Late Night Training

"Bitter..."

Taking a sip of the hot coffee, I grimaced at its strong taste.

The bitter flavor of the drink spread across my tongue, leaving a distinct aftertaste that lingered.

Although I don't usually drink coffee, the last week had been long and exhausting, and I needed the caffeine boost to keep me going.

What happened?

Well...

I found out that my body is more resilient than I thought.

On the day Eldric fought Orion, I couldn't get a lot of sleep, however, to my surprise, the next morning I didn't feel drained at all.

It turns out that Demons don't require as much sleep as humans do.

This was another piece of information not mentioned in the novel...

However, it did make sense considering that Demons had a regenerative nature and were known for their endurance.

Anyway, for the last week, I've slept only an hour or two each night, relying on coffee to boost my energy levels when I just woke up.

And I have to say...

My productivity has increased significantly.

"Status."

~~~ Status ~~~

Name: Note Enderfrost

Rank: F-

Strength: F

Agility: F-

Stamina: F+

Intelligence: G+

Charm: F-

<-- Mastery -->

Swordsman [ Lv. 4 ]

The degree of understanding the user has of the sword.

<-- Weapon Art -->

Frostbite's Blade [ ✪✪ ] - Novice Proficiency

Frostbite's Blade is a weak-level technique that infuses the wielder's weapon with a subtle chill, causing a fleeting numbing sensation upon contact. 

[ First Movement { Chilly Sweep } ]

The user coats their weapon in a layer of ice, enhancing its cutting power and freezing potential.

<-- Skills -->

Demon's Veil { G }

A skill honed by demons to conceal their distinct racial traits, rendering them indiscernible from other beings. 

Burst { G }

A skill that allows its user to temporarily boost their speed and agility by a minor realm.

~~~~~~~~~~

In just seven days I managed to raise my Swordsman mastery to level 4, which was quite an achievement considering the short amount of time.

Even the protagonists wouldn't be able to raise their mastery levels that quickly.

"I really have a talent for swords..."

Smirking, I took another sip of the coffee, frowning as it caressed my taste buds. I have no talent for brewing a good cup of coffee, that's for sure.

Thud...

Placing the cup on the table, I stood up and dragged myself out of the dorm building.

As soon as I stepped outside, the cool night air hit my face, sending a refreshing shiver down my spine.

With renewed purpose, I strode across the Academy's Campus, the familiar path illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the sparse clouds.

The towering complex loomed ahead, its shadowed form a stark contrast to the star-dusted night sky.

Pushing open the heavy metal doors with practiced ease, I entered the training hall.

The air inside was thick with the scent of sweat and leather, a heady mix that fueled my own determination. Rows of training dummies, their canvas bodies perpetually bruised and patched, lined the far wall.

I approached one of the dummies, unsheathing my sword with a quick flick of my wrist.

It was time for my late night training session.

***

Huff... Huff...

It took me an entire hour before I could finally feel my muscles beginning to ache with exhaustion.

This signaled that my training session is over.

Wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my forearm, I lowered my sword, the tip leaving a deep gouge in the training dummy's chest. My breaths came out in ragged gasps, a satisfying burn settling in my arms and legs.

Time to call it a night.

With a final scan of the empty hall, I started walking towards the exit, eager for a decent night's sleep or at least a few uninterrupted hours.

Just as I neared the doorway, a flicker of movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

I froze, muscles tensing.

Someone was also entering the facility... In the middle of the night.

My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

The figure shifted slightly, and the pale moonlight illuminated her face.

It was...

Honestly, I don't even know this girl.

"Hello."

Nodding my head, I slipped past her and continued towards the exit.

For a moment, I thought I was about to meet one of the protagonists. Who else except for them and a few more crackheads would train at 2 A.M in the dead of night?

Shaking my head, I disappeared into the night, not even noticing another girl that was also making her way toward the training hall.

For a few moments, her gaze lingered onto me before she turned and entered the training hall.

I didn't even know how close I was to actually colliding with a protagonist.