Chapter 046 - Training Regimen, again?

A few days later, I find myself standing in front of a mountain. It is my sister's idea to go here for training. It also has the perfect environment and conditions for my sister's plan.

I fix my backpack and look determinedly in front of me. I bring some conveniences for this trip, like food and supplies. It did raise my sister's brow. She looks at me as if I am stupid. I ignored it. Besides, unlike the training with Saitama, no inn would provide my meals.

So, I start climbing from the base all the way up to the peak. My sister also mentioned that I can begin proper workout training there.

And so, as I hike the mountain, my sister's words continue to linger in my mind—including Saitama's face. I groan audibly at the way his face keeps on popping into my head. Maybe I should start doing what Suiryu had suggested—seeing him on a decreasing number of days per week.

The ascent up the mountain is difficult, but worth it. I hope I can hover and fly easily, like my sister. That way, this will be a walk in the park.

Reaching the top of the mountain, I can see rivers snaking through valleys and forests which stretch for miles in all directions. The view is breathtakingly beautiful; a never-ending landscape of nature's splendor.

But despite the surrounding beauty, my primary focus was on training to get stronger. First is physical endurance. So, I start by running around the peak of the mountain–multiple times–until my lungs are burning from exhaustion. Saitama said before that it's beneficial for me.

Next is physical strength. So, I do some light sparring with rocks of various sizes. I stand at different distances from them and hit them with my cardboard cutter. This time, I coat it with a strengthening aura so it will be more durable than a sword. I hit the rocks hard enough to break them after a couple of strikes.

Sweat drips down my forehead as I continue the intense training. My muscles ache, but I push through the pain. I need to push myself to the limit if I want to be stronger. And now, I am determined to do just that.

When lunchtime arrives, I take a break to catch my breath. But just as I sit down to rest, I hear a rustling noise in the bushes nearby. I quickly grab my cardboard cutter and stand up, ready for whatever might come my way.

Out of the bushes emerges a man, his face covered with a mask. He looks like a villain straight out of a manga. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I get ready to fight.

The man looks at me. He seems afraid of something. "I-I am h-here to t-test your strength," he stutters, his voice muffled by the mask.

I frown and ask, "Are you okay?"

"Yes!" he yelps. "Your sister brought me here!"

"Ah!" I mutter. "Are you being blackmailed?"

"No!" he squeaks.

Okay, that sounds like he is being blackmailed. "And if you didn't obey her orders, what will she do to you?"

"Ah! Please! Just fight me!"

"Where are you from?" I ask again.

"I am one of the bandits on this mountain. But last night, Tornado arrived to wipe us all out. She said we need to vacate the place because you will train here..." he responds in a shaky voice.

I take a deep breath. "Fine," I say. It's better if I really fight him, or else I don't know what my sister will do to him. "I will fight you."

So, I keep my distance from the man, and I tighten my grip on the cardboard cutter. I make it even more durable and sharper.

The man charges towards me, his arms outstretched while holding a knife. I quickly dodge to the side and swipe at him with my improvised weapon. The cardboard cutter slices through the air and connects with the man's arm, leaving a deep gash.

He screams in pain and clutches his wounded arm. Despite this, he keeps coming at me, his eyes filled with determination—or fear of my sister.

We continue to exchange blows, our weapons clashing against each other. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, my heart pounding in my chest.

Soon, I start to feel the burn in my arms and legs, but I don't let up. I have to beat this guy if I want to prove myself to my sister. He seems tired, and I take advantage of that, I land a solid blow on his side.

He stumbles and falls to the ground, panting heavily. I stand over him, my cutter pointed at him. "Are you going to tell my sister I won?"

He looks up at me with fear in his eyes. "Y-yes, I will. Please don't hurt me."

I nod and lower my weapon. "Go. Tell her what you saw here today."

"No need."

It's my sister, watching from a tree, her legs crossed as she sits on a branch while sipping some type of a drink.

"Sis," I greet her as I watch the bandit scramble to his feet and run off, disappearing into the woods.

"Seems like you passed the first challenge," she comments. "But no time to gloat yet. That man is very weak. I would be very disappointed if he wins against you."

"What's next?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

My sister moves away from the branch of the tree and hovers towards me.

"I will keep on sending bandits to you. One at a time, until you get to the boss," she shares.

"I'm ready for it. In the meantime, I will camp here."

"No need," she says.

I frown.

"Go home, take a rest, and come back here."

"But I've brought three days' worth of food."

"Well, return it and bring it back tomorrow morning. However, you will need to fly from the foot of the mountain to here."

My frown goes deeper.

"Fly fast until you can travel the same distance in just a few minutes. Also, when you come down from here, you need to fly as well."

My mouth hangs open. "That's impossible!" I complain.

She just shrugs her shoulders. "Also, I see that you did not practice much of your psychic ability. I will add that to your training regimen starting tomorrow."

I pale. My sister always pushed me to my limits, but this is just impossible! Flying to and from the mountain for training and fighting a bandit each day. All the while, I am practicing both my psychic ability, physical endurance, and physical strength?! Her training regimen is beyond brutal!

Yet, I find myself squeaking a, "I w-will do it."

"Good," she says. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Rest well."

And with that, she flies off into the night sky, leaving me alone on the mountain peak.