As the test had ended, the heroes' training was only just beginning. The combat lessons, as planned, were supervised by experts hired by the Kingdom of Sigma to train these young recruits and turn them, as quickly as possible, into competent heroes capable of fending for themselves and growing stronger on their own. They had all begun their intensive training a few days ago, and already the progress was noticeable.
Each day was structured around rigorous training sessions, blending theory and practice. The seasoned and demanding instructors pushed the young heroes to go beyond their limits, forcing them to face their fears and overcome their weaknesses. The training grounds were filled with the sound of clashing weapons and exploding spells.
"Hold your sword tighter!" shouted Peney to Shawn as they sparred together.
The two exchanged multiple blows, and at every mistake, Peney would immediately correct him, diving back into more exchanges until the lesson stuck. During a new clash, Shawn's guard broke, causing him to drop his sword.
"Your center of gravity is all wrong! Adjust your stance so you can parry better. Look at my position: feet anchored, upright posture for perfect balance, and arms ready to absorb the blows," Peney explained, demonstrating the proper stance.
Shawn picked up his sword and got back into position facing his instructor.
"Ready!" he exclaimed with determination.
Shawn then took the same stance Peney had shown him. He attacked, hands gripping the sword's hilt tightly. Before their blades clashed, his arms nearly gave way under Peney's strike, but thanks to the stance he had observed earlier, he finally managed to block the attack.
"It's not perfect yet, but it's a start. Alright, our lesson is over for today. As usual, follow the training program I gave you."
After several hours of sword practice, Shawn followed a specific weight training program set by Peney to strengthen his body effectively and increase his stats. On the other side of the field, everyone was also training under their respective instructors' supervision, each following a program tailored to their skills and needs.
"Very good, saintly priestess, mastering your mana is very important," said Jean as he watched Emma.
She was training with Jean to control her elemental magic and her mana flow. Beams of light emerged from her hands, shimmering with controlled intensity.
"Emma, can you add two more? One in your left hand and one in your right," Jean asked, his gaze focused.
"Yes, I think I can."
With heightened concentration, an additional beam of light appeared in each of her hands. The dazzling glow illuminated the space around her, a sign of her progress.
"You're progressing very well, saintly priestess. You may rest now; we are done for today," he said, visibly pleased.
Emma released the beams of light and let out a sigh of relief, feeling fatigue settle in. Meanwhile, Méverick was fighting Maximus hand-to-hand and had just been violently slammed to the ground.
"Is that all you've got, kid? Hit me harder, move faster, make me feel it! Or I'll be the one to make you feel it!" Maximus roared, his eyes blazing with challenge.
Méverick wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, eyes burning with determination. He got back up and, with a cry of rage, punched Maximus with all his strength. The blow resounded through the arena, a testament to the brutality of their clash. The two fighters exchanged blows of incredible violence, each impact leaving visible marks of their intensity. Maximus taught mercilessly, pushing Méverick to his limits. He firmly believed that only harsh training could forge a true fighter. Méverick, far from being discouraged, seemed to thrive in this adversity. The pain and blows only fueled his determination.
Next came Éléonore, Beth, and Marine, who cast multiple spells repeatedly under Moïse's strict supervision and sharp advice. He created multiple targets, both stationary and moving, using his earth element, shaping them with impressive precision and speed.
Éléonore was doing rather well, chaining spells and hitting the targets accurately. Her movements were fluid and precise, showing growing mastery of her element. The earth targets shattered under her attacks, a testament to her skill and focus.
Marine and Beth, on the other hand, found the exercise more difficult. They struggled to maintain focus and chain their spells with the same effectiveness as Éléonore. Their spells sometimes missed the target or lacked the desired impact.
"Beth, Marine, you'll keep casting spells until you collapse from exhaustion and until you properly master your mana and elements," he said sternly.
Peney had now moved on to Jay's training, instructing him in the basics of sword handling. Jay, though a beginner, showed fierce determination to learn and improve his skills. Peney corrected his posture, movements, and technique, emphasizing the importance of every detail to become a competent swordsman.
"Hold your sword firmly, but not too stiff. Find the right balance," advised Peney. "Always remember to keep your feet firmly planted and your center of gravity low."
