Strength and Rivalry 1.108

Viggo was now lying on the floor, panting, and breathing into the seas while his entire body was covered in bruises. His chest rose and fell in an effort to catch his breath as he looked at the roof of the dome that covered the Hera family's driving range. He could hear Jason standing about ten meters from him, telling him that he will hurry because he didn't have the whole morning until he felt comfortable to keep fighting.

At the same time, some veterans of the Hera family were sitting in the stands watching them. Those who had seen Kain train others in the same arena, thought that Jason had been possessed by the same insane spirit as his master.

Viggo had been training with the leaders of the Hera family (Jason, Odysseus, and Achilles) for two weeks. Each was strict and corrected Viggo in different areas. However, the craziest of all was Jason, who pressed Viggo to fall in surrender and forced him to get up even though he had no energy left. At the beginning of the training many novices had come to look to see if they could steal some knowledge, but as the fight dragged on, they retreated. Each thought Jason was destroying Viggo with punches and kicks. However, only the veterans knew that Jason hit with a purpose. He evaded most of the attacks by giving advice to correct certain postures or tag when fighting. And only when Viggo made too big a mistake like letting his guard down or unprotecting an important organ, jason punished him.

-How much time do we have left?- asked Jason to an Amazonian girl who was standing between the fighting sand and the stands. She handled the hourglass with which they timed the duration of each round.

-A quarter of an hour, Captain- replied the amazon with cinnamon skin and provocative clothes that accentuated her hips and butt.

Jason nodded and looked at Viggo who was still panting lying on the ground. He smiled remembering the pathetic way he and his brothers ended up after each workout. However, the difference was clear. Viggo was a monster among the monsters. When Jason was Viggo's age it looked like he was going to die in every workout, but it was because he and his brothers were too weak. For other side, Viggo here was attacking, dodging, resisting, and counterattacking against the force of a level 6. Jason bit his lower lip thinking about how lucky Viggo was and how envious he was of his talent. Why was life so unfair? He wonders. However, as always in life, hear Kain in his head.

<There are people who were born with talent and a path made; the rest of us must strive and create both with our own hands>

Jason took a big breath and remembered how Kain always emphasized that. When they were children, he and his siblings thought Kain would tell them that as a consolation, since unlike most of the Hera family's level 2s, Jason and his siblings lacked skills. However, when they matured and saw how the gods treated their master and feared him, they began to understand many things.

What a shame is it not to be young again and correct many things they did wrong? Jason thought that if he were young again, he would read non-stop. He would acquire all the knowledge recommended by his master, perfect the spear technique he left him and become incredibly strong. However, what is done, is done.

-Come on, Viggo, don't lie on the floor- Jason said in a strong tone that everyone in the stands, around the arena, could hear -we were already wasted 3 minutes waiting for you to lift your butt-

Viggo let out a growl, laid his hands on the cold concrete floor, and pushed himself back to get up. Once on his feet, he turned his gaze to Jason. Everything looked blurry and his body felt fatigued. How many times had he occupied the touki armor during the past 3 hours? At least more than thirty times. His touki armor only lasted five minutes until all his mana was consumed and he was left in a state of extreme tiredness. However, he had the advantage that his body recovered mana quickly and within five minutes he could reoccupy touki's armor. On the other hand, if he had the touki active, his arms, legs, and reflexes functioned supernaturally.

Viggo took a big breath, put himself in a boxing position, covering his stomach and chin. At the same time, the reddish aura covered his entire body and his mind, muscles and senses felt more awake than ever. The sparkle in his eyes came back, and once again, he was ready to fight.

Jason smiled from the other side of the arena. He jumped a few over his position and suddenly jumped, giving the impression of fading into thin air. The next instant he appeared in front of Viggo and began to throw a hail of punches at him.

Viggo dodged with quick footwork, moving to the sides, and evading dangerous blows to the face. However, his concentration was on holding the reins of the terrible energy produced by the touki armor. It was like a crazed horse pulling the reins to go for a run with all its might. Viggo held him back because the moment he lets go of his concentration, the aura of touki's armor will leave along with the air and fall surrendered.

-Come on!- shout Jason -that's all you can do-

Viggo felt that furious heat on the inside of his chest and let out a scream. He then crouched down by passing under the powerful punches aimed at his face, positioned himself below Jason's right arm, clenching his fist and punching him in the ribs.

Jason felt the powerful impact and took two steps back. He palpated his ribs and scratched as if a mosquito had bit something. Then he smiled and looked forward only to see Viggo fall on his back and lie on the ground.

Jason let out a sigh and said -you were doing so well, that had escalated to the strength of a level 7, but you just fainted- he raised his shoulders in a gesture of "there is nothing to do to him." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers -take him to the guest room in the mansion-

Two men got up from the stands and walked in the direction of Viggo. They passed Jason's side and once they got in front of Viggo, one took him by the hands and the other by the feet. That way they carried him and left the practice field.

