Winter Arc
Sebastian woke before dawn, his breath visible in the cool air of his room. Today marked a turning point in his journey—one where he would commit himself to forging a body as capable as his brilliant mind. Over the past four years, he had honed his intellect and mastered skills like herbology and crafting, but he had come to a realization: the greatest warriors were those who balanced the sharpness of their minds with the strength of their bodies.
He reviewed the new schedule he had carefully crafted the previous night.
The Revised, Revised Daily Schedule
Morning:
1. Strength Training (Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lifting rocks from the fields)
2. Endurance Building (Running laps around the village, climbing hills, swimming, and then even more laps around the village)
Afternoon:
1. Practice Current Skills (Jumping, running, swimming, climbing, meditating, etc., to level up practical skills)
2. Learn New Combat Skills (Swordsmanship, archery, shielding, spearmanship, countering, and parrying)
Evening:
1. Sparring (With Yuno or any willing opponent in the village)
2. Reflection and Planning (Review progress, record observations, and set goals for the next day)
The orphanage's backyard would serve as his primary training ground, and the quiet mornings would give him ample time to push himself without distractions.
The crisp morning air greeted Sebastian as he stepped outside, determined to begin. He threw himself into the rigorous strength training regimen with vigor. The homemade weights that had once been a challenge now felt significantly lighter as he carried them across the orphanage yard. His muscles burned with every push-up, sit-up, and squat, but he relished the ache, knowing it was a sign of growth.
[Physical: +1 Strength]
[Physical: +1 Strength]
[Physical: +1 Strength]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
The endurance training pushed him even further. He sprinted laps around the village, climbed steep hills until his legs felt like lead, and then dived into the river for swimming drills. The rhythmic strokes of his arms and legs through the water sharpened his focus, while his lungs adapted to the strain.
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
[Physical: +1 Endurance]
[Physical: +1 Speed]
[Physical: +1 Speed]
[Physical: +1 Speed]
By the time he finished, the morning sun had risen high, casting its golden glow across the village. Sebastian's body was drenched in sweat, but his resolve remained firm.
After a brief rest, Sebastian retrieved a wooden blade he had crafted himself. Though it was crude, it would serve as a valuable tool for his practice. He stepped into the yard, feet firm and stance steady. Each swing of the blade was deliberate, every movement calculated. He visualized an opponent before him, countering and parrying their imaginary blows.
As the hours passed, his efforts bore fruit.
New Skill: Swordsmanship (Basic): Proficiency in the use of a sword, including basic stances, swings, and footwork.
New Skill: Imaginary Opponent (Basic): Ability to visualize and interact with an imaginary adversary for solo training.
New Skill: Parry (Basic): Skill in deflecting an opponent's attacks.
New Skill: Counter (Basic): Ability to counterattack effectively after Parrying or Dodging an enemy strike.
Sebastian transitioned to archery next. Using a makeshift bow, he practiced his aim, focusing on the tension of the string and the trajectory of each shot. His meditative training enhanced his concentration, and he quickly found a rhythm.
New Skill: Archery (Basic): Proficiency in aiming and shooting with a bow.
Finally, he moved on to spearmanship. Using a long stick as a substitute for a spear, he practiced jabs, spins, and deflections. Each motion became smoother with repetition, and he could see the potential of mastering such a versatile weapon.
Spearmanship (Basic): Basic knowledge of spear techniques, including thrusting, spinning, and deflecting.
Evening: Sparring with Yuno
"Ready?" Yuno stood at the center of the training yard, his staff in one hand and the faint glow of magical energy emanating from the other. His smirk was both teasing and confident.
Sebastian tightened his grip on his wooden sword, steadying his stance. "Always."
The match began with Yuno taking the initiative. He surged forward, swinging his staff in an overhead arc. Sebastian sidestepped, deflecting the blow with his sword, but Yuno immediately countered, his free hand conjuring a sharp gust of wind aimed at Sebastian's feet.
Caught off guard, Sebastian stumbled slightly but quickly recovered, leaping back into position.
"Mixing magic with the staff now? Trying to show off?" Asta asked, breathing heavily.
"Just making sure you stay sharp," Yuno replied, his tone playful. He spun his staff, the air around it rippling with magical energy, and charged again.
[Due to battle user has unlocked a new Physical stat]
[New Stat Acquired:Sense (Basic) Heightens your five basic Senses.While also giving you spatial awareness, anticipation of enemy movements, and the ability to detect subtle changes in an environment or opponent's behavior.]
New Skill:Reflex (Basic): Heightened ability to react quickly and instinctively to sudden movements or attacks. Reduces reaction time and increases adaptability during combat.
Asta adjusted his footing and switched tactics. As Yuno struck again, Sebastian focused on his new reflexes, deflecting the staff's blow with a parry and using the momentum to pivot behind him. He retaliated with a counterstrike aimed at Yuno's side, but a burst of wind knocked the wooden blade slightly off course.
