Chapter 14: The Road to Strength

Jackim awoke before dawn, his body still sore from the brutal training the day before. His muscles screamed in protest as he pushed himself up, but he bit back the pain. Complaining wouldn't change anything.

Outside, the sky was still a deep shade of blue, with only the faintest hint of sunlight on the horizon. The crisp morning air carried the scent of wet earth and pine, and the distant sound of water trickling down the mountainside filled the silence.

Jackim took a deep breath.

He knew today would be worse than yesterday.

But that was the price of strength.

---

As soon as Han arrived, training began.

Jackim wasn't given a chance to warm up. Instead, Han tossed him a pair of weighted wristbands. "Put them on."

Jackim hesitated. "How heavy—"

The moment he caught one, his arm nearly buckled. His fingers tightened as he struggled to keep his grip.

Heavy.

Far heavier than he expected.

"Twenty kilograms each," Han said flatly. "And you'll be wearing them for the entire day."

Jackim swallowed hard. Forty kilograms in total? He could barely handle his own body weight, and now this?

But he didn't argue. He forced himself to strap them on, feeling the weight drag down his arms. The moment he tried to stand straight, his balance was completely thrown off.

Han barely gave him time to adjust before barking out his first order.

"Run."

Jackim didn't hesitate.

He took off, each step feeling like he was dragging boulders. His arms felt like lead, and his legs burned with every movement. Sweat poured down his forehead, but he didn't stop.

He couldn't stop.

Han watched from a distance, his expression unreadable.

Jackim didn't know how long he ran. Minutes? Hours? The sun was now rising, casting golden hues over the mountain range. His vision blurred, his breaths ragged, but he forced himself forward.

His mind echoed with the voices of the past.

"You're useless, Jackim."

"You think money will change anything?"

"She left you because you had nothing to offer."

Jackim clenched his jaw. No. Not anymore.

By the time Han finally signaled for him to stop, his legs nearly gave out beneath him.

But he had done it.

Even if his body felt like collapsing, he had made it through.

Han studied him for a long moment before speaking. "You lasted longer than I expected."

Jackim, still gasping for air, looked up. "That... means I pass?"

Han snorted. "No. It means you won't die yet."

Jackim let out a breathless laugh.

That was enough for now.

---

The second phase of training was worse.

Han paired Jackim with a wooden training dummy at first—one covered in hard, iron studs.

"Strike until I say stop."

Jackim's knuckles throbbed after the first few hits. By the fiftieth strike, his skin was raw. By the hundredth, his hands were bleeding.

But he didn't stop.

Liang watched from a distance, arms crossed. His usual smirk was missing.

"Idiot's really trying."

Jackim gritted his teeth and threw another punch. His vision blurred slightly from the pain, but he forced himself to keep going.

He had to get stronger.

He had to.

When Han finally told him to stop, his knuckles were a torn, bloodied mess.

But Jackim barely noticed. He was already focused on what was next.

Han raised an eyebrow. "Still standing?"

Jackim wiped the blood on his pants. "What's next?"

A small flicker of approval crossed Han's face.

Then he gestured to the real training ring.

"Now, you fight."

Jackim turned, only to see Liang stepping forward, cracking his knuckles.

His heart sank.

This was going to hurt.

---

Liang was fast.

Too fast.

Jackim barely had time to react before a sharp fist slammed into his ribs. The impact sent him stumbling back, a sharp gasp escaping his lips.

"Too slow," Liang muttered.

Jackim gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand his ground. His hands, still aching from striking the wooden dummy, curled into fists.

Liang smirked. "Come on, poor boy. Show me what you've got."

Jackim knew he was at a disadvantage. Liang had years of experience, and he was stronger, faster, and far more skilled. But Jackim wasn't going to back down.

He lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed at Liang's jaw.

Liang dodged with ease.

Before Jackim could react, a knee slammed into his stomach.

Jackim choked on air as he doubled over. His vision blurred.

Then came a powerful kick to his chest.

The world spun.

Jackim crashed onto the ground, dust rising around him. His body screamed in agony, his breathing ragged.

Liang stood over him, his arms crossed. "Pathetic."

Jackim clenched his fists.

He knew he wasn't strong enough yet.

But that didn't mean he would accept defeat.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up. His entire body protested, but he ignored the pain.

Liang raised an eyebrow. "Still trying?"

Jackim wiped the blood from his mouth and nodded.

Liang smirked. "Good."

Then he attacked again.

---

By the time training ended, Jackim could barely stand. His face was bruised, his body ached in ways he didn't know were possible, and his hands felt like they had been crushed by a hammer.

Yet, despite all of that—he smiled.

Because today, he had lasted longer than yesterday.

Han observed him quietly before speaking.

"Tomorrow will be worse."

Jackim nodded. "I know."

Han's lips curled slightly. "Good. Then we start at dawn."

Jackim turned, his body trembling with exhaustion, but he didn't complain.

Because this was just the beginning.

One day, he would no longer be weak.

One day, the world would see his true strength.

And no one—no matter how powerful—would ever look down on him again.

---