Training

When one seeks to get stronger, pain is the price that must be paid.

But along with pain, there must also be time for rest and recovery.

Muscles cannot be built through relentless training alone, without recovery, they will break down, poisoning the body.

"My Lord, I trained to be a guard before, I know how to get stronger. This is not the way." David insisted.

"I know you want to keep your job," Liam replied, still shadowboxing in the air with proper form, pushing his hands as hard as his body allowed.

"But I don't have time to do it your way."

He had no time to build muscle.

No time to recover from muscle tears.

And no money for mana cream.

All he had was the knowledge of Mixed Martial Arts that he had brought with him.

As his arms dropped to his sides, David stopped the timer.

"Five minutes."

At the beginning of possessing this body, Liam had barely been able to stand for one minute before collapsing onto his bed.

But now, not only could he stand, but he could also throw proper punches for a decent amount of time.

"At least you've gotten stronger..." David shrugged, resetting the timer.

"I'm not." Liam shook his head.

"I'm only getting used to this body. I've just warmed up. If only I had more time…"

Scratching his chin, an idea popped into David's head.

"If weight is the problem, we can get some surgeons to remove the fat.

You'll be able to move faster, probably gain some stamina."

Liam stood up, shaking his head as he gestured for David to start the timer again.

"No. I need the weight."

Clicking on the timer, David sat down on the dirt, exhausted from just standing.

"If you don't mind me asking, my fief, why do you need the fat?"

He examined Liam from head to toe.

Although the custom clothing had improved his appearance, the excess weight was clearly holding him back.

'He obviously needs to lose weight.'

Liam bent his knees, shifting into an amateur wrestling stance, dragging his right leg across the floor to move while staying low.

Repeating the motion with both legs, he circled around—

"Ah!"

He collapsed as a sharp cramp hit his right side.

"Two minutes!" David shouted, rushing toward him.

He tried to pull Liam up, but nothing happened.

It wasn't until Liam pushed himself off the ground that he managed to stand.

"David, ah…" He continued grabbing onto the cramped muscle, "Do you sense any mana on me?"

David blinked at the question, confused.

'What does that have to do with anything?'

But since the man paying him had asked, he humored it.

"No. But why do you ask?"

"What about Jorvik? Do you feel any from him?"

"It's not as strong as the others, but it's still there."

Liam massaged his cramped stomach and continued.

"That means he'll be able to use that mana against me."

If Liam was going to fight Jorvik, he needed to know what kind of damage he was in for.

The fact that mana, something he once thought was fantasy, was real in this world was strange.

And it even had the same name as it did on Earth… What a coincidence.

"I suppose you're right, my Lord," David nodded. "But I still don't know what this has to do with you keeping your weight."

"On me, you can't feel mana, but when you tried to carry me, you could feel my weight."

He watched David's face closely.

"Weight that you couldn't carry. See where I'm going with this?"

David squinted, feeling like he was missing something obvious.

But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure it out.

Liam chuckled.

"Alright, explain to me how anyone with mana increases the strength of their punch?"

Now this was something David could answer.

He clenched his fist, preparing an explanation.

"First, you prepare your punch… then you gather mana around it to adjust the weight of your hands…"

He froze mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what Liam meant.

His eyes widened.

"I get it now… You don't have time to learn mana, so instead, you're going to use the weight you already have."

"Bingo." Liam snapped his fingers.

David raised an eyebrow.

"What's that, my Lord?"

"It's nothing. Just a murmur…" He brushed it off.

"By the way, where's my sparring partner?"

David checked his pocket watch.

"He should be here anytime now…"

He glanced at Liam, concerned.

"This guy is big.

Don't you want to practice on someone smaller first?"

Liam shook his head.

"I've got to learn how to use my weight properly."

He knew wrestling and judo techniques, but without practice, he wouldn't know if they actually worked in combat.

The worst thing he could do was apply techniques in theory without testing them first.

A large guard approached, standing at the same towering height as Liam, but about one-third smaller in size.

'A bull…' Liam thought, seeing the muscle density packed onto the man's frame.

"Alright," the guard said.

"I'll hold you by the shoulders, and you'll do the same.

We'll try to push each other off the line, first one to move loses. Got it?"

The man nodded, and both got into position.

But before they could begin—

The sound of clanking metal approached.

Liam turned his head—

"Lady Rhyla's Knight?"

He recognized the face from dinner.

"Asterix is the name." The Knight replied.

"I'd like to have a talk with Liam."

David gave a polite smile.

"With all due respect, it's Lord Liam."

"Not for long." Asterix whispered.

Liam stretched his arms.

"What do you want?"

"You haven't been in a proper fight your whole life."

"Yes?" Liam raised an eyebrow.

'Did he come here just to insult me?' 

"I think you need proper experience before the fight.

Jorvik will give you a chance to spar with him tomorrow.

He won't go all out, and you'll get a feel for his fighting style."

'Why does he sound unsure if Jorvik can win?'

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"And what does Jorvik gain from this?"

Asterix shrugged.

"The choice is yours.

You can enter the match blind, or you can get a preview of what to expect."

So far, this sounded like a deal that benefited Liam more than Jorvik.

There was definitely something beneath the surface, but for now, he couldn't see it.

After a brief moment, Liam extended his hand.

Asterix met his grip.

"I'll be there."