"Again!"
Two months had passed since the first fight against Beako.
In the meantime, Giovanni felt trapped in an endless cycle of suffering, suffering, and suffering a bit more.
Every time he felt like he had advanced even slightly, she employed new ways to knock him out.
He had even grown familiar with some of the names, recognizing them when he felt the searing pain in the area just before blacking out.
Hooks, crosses, jabs, uppercuts, overhands, spinning back fists. She liked variety. Giovanni had little choice but to get back up and try for another round.
His view of healers had also changed significantly during that time.
He used to believe that people gained aspects or attributes like that because they were caring individuals, those who wanted to save others heroically.
But that woman… it was entirely possible that this gift had been given to her thanks to a sadistic desire to beat someone indefinitely.
Pain had long since become the most constant thing in his life.
In the past, stubbing his little toe on a corner would have been enough to leave him groaning on the floor. Now, his mind was armored with thick layers of trauma and experience.
"Break…" He whispered.
His weak voice echoed through the room, his gaze settling on the small water bottle near the door. He just wanted to wash away the taste of blood clinging to his mouth.
Beako didn't object and hopped to the center on a ladybug puff. Satisfaction was written all over her face as Giovanni nearly drowned in his own water.
"I have to say, you're now in the 'decent' category! For someone without any physical aspect or attribute, you're reacting well, and your core strength has improved to the point where you no longer look like a clumsy penguin. But there's still something missing, heehee…"
There was always something missing, and it was very likely that it would continue until his final day of training. No one was perfect, and Giovanni was far from even being a veteran.
"Enlighten me, teacher, with your knowledge…"
"Your use of your aspect is faster and sharper, but raw quality needs a bit of creativity, cunning!"
Taking a deep breath, he set the bottle aside and approached the teacher.
"I thought I had created a good variety of defenses… what exactly is missing?"
Instead of explaining verbally, the woman gestured toward the dirt floor.
"Create a wall between you and me. Quickly."
With a hand gesture, the earth rose into a two-meter-high barrier.
"Can you see me, golden boy?"
"Uh… yes?"
Beako spread her arms with a look that screamed, "Isn't it obvious?"
"On the other hand, I can't see you, and neither can most of your enemies. So abuse that. Many creatures rely on their eyes. Cut their line of sight. It clouds their judgment and gives you the initiative in exchanges."
Finally finding the strength to leave the puff, Beako stood up with a smile.
"Remember. The combat style for people like us is about making as few mistakes as possible while forcing your opponent into disadvantageous positions. While some enemies only control themselves, you also control the environment. Make them regret being born."
She threw a straight punch, and Giovanni dodged at the last moment, his reflexes forged after dozens of exposures to the same situation.
"Good, but dodging isn't enough. You avoided the blow, but I'm still a threat in front of you, and I'll attack again and again without giving you room to breathe. If you really want to find an opening, create it."
She pointed at her own feet.
"Every punch, kick, or weapon attack depends on being anchored to the ground. The force that rises from my feet, travels up my legs, rotates my hips, passes through my core, and explodes into my fist is a single, continuous thing. What do you think happens if, at the moment of the punch, my supporting leg slips?"
Giovanni's eyes seemed to light up as he heard those words.
All this time, he had been so focused on merely surviving and reacting that he hadn't paid attention to the most important fact… he controlled where he stepped, and therefore, where his opponent stepped as well.
His voice sounded a bit unsure, but he answered anyway.
"The force dissipates, and your defense… opens?"
"Exactly! My punch loses all its power, but the motion still happens. My guard drops, my balance vanishes, and all my momentum collapses. That's when you attack! Open the neck, crush the head, do whatever is necessary to eliminate the threat. Sabotage every movement of your enemy while perfecting your own."
Giovanni gulped, realizing it.
Of all the people there, she was probably the only one who knew the person behind the mask he had created, yet even she didn't know his greatest secret.
"Ah… yeah… but damn."