-Captain- said the Amazon who controlled the hourglass -don't you think you're being too strict? It's just a boy-

Jason sniffed and replied -you don't know anything. It may look like a brat, but it is very strong. Also, you are only a level 2, when you reach level 4 come and tell me how to teach others-

-Hateful- said the young Amazon and stuck out her tongue. Jason just smiled and walked to the showers as the Amazon followed.

On the other hand, Viggo woke up at about two o'clock in the afternoon when the sun had changed position and the light entered through the window hitting him right in the eyes. Viggo let out a growl of pain and rested his hands on the bed.

-Don't get up- said Semiramis sitting on the side of the bed.

Viggo opened his eyes with difficulty and a damp cloth fell from his forehead. Then he saw brown-skinned hands, soft and delicate. He looked up blurred and recognized Scheherezade and his beautiful emerald eyes. She took the cloth while Viggo dropped on the bed. Semiramis walked over, fixed his pillow, and arranged his head. She sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his cheeks. Viggo frowned and let out a little scream of pain that scared Semiramis. She immediately withdrew her hands thinking that it had hurt her, but to her surprise, Viggo let out a chuckle.

-Idiot- said Semiramis and slapped him on the chest.

-Ouch- said Viggo as if it hurt -don't hit me, women, your husband was beaten a good time-

Semiramis let out a snort and said -I hope it's more often, you deserve it for scaring me-

-Only today are you here to see me-

-Just because I'm not by your side, doesn't mean I don't ask. Lady Hera has ears and eyes everywhere and whenever I ask her, she tells us how it was all-

Viggo closed his eyes, turned his face away, and muttered -I'm fine, just a little tired. In two hours, my wounds will be gone, and my body will be like new-

Semiramis let out a sigh full of anguish as Scheherezade sat on the opposite edge of the bed and placed the wet handkerchief on Viggo's forehead.

-How long will this last?- asked Scheherezade with a worried face. Viggo might have been used to looking like this, but she wasn't. For her, Viggo always wins, sings more beautiful than anyone and is full of wit. This pitiful Viggo that ends up full of bruises all over his body was something unknown to her.

-It lasts if it must last- said Viggo, opening his eyes with difficulty, stretching out his hand and taking Scheherezade's hand, then taking Semiramis' hand and continuing -there is always someone stronger than you. My father and master taught me that, so I doubt I'll stop at any point in life. I don't want to lose any of you just because I didn't have enough strength. Right now, we are protected by my father, but that will not be forever-

Semiramis and Scheherezade took a hand from Viggo respectively, sheltered it in their hands and carried them to their cheeks. They could feel the wounded skin and the heat caused by the bruises. It was totally different from the pleasant heat that Viggo normally emitted. It gave a weak and sickly feeling. At the same time, Viggo made a small smile and fell asleep.

Semiramis and Scheherezade accommodated Viggo on the bed and went to a desk in a corner of the room. Semiramis had a book and was mentioning certain amounts with an associated date and an object. It was the special job assigned to her by the goddess Hera. The store was staffed by professional saleswomen, so there was no need for them to worry about the sale. The important thing in this case, was to keep track of the money and compare it with stocks.

Half an hour later someone knocked on the door and they both stopped their work. The two closed the books and looked at the door that opened. A beautiful woman with blond hair and heavenly eyes appeared behind the door.

-Permission- Hera said as she entered the room. She first looked at Viggo lying on the bed in the center of the room. She nodded as she saw him sleep peacefully and then looked at the two women at the desk in a corner of the room -how are they doing?- she asked.

Semiramis turned around, bowed a little and said -all right, Lady Hera. Revenue is equivalent to sales of jewelry and gemstones-

-I know- said Hera, advancing to Semiramis. At the same time, Scheherezade stood up from her chair and bowed. Hera arrived in front of the two and said -the important thing is that you understand how the market moves, what are the times of greatest demand and what they are associated with. Also, that you understand the price, the classification and what type of products you should keep for certain people-

Semiramis made an uncomfortable smile and said -well, most of the jewels are within the reach of the great adventurers and nobles of other countries. However, jewelry from over a hundred million valis is only sold to goddesses, queens, and kings-

Hera nodded satisfied with the answer and then looked at Viggo for a moment and looked Semiramis in the eye again -Worried?- she asked.

-Yes, well- replied Semiramis, looking down. Then she raised her face and said to her eyes -I had never seen Viggo so hurt-

Hera nodded and replied -it's normal that you don't understand, being a warrior is a barbaric way of life, but necessary. Do you think I would be the great goddess I am if I didn't have the best adventurers?- Semiramis denied and Hera continued -strength is a necessary evil, even in a civilized land like Orario. Viggo is doing his best to protect his family, you must also do the same-

-I'll keep that in mind- said Semiramis and Scheherezade in unison. On the one hand, they felt bad for Viggo having to undergo this training. On the other hand, they understood in their hearts that everyone should do what they could on their own battlefield. Viggo fighting and making a name for himself in Orario. They through business and contacts.