Jay, focused, followed the instructions attentively, repeating the movements until they became more natural. Every correction from Peney was an opportunity for Jay to improve, and he absorbed the teachings diligently.
Meanwhile, Maël and others trained alone, following their personalized programs. Maël, in particular, focused on strengthening her magical control and increasing her attack power. She repeatedly cast spells, refining her incantations and trying to maximize the efficiency of her mana.
The other members of the group also followed their respective programs, working on their individual skills. The atmosphere was studious and serious, everyone fully aware of the importance of this rigorous training. At regular intervals, instructors would supervise their progress, offering advice, correcting mistakes, and providing encouragement. Sometimes they supervised individually, other times in groups, ensuring every aspect of their training was covered.
Boom!
A gigantic flame lit up the training field, immediately drawing everyone's attention. A man emerged, brandishing a black and gold sword and shield, adorned with a raven's head. It was Zem, the kingdom's paladin and commander of Sigma's knights.
Before the smoke even cleared, Zem raised his shield to block several blades of wind flying toward him. The attacks were deflected effortlessly, showcasing Zem's mastery and strength.
His face bore a confident, amused smile.
"Those two are at it again," Moïse said nonchalantly as he watched the scene.
A sword violently clashed against Zem's shield, but he repelled the attack with ease, his smile widening.
"Come on, Maïli, again! I know you can do much better! But now, it's my turn to attack!" Zem shouted, pleasure gleaming on his face.
"Ah, crap!" Maïli cursed, bracing for the worst.
Without waiting, Zem launched a water attack at extraordinary speed toward her. Reacting instantly, she pulled out a basic iron shield and deployed her Shield of Life skill. But despite her efforts, the water attack sent her flying several meters back, breaking her shield and her skill upon impact. She landed flat on the ground, unable to move. The force of the attack had left her stunned and aching.
"Well, I think that's enough of a lesson for today," Zem smiled, approaching her with a satisfied look.
"Bastard!" Maïli laughed as she grabbed the hand he extended to help her up.
Their training wasn't only focused on combat ability but also included a theoretical component with their dedicated teacher, Marcou. Every morning at the same hour, he taught them the foundational principles and workings of this world.
"Alright, today we'll go over something fundamental. First, we'll talk about magic circuits, so pay attention."
He began drawing complex diagrams on the classroom board as he explained.
"Magic circuits reside in the body of every living being; they extend throughout the body in a manner similar to the nervous system. They are mainly connected to the brain and heart. They have three basic functions: converting mana into magical energy, storing it, and then allowing the user to utilize skills. Unlike organs, which are determined at birth, magic circuits can be more numerous or fewer depending on the individual, making mana storage and usage easier or harder depending on the person. Some races, such as Elves, Vampires, or Dragons, are born with a much greater number of magic circuits. But the number of circuits isn't everything quality and precision are also very important factors. Demons, for example, are known to be born with fewer magic circuits, but compensate with circuits that are much larger than normal and strategically located throughout the body, making them beings of devastating and extraordinary power. It's possible to create new circuits through mana manipulation, training, and leveling up. It's also possible to artificially modify this number through certain methods. However, magic circuits are not indestructible; they can be damaged or even destroyed. Those that are too severely damaged cannot be healed or repaired. One must then resort to certain methods to destroy them and create new ones. There also exist other types of circuits that allow for hybrid or multiple uses of mana."
Types of Circuits:
Primary Circuits: Standard, normal mana flow Reinforced Circuits: Allow for greater mana flow, faster skill usage, and more powerful attacks Elemental Circuits: Optimized for a particular type of magical element Hybrid Circuits: Mix different structures, allowing multiple or fused elemental usage
"Your circuits do store mana, but your heart is your greatest mana reservoir."
"What happens if too many circuits are damaged?"
"There may be partial or total loss of magical abilities, severe physical aftereffects, mana flow instability which can be fatal and in the worst-case scenario, death."
"And if your heart is pierced, you'd better be healed very quickly, or death will follow as well."
"Are there other ways to store mana?"
