Chapter : 16 Skeleton bully and Training

Dylan found himself once again within the confines of Almenia, surrounded by the vastness of the Arena region. Engaged in a series of stretches, he couldn't help but notice a peculiar screen and a square metallic object that popped out from the wall.

Curiosity got the better of him. "Liridian, what's that for?" Dylan inquired, eyeing the enigmatic contraption.

"That's for testing Fist power, or you can say to measure the force behind your attack," Liridian elucidated.

With a determined stride, Dylan approached the device and delivered a powerful punch, only to see the screen displaying a mere

1 gram. A mysterious giggling sound filled the air, prompting Dylan to turn around and catch Liridian attempting to stifle his laughter.

"Why are you laughing? I'm just a baby," Dylan protested.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. I've never seen 1g fist power in my whole life," Liridian confessed, still amused.

Unfazed, Dylan shifted his focus to a skeleton warrior positioned in the heart of the arena. "I'm going to fight him," he declared.

"Kid, don't rush. Your punch won't even be felt by it," cautioned Liridian.

"I'm not looking to defeat it. I want to learn to move properly with this small body. Dodging its attacks will improve my coordination," explained Dylan as he stumbled multiple times, grappling with his own newfound physique.

Observing the determined efforts, Liridian mused, "This kid is not that bad. I like his determination."

Just then, a cryptic voice echoed through the arena, setting a challenge. "Level 1 initiated. Defeat the opponent in 10 seconds to clear level 1."

The skeleton's eyes glowed blue, signaling for Dylan to approach. Ready to take on the challenge, he was about to make his move when Liridian intervened.

"Wait," Liridian interjected, tossing a small badge toward Dylan.

"What's this for?" Dylan questioned.

"Just put on your clothes," Liridian instructed. As Dylan adorned the badge, a bluish transparent shield enveloped his body. "That will protect you from getting injured," assured Liridian, setting the stage for the impending battle.

Accepting the peculiar gift from Liridian with a nod, Dylan, armed with newfound protection, sprinted toward the unmoving skeleton warrior. To his surprise, the skeletal opponent remained stoic, not even flinching as the skeleton unleashed a kick, sending Dylan sprawling like a ragdoll.

Undeterred, Dylan attempted to rise, only to be met with the same unyielding response. The skeleton showed no inclination to raise its swords, opting instead to nonchalantly kick Dylan away and occasionally emitting silent snickers while shaking its head.

"Frustrated," Dylan hissed, "Bastard, it's laughing at me!" observing the skeletal figure's mocking gestures.

Meanwhile, Liridian couldn't help but find the situation perplexing. "This is weird. How can it laugh? It's just a programmed robot. Maybe I'll check it later," he pondered, intrigued by the unexpected humor in the otherwise serious training scenario.

Dylan drew his dual side blade, aptly named "Fly Cutter." The blades hovered mysteriously as Dylan's eyes emitted a bluish glow. With swift precision, he directed the blades toward the skeleton warrior, hoping to make a significant impact. However, the blades collided with the skeletal form, seemingly offering nothing more than a gentle kiss.

Unfazed and seemingly mocking, the skeleton nonchalantly grabbed the hovering blade with its bony hand, playfully gesturing as if scratching its teeth, before casually tossing the weapon aside. Frustration and anger flickered in Dylan's eyes as he witnessed the taste of bullying.

"Bastard, just wait for me to get stronger. I'll dismantle you and throw you in the garbage," Dylan vowed, his determination fueled by the apparent mockery of the unyielding skeleton warrior.

As time slowly passed, Dylan trained under the gravity of two times more than Earth in the arena, striving every day to grow stronger and faster to beat the shit out of skeleton warrior.

A year went by, and Dylan's house was adorned with decorations for his first birthday. Emma dressed him in a black suit, and she couldn't help but express how cute he looked.

"You look so cute, young master," Emma exclaimed, gently poking Dylan's cheeks.

The birthday party commenced with Azazel, Emma, and some new guests brought by Azazel. Baraqiel and his wife, Shuri, arrived with their small daughter Akeno, who was of a similar age as Dylan, with black hair and violet eyes. Akeno enthusiastically joined the celebration, even spilling cake on Dylan.

"Man, this kid doesn't know how to eat," Dylan thought to himself as he wiped his face.

"That's how small kids eat; not everyone has a soul of an adult inside a small kid," Liridian commented, floating above them.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld at Gremory Castle, another party was underway. It was unrelated to Dylan; instead, it was a Naming Ceremony for the newborn daughter of Zeoticus Gremory named Rias Gremory. Born with high demonic energy and possessing the Power of Destruction, the party resonated with hearty cheers.

The festivities at Dylan's house came to an end as midnight approached, prompting everyone to retire for the night. Dylan, as was his routine, lay down to sleep beside Emma, while Azazel took his place outside the room on the sofa.

In the quiet of the night, Dylan found himself examining a gift from Azazel—an exquisite necklace adorned with a delicate green jewel. The necklace boasted a unique ability: the power to conjure a soft yet robust barrier, activating automatically in the face of imminent danger to protect its wearer.

"Your father's gift isn't bad. Its barrier is both gentle and resilient, capable of fending off even the attacks of those first-level skeleton warriors," remarked Liridian.

"He's not my father," Dylan retorted, shooting a sidelong glance.

"Ah, my apologies. I meant your so-called father," Liridian corrected himself.

Feeling a desire for some fresh air, Dylan suggested, "Let's go somewhere outside." He seemed to brush off Liridian's last comment. Climbing onto the window ledge, he activated a hologram of himself beside Emma. With a swift jump and a surge of spiritual power, he held onto a peculiar metal cardboard gifted by Liridian. As Dylan passed his energy into it, radiant lines appeared, and a mechanical hum transformed it into a hoverboard with a mesmerizing blue glow. Dylan, now standing on this levitating platform, soared into the night sky.

Slicing through the night air, Dylan soared above in his black suit, moving at an impressive speed of 40 meters per second. In just a year, he had advanced to Apprentice Level 2nd phase, wielding a fist power of 2 kilograms. His flying speed reached 35 meters per second without the aid of his skateboard, and with it, he could achieve a maximum speed of 45 meters per second.

As Dylan gradually decelerated, he savored the sensation of the cold wind brushing against his face. Liridian trailed alongside him, the night unfolding with a mystic ambiance.

Lowering his altitude, Dylan skimmed just above the rooftops, prompting barks from curious dogs below. The surroundings were cloaked in darkness, the area sparsely populated. Dylan's spiritual sensing ability extended to a radius of 20 meters, though he could push it to a maximum of 40 meters, albeit with reduced clarity.

Suddenly, a sound pierced the night air, catching Dylan's attention. "Licky licky lick."

To be continued...

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Author Note : This question revolves around whether I should let Shuri, the wife of Baraqiel, perish, or if you prefer her to remain alive.

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