The training began.
Although Faen admitted he had ulterior motives, since he had promised Tristana he would train her properly, he was going to bring out his real skills for the instruction.
Just like right now. Lying flat on the ground, Tristana was gritting her teeth, dragging an astonishingly heavy water bag behind her, which Faen had filled using compressed water orbs.
The heavy water mass dragged against the earth, producing a coarse, gritty sound. This unimaginably immense gravity made Tristana clearly feel her calves trembling tightly with every single step.
"Just endure for thirty more meters, and you'll reach the finish line," Faen stood at the end of the training course, his tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable firmness.
His gaze resting on Tristana's taut back, Faen said seriously:
"I noticed it the moment you fired your cannon. Although your accuracy is astonishing, your sustained damage output capacity is extremely limited. And without a combat squad of other soldiers to support you, this means you require even greater physical stamina to carry and reserve your own ammunition."
In the game, Tristana indeed didn't need to reload. After all, she had an infinite supply of bullets with just the click of a mouse.
But in reality, there was no such convenient mechanic. Even if she used a special runic crystal to charge her hand-cannon, allowing it to fire numerous shrapnel blasts, crystal-charged shells eventually ran out too.
"A gunner's power doesn't just come from their giant cannon; their own physical stamina is the true foundation of stable output."
Faen explained unhurriedly: "Without comrades, you need to use abundant stamina and endurance to reinforce your own combat readiness. And building upon this foundation, you must be able to withstand the heavy recoil; only then can you maintain vigorous combat effectiveness in a prolonged battle."
Hearing Faen's words, beads of sweat rolled down Tristana's forehead, trailing down her jaw and splashing onto the stone slabs, blooming into small wet spots.
She gripped the ropes of the sandbag tightly, her knuckles turning white from the exertion. Her breathing was as rapid and ragged as a bellows:
"But, this sandbag... it's just way too heavy!"
Although she complained verbally, her footsteps didn't stop. With her knees slightly bent, she used the strength of her waist and abdomen to forcefully drag the heavy sandbag forward.
Seeing this, Faen quickly stepped forward. He gently adjusted and patted Tristana's lower back, then placed his hands directly onto Tristana's thighs and ass, saying:
"Keep your lower back straight. Generate the force from your legs, don't let your shoulders bear too much of the weight."
Hearing Faen's instructions, Tristana rapidly adjusted her posture. Feeling the shift in Tristana's muscle engagement, Faen gave her ass a satisfied, approving pat.
But then, Faen placed his palm against the side of her waist. Feeling her taut, slender waist, Faen reminded her, "Relax your breathing. Exhale at a steady, even pace; this will slow down your stamina drain significantly."
Tristana adjusted her breathing as instructed, and sure enough, she felt her efforts become a bit easier.
This made Tristana feel a profound sense of growth. She locked her eyes on the marker line ahead, gritting her teeth and moving forward step by agonizing step. It wasn't until the sandbag completely crossed the finish line that her legs finally gave out, and she collapsed entirely onto the ground.
Her tender chest heaved violently with her rapid, ragged breathing. Looking at Tristana's exhausted state, Faen spread his hand, summoning a stream of warm water. It slipped through the gaps in Tristana's clothes, continuously washing over her tender, youthful skin.
The warm, soothing water made Tristana feel like she was soaking in a hot spring, a cozy warmth spreading across her entire body.
However, because this water flow touched everywhere, Tristana could also clearly feel that some of the more sensitive areas of her body were being continuously stimulated by the washing currents.
This made Tristana feel a slight, tingling excitement. But because she had just finished a round of intense training, Tristana couldn't tell if this excitement was the endorphin rush from completing a workout, or the carnal pleasure generated by the water stimulating her body.
But Tristana didn't care too much about it, because she could clearly feel that her body was incredibly comfortable during this process. It felt as if countless hands were massaging her, making Tristana clearly feel her exhaustion fading away rapidly.
Thinking this, Tristana opened her eyes, only to be greeted by Faen reaching his hand over and handing her a water bottle.
This perked Tristana up. But just as she was about to drink, she noticed Faen extending a finger and dripping a single drop of transparent liquid into her water bottle.
Seeing this, Tristana glanced at her water cup, then asked curiously, "Instructor? What is that you're drinking? Did you put some in mine too?"
Hearing this, Faen shook his head and said:
"This is the Joy Factor. You can think of it as a special liquid I created using magic. Taking a few drops when drinking water can effectively boost your physical condition, accelerate recovery, and enhance the effects of your training."
Without a doubt, Faen was seizing the opportunity to peddle his "goods" to Tristana.
And exactly as Faen had anticipated, Tristana blinked her eyes and asked, "Then can I drink it?"
"Of course you can," Faen said. "However, this thing does have some negative side effects."
"Negative side effects?"
Hearing this, a look of nervous tension appeared on Tristana's face. She immediately asked, "What kind of effects?"
"Mainly emotional ones," Faen explained:
"Because it allows you to feel your own growth much more intuitively, people with weak willpower can easily become addicted to it, developing a severe psychological dependency. Aside from that, because the Joy Factor is something I produce myself, it will also make you pay exceptionally close attention to me."
Hearing Faen's explanation, Tristana nodded thoughtfully.
She shifted her gaze to the water cup in Faen's hand, then looked back at her own, and finally at Faen, who seemed completely unaffected by any negative impacts. Recalling the state she was just in during her workout—panting heavily and completely exhausted after just a single lap...
After a moment of thought, Tristana asked curiously, "Then... Instructor, can you let me try it? I feel like for me, just a little bit shouldn't be a problem at all."
Hearing Tristana's thoughts, Faen nodded. He then smiled and said, "Since you've made your decision, Tristana, let's give it a try."
As he spoke, Faen handed his own water cup—already mixed with the Joy Factor—directly to Tristana.
Taking the water cup, Tristana inexplicably gulped down a mouthful of saliva. Then, lifting the cup, she took a massive, gulping swig.
As the Joy Factor entered her body, at first, Tristana didn't feel anything special. But very quickly, Tristana's pupils began to contract. She then looked down at her own hands, saying in utter astonishment:
"I feel my body—I feel my body getting incredibly hot!"