The two continued their duel, exchanging blows. Yuno's combination of magic and melee attacks kept Sebastian on his toes, forcing him to analyze every move. Yuno's staff movements were precise, but his magic added an unpredictable element, sending small gusts or creating barriers that disrupted Sebastian's rhythm.
Asta gritted his teeth and adapted, using his Imaginary Opponent training to anticipate Yuno's next moves. When Yuno sent a gale of wind toward him, Asta dove to the ground, rolled, and came up swinging. His blade clashed against Yuno's staff, the impact vibrating through his arms.
"Nice try," Yuno said, his tone still light, but there was a flicker of seriousness in his eyes.
Sebastian switched tactics again, drawing the makeshift bow from his back. He nocked an arrow and fired quickly, aiming low to disrupt Yuno's stance. The arrow flew true, forcing Yuno to block with his staff. Sebastian used the distraction to close the distance, his wooden blade aimed for Yuno's chest.
A barrier of wind blocked the strike at the last moment, sending Asta skidding back across the dirt.
"You're relentless," Yuno admitted, lowering his staff slightly, his expression one of genuine admiration.
"And you're not invincible," Asta countered, wiping sweat from his brow.
With a renewed focus, the sparring continued. Yuno's magic became more aggressive, his gusts stronger and his movements faster, but Asta held his ground. His reflexes, honed by the day's training, allowed him to dodge and parry with precision. His Sense stat began to take effect, letting him pick up on subtle cues in Yuno's movements—how he shifted his weight before swinging his staff, or the slight hum of magic before a spell was cast.
As the match reached its climax, Yuno unleashed a whirlwind attack, forcing Asta back. But instead of retreating, Sebastian planted his feet and lunged through the storm, using his sword to deflect Yuno's staff and landing a clean strike on his opponent's shoulder.
The sparring came to an abrupt halt, the air around them settling as Yuno stepped back, raising a hand in surrender.
"You got me," he said, grinning. "That last move was impressive Asta."
Sebastian lowered his blade, panting but triumphant. "Told you. I'm catching up."
Under the soft glow of the moonlight, Sebastian sat looking over his stats and newly acquired skills in only one day
Primary Stats:
- Physical: 123
- Mental: 239
- Magic: 0
Detailed Stats:
- Physical: Strength: 22 | Speed: 19 | Endurance: 30 | Charisma: 49 | Sense:3
- Mental: Intelligence: 90 | Wisdom: 80 | Focus: 69
" Ha, 69."
Skills:
- Herbology (Mastered): Exceptional knowledge and application of plants, allowing for advanced cultivation, remedies, and poisons.
- Farming (Expert): Optimized methods for cultivating high-yield crops.
- Cooking (Expert): Creates meals that boost morale and minor physical recovery.
- Speed Reading (Expert): Rapid text comprehension and detailed retention.
- Memory Retention (Expert): Near-flawless recall of learned information.
- Potion Crafting (Expert): Produces potent potions with advanced alchemical processes.
- Carpentry (Expert): Designs and builds durable, efficient structures.
- Crafting (Expert): Exceptional precision and innovative use of materials.
- Strategic Thinking (Expert): Formulates plans with high adaptability to challenges.
- Persuasion (Expert): Reads social dynamics and influences effectively.
- Emotional Intelligence (Expert): Recognize and adapt to emotional states of others.
- Meditation (Advanced): Deep focus and mental energy regeneration.
- Craftsmanship (Advanced): Efficient creation and repair of complex items.
- Fishing (Advanced): Enhanced techniques to capture diverse aquatic species.
- Blacksmithing (Advanced): Forging tools and weapons with high durability.
- Climbing (Intermediate): Improved ability to scale various surfaces.
- Sprinting (Intermediate): Increased speed over short distances.
- Swimming (Intermediate): Enhances the ability to navigate and move through water efficiently
- Jumping (Intermediate): Enhanced vertical and horizontal leap ability.
- Biology (Intermediate): Basic anatomical and physiological understanding.
- Alchemy (Intermediate): Fundamental transmutative processes for material improvement.
- Analyze (Intermediate): Identifies strengths, weaknesses, and applications of objects or situations.
- Medic (Intermediate): Knowledge on diagnosing and treating simple wounds
[New Skills Acquired Today:]
Swordsmanship (Basic): Proficiency in the use of a sword, including basic stances, swings, and footwork.
Imaginary Opponent (Basic): Ability to visualize and react to an imaginary adversary for solo training.
Parry (Basic): Skill in deflecting an opponent's attacks.
Counter (Basic): Ability to counterattack effectively after deflecting or dodging an enemy strike.
Archery (Basic): Proficiency in aiming and shooting with a bow.
Spearmanship (Basic): Basic knowledge of spear techniques, including thrusting, spinning, and deflecting.
Reflex (Basic): Heightened ability to react quickly and instinctively to attacks or sudden movements.