Chapter 4: Training (1)

[Training Mode Activated

Training mode is a mode that the Player Interface can activate for the Player wherein the experience and understanding the Player receives improves drastically, in order to help them train to grow stronger.

There are a lot of versions of training in the Player Interface. Currently the user can only use the Basic Training feature.

Basic Training: In this version, similar to the increase in experience, the Player will also find doing tasks more difficult. Basic Training will only work while the player is on their own and not indulged in battle.

Duration: 30 minutes

Cooldown: 12 hours]

'Oh, this seems pretty good. I will get to increase my strength a little bit before I head to the Labyrinth tomorrow.' Edward smiled as he read the text on the Training window.

The beginners' guide that was directly inputted into Edward's mind mentioned the interface having a training function and Edward believed this was the perfect time to test it out. He took a deep breath to ready himself and selected Basic Training.

The window updated and Edward was filled with a rather unusual sensation. He felt like his connection from the world had been cut off, even though he was still physically present there.

His body also felt a type of pressure it had never felt before. Adjusting to these changes that he had undergone, Edward started to read the Interface window.

[Basic Training

Tasks:

Complete 30 pushups.

Reward: Strength +2

Swing the 'Enhanced Dagger' 50 times.

Reward: 'Novice Blade Mastery' Skill

Time Remaining: 30 minutes]

The tasks mentioned seemed simple enough and quite easy to complete, but Edward didn't underestimate the Player Interface. The Training Mode increases the difficulty of actions for them to give a higher reward and thus seemingly easy tasks like doing 30 pushups and swinging around a kitchen knife may not be as easy as they look.

Since time was limited, Edward decided to get to work as soon as possible.

He was still holding the 'Enhanced Dagger' in his hand and started with the knife swinging task.

Edward took a more stable stance and got ready to swing the knife in the air. He swung it once and felt nothing odd. The weird pressure he was feeling around his still remained, but other than that everything was fine.

Edward started to pick up the pace and swung the knife even faster, '8…9…10.'

As he got ready for the 11th swing, the knife had seemingly doubled in weight and the grip Edward had on it became more slippery. He was a bit startled but wasn't put off like this. It wasn't going to be easy in the first place!

Edward continued swinging the knife and around the 20th swing his arm had started aching a bit; he felt the stress on his shoulder. After completing 20 swings, the knife's weight doubled again and this time the system opened a new window.

[Strike the targets that appear around the user with the 'Enhanced Dagger'.

Targets successfully hit: 0/20

*Missing a target while swinging will reset the counter and so will stopping for more than 3 seconds after every swing.]

'Ah, shit… I knew it wouldn't be this simple.' Edward frowned, but didn't give up. He looked at the timer which had about 28 minutes left. He had plenty of time left and resumed the training without any further ado.

Edward looked in front of him and he could see a target; a dot with circle around it which had lines on top, bottom, left and right, all in bright red. The blade had become heavy, but not enough for it to be unwieldable or slow. Edward struck the first few targets with not much effort as they were in front of him, but the real test started after that.

The targets started appearing in places not in front of him, so he had to turn around and strike a target behind him, immediately having to turn a full 180 degrees to hit the next target. In order to efficiently wield any weapon, being able to fight enemies in all directions is a must.

At 30 targets Edward started sweating. His whole body was starting to ache but he still persevered. It would be way worse to start over this whole thing than to just endure the hardships and pain and quickly get this over with.

'38 …39…40,' Edward thought in his head as he breathed heavily and almost fell to the ground.

There were still ten more swings to go and he wasn't sure if he would be able to finish this training. After a short break of a minute he saw the updated Interface window and got ready for the last ten swings.

[Weapon training is the best when it is done against a real, mobile target, instead of a stationary object. For these last ten strikes, successfully hit the target, which will now be moving.]

Edward read the window and saw a new target appear. This time it wasn't a red mark, but instead a humanoid puppet that just appeared out of nowhere. It was white in color and its body and figure seemed very realistic, even though it lacked details such as a pair of eyes and a nose, which made Edward worry that it would wreak havoc in his house.

Fortunately, that would not happen. Since the training mode made a special space for Edward to practice in, even though it felt like he was still in his house, he was actually not. Therefore, the puppet would not be able to interfere with physical objects in his house where this training was seemingly taking place.

Edward was confident that he would be able to hit the puppet, as it was unarmed and didn't look like it would attack him. Its build looked like that of an average adult and Edward believed that its speed wouldn't be too fast either. He got ready and decided to take the first swing.

He lunged at the puppet, which dodged backwards, but just as Edward predicted, its speed wasn't extraordinary and it still ended up getting hit. Even though he was tired, Edward got an adrenaline rush while fighting the puppet. It dodged and moved like a real human, making the fight seem more realistic than just swinging at targets in the air.

On his fourth strike, Edward ended up severing the puppet's arm, severely decreasing its speed. The interface had designed the puppet to act like a human, so it made sense for it to slow down after such a serious injury.

Edward took a quick break for a couple of seconds and then continued slashing at the puppet. The thrill of a realistic fight was something delightful for Edward.

As he struck the puppet a few more times, it finally fell to the ground with its legs injured severely and it was now immobile.

'Oh, how convenient,' Edward said as he finished the last swing, slicing the puppet's neck and launching its head onto the ground.

[Congratulations.

The Player has successfully completed the Basic Training task 'Swing the 'Enhanced Dagger' 50 times'.

Swings: 50/50

Reward: 'Novice Blade Mastery' Skill]

Edward felt his body fill with energy and his mind fill with satisfaction as he acquired his new skill.

[Novice Blade Mastery

Level: 1

Type: Passive

While wielding a Blade-type weapon:

Damage dealt increased by 10%

Speed of slashing increased by 10%]

'Damn, this is good,' thought a very gleeful Edward, 'Now, it's time for some push-ups.'