Chapter 35 (training ground of the warriors)

"Hey, kids. I don't have much to say about myself beside my name, instructor William. I will be in charge of your sword training." He folded his arms behind him, walking towards the students. "Mind you, this class isn't for the weak soul. You must all be prepared, ready to face the challenges in order to be a sword master." stood a few inches away from the first rows of students. "Did you understand?" He shouted, and his voice vibrated through the room.

"Yes sir. We understood." They all responded.

 Instructor William returned to his position, his gaze sweeped across the students like a hawk surveying its prey. "To be a great war mage, especially sword wielders like you," he said, raising three fingers on his right hand. "There are three steps your bodies must undergo before you can call yourselves sword masters. First is your stamina or endurance. No matter how skilled you are, with weak stamina. You may become prey as your opponent drags out the fight.

Secondly, familiarise yourself with your own sword; let it become an extension of yourself as you swing. This way, it won't betray you. And lastly, learn to infuse your sword with an adequate aura. For instance," he pointed at Drake. "If he tries to use a sword technique that requires just 4000 units of aura, he should be able to fuse that amount without wasting any aura during then process." He was explaining when Ronan speaks in a low tone. "That is if he can even muster that unit of aura." He said, mocking Drake. Every student who heard him tried to hold back their laughter but was still noticed by instructor William.

"Will you keep short and listen? I have told you all, this place is not for joke." He snapped, his voice silenced the room like a thunderclap, and they all stood properly composed. Instructor William moved towards the exercise equipment, and all the students turned, following him. He effortlessly raised a 500 kg dumbbell with his right hand, smoothly swinging it up and down with the grace of a dancer, the weight seemingly weightless in his grip.

"Your initial training will focus on building your stamina." He said. "You should all be able to lift this 50 times after two months. We will skip the second step, as you all possess your family sword techniques and are familiar with sword handling. We will move directly to the final training, which is the aura infusion, next time I come." He lowered the dumbbell with a controlled thud; the metal echoed through the room. He turned, facing the students.

"While I'm your instructor, don't expect me to babysit you. If you truly understand why you're here, then focus and achieve your goals. If you hit a wall during your training, feel free to consult with me." He cut through the rows of students like a ship slicing through the waves, walking towards the exit. He turned his head slightly, his gaze lingered on the students. "Just because some categories of mages have never done this doesn't mean it's impossible." He started and exited through the door. The students were puzzled by his last statement, except Drake, who felt instructor William's gaze upon him, like a searing fire that burnt through him.

All students except Drake and Victoria strode towards the exercise equipment, seduced by instructor William's deceptively effortless demonstration. Each student attempted to lift the 500 kg dumbbell, but their efforts crumbled beneath its weight. until Ronan stepped forward like a thunderclap and lifted it twice. The room filled with administration for Ronan, burning like wildfire.

"As expected of young master Ronan." One of the students muttered. "Yeah, not just lifting it but successfully attempting it twice." Another one added. The room dripped with awe as Ronan got drunk in their praise.

As a man who transmigrated from earth, he understood that to properly handle this heavily exercised equipment, the body must be fully fitted to avoid body breakdown. He decided to start with some basic fitness and walked away from the other students towards the ring, which was noticed by Victoria and Ronan. He lay, resting on his arms, and stared, doing a pushup.

Ronan stepped closer, and the other followed him. "We are supposed to build our stamina, but here you are behaving like a beast." Ronan mocked Drake. All the students laugh loudly. "Don't you think his posture looks familiar?" One of them said, pointing at Drake pushups. "Yeah, that the mist lizard beast posture." Another student, with his index finger placed on his chin, scratching his head, replied.Drake, unfazed by their words, continued his pushup. He reached his limit at 25, yielding to the demand of his body, he switched to sit-up with his focus unwaved.

Moments later, they all returned to the exercise equipment, continued their training, and mocked Drake doing his fitness.Drake also attempted other basic fitness like squatting, lunges, andjogging on a spot. After several hours of basic fitness, Drake walked towards the sword stand, picking up a steel sword, and returned to his training area. He began swinging the sword vertically, counting each movement, which instantly fuelled the mockery of his fellow students as they continued their own training.

After two hours, the class has come to an end, and everyone started heading back to their dorms. However, Drake was still carried away by his training, swinging the sword. "47, 48, 49, 50...." He was on the count when he heard a voice. "Hey buddy, it's time to go back." Drake turned to see Mark leaning against the entrance door with his leg crossed.

"Ha, thanks; I just wanted to get used to the sword since we will be skipping that part of the training." He said as he returned the steel sword. He walked towards Mark, dripping in sweat. Together, they left for their dormitory.

Drake entered his room, finding Xena still seated with her leg crossed and eyes closed on the bed, just as he had left her before class. "You're not done." Drake asked out of curiosity. "Oh, you are back. Yes, it will take me about a week to get over it," she replied, still focused. Drake started undressing to take a bath.

Unlike Drake, whose strength comes from a cheat, mages develop their mana rings around their hearts in 3 stages before it is fully integrated into their power, which are the temporary stage, the extended stage, and the permanent stage.

During the temporary stage, the man ring can vanish when used, so must mages avoid using it during this stage. At the extended stage, the mage can utilise the mana ring to some degree without negative effects, but it's still risky, and lastly, at the permanent stage, the mana ring is stabilised and can be used freely.

However, as a dragon, Xena in her temporary stage, her mana ring won't disappear but will instead become uncontrollably, if not quickly stabilised, posing significant danger to everything around here Xena is like an explosive plant right now, capable of obliterating the entire school and beyond it.