The Training Grounds

I opened the door and came out of the room.

"Just what were you doing in there that took you so long?" Asks baldie, "I was just looking around..." I respond, "Anyway, the room i went in had food and water in it! We'll be fine for a couple of days now." Responds baldie, looking relieved, "What about Domo's room?" I ask, "I don't know, i came here directly after i finished looking in the room i was in." Responds baldie.

"Seems like you've just finished exploring your rooms too." I hear Domo's voice coming from the right. He was walking out of the door and saw us standing in front of the secret room i went in. "So, what was in your secret room?", Asks baldie,

"It was... A training ground!" Esclamates Domo, "A traning ground? It's not even that useful since we have to climb up The Tower constantly..." Says baldie, disapointed about the secret room, "It's not necessarly like that." I say.

I think it could be useful since i could learn new skills after repeating the same moves over and over, and a training ground is the perfect place for that.

"Well, if you think so..." Says baldie, "Trust me, it's more useful than you think! Just try it yourself" says Domo, confident about his statement, "Let's go check it then" says baldie, still a bit doubious.

We then walk towards the secret room's door, and open it.

As soon as we entered, we saw four orcs standing in the room, "What?! Orcs?!!" Esclamates baldie, while taking the warhammer in his hands, "Wait... They aren't moving...?" I say while taking a better look at them, "As expected of Ray, you already noticed it!" Esclamates Domo, "As you just said, these orcs aren't moving right now, BUT, if you press the blue button behind their heads, they start attacking you! Plus, i've already tried it, they regenerate after you "kill" them, and return to a paralized state" explains Domo while walking towards one of the orcs, to show us.

"Try fighting one, Ray" Says Domo while taking a few steps back after pressing the button, "Okay, i'll give it a shot" i say, while taking out my daggers.

I took out the daggers because i wanted to try fighting with them at least once, and now was the perfect chance to test them out.

A few seconds after Domo pressed the button behind the orc's head, a dim blue light emitted from his eyes, wich quickly went away after a second. He then looked at me, and went charging at me.

I began running towards him as well, and, the moment i was close enough, i dashed at full speed for an instant, cutting through the flesh of the orc's arm.

He immediately turned around, as if he didn't feel even an ounce of pain, raised his other arm, preparing to punch, and started charging towards me.

I couldn't dodge because of the momentum i had from the dash, i was going to get hit.

[Stone Body]

I mutter those words in my head, thinking of activating the skill contained in the Ring Of The Protector.

[Skill activated! [Stone Body]: +50 DEF, +2 STA for 30 seconds.]

I also put the daggers in front of me, in a way that would partially block the punch.

The moment after i did that, the punch hit me, sending me flying about 3 meters away.

Woah, that would have been very bad if i didnt have the ring and blocked with the daggers...

As i was thinking, i see the orc charging at me again. I also charged at him, but, when i was a meter away from him, jumped over his head, slightly twisted my body midair, and cut behind his neck, where the spine was. I then cleanly landed on my feet, and dashed towards him from behind, thrusting his skull with the other dagger.

"Woah! That was awesome!!" Esclamates Domo while clapping, "How the hell did you twist your body and cut his neck MIDAIR?!?" Asks baldie, amazed and shocked by that move, "I thought that was the best way to kill him at the moment, so i did it." I respond, "*Sigh* That cheat-like instinct again..." Says baldie, while letting out a sigh,

"By the way, are you okay after that hit from before? You went loterally flying." Asks Domo, "Yeah, i parried it with my daggers" i say, "Alright, if you say so" responds Domo, "So, what do you think about the training ground now, Adam??" continues Domo while smirking at baldie, "I have to admit it will be pretty damn useful" says baldie while looking at the room.

Now that i think about it, i didn't even see how huge the training ground was, since i was so focused in the fight.

It was about four times larger than the forgery, and double the height of a Floor room, the floor was made of sand and the walls were completely white, also, they looked so clean that i couldn't even distinguish what material they were made of, same for the ceiling.

There were some targets and mannequins next to the walls, and a small room made of light azure cement and had blue glass as part of its walls.

"Hey, what's that room?" I ask Domo, "I don't know, i checked it but there was nothing special." Responds Domo.

I enter the small room.

There was some cement that extended from the wall, into the room, right below the blue window. It could be used as a table or something like that.

I noticed that a part of the extended cement had some strange azure glass on top of it. It was strange, not only because there was nothing else similar to that in the rest of the room, but because i could sense Mana in it.

I touched it, and, as soon as i did that, some strange writings appeared on the blue window. There was also a drawing of an orc, and a small arrow next to it. I touched the arrow, and it turned upside down, showing some other drawings of various monsters...

Wait, aren't these all monster that we killed in the Trials before?! There was even the demonified spider boss!

I touched a drawing of a goblin, and then the glass went back to normal.

"What?! Why did the orcs transform into goblins?!" I hear Domo talking, outside the room. I looked from behind the glass, and they really did change into goblins!!

We could train against all the monsters we already defeated at least once before if i use this panel to change the monsters we're against in the training ground!

"Don't worry, i did it." I tell Domo, "What? How?!" Asks Domo, "There is a strange glass panel in this room" i respond, "What are you talking about?? The only glass in that room is the one that is part of the walls." Responds Domo, confused.

What? He didn't notice it? No... It's not like that. Someone could see this panel even from outside...

Am i the only one able to see the panel? But why??

"I was joking, i didn't do anything" I tell Domo, "But then, why did they suddently transform...?" Asks baldie, while thinking, "Well, they can't move if you don't press the button behind their heads, just like the orcs from before, so i think it's alright" continues baldie, "Yeah, you're right" says Domo, nonchalantly.

Now, time to introduce Darius to the others...

Chapter 23-End.