The Outlaw [3]

"if she's not the 'Outlaws' Boss', I'm fucked!" Aisam thought seeing how she did something only someone probably many times stronger would be able to do which makes him unable to even be called the word 'strong'.

And he felt like if she was not the outlaws' boss and there was someone even stronger who he had to survive against to complete the mission, the difficulty would probably be one or two notches higher than 'Hard'.

Aisam fell silent for a moment after she held out her hand, then took it as he got up from her place standing up in front of her, "Now, follow me," she said turning left and walking to where the fighting ring surrounded by cage was.

"Aren't we gonna train with those training pads and shields?" he said.

"Those are just warm-ups or practicing for long-term goals, and we don't have that much time," she said her back still facing him as she was walking.

"Then... how are you gonna train me?" he said as they stood in front of the iron door into the fighting ring.

"We're gonna do it my way which although harder is more efficient and faster. I'll show you in practice," she said as she opened the iron door with a key she had brought.

They entered the fighting cage and both of them stood across from each other.

"You know I've already tried going as easy on you as I can to make your progress and practices manageable for a long time since we discovered your low potential, but... I realized maybe those thoughts weren't considerations but a selfish limitation I placed on you myself... So from now on I will try my best to improve your capability to the best of my abilities."

"But it's too late..." Aisam muttered.

"Huh? You said something?" she asked.

"No."

"Ok..."

She then started stretching her body left and right, up and down for a few moments, then locked eyes with him.

"Come at me with all you have without holding anything back," she said beckoning with her hand toward him.

'Alright, here we go,' Aisam thought as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stayed that way for a few seconds...

He abruptly opened his eyes.

Swoosh

he charged at him as fast as he could and he reached in less than a second and aimed for her face intently trying to punch her.

Swish

But as his fist had a centimeter distance from her face, she suddenly vanished in front of her eyes as his fist went through the thin air.

"Too slow, and too obvious," she said standing to his left with the same refined posture as it seemed like to him she teleported from her place a bit further away.

"I'm only gonna dodge until you can hit me once."

'What in the world? Leave aside fighting, I'd be dead the second I fought her for real,' Aisam thought feeling like his plans were all falling apart slowly and fate had other plans for him.

'Nothing can be done! I'll keep trying, no matter how many attempts it takes, there doesn't exist a turning back for me right now!' he thought as he clenched his fists and got up from the ground.

Swoosh 

He moved behind her clenching his fists as he bent down.

Whoosh

But instead of punching he pressed both of his hands on the ground as he lifted himself and tried hitting her legs.

Thump

However, it didn't work at all as she swiftly spun around herself slickly dodging her hit, and due to the force he exerted on his hit, his legs flew to the side and he hit the cage with the front of his body.

"OUCH!" he involuntarily exclaimed out of the sudden pain.

"I'm sorry, but this is the only way from now on," she said standing on her spot with a serious tone.

"I- I don't mind it..." he said as he wiped a slight blood dripping from her mouth, and got up holding on her knees.

Swoosh

"ARGHH!"

Thud

"Get up quicker, don't dawdle!"

Crash

"Don't go lingerin' down there now."

Grunting and groaning

"Don't you go stayin' down there, now."

Moan

"Never back down, in mind or body, when the goin' gets tough in a brawl."

Gasp

"Up you get, and make it snappy!"

Wince

"Use every bit you got! Legs, arms, and head ain't the whole shebang!"

Squeal

"Never back down in a brawl, even if you're breathin' your last!"

Grunt

"You listen up, bro. If you keep swingin' like that, you'll end up flat on your back again. Watch me closely this time."

Thump

"Keep your focus, even when you're worn out and achin'!"

Hiss

"You call that a punch? It's more like a love tap! Put some grit into it!"

Breathing Heavily

"You're too predictable, bro. Mix it up, keep 'em guessin'. That's the key."

Panting

"You gotta be slicker, bro. Smooth out the rough edges in your technique."

Thud

"You gotta be quicker on the draw, bro. Ain't no time for hesitation."

Crash

"Keep your feet movin', keep 'em guessin'. You're too predictable!"

Wham

"Ain't no prize for huggin' the ground, bro! Get yourself back on your feet!"

Oof!

"You gotta be quicker than that! Speed is your friend, not your enemy. Try it again, and this time, make it snappy!"

Thump

"You're hittin' like a feather, bro! Put some muscle into it, like you mean it!"

Thud

"Listen up, bro. You keep swingin' that way, and you'll end up hittin' thin air every time. Square up your stance and aim true."

Crack

"You're too focused on the prize! Pay attention to the steps you take, not just the end goal."

Gasp

"Stop overthinkin'! Sometimes the best move is the one that comes naturally."

Wince

"You are lettin' fear cloud you are judgment! Trust your instincts and go with the flow."

Squeal

"Quit hesitatin'! When ya see the openin', take it without second-guessin'."

Bam

"You keep swingin' like a drunkard! Plant your feet firm and aim the right way!"

Whack

"Keep movin'! Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!"

Thwack

"You gotta be quicker than that! Don't just stand there like a scarecrow. Move!"

Thunk

"You call that a kick? Looks more like a gentle breeze. Put some force into it!"

Groan

Keep your head up high, not on the floor!"

...

8 hours later:

"Huff, Huff, Huff, Huff, Huff!" Out of breath, body aches, and feeling as though every move was a battle against exhaustion, he lay on the ground, barely able to lift a finger. 

His muscles were so intensely sore that he felt like cutting them!

His scratched and scarred face and body now had dried blood over it.

His focus waned, movements sluggish like a broken puppet. Even the smallest movements felt like mountains to climb, making the thought of pushing forward seem utterly unimaginable.

*DING

[Your Dexterity increased from 10.2 to 12.1]

[Your Strength increased from 10 to 12.3]

[Your Vitality increased from 4.5 to 6]

[Your Constitution increased from 17 to 20]

*DING

[Your Constitution has reached the limit of Ordinary humans!]

[Constitution has become harder to increase!]

"Huh?! Huff, Huff!" seeing the notifications he couldn't even react and think properly due to his indescribable exhaustion.

His eyes were slowly closing and he couldn't keep his consciousness as everything gradually started to get blurry in his vision, and his ears could hear nothing except strange bangs and bell sounds.

Eventually, he fell asleep on the floor of the fighting cage...

...

Valtor's Sister POV:

As soon as he drifted off to sleep, she returned with another water container, only to find him already asleep.

"Awww, my cutest bro looks even cuter when he's sleeping," she whispered, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she sat beside him and gently lifted him in her arms.

Carrying him back to their previous room, she entered one of the rooms with wooden doors, each containing a bed—one for her and one for him.

She carefully laid him on his bed, covered him with a blanket, and kissed his forehead.

"You did your best. I'm proud of you," she murmured softly. "And I'm sorry for not being able to go any easier."

'Your big sis will never give up on you no matter what', she thought, her heart full of affection as she caressed his head.

As she gazed at his peaceful face, a single tear escaped her eye, landing on his cheek.

Quickly turning away to hide her emotions, she moved to her own bed, sitting facing him, hands clasped tightly over her face.

Tears streamed down her cheeks silently as she cried, trying not to make a sound that might disturb his rest.

"I-I w-wish you w-were here with u-us..."

"W-we could b-be a n-normal f-family..."

"H-how could y-you l-leave us?

"Wh-why would you leave u-us?"