His mind scrambled to find a way to explain his situation without sounding completely ridiculous. Unfortunately, it was very hard to explain to an awakened that he wanted to fight without harming nightmare creatures.
"But…?" she pressed, moving her face closer.
"What if I happened to… not want to hurt my opponent? How would I win?"
Beako stared at him completely seriously, without blinking or looking away… then burst into laughter.
"There… there… you're hilarious, kid… sure, great idea."
She wiped her eyes, as if caught off guard by the joke. But when she looked back at Giovanni and saw his serious expression, surprise turned into disbelief.
"You… you're serious?"
"I'd say I'm a… pacifist."
This wasn't a simple joke. Beako was hearing from the mouth of her student, who had trained under her for four months, that he intended to cross the Dream Realm without harming a single creature. Was he… mentally deficient?
"You're not a pacifist. Open your mouth and explain this properly, or I'll throw you into the academy pit."
He had a choice. Either retreat from the topic and feign ignorance, or admit his flaw.
His agreement with Omar was to let absolutely no one know… but Giovanni was rapidly approaching the ceiling of how far he could go while hiding his weakness.
If he stayed silent, Beako would begin lessons on delivering lethal blows now that his defense was sufficiently developed.
That would be a waste of both their time, but it would help maintain the disguise.
On the other hand, if he told her and asked for help developing a combat style of his own… Giovanni would become less harmless and more prepared.
Beako, despite having seen his true strength, didn't seem to spread rumors or comment on his progress. And after living so many days by her side, it was impossible to deny he had grown fond of his mentor. So it all came down to trust.
The silence grew heavier by the second, and the bee woman's patience wasn't infinite.
In the end, Giovanni made his decision.
"My flaw is that I'm incapable of consciously harming people."
In the end, he chose to trust her and not lie.
Beako showed genuine confusion, looking lost at that revelation.
"That's why I need you to teach me the impossible. Only you can save me."
She closed her eyes, seeming to express anger, frustration, and sadness all at once, processing the worst news she'd heard in some time.
When she finally opened her eyes, calm restored, there was a resolute expression on the older woman's face.
"Let's go outside. This is going to be work."
He did as asked.
In the same training field he had been using until now, the two faced each other beneath the merciful, orange morning sun. The golden-blue robe swayed gently in the wind, and the comforting scent of dew made the moment more relaxing than it truly was.
"There are two months left until your departure to the Dream Realm. Our time together is ending, so I'll need to change my plans."
Giovanni nodded, staring at the ground between them.
"If you're going to develop your own combat style, I need you to answer one quick question."
Crossing her arms over her chest and lifting her chin, Beako continued.
"What do you think is the essence of combat?"
She asked, without any of her usual frills.
Giovanni had many words in mind that could be the "right" answer.
From a practical standpoint, survival. No sane person wants to die, so even if it's cowardly and your enemy remains alive, as long as you're safe and far away, that's all that matters.
Someone colder might say killing is all that matters. If everything boils down to becoming a corpse or turning the threat into a pile of flesh, things couldn't be simpler. A mindset with no hesitation in harming and inflicting suffering on anything that stands in its way.
Victory was also a plausible answer. Fair play is a luxury of the strong, those who don't need to rely on anything but their own power. Someone willing to do whatever it takes to win at any cost, exploiting emotional weaknesses, physical flaws, or pure deception, is extremely efficient.
But none of the answers in his mind felt like the foundation he needed for his style.
His power needed to be gentle yet crushing, soft yet unbeatable. His hands would never spill blood, yet every opponent would still be on their knees at the end of the duel.
"Mercy."
Beako didn't hold back her laughter, as if she were looking at the craziest person she had ever met.
"Then so be it. Tell your other teachers that starting today, you'll be under my tutelage from morning to evening. Until the solstice… those creatures will learn to fear a merciful little boy."
Reflected in the young man's emerald eyes, Beako smiled with a dangerous feeling on her face.
***
In the sky, the sun and moon alternated incessantly.
