-The Next Day-
Chandra picked up a heavy, broken broom handle. "Your body may be weak, but your mind is the game changer for every type of combat. The first lesson in combat is this, it isn't decided by strength alone, it's about your technique and how you can deceive your opponent."
"I can tell you're a smart kid, use every tool at your disposal. But first pick a weapon to start." Chandra exclaimed.
Chandra held out a mace, but Virgil shook his head. "With my current strength, the most logical would be a spear. It keeps the distance between me and my opponent." he said. Chandra nodded at the reasoning and handed him a long wooden pole as a stand-in.
"Good. Now we fight," Chandra said, gripping his own axe handle. "Hit me with everything you got. You must keep the space between us wide. Hold that distance."
The sparring started. Virgil tried a stab, but Chandra saw the opening and struck him right away.
Smack! The axe handle struck Virgil's side.
"You're easy to read," Chandra barked. "Move your feet first, then strike. Keep me guessing."
Virgil's ribs ached, and he struggled to breathe, but anger pushed him back up. "Again," he growled, gripping the pole tighter.
Chandra gave a small nod. "Round two, then."
Virgil rushed forward, stabbing faster this time, trying to push Chandra back. But his moves were messy and easy to see. Chandra stepped aside and twisted his handle.
Crack! The mace handle smacked into Virgil's hip.
Virgil almost dropped the pole, stumbling from the pain. His face turned red, more from anger than the hit.
"Better effort." Chandra said calmly. "But rushing won't save you. You need to think while you fight."
Virgil worked on fixing his posture. He copied the way Chandra moved. How he stood, how he shifted his weight. Step by step, Virgil adjusted his stance, keeping the spear steady in his hands. It was tiring, but every small change made him a little better.
They trained for hours, Virgil pushing himself until his arms shook. Until Chandra finally let him rest and taught him about the monsters in the dungeon, he leaned on his axe handle and spoke.
"The low floors are simple," Chandra said, drawing in the sand. "Monsters there move out of hunger. Goblins swing wide, Kobolds lunge low and fast. One-eyed Frogs are different. They're big and use their tongue for fighting."
Then he talked about the War Shadows. "Dark, fast, with long sharp claws. They're the strongest on the sixth floor. They attack quickly, without warning. They're called the "Newbie Killers" for a reason."
"In these coming weeks, I'll train you to fight those kinds of monsters," Chandra said, a cruel smile formed. "You'll sweat, bleed, and fail more times than you can count. But if you survive, you'll be ready for the dungeon."
Virgil swallowed hard, staring at the faint grin on Chandra's face. This is going to be a long and painful few weeks, he thought, already feeling the weight of what was coming.
-Fast Forward-
After four weeks, Virgil finished a long sequence, his arms rubbery and his breath hitching. He did not collapse but stood leaning heavily on his spear pole.
"You've improved." Chandra smiled as he commended Virgil. "You've improved by a lot. Your skills have sharpened"
"I'm ready for the Dungeon," Virgil said, his voice steady. "I've trained hard, and I won't be staying on the sidelines."
Chandra studied him. "I can see it, Virgil. You've put on weight, although just a little bit. But you can hold your own now."
"I know," Virgil replied, meeting his gaze. "I need to feel the dungeon for myself."
Chandra looked at the boy, genuinely surprised by the ambition. But Chandra nodded. "Fine, Virgil. You're coming with me on the next expedition. Stay alert, keep your distance, and don't do anything reckless. This is your chance to put what you've learned to use."