That deep voice coming from the man’s mouth sounded like a deep rumbling from a machine, his voice was calloused with coldness. The look in the man’s eyes was merciless, like a predator looking at its prey.

“My name is Bàs, I am going to train you here. You can pick your spear and we can begin the training. You can ask anything related to the way of the spear on this dimension.” After Bàs finished his explanation, a black spear appeared in his hands.

Bryan took a moment and asked “When I am going to return? Is my time training here counting in the one month I have to survive in the forest?” Asked Bryan With doubt in his face.

“HAHAHHAHA”

Bàs laughed instantly after Bryan finished asking his questions.

“You are a funny boy. First of all, this place is not real, we are in a mindscape, basically, we are in your mind. The time in the outside world has stopped, where we can train for how long we want, and the outside world will not change. Of course, there would normally be severe consequences for the body for training in a mindscape because it’s like your brain is racing to keep accompanying the rhythm here. But, as this is your first time here and you are in the system tutorial, your body will not feel any burden.” The man finished explaining and shook his spear while saying. “Now that I have answered your question, grab a spear and let’s begin.”

Bryan contemplated what the man said for a second and arrived in a conclusion. This was a unique opportunity. If what the man said was true, he could train here for as long as he wanted to hone his techniques, doing this he could become more powerful to face what was to come. And above all else, this opportunity would probably not happen again, Bàs said that the system would take the burden for him, so, if he wanted an opportunity to train, here again, he would have to pay that toll.

Resuming his thoughts, Bryan walked in the spear rack direction and picked a spear that seemed most appropriate for him. The spear was 1,7 meters long, already counting its head length. but its head was a bit longer than the other ones, forming almost a short sword atop it. It was a short size for a spear, but he felt that it suited him better.

“Hmm, Good choice. Judging by your way of walking and body movements, you should already have trained in some martial arts. although the length of that spear is not big, it fits you.” Said Bàs while looking at Bryan's eyes.

“Thanks.” Said Bryan shortly.

“Ok. So, first, let’s begin with the basics, how to hold a spear and how to use it.” The man moved to a holding position, turning a bit sideways and holding the spear with both hands. strangely, the spear that was in his hands changed its form to be the same as the one Bryan was holding.

Bryan followed Bàs instructions and begin to train the basic forms with him. He was not used to holding a spear, he had trained during his whole life only using his body and short blades. That was one of the reasons that he didn’t choose a big spear, he wanted something that could move quickly.

“The training will begin with standing in the same position while holding the spear. you have to get used to the feeling of the spear in your hands. feel its weight, its height. when we finish this we will proceed to its uses.”

Bryan began to feel the weapon in his hand. feel everything about it. It was a wonderful weapon that could kill quickly if the person in question knew how to use it.

He stood tall, concentrating in the spear with his eyes closed, feeling every inch of it. Although he had never trained with a weapon, it came naturally to him, like holding a weapon in his hands was meant to happen.

Time slowly passed and he didn’t know how long it took, but he finally heard a voice calling him.

“That’s good enough. Now come closer.” Said Bàs.

Bryan stepped forward and began to learn the spear forms from the man. They were not so difficult to learn and remember. The hard part was to use them effectively.

The spear was a complicated and easy weapon to use at the same time. Even beginners could do damage with it. It had the reach advantage over a lot of weapons. But the higher grade techniques required a lot of expertise. The ways to attack and to defend using it were fixed. but the variations between the moves and attacks and defenses were endless.

“You finally got the forms boy. rest 5 minutes and we will begin with a practical exercise.” Said Bàs with a brutal glint in his eyes.

The five minutes rest was not intended to rest his body, because he didn’t get tired in here. it was supposed to rest his thoughts so that he could reflect on how to use the weapon.

After five minutes, Bàs got up and assuming a combat instance and said “let’s begin boy. You can attack first. Do not worry about physical strength, I will limit myself to your Attributes.”

Bryan took a deep breath and assumed an attack position, and began to slowly go in Bàs direction. Getting close enough, he prepared his spear and stabbed forward. While his spear was traveling in its target direction, Bàs grinned and made a defensive spinning move, he deflected the spear out of course with the but of his spear and quickly slashed toward Bryan’s head decapitating him in a smooth move.

Bryan slowly felt a pain racking his mind. It was so big that he couldn’t even scream, and everything became dark.

Moments later the pain ceased and the light returned to his eyes. everything was normal, the only difference was that the spear that was in his hands before was now on the ground.

“What happened?” Bryan asked Bàs with a white countenance. his eyes were red and his breath ragged.

“Well, you just died.” Bàs stated simply like it was nothing abnormal.

