Chapter 196: Accept the Pain

*Whoosh...

Ais was the first to move, blinking as she swiftly moved, her sword extended, stabbing towards Yuki.

On the other hand, Yuki took just two steps, extending his hand and touching the tip of the sword, pulling it away with his fingers.

"What...?"

Seeing this, Ais opened her eyes wide; her sword had missed its target.

She didn't know how or why, but her sword changed direction with a simple movement of his fingers.

With her momentum lost, Ais performed a footwork maneuver, spinning on her axis, attempting to strike again. However...

"Guugh!"

Opening her mouth, spitting out some saliva, Ais felt an incredible impact in her stomach.

"Know the pain..."

Punching her in the stomach, Yuki muttered these words, simultaneously bringing his other fist to Ais's chin.

*Splat!

"What...?!"

Feeling another impact on her face, Ais was in conflict because she didn't even know how she had been hit; she just knew her body was now airborne.

*Whoosh...

Moving at high speed, Yuki jumped, appearing in front of Ais in the sky.

"Think about the pain..."

"Guh!"

Murmuring again, Yuki struck Ais's stomach once more, causing her to plummet at great speed, crashing into the ground.

*Thud

*Clang

Creating a small crater, Ais released her sword, and blood simultaneously spilled from her mouth.

*Cough, cough.

Bringing both hands to her stomach, Ais couldn't believe it. She was taken down in an instant, but what frustrated her more was that she didn't know how she had been hit. Yuki's speed matched hers, as did the power behind his punches.

But where he struck, it was a sensitive area and, consequently, a weak point.

"Get up; the fight isn't over yet."

Looking at her with no expression on his face, Yuki took a stance, placing one hand behind his back.

"Hmp!"

Gritting her teeth, Ais forced herself to stand, using her sword for support. Though the attack had damaged her, it didn't leave her out of commission. Adjusting her breathing, she moved again.

*Whoosh...

Attacking once more, Ais feinted with her sword, hoping to deceive her opponent. She played with her footwork, using her momentum to lower her body, executing a diagonal cut.

*Thud

"Feel the pain..."

*Clang

But Yuki didn't fall for her deception. He closed the distance, clashing his metal forearm against Ais's sword, creating sparks and causing her sword to miss its mark again. Simultaneously, he took Ais by the shoulders, lifted his knee, hitting her stomach once more.

"Guh!"

Spitting out blood again, Ais's face filled with agony.

"Accept the pain..."

*Thud, thud

However, it wasn't over. Taking his own momentum, Yuki struck twice more with his fists to Ais's face.

This caused Ais's mind to spin.

*Thud

[Blade Hurricane]

Spinning his body, Yuki decided to end this brief encounter, striking Ais's stomach once more.

With her thoughts scattered and her body at the mercy of her opponent, Ais could only watch helplessly as Yuki's foot struck her stomach again.

*Creakkkk

*Boom

Striking Ais's body at point-blank range, the ground beneath her feet shattered, creating another crater.

Ais, on the other hand, spat out more blood as her eyelids grew heavy.

"..."

Looking at Yuki's foot on her, Ais didn't know what to say. Everything had happened so quickly that she still couldn't believe it. Her armor was useless; her sword was useless; all her efforts were futile.

"Those who do not know pain cannot move forward..."

Hearing these final words, as if etched into her mind, Ais's eyes closed.

----------

*Whoosh...

"Guh!"

Emerging from the shadows, a human materialized in a room at the Loki family.

This human was Ais, who fell onto her bed, feeling terrible pain.

Today's training had ended; the sun was about to rise. However, Ais felt so much pain that her arms and legs were sprawled out, giving her a pitiful appearance, as her clothes were torn in several important places, and part of her armor was damaged.

If someone saw her in this state, they would think she had fought a horrific monster.

Nevertheless, even though every muscle in her body screamed in pain, she was satisfied.

After all, the person training her was undoubtedly a master.

She didn't know how many times he had attacked her, how many times she had fainted, but no matter how much he attacked, she couldn't land a single hit. Even when she used her magic, she couldn't land a blow; instead, her magic couldn't defend her from incoming strikes.

Despite having the same speed, the same strength—she even thought she was against herself—she was beaten until her entire body screamed in pain. Yuki could predict her attacks like an open book, anticipate her movements, and strike with the same momentum. And all of this with bare hands.

If he had a sword, Ais wouldn't doubt that she wouldn't withstand two attacks before falling to the ground.

This was a great disparity in skills.

"Guhhhhh!"

Making a great effort, Ais tried to sit up. After all, her clothes were soaked with sweat and water, and she felt her underwear becoming stickier.

However, every time she moved, her muscles tore, causing another wave of pain.

This was her punishment; every time she fainted, she would be thrown into the lake instantly, to be awakened by the trauma of the deep water.

Yuki showed no mercy. For him, there was only a master and a disciple, without any gender distinction. So every time he attacked, he made sure to shape her muscles, tearing part of them.

"Pain... Do I feel pain?"

Muttering these words, Ais closed her eyes. Yuki's words continued to echo in her head even now, but it's a pity that she couldn't understand the meaning of each one.

Only the scenes of their battle remained fresh in her memory—a battle where every blow she struck was met with double the force.

"!!"

With a tremendous effort, Ais slowly removed her armor, as well as her clothes, revealing her slender, white body. Despite the intense fight, no wounds could be seen on her body. This was the only kindness Yuki showed—ensuring not to leave visible wounds, even after striking her face several times.

But Ais didn't care because, after undressing, she proceeded to change her clothes.

*Clank

However, as she changed, a pair of small weights clung to her feet.

"This..."

Tilting her head with doubts, Ais didn't know what to do until a thought illuminated her.

[These are weights, basic training equipment. You will wear them everywhere, and only when you are ready will you be allowed to take them off.]

"Oh!"

Opening her mouth in an 'O' shape, Ais took both weights, placing them on her legs. They weren't as heavy as she thought, so there wasn't much difficulty.

"?"

Or so she believed, for when she tried to walk, her muscles tensed, causing another wave of pain. The weights themselves weren't very heavy, but in her current state, it felt like a dozen needles attacking her calves.

"Hick... Hii..."

This caused several tears to stream down Ais's face. She didn't cry even with the tremendous beating, but now, she was just an ordinary girl shedding tears.

----------

TN: Poor Ais :(

Yuki you monster!!

----------