“Okay now that you’ve heard the basics, let’s start with training. All Martial Art practitioners know that training never truly stops. It should be something you should be doing at all times, whether physically or mentally. But physical training has been the subject of debate for many Martial Masters since Martial Arts inception.”

The old man took a pause and took a sip of a hot tea we had prepared during lunch.

”What is the best training method? Is it the most torturous intense method that will give you the best result? Or is it one that employs the use of hidden knowledge and supplements? What I have concluded is that different training methods are necessary depending on what results you are trying to achieve. But in the end, there are a couple of training methods that are indispensable, physical resilience training, body efficiency training, strength training, conditioning training, sparring, and action repetition.”

“Those sound like the things I’ve always done since I started trying to be an Expert, they don’t sound like anything special.”

“Indeed it does seem like you have kept yourself in a good physical condition that honestly makes my work a lot easier, but it never hurts to have someone instruct you while you train, it will only help you improve your results, but still just from a glance I can tell you definitely need to improve your resiliency, efficiency, and strength. And sparring and action repetition will be something you can never have enough of, you’d be surprised but there are many schools of Martial Arts that will neglect many of these training methods, often just focusing on practicing moves or techniques too advanced for their level. That is a fatal flaw the will cost anyone who goes into battle with that kind of training, mentality, and experience.”

He proceeded to grab one of my beast pouches’ that was previously empty but was now full of something unknown, he went to a large boulder and sat on a boulder with the bag on his side.

“Here stand there 5 meters in front of me we will begin your first session of training. It will be physical resilience training.”

I had a bad feeling about this. I already knew how crazy this old man was so I didn’t really trust most of his intentions. On our first encounter, he beat me up as a way to recruit me. What else did he have in store?

I proceeded to stand where he told me, 5 meters from where he sat on the stone. I saw him reach inside the pouch and grab something in his hand.

"You will stand there and take my punishment for two minutes while I count out loud, if you move or block with your hands ill increase it by a minute, don’t worry I won’t aim for any vitals or dangerous areas now go!”

“Wait what do you mean by punis… OWW ARE YOU CRAZY! WHY’D YOU THROW A ROCK AT ME! ARE YOU IN…?! OWWW STOP IT!”

“Stand there and withstand the punishment of the pebble for two minutes, do so and you shall have completed your first training session, I thought you said your Will was prepared don’t tell me you’re flaking out on me already.”

This man was insane what kind of training was this, was he trying to kill me.

Each rock hit me mostly in my stomach, chest, thigh, or upper arm. It seemed like he was avoiding anything that could be injured easily but even the speed at which he was throwing them was anything but slow.

“117,....118,...119,....120, good job you actually endured until the end a few more sessions of this and you’ll be able to take a rock to the dome no problem hahahahaha!”

I wanted to kill the old man my whole body was bruised up, I didn’t know if the bruises would go away by tomorrow, this was one of the most horrible feelings I had felt in my life, and mind you I had almost died. It seems when you’re about to die your body numbs you of most of the pain, but this on the other hand was painful as hell.

“That concludes our resilience training for today, congratulations on making your first step in becoming a Martial Artist.”

“Eat Rat ass old man I don’t need your smart remarks I’m going to go rest the pain away.”

“Nonono who said we’re finished although proper rest is important in a good training regime, we only just started your training 2 minutes ago. I thought your conditioning was pretty up to par but maybe I was wrong, we might have to work on that as well. We can’t have you being tired after one training session.”

The last thing I wanted to do was run. But still, I really wanted to go to my sleeping bag and pass out the pain I was going through was excruciating.

“Just kidding old man I was just pulling your hair, what’s my next training exercise.”

“That’s more like it, alright for your next training exercise we will work on your efficiency. I observed how you were using your spear and I noticed that not only did you have horrible posture and form the efficiency of your movements was laughable. Now come here to these tree branch, hang on to this tree branch for as long as you can, if it’s anything shorter than 5 minutes were doing another round of pebble throwing, once you reach your limit, flip and hang on your feet for as long as you can, if its anything shorter than 10 minutes were doing a round of calf stick slapping.”

This one didn’t seem that bad, still, I definitely wanted to avoid the punishments so it’s best if I try my best and don’t slack off.

****

For half, the day he made me do all sorts of weird and sometimes painful training methods, I had never thought of doing before, he alternated between resilience training, efficiency training, and strength training.

Resilience training consisted of pebble throwing, calf slapping, and controlled tree trunk punching. He only made me do each of those exercises once even though he threatened to make me repeat those exercises if I failed at a certain task.

Efficiency training consisted of weird exercises that usually had me do nothing except hold a position for a long time. Although it wasn’t hard once I started to reach the limit of how long I could maintain said position the stress I felt definitely was nothing to laugh at.

For Strength training he only had me do one exercise, to move certain heavy rocks from one spot to another and start the building of a fort.

The only catch being I did the rock lifting and carrying in a certain position, and with the instruction to use my back muscles as little as possible. Although the task was difficult it wasn’t impossible and I managed.

At about midday, he finally pulled me aside to rest and further instruct me.

“You’ve done good so far, although my type of training isn’t the most difficult it isn’t a walk in the park either. After you’ve taken some time to eat and rest well continue with sparring and finally repeated action. I need to gauge what your level of combat is accurately so I can properly arrange your future training schedule. In a little bit I’ll have you spar with me, don’t worry I’ll lower down my intensity to match your level, but I will need you to go all out.”

When I heard that I couldn’t help but gulp, memories of my last battle with Kemoro flashed inside my head.

After we finished our break we got in position to start our sparring session. The old man told me it would be without any weapons or armor nothing but our mortal bodies.

Right away I knew I had no chance of even getting a lucky strike. Even when I had my Magical Spear he took me down in a matter of seconds.

Facing the old man I took what was the best modification on my knife stance when I practiced striking with the knife in the Toltemic Tribe. I figured that was the closest stance to one that was meant for those that were unarmed.

“I’m going to throw this stone up into the air as soon as it falls to the ground I want you to strike at me as best you can, nothing is prohibited, if you can hit me I’ll cut back on the resilience training, if you can’t instead of 3 were doing 4 tomorrow.”

“What that’s not fair you know I’m just starting out!”

“Victory goes to the brave, if you don’t even try how can you know, maybe you’re better than you think, you are a Ranker after all.”

Evil old man, I was starting to think he just really enjoyed torturing me. Screw it I’ll give it my best shot.