“WHAT THE HELL? I AM STILL ALIVE!?!?” Bryan asked while screaming. despite his good head, he felt panicked at that moment.

“Well, after you learn how to use the weapon, the real training begins, live experience. Most people quit at this stage and practice with easier targets outside.” Bàs said like it was the natural order of things and asked. “Do you wish to quit? the training from here on will be harsh, there are even some people that come with their minds broken if they insist on staying here.”

Bryan’s eyes were trembling in fear, but deep inside he knew that power was what would move the world from now on, if it was not it, then the training wouldn’t be so ruthless. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward and picked his spear, then said. “Let’s keep going. Now is not the time to quit.” With determination burning in his eyes.

After that, they began to train again. Death became a usual thing to Bryan, his mind began to distort some times, but he quickly gathered his concentration and rested until he was well enough to continue.

Bàs was a monster using the spear. although he said that he had the same attributes as Bryan, he moved like a lightning bolt. his attacks were precise and merciless, his defenses were impregnable and invincible. For Bryan, it felt like fighting a force of nature made for killing. Sometimes, he even thought that he couldn't contend with Bàs.

After another death, Bryan stopped and asked Bàs. “How long has it been since we began to train?”

Bàs looked in Bryan's eyes and said “4 months. Why, wanna quit?”

Having opened his eyes in surprise, he quickly made a stance and looked at his opponent. “Not at all.” and began to attack again.

The training progressed constantly, only stopping for minutes and resuming again. it continued for an indefinite time. Bryan slowly began to truly fight with Bàs. in the begging he could only attack before being killed. Slowly he began to exchange two attacks, then three, four... he was slowly catching up with his opponent. Bàs became more and more surprised, although Bryan was not a monstrous genius in using the spear from the moment his hand touched the weapon, he was becoming one. He never made the same mistake twice, he always observed from Bàs and learned his moves and how to counter them. In a normal situation, this would not happen, after all, there was no time in a fight to observe and learn your opponent moves. But this situation was different, the pain came, but also the knowledge. Bryan was determined to extract everything from this session of fighting.

After an unknown amount of time, Bryan finally could contest with Bàs upfront. although Bàs was limited to Bryan's status and could not use his full potential because he could not even use energy, it was an unfathomable feat.

Bryan stabbed forward, Bàs deflected the attack with the body of the spear and gave a shoulder attack. Bryan foresaw this coming and took a step back positioning the spear between him and Bàs. Seeing this Bàs shook his spear and attacked with it from below.

Bryan stepped to the side and thrust his spear in Bàs face.

Bàs Watched with wide eyes the attack coming in his direction. He kicked the ground and rolled backward quickly getting up and looking into Bryan’s eyes.

He lowered his spear and said. “There is nothing more to teach you, boy. You already have everything that I can give.”

Bryan’s face became surprised hearing this. He didn’t know how many times he thought to give up. to go after his parents and friends. How were they? where were they? These questions came to his mind many times. But he remembered that time was not running in here, and grasping this way to power could increase his chances of finding and saving them.

“Do not worry boy. many others have tried to stay here like you did, but the burden of the training was so great that they existed it forcefully so that their mind wouldn’t suffer great damage.” Said Bàs with admiration in his eyes. He had never seen someone so determined to get power. It moved even him. Although the “he” from here was just one of the projections that he spread to serve the system, his original body began to pay attention after some time since the training began.

Bryan didn’t know because he was in an almost fanatical state to learn from him, and with the help of the mindscape, the sense of time here was difficult to perceive. But it had already been ten years! It shocked him greatly, this determination was like a mountain that could not be moved. He has never seen someone so young so determined.

Bryan’s eyes were wide with shock! ‘How could this be, is it finally over?!’ he was relieved, he didn’t know how long more he could hold on. So it was a good thing that it was finally over, but at the same time, he wanted more.

Bryan quickly suppressed this desire and looked at Bàs.

“Thank you! I do not have word to thank you enough.” After saying this, Bryan bowed to Bàs in a signal of respect. The man trained him for a long time, and he was grateful for that.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA” After laughing heartily Bàs continued. “You gave me a big surprise boy, in history, there were only a few people that could master a skill to a mortal's limit and finish the training. you sure deserve praise. As a prize for ending the training, I have the authority to give you a skill. Now, go to the world and seize its throne. HAHAHAHAHA” After finishing speaking, Bàs waved his hand and sent Bryan away.

Bryan suddenly opened his eyes and scanned his surrounds. looking outside of the small cave, he saw that it was still day time… He was not certain if it was the same time that he left, but that didn’t matter. the important thing was that he was back and the real fight would begin now.