Chapter 41 - Burn and Learn: Trials in Lava

Edrik stepped up beside Kurogasa, who was watching Atlas from a distance as he ran across the volcanic terrain. Though Atlas stumbled a few times, he quickly picked himself up each time, pressing forward with determination.

It was already the fourth day of this intense training, yet Atlas still showed no signs of giving up.

"Master Kurogasa…" Edrik sighed.

Kurogasa gave a slight bow. "Mr. Edrik."

"You're really pushing him to his limit, aren't you?"

"The Lord has remarkable resilience," Kurogasa replied. "He constantly tries to break past his own limits. And, surprisingly, he succeeds."

"He's still only in his twenties… but his mental strength is incredible. It almost doesn't seem real. Just what has he gone through to develop such resolve at his age?"

"I think he simply loves what he does," Kurogasa said thoughtfully. "He's humble, even toward the troops. He treats them well, that's incredibly rare in a Lord."

"Yes, his behavior puts me to shame," Edrik admitted. "With this kind of nature and integrity, he inspires people to follow him, to the point they'd willingly give their lives for him."

Kurogasa gave a slight bow. "Losing my last battle and being summoned to serve him has been the greatest blessing, one I never imagined I'd have."

Edrik returned the bow. "I entrust the Lord to you, Master. I know you'll bring out his best potential."

"No, not me," Kurogasa replied, shaking his head. "I only guide him. He's the one who will do it. Watching him transform… that will be a pleasure for us all."

"Yes," Edrik agreed. "He's truly inspiring."

[Your Iron Will talent has evolved to a new height: Unyielding Resolve, Rating A.]

[Your mental fortitude has reached a level where fear and distractions are significantly reduced. Even under intense conditions, you remain calm and focused.]

[Benefits: Resistance to mental attacks, enhanced focus during complex combat scenarios, and increased endurance when under pressure.]

A notification popped up before Atlas, and—wait, what?! His talent had evolved? Unyielding Resolve? Even though it was still the same rating, it sounded powerful. 

He laughed, feeling a surge of energy as he picked up his pace, thrilled that his training was finally paying off.

Let's evolve and upgrade another talent next!

The next training Atlas had to face? Fighting a Level 50 Lava Hound—bare-chested, barefoot, and without any weapon.

Damn it! How the hell am I supposed to kill this lava-skinned beast without a weapon?

The Lava Hound stood before him, snarling, its molten skin radiating intense heat. His mind raced. 

Kurogasa stood a few paces away, just watching… and smiling?! Did he want to see Atlas burned to a crisp?

The Lava Hound lunged at him. Atlas dodged, desperately searching for a way to kill the creature. 

Damn it, even its skin is on fire! His hands would be scorched if he tried to grab it.

The beast charged again, its speed ferocious, and though Atlas dodged, a splash of lava caught his arm.

"Argh!" He cried out as searing pain shot through him.

He ran in a panic, clutching his burned left arm. The skin was blistered, charred—Argh! This hurts, damn it! He winced, his breath ragged with pain.

The Lava Hound attacked again, and this time, he took a direct hit, thrown back as lava seared his chest. 

Arghhh! Damn, damn, damn! I'm gonna die!

The Lava Hound continued its brutal assault, forcing Atlas to do nothing but run and dodge, desperately trying to stay ahead of it. His legs felt weak, nearly ready to give out under the relentless pain. 

This is torture!

He kept moving, too afraid to fight back. But then… he glanced down at his arm. The wounds were slowly healing. 

Was this his passive regeneration at work? His Strength and Constitution stats were clearly boosting his health recovery, but the pain was still overwhelming.

Atlas kept running, circling.

How was he supposed to fight this lava-skinned creature?! Even against a regular dog, he'd be struggling with bites, and this beast was on a whole other level.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Kurogasa drop into a martial arts stance, executing a controlled sequence of moves.

What the hell is he doing? Was he… was Kurogasa demonstrating something? 

Did he expect Atlas to mimic those moves against the flaming lava hound?

Atlas squinted, trying to make sense of it. Kurogasa's movements showed precise positioning, techniques for redirecting an opponent's weight, and targeting weak points. 

Throwing techniques…? Seriously? Against a creature with molten skin? This was madness.

But with no other options, Atlas tried to focus, studying Kurogasa's form. If he could somehow leverage the hound's own momentum, he might have a chance. 

Alright… let's try not to get burned to death!

