[ You have gained access to the special training room ]
Finally, I made it.
The moment I stepped inside, silence enveloped me.
This training room possessed a spatial artifact, making its interior far more vast than it appeared from the outside. Although not as large as the artificial space in the tower, this place still evoked a sense of grandeur and secrecy.
Just to the left of the entrance was a large canteen and restrooms. Wooden tables were neatly arranged, yet not a single plate or cup was out of place, as if they had never been touched. The place seemed to be waiting for someone to use it again.
In the center, twenty arenas, each ten by ten meters, were lined up neatly. The flat floor was so clean that the reflection of the protective formations above was clearly visible, ready to withstand the impact of excessive attacks. There was no sound other than the echo of my own footsteps, making the room feel larger and quieter than it should.
Encircling the arenas, tiered spectator seats rose in a wide ring, giving a clear view from every direction. Beneath these seats, running parallel with the arenas, lay a fully equipped gym.
Honestly, the atmosphere sent a slight shiver down my spine. Every step sounded too loud, as if something was lurking in the silence.
On the right side, my gaze fell upon a long row of doors. If my guess was correct, those were the simulation rooms. Their number was staggering, a hundred doors, far more than the ones at the royal academy.
I walked slowly toward the simulation room area and stopped in front of door number one. Channeling a bit of my power into the door's surface, faint carvings on it lit up, and the door opened without a sound, as if accepting my presence.
As soon as I stepped inside, the door closed tightly behind me.
Silence.
This room was different, larger than I expected, its walls reflecting a dim light that came from no discernible source. I took a breath, then summoned the System. Instantly, a transparent blue screen appeared before me.
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[ Welcome to the Special Simulation Room ]
Select training mode:
- Individual Duel
- Group Battle
- Real-Life Simulation
- Limit Test
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'Whoa...'
My blue eyes reflected the light from the screen. My heart began to beat faster. This was a training room far more advanced than the one at the royal academy. At the academy, there was only [Limit Test] and [Individual Duel], and you had to enter different rooms for each.
Without hesitation, my finger touched the [Individual Duel] section. The blue screen trembled slightly, then the display changed. A row of options appeared before me.
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Select simulation opponent:
- Aura User
- Mana User
- Demon
- Unity Core Wielder
- Self-Replica
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The air around me pulsed, as if the room was awaiting the decision I was about to make. My grip on the sword's hilt tightened.
"So, who should I cut down first?" I muttered softly, my eyes sweeping over the available options.
I opened the monster section and saw many monster names appear, even monsters from the polar regions were there. But I had already made a decision.
"Better start with a goblin..." I murmured.
I pressed the goblin section, and two screens appeared before me. One was for selecting the power level and number of monsters, and the second was for the desired battle area.
"Crazy, Peak Grandmaster level?" I said, surprised.
"Even the academy's simulation rooms went no higher than Peak Expert level."
I couldn't imagine a goblin, which was just a beginner level monster, having the strength of a Grandmaster. Then, I chose [ Low Stage Beginner Realm ] and selected just one goblin. The area I chose was a simple training field.
As soon as I hit confirm, the blue light from the screen enveloped my vision. The room's floor trembled slightly, and in an instant, the atmosphere changed. The walls and ceiling vanished, replaced by a vast training field with hard ground and a few large rocks scattered randomly, as if it were completely real.
Before me, dark green light began to gather. From that swirl, a small creature emerged. Its skin was a dull green, its yellow eyes glowing with hatred. Its hand gripped a rusty dagger, though its face wore a sneering grin.
"Just like in the game," I murmured, a smile appearing on my face.
Although it looked weak, a faint killing intent radiated from its tiny body. A blue screen appeared in front of me.
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[Simulation Start]
Opponent: Goblin
Level: Low Stage Beginner Realm
Rule: Defeat the enemy.
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I felt my grip on the sword's hilt harden. The sound of my heartbeat merged with the silence of the field.
"Alright, let's begin."
...
The goblin charged swiftly, its rusty dagger glinting. I raised my sword, deflecting with a simple parry. The clash of metal sent a slight pain through my wrist.
The goblin swung again, this time faster. I ducked, parried, then spun around with a straight slash. My sword hit its chest, and green blood spurted out. But instead of falling, the goblin roared and stabbed wildly at me. I took a half-step back, raising my sword to block.
The second impact made my palm tremble, sweat began to trickle down my temple. My breath was a little heavy, even though this was just the beginning.
"You stubborn thing…" I muttered.
I regulated my rhythm, then waited for an opening. When the goblin raised its dagger too high, I stepped forward, twisted my wrist, and slashed quickly at its neck. A sharp, slicing sound was heard, the goblin's body went limp, then it turned into blue light and disappeared.
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[Simulation Complete]
Result: Victory
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I panted, resting my sword on my shoulder. My breath was ragged, my shoulders felt heavy even though my body was unharmed.
"Just one goblin... and I'm already like this." I wiped my sweaty temple.
I felt the goblin's warm blood on my hand, but strangely, no nausea or disgust arose. It felt so normal, as if my body was already used to such a sight.
'Maybe it's because I've done it before.'
A faint memory surfaced in my mind, a time when I had to stab a robber's neck.
Back then, after the fight was over, I had knelt on the ground and vomited repeatedly, my body trembling uncontrollably. But now, there was no more vomiting, no more trembling. Just a steady heartbeat, and a slight breathlessness after the short fight. I stared at my blood-stained palm, then wiped it on my clothes.
"Oh well..." I murmured softly.
"Goblins or robbers, they're the same. Both are evil. The only difference is, this time, I don't have to feel guilty."
The blue screen in front of me glowed again, asking if I wanted to continue to the next simulation. I spent the last day in the simulation room, then returned to my original world.