The passage of days grew more important with each entrance ceremony.
The atmosphere among the youths grew dark, their hearts invaded by larvae of doubt. Was each day of preparation enough? Would they return home, or be condemned to a fate worse than death by the claws of the Dream Realm?
In the middle of an underground combat room, a short-haired young man with curly hair and violet eyes meditated in silence.
His days at the academy were not spent acquiring connections or new knowledge.
He was a weapon, forged from the finest material. His thoughts were clear, devoid of logical or emotional imperfections.
When he found himself at the feet of that king, ordered to commit the worst of crimes, he knew there was no turning back.
His body was the tool through which he expressed the immense power and potential of his blood, of his clan.
Each day lived and slept beneath suffocating layers of earth had a single purpose: to grow stronger, sharper, one step closer to his limitless potential.
That familiar feeling, crackling in his chest, poisoning his mind and weakening his conscience… it was not strange.
How many nights had he dreamed of this moment, imagining what trial fate would place in his path?
Now, the time had come. There was no room for doubt. Hesitation is death.
When he lifted his face, he imagined the starry sky above his head. He saw countless comets descending and slicing through the atmosphere, bringing brilliant light to the darkness of night.
A shiver ran down his spine.
Unacceptable.
***
In the women's restroom, a girl with gray eyes, long hair, and an adorable fringe splashed water on her face repeatedly, trying to stay awake.
Her heart wouldn't stop pounding, fear weighing on her shoulders like the world was trying to crush her.
One by one, her worst nightmares had become reality. She had always feared being infected by the spell, for she was a coward.
When she found herself in that dungeon, surrounded by abominable people, innocent youths, and decrepit victims, she thought it was the end. Making the nightmare alive had been a mere stroke of luck, a miracle.
Her body was weak, her mind stained with fear and doubt, and her powers harmless.
Each day at the academy was like crawling through dirt with claws and teeth, trying to keep up with everyone racing ahead, leaving that failure behind.
That feeling was familiar. It sounded like a lullaby, constantly tempting her, was terrifying.
Each night of poor sleep, knowing that someday she would fall asleep and never wake up.
Yet still, she remembered what that boy had said to her. That even someone cowardly, weak, and insecure could triumph. Her memories of that night were blurry, as if she had merely imagined them.
Her breathing grew calmer, her chest filled with warmth…
Comforting.
***
In the complex showers, a young man allowed himself to be enveloped by running water, turning that dark, solitary space into a temple.
The natural sound drowned out all unnecessary noise, driving away the voices of those who had become his audience, the spectators of his spectacle.
His passage through childhood, youth, and finally adolescence was merely phases that could be erased from records, unworthy of attention.
When he found himself on that isolated island, surrounded by savages with only a single prey in sight, enlightenment struck him.
His family would not even have the luxury of claiming shared blood the moment he ascended to the top.
They would be blinded by his power, drowning in their own resentment while he… his laughter echoed throughout the Dream Realm.
Every defeat, victory, and draw was a lesson.
His toned muscles, his face that awakened desire even in the most difficult of women, his hair like the sea itself…
All of it was born of sweat and tears.
Each day at the academy was like climbing a mountain with nothing but hands and feet, seeking the summit he was promised, where the most powerful colossus resided.
That pleasant feeling of the night claiming what was hers by right. Soon, he would be invited to the gates of a realm where only worthy warriors prosper.
His path to the apex of the world would be paved with blood and riches, infinite bodies of abominable creatures, and above all…
Glorious.
***
Feeling snow accumulate on her shoulders, a disheveled, almost feral girl waited in silence.
Her colorful hair looked like chewing gum, shifting between white and pink.
She was a ghost wandering sterile corridors, far from the spotlight, always drifting in the dark so as not to disgust those who wanted people like her in the slaughterhouses they had so lovingly built.
Each day, not knowing if she would survive to see tomorrow was nostalgic. The air she breathed killed her from within, and the food she swallowed was inferior slop, little more than synthetic paste.
