Chapter 25: The Final Training (Part 2)

After their brief interaction, Dawn continued to walk with the group as they crossed the bridge. 

His staggering figure was probably pitiful in the eyes of others, but he didn't care. 

He ignored the state of his body and kept moving, no matter how difficult it was. He had put himself in this state, and he had no one else to blame but himself. 

After crossing the bridge, the group entered another cave-like passageway. As they walked through it, following Rek and the guards, Dawn couldn't help but glance back.

When he did, he noticed Penelope watching him with a worried expression. It seemed that she wanted to talk to him about something, but fortunately, she seemed to have understood that Dawn would prefer to keep his distance.

Even if she hadn't, Ayleth and Freya were with her. They would probably prevent her from approaching Dawn if she tried.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Dawn looked down at the state of his body. 

His arms were partially melted to the point where he could barely move them. They burned and ached with every step, and the sight of the wound was gruesome, with a bit of white bone visible. 

Fortunately, there was no blood oozing from the wound, and there were no other severe injuries on his body other than a few cuts. 

But his condition was still bad… what was worse were the side effects of the forbidden art, the [Shadow Point Amplification].

It seemed to hinder his ability to channel his own energy throughout his body. Whenever he tried, he would feel an immense surge of pain.

Because of this, he couldn't strengthen himself, which greatly hindered his ability to move, especially considering the steel ball weights that were attached to his limbs.

'How unfortunate… this source of energy didn't exist in my old world… I had no idea that this art would prevent me from circulating it too… I wonder how long I'll be stuck in this state,' Dawn thought, shivering.

He felt vulnerable, far from the condition required for their next training, especially when he didn't know what it entailed.

Silently examining himself, Dawn couldn't help but recall the times he'd been in such a dire state.

.

.

.

Codename Dawn, the world's greatest spy of modern times. He'd been through multiple wars, endured tortures, and suffered countless injuries in battle. 

But even so, he had survived. Time and time again, no matter how dire the situation, he'd survive and complete his mission. 

It was ironic. He was the man most afraid of dying on the battlefield, yet he always ended up surviving in the end.

Not many knew of him, and most of those who did had died. However, among those who did know, they had given him a name.

An infamous name that only circulated among those who had lived after facing him.

'The Phantom.'

It was said that the closer he was to death, the further from dying he became.

-

'...My condition is bad but what matters is that I survived… once again, just like always.' Dawn mused, a bitter smile playing on his lips as he lifted his head.

When he did, he found himself under the scrutiny of several individuals at the front. 

Among them, the most notable ones were Mason, Blaise, and Kiara. Mason and Blaise shot him competitive glares.

'They're giving me the same look they gave Aella after she beat them during the first training… speaking of which, where is she?' 

Dawn scanned his surroundings in search of the girl, only to widen his eyes when he noticed her walking right beside him. He wouldn't have realized, had he not looked around. 

'This girl… she's still concealing her energy…'

Even though Dawn couldn't circulate his own energy, he had become far better at sensing the energy of others after the recent training. There wasn't an ounce of energy emanating from Aella.

But why? The training to conceal one's presence was over, and by doing so, she wouldn't be able to strengthen her body and would simply tire herself out. 

Was there some hidden meaning behind it?

As he studied her, trying to figure it out, Aella glanced in his direction, and their eyes met.

They held each other's gaze for a few seconds before Aella averted her eyes, focusing on what lay ahead.

Dawn did the same and noticed that the end of the path was finally in sight. 

And when he did, his eyes widened. Darkness. There was nothing but darkness at the end of the path.

Even though they were still quite a distance away from it, the other awakened couldn't help but feel apprehensive. The same could be said for Dawn, who was in the most vulnerable state he'd ever been in. 

'Holy crap, that looks terrifying… there's an ominous aura coming from that place,' Dawn thought to himself before glancing at Rek. 'Come on, give us some time to rest. It's one training after another, damn it!' 

He was experiencing the same sense of danger he felt with the 'Hollow.'

Knowing that complaining wouldn't get him anywhere, Dawn began to try and think of a plan to survive. 

'Nothing, I can't come up with anything… that guy doesn't speak or give off any hints. How can I prepare if I don't know what I'm walking into? The only thing I can do is…' 

Dawn stared at the screen in front of him.

[Mail.]

[You've completed the 'Emergency Quest: The Hollow's Menace']

[Completion rewards have been sent.]

[Would you like to receive them?] (Y/N)

'I can only hope that one of these rewards heals me, before I head into that death zone! Yes!'

Following his response, almost instantly, a glowing light radiated from the screen before him, transforming into five luminescent cards. 

It looked like the same thing as always, but this time it was different. There were two more cards and the cards, which bore no designs or markings and were simply blank and white, had turned red.

[Please select the card of your choice.]

Dawn was surprised at the change. 

'It's different… I can't tell if it's a good or bad sign…'

This must've been because the quest he had completed was an emergency quest. Staring at them, Dawn couldn't help but wonder what sort of rewards he might acquire.

But he didn't rush to make a decision. He stared at the cards nervously, cold sweat trickling down his face, like a gambler about to go all-in on a bet that could decide whether he would live or die.

After all, this was exactly what it was. Dawn needed something that could either help him recover or give him the strength to survive the next training task. 

'Please, please, please, please, please!'

Shivering non-stop, Dawn slowly extended his trembling arm out and grabbed the fourth card, praying for it to be something useful.

His heart pounded nervously as he squinted at the card he held, waiting for the result.

"…?"

But nothing changed. The other four cards disappeared, but the card he was holding remained blank.

Normally, it would have instantly gleamed more brightly and revealed its content. But that didn't happen.

'Is it broken? Don't tell me I-'

*Ba-Dump!*

Dawn's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he felt his heart throb powerfully. 

A split second after his chest began to heat up and light up with a crimson light from beneath his tattered rag. 

'My chest… it's burning!' Dawn thought to himself as he glanced down while holding onto the card. 

When he looked down, he could see a small part of a crimson crystal peeking out of his chest.

'That's… the prototype! What's happening? I thought my body absorbed it?'

As he watched it pulse, Dawn couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

'Something's happening!'