.
"Be respectful."
Deren, however, wasn't satisfied. Heck, the General was already holding a spear in his hand. Seeing the familiar spear, Kael's body trembled. He then glanced at Arlan and bowed his head the very instant.
"I apologize for my mistake, Instructor Arlan."
"Worry not, since you have apologized so sincerely, as a magnanimous and forgiving man, I forgive you."
Arlan grinned widely.
Kael's face twitched continuously. He, however, didn't dare to say anything.
"From today onwards, I and Commander Arlan will be training you together."
General Deren shared the news.
"Together…?"
Kael flinched.
Two torturers working together? Just thinking about what awaited him made him weak.
"Your separate training sessions will now be combined. Together, we will explore the gift Lord Feraos has given to you and turn you into one of the strongest warriors in Nerathis.
Prepare yourself, the real training begins now."
Deren's cold words echoed throughout the training hall, and Kael could see it.
This was where his journey ended.
Soon, the doors of the training hall opened again, and three soldiers walked in. Two of them seemed excited, while the one in the middle, who also looked older than the other two, had a solemn look on his face.
"These will be the soldiers you are going to face today."
As they entered, Deren informed.
Kael stared at the soldiers who were walking in. He recognized the one in the middle since he was the one he sparred with under Arlan's supervision. As for the other two, they were new faces.
Seeing that his training was about to start, Kael dropped his casual attitude, and the look on his face shifted.
His eyes turned draconic, and the next instant, a translucent screen appeared in front of him, providing him the information about the three soldiers.
[Name: Varik Ironhand]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 30]
[Level: 22]
[Strength: 52]
[Agility: 34]
[Speed: 36]
[Stamina: 48]
[Defense: 50]
[Mana: 8]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Charisma: 12]
[Strengths: Unparalleled Physical Strength, High Durability, Exceptional Close Combat Skills]
[Weaknesses: Lacks Speed, Limited Tactical Awareness, Poor Adaptability in Magical Combat]
…
[Name: Sarah Swiftwind]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 27]
[Level: 21]
[Strength: 36]
[Agility: 55]
[Speed: 50]
[Stamina: 40]
[Defense: 30]
[Mana: 10]
[Intelligence: 18]
[Charisma: 22]
[Strengths: Exceptional Agility, Evasive Maneuvers, Skilled Archer and Tracker]
[Weaknesses: Low Physical Defense, Relatively Low Stamina, Weak in Prolonged Melee Combat]
…
[Name: Kaiden Blackthorn]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 42]
[Level: 24]
[Strength: 40]
[Agility: 38]
[Speed: 44]
[Stamina: 46]
[Defense: 40]
[Mana: 20]
[Intelligence: 22]
[Charisma: 16]
[Strengths: Balanced Fighter, Proficient in Sword and Shield Techniques, Adept at Countering Magic]
[Weaknesses: Jack-of-All-Trades but Master of None, Average Charisma, Weak Against Highly Specialized Foes]
…
Yes, he had started using Dragon's Eye in front of others now. It was just one of the many abilities he 'randomly awakened' on a certain day, and just as he expected, Arlan didn't doubt a thing. He even found it natural.
After using it in front of Arlan, it became normal for him to use this ability in front of others as well.
"They will not be enough."
As he read the soldiers' information, Kael turned towards Deren and shook his head.
Deren raised his eyebrow at his words. After all, he knew Kael's limits since he trained him himself. Arlan, however, smiled at those words and at Deren's reaction.
After all, unlike Deren, he had seen this monster fight.
The Commander then stepped forward and stared at the Hero with a wide grin on his face.
"Who said you will be facing just one of them?"
Kael stared at Arlan and,
"Are you saying…?"
"Exactly. You will be facing all three of them at the same time."
Arlan nodded.
"Still confident?"
The Commander questioned, already knowing the brat's answer.
"Wouldn't hurt to try."
Kael shrugged, making Arlan's smile wider. This was the reason he liked him in the first place.
However, in contrast to Arlan, the two new soldiers, Varik and Sarah, didn't like Kael's attitude.
"The Hero seems quite full of himself."
Sarah stepped forward.
"To think he would be confident in facing three Drakthar Soldiers after just a week of training.
How brave.
Just like how one would expect the Hero to be."
She commented. Her words were full of praises, Kael, however, could sense the sarcasm in her voice.
She sounded bitter, and honestly, Kael didn't blame her.
He knew the soldiers of this nation trained for years to reach this level. It was obvious that they would not take it well when someone who had barely trained for a week came along and said they were 'not enough.'
It was a common reaction, and instead of snapping back at her, he just smiled.
"You overpraise me.
I am only doing my best so I can stand up to your and everyone else's expectations."
"I-Is that so…?"
And in an instant, all the sarcasm and bitterness flushed out of Sarah's face.
She thought that the Hero would be as arrogant as all those talented men were, but…
He seemed quite nice?
And… he was handsome too.