When she found herself in that sadistic labyrinth, at the mercy of others, she thought it was finally the end of her suffering.
But even after months, she was still there, forced to bear the burden of being alive. All because a damn opportunistic rat she met had cursed her to live for his sake.
To survive, one cannot trust anything.
Each day in that nest of stupid, noisy chicks was an affront to the world itself, refusing to approach or care about any of them. The only thing of value was the information she could use to survive once she crossed over.
That feeling was familiar. So cold it made the snow almost warm in her presence. It was like dying of hypothermia, with the body slowly shutting down until nothing remained.
Even if she had to betray and use every person in her path, she would come out on top.
As she had once been told, fortune favors the treacherous. Her teacher? None other than the best of them. The best…
Liar.
***
A delicate young man walked alongside dozens of others, guided by awakened individuals toward the academy's medical center. He had done everything in his power to ensure his chances of survival were as high as possible.
His farewell with Beako was warm, involving more than a few hugs and playful head knocks. He also stopped by Julius and made sure to promise that he would write down and document any relevant information he found about ruins and creatures.
Before his eyes, runes materialized.
Soul Fragments: [50/1000]
In addition to the reward he received for sharing information about his nightmare with the academy organization, his tutor gifted him a few extra soul fragments as a farewell bonus.
The increase was significant in all aspects, and his body felt stronger and more agile than ever.
The awakened Rock led them to a special wing before heading to their capsules, where they would be protected during the journey to the Dream Realm.
Rows of young people in wheelchairs, completely inert, with empty eyes. They were the things Omar had spoken about the first time he came to the academy.
Words were exchanged and advice given, but Giovanni's attention drifted elsewhere. That would be his last day on Earth for a long time… when he returned, everything would change.
Soon after, everyone was guided to their capsules. Some cried, others murmured anxiously, lost.
He was about to enter his when a hand grabbed him from behind.
He knew who it was without even looking, but still turned to meet the girl's eyes.
Sofia looked like she wanted to say many things, but the moment allowed very little.
"Thank you… for everything."
He smiled, timidly.
"I should be the one thanking you, honestly. I couldn't do anything to repay your help… It's a bit embarrassing."
His lessons on survival, languages, and learning about nightmare creatures would have been completely different without her. It was truly sad to realize how little he was able to offer others… all he ever did was ask for help.
For a moment, his mind wandered, remembering his innate ability. Maybe, just maybe, if he explained it properly… she could at least use his memories and whatever "blessings" were.
He didn't want to see her like those living ghosts, sitting in a wheelchair.
He just needed courage now. To take the initiative and be clear about his intentions.
Sofia didn't seem to know how to react to praise, but her attitude changed quickly.
"Good, at least you will not forget it easily! When we get back, I'll want you to pay back every second!"
She turned away, embarrassed, and tried to run off before he could answer. But this time, it was his turn to grab Sofia by the vest, extremely nervous.
"I… have a power that might help you there, even if we get separated."
Those words froze her, because she understood their meaning without further explanation. Memories of the runes she read on her first day, which had made her fear Giovanni for so long.
"A-Ah, yeah?! And what would that be… I mean, how does it work? We'll be in completely different places, you know?"
Giovanni nodded, showing he understood the conditions.
"People under my command have access to my arsenal's benefits. So if you want to… be on my team, it might be useful for you in the future."
They stared at each other, both melting with anxiety. What would that imply in the future? Could it be undone? Was it the best choice at the moment? Too many questions for people far too young.
In the end, Sofia decided. Holding her skirt delicately with both hands, she made a respectful bow, careful not to let her beret fall.
"I will be under your care!"
A single choice. Somewhere, a butterfly flapped its wings.
Shortly after, Giovanni found himself climbing into his capsule, which closed around him completely.
Sleep was overwhelming, and his mind spent its final moments of clarity staring at the rosary around his neck.
***
Echoing through the vast darkness, a voice spoke:
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Giovanni!]