Torturous Training

The dawn's light had just started seeping through the horizon. Waking the entire Broken Isle from it's slumber. Under the still lingering stars, Crid and Klaus long started their training.

Though Crid was kinda happy that he can now have strength to protect himself. He complained under his breath as Klaus weighed him down as he did push ups. Completely forgetting that he promised to increase his strength the moment he could.

As he did another push, he could feel that his limp-weak muscles were on the verge of tearing off. He did so many that he simply stopped counting, especially when Klaus didn't seem to have any plans on ending it.

Even Crid himself forgot how long he was doing push ups, but the lake of sweat around him as enough to say that is was longer than he thought. Klaus merely dragged him off his bed, waking him up on these empty lands.

Though his physique was slightly above average, the threat of the knives below him was enough to inspire Crid to keep on going. After seeing his display of willpower, Klaus decided that he will use it to easily increase his stundent's physical strength.

Only when the sun fully rose, did his torturing was stopped. Luckily or unluckily, the ridiculous amount of push ups Crid did completely numbed his arms. Too exhausted to even move a single fiber of his body.

Crid didn't mind being soaked in the puddle of his own sweat. Though it's not like he had a choice. He was so burnt out that he can't move.

He wasn't used to this kind of way of increasing his strength. He'd rather grind endlessly, even if the essence the monsters gave is a single point, better than having to do this.

"Geez kid. Your weaker than I thought. It would take months to strengthen your physical body, not unless your a natural genius." Klaus explained. Slapping the face of his unmoving student, he knew he won't be moving for a while.

It took a while before Crid finally moved. His whole body covered in a mud of his own sweat and dirt. He panted heavily, he wanted to say something, but decided to keep it to himself.

"I thought you were planning to drink your own sweat. Here, drink this." Klaus threw a flask at Crid.

Light bounced off that golden flask, seducing him to drink on it. Crid wanted to gulp down a mouth full of water, but his hands were to exhausted to move. While he could be creative and use some other way to drink, he still had the pride of a top assassin to be so desperate at drinking.

"I don't suppose you can throw away your pride, drink with it using your feet. Or maybe I could help you." Klaus blankly said, as he drank from another flask.

"*Pant*. *Pant*. I hate you." Crid said as he collapsed to the ground once more. Splashing on his mud puddle.

Klaus didn't care. Finishing whatever was in his flask, he stood. He merely shrugged off the pain of his student, but he wished Crid would atleast improve his attitude.

An assassin needs to also improve not only his strength, but also his mind. Though at the face of a task, Crid had the right prudence and enough patience, he severely lacked those when there were no danger. Instead he was way too carefree.

It was this carefree and prideful attitude that shoved people away from him. Even when an average assassin would believe he needed to go solo, Klaus believed otherwise.

An assassin needed to have people who can have his back. Not because they were obligated or they expect something from you. But because they genuinely wanted to protect you.

Atleast, that was what Klaus firmly believed in. That was also what he wanted for Crid to understand.

But seeing his student unable to shallow his pride, he doubt that Crid even have a shred of selflessness in him. He could only sigh. There was still plenty of time. And right now, this kid needed to increase his strength.

"Stand up! We're gonna have a short jog." With Klaus emphasizing the word 'short'.

Hearing it, Crid already had his imagination going wild. Even when the inhabitants of this world grew stronger and faster than those of his previous world, he was still as weak as an ordinary teen. With the same laughable stamina to go alongside it.

But he still stood, wanting to end this chore as soon as possible. Warming up his body this time, as to make him last a little bit longer. It's not like he had a choice. If he backed out now, he wouldn't get Klaus' powerful Skills.

Not just that, only Klaus can get him off this island. If he angered him, he'll be stuck in here. While he personally wanted to get off this place as soon as possible.

After waiting for Crid to finish his warming up, Klaus gestured him to follow. Like as he predicted, the word short wasn't even a way to describe it. From sunrise until afternoon, the empty lands were filled with Crid's exhausted thumps. He even expected that he'll pass out as soon as he got started, but he begrudgingly lasted until afternoon.

Luckily, their session ended there. With Crid believing that he must have applied for a sick torture show, than a save the world training routine.

Fortunately for him, Klaus stopped their running on a lone tree. The shade it brought looked like a safe haven, with it weren't for Klaus helping him. Crid might have crawled his way to the shade.

Leaning on the tree, Crid felt like he was at peace. Finally, a proper rest he thought. Klaus unsuspectingly sitting next to him. There was just something different with his approach, there was almost a vibe of friendliness.

"Starting to hate me even more?" Klaus asked. As he stared into the vast emptiness that surrounded them.

"All legends started somewhere." Crid said, though his tone didn't held it. There was pride in that statement.

"Who said your gonna become a legend?" Klaus almost jokingly asked.

But he didn't expect the firm resolution in Crid's voice. "It's my destiny."