"Yes, mana cores. Unlike your heart, which is a natural structure, mana cores are artificial creations. They are a magical structure, like a pearl of pure energy, forged and connected to your network of circuits. Once formed, a Mana Core transforms how you manipulate energy. It acts as a living reservoir: it accumulates, condenses, and redistributes mana far beyond what your natural circuits allow. It makes you more enduring, more stable, and more dangerous. It allows you to chain powerful spells and fight longer."
"Wow, how do you create one?"
"First, you must reinforce your circuits, then increase the mana flow throughout your entire body through them, pushing them to their limits… without breaking them. Then, you must maintain the mana flow perfectly stable without interruption. Choose a spot in your body where you want to create it and maintain it in that precise place. This requires immense concentration and a lot of mana, but above all, time. The mana will then condense and crystallize little by little; after that, you must connect it to your network of magic circuits. Once completed, congratulations you have a jewel beating to the rhythm of your will. But beware… this process is risky. Many have failed. Some burned their circuits. Others literally exploded into a thousand pieces."
"Can you create several cores?"
"Yes, you can create several, and not all cores are equal they are also classified by rank. There are also cores specialized in certain elements, reinforcing them."
"Is it the same principle for creating elemental cores?"
"Yes, the only difference is infusing the mana with an element. However, know that if you create an elemental core, you will only have access to mana that enhances the attribute you chose."
"So it's a choice between pure mana or mana infused with a specific element?"
"Exactly. We'll talk more about all this later; now, let's talk about dungeons."
He erased all the drawings and began sketching again.
"Dungeons are largely structures composed of several rooms and floors, housing monsters, traps, and also bosses," Marcou explained in a calm, authoritative voice. "Dungeons can have several floors, and the higher you go, the more difficult the monsters and environments become."
He turned to the board, quickly sketching a schematic representation of a typical dungeon.
"Generally, dungeons contain around 50 floors. However, the number can vary. Some dungeons may be smaller; others, far larger."
Marcou pointed to several levels on his drawing.
"There may be one or several bosses per dungeon, spread across different floors. However, that's not systematic. You might encounter five bosses or just one… no one knows for sure. The configuration of dungeons can vary greatly."
He then circled the final floor on his diagram.
"The most important part of completing a dungeon is defeating the boss on the last floor. That's your primary objective."
"Are there different types or categories of dungeons?" Eva asked curiously.
"Yes, there are several," Marcou replied, nodding.
He wrote on the board to illustrate his explanations:
Classic dungeons, which generally have around 50 floors Mega-dungeons, much larger structures with more than 100 floors Labyrinth dungeons, consisting of a single, extremely large and complex floor
He paused to make sure all the students were following, then continued:
"Each dungeon is also ranked like adventurers. To this day, we still don't know everything about dungeons their full functioning, their origins. What I've mentioned are the only categories we've cataloged so far, and this is specific to our continent. In fact, our continent is the only one known to date."
"But you've never tried explorations to discover other continents?"
Marcou sighed slightly before answering:
"We've certainly attempted exploration voyages, but these journeys have never yielded anything for several reasons. Our ships are not advanced enough, and we also have to face sea monsters as well as often extremely hostile weather. Some journeys ended with the deaths of several crews and the loss of costly ships."
"Their problem clearly resembles the issues of our own Middle Ages during early explorations. The sea routes and weather conditions were unknown. They departed during seasons prone to storms, exposing ships and crews to violent winds and waves. There must also be areas where monsters are far more numerous and vicious," Maïli thought as she listened to the professor.
Marcou continued his explanation, beginning to show ship designs.
"They must also have fairly rudimentary ships of that era and lack basic tools such as the compass."
Observing the plans, she noted their ships still used oars. The usage and number of sails were rudimentary, and the hull wasn't raised enough to ensure better navigation and face waves.
"No wonder they're struggling with maritime exploration," she murmured.
As Professor Marcou finished his explanations about ships, he resumed the topic of dungeons.
"The appearance of dungeons stimulates monster activity, sometimes triggering several phenomena: monster evolution and mutation, as well as migration."
"What's migration?" Marine asked, intrigued.
"Migration is a phenomenon where monsters gather in large numbers before moving. And I don't need to tell you the great danger they represent."
"Is that the event the King told us about?" Emma asked.
"Yes, the first catastrophe but it wasn't migration, it was a dungeon break!" Marcou replied in a serious tone.
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