After Tsukari fully regained consciousness in the Graveyard, he looked around with wide eyes, filled with fear and amazement.
The place was larger than he had imagined: a series of huge warehouses, filled with tools, weights, and piles of training equipment.
The air was filled with the scent of power itself, a strange feeling, as if every breath tested him and pushed him to his limits.
Everything suggested that this place was not just a warehouse, but a harsh training ground for survival.
Tsukari took a deep breath, remembering something painful: his parents had died years ago, leaving him alone in this harsh world.
The loneliness, the loss, and the absence of protection made him feel even more afraid, but it also sparked a strange feeling: a strong desire to become powerful, for any reason, so he would never be weak again.
Before he could take a step, three other young people approached him, wearing matching training clothes and looking more experienced:
Kaoru: tall, sharp-eyed, calm but strong.
Haru: very energetic, always smiling despite the strict training.
Misaki: quiet and silent, moving lightly as if part of the air itself.
Kaoru stepped forward and said firmly:
"You're new here, right? Your name is Tsukari?"
Tsukari nodded, not knowing what to say, feeling very confused.
"Where am I? And what is this place?" he finally asked.
Haru chuckled softly:
"This is the Graveyard. Not what the name seems… Here you will learn everything about survival and power."
Misaki added quietly:
"Here, you will learn to control your body, your mind, and your power… how to face those stronger than you. Nothing comes easily."
After a few minutes, they first took him to the shared sleeping quarters, where they explained the basic rules of training:
Training is divided into multiple levels, each testing endurance, strength, and combat intelligence.
Those who succeed are allowed to advance to the next training level.
Those who fail… remain at the basic level until they improve or leave the program.
Then they went to the main training hall, where Master Tougi was waiting.
A huge man, calm but radiating authority, looked at the new trainees with sharp eyes.
"Today will be your first challenge. Endurance and muscle mass test. Anyone who succeeds advances to the next training level. Anyone who fails… stays here and tries again."
Warm-up began, and Tougi watched every movement closely.
Tsukari felt fear, but also something he had never felt before: excitement and curiosity to discover his body's limits.
Haru whispered to him:
"Don't worry, just focus on every move, and don't be afraid of fatigue. The Graveyard makes the strong."
Misaki added quietly:
"You'll understand later why we do this training… and how it connects to everything, even the human with the poisoned hand."
Tsukari took a deep breath and felt the scent of power surrounding him.
"Can I really stay here? Will I become strong… or fail like all ordinary humans?"
And so began Tsukari's first real test in the Graveyard, with Master Tougi, where the endurance and muscle mass challenge would decide his future in this new world.