Atlas mimicked Kurogasa's movements, but as the Lava Hound approached, he hesitated. Damn it, he thought, clenching his fists. He sidestepped quickly and grabbed the creature's body—ARGH! The heat seared his hands instantly, forcing him to let go and sprint away.

My fingers! Damn it, this hurts! His fingertips were scorched, and the pain was unbearable. 

This is torture. I'm gonna die out here.

He kept running, trying to buy time for his hands to heal, while Kurogasa continued demonstrating the martial arts moves.

Does he even realize this Lava Hound has actual molten lava on its skin?! Atlas cursed internally. Damn you, Kurogasa!

Atlas kept running, minutes stretching on as he sprinted with everything he had. Survival was his only thought. He couldn't afford to stop, not with that freaking Lava Hound right on his heels.

He tried to mimic Kurogasa's moves over and over, only to fail each time as searing pain shot through him every time he made contact. 

Damn it! The agony was unreal.

Finally, in a burst of desperation, Atlas lunged, gripping the beast and screaming as his hands blistered on contact. Motherf—! Damn it, damn it! But he managed to twist and slam the Lava Hound into the ground.

Fueled by sheer rage, he unleashed a series of punches, fire splattering from the beast and burning his chest, arms—everywhere. I'm on fire! Damn, I'm burning!

He broke away, stumbling as he ran again. 

"ARGHHH! I'm crying, this is torture, pure torture!"

He repeated the cycle over and over. Running to recover, then charging back in to attack when he was ready.

From a distance, Lyrassa watched with tears in her eyes. "I would willingly bear that pain for my Lord," she whispered.

Beside her, Edrik sighed, his face troubled. "I can hardly stand to watch this."

Morganna, who had been silently observing, finally stood and walked away.

Two hours passed. Atlas was drenched in sweat and burns, his hands raw and blistered as he struck the Lava Hound's head again and again, letting the molten lava spill over his skin as he punched, and punched! And punched!

Damn, damn, damn, damn! Each strike was fueled by nothing but raw determination and fury.

[You have killed Lava Hound Lv. 50]

[You received 924 Exp]

[Exp: 106,492/113,424]

[You have unlocked a new Epic-grade Passive Skill: Inferno Fortitude]

[Adapts to withstand intense heat, granting natural resilience against searing temperatures. When near volcanic areas or sources of intense heat, endurance and stamina are significantly boosted, allowing for increased efficiency and resilience in harsh, fiery environments.]

[Skill Effects:

[Heat Resistance: Reduces all heat-based damage by 20% and increases resistance to burning effects.]

[Volcanic Endurance: While in volcanic areas or near magma, stamina regeneration increases by 15%, and overall stamina capacity is boosted by 10%.]

[Lava Aura Adaptation: Movement speed is slightly more efficient in high-temperature areas, reducing stamina drain by 5% during physical exertion.]

Atlas dropped to the ground, laughing with exhaustion and satisfaction.

Kurogasa, Edrik, and Lyrassa rushed over to him, and Lyrassa immediately knelt by his side, channeling her energy into the severe burns on his hands. 

"My Lord, you did it," she said.

Atlas nodded, still catching his breath, and without warning, Lyrassa leaned in and hugged him. Atlas laughed, wrapping his arms around her in return, savoring the euphoria of victory.

Edrik also sat down beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. 

"You should've seen their faces. Everyone watching you take on that beast," he said with a grin.

Atlas turned, only now noticing that all the troops had been watching his battle against the Lava Hound, their expressions filled with awe and respect.

They cheered in his direction, some shouting and celebrating his victory with raised fists and excited voices. The air was filled with their admiration and energy, as they celebrated his success.

[Your talent Reliable Aura has evolved to a new level: Commanding Presence, Rating S.]

[Your aura now inspires those around you, significantly boosting morale and focus among your allies. The effect becomes especially powerful in high-stress situations, such as intense battles or critical decision-making.]

[Benefit: Increased team effectiveness, faster response times from allies, and a moderate boost to allies' defensive abilities within close range.]

***

(Author's Note:)

Hey everyone! I know the training arc can feel a bit grueling (and honestly, I'd love to jump straight to the big battles and epic moments), but bear with me! 💪 

I really want to showcase the MC's journey in a way that truly emphasizes his hard work and determination. This isn't just about throwing power boosts at him—this is a story of resilience, grit, and earning the respect of every single person around him.

Trust me, it's all building up to something incredible. I'll do my best to keep things tight and compelling, so you can feel every step of Atlas's growth as he climbs to the top.

Thanks so much for sticking with Atlas and me through every burn, bruise, and victory! 🛡🔥