Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 39: Training [3]

The smell of roasted vegetables and stew permeated the air, entering their noses as they took their seats. Vergil’s stomach growled in response.

"Smells even better after a day of training," he spoke before taking his seat.

Eleanor chuckled as she sat down, her face flushed from stabilising the second circle. They both ate quietly, too tired to speak. The simple meal had now become a delicacy, after an entire day of channelling mana and freezing hands.

As their plates emptied, Eleanor leaned back slowly — satisfied. "You’re going to keep training even after all that?" She asked as she wiped her mouth with a tissue.

Vergil stood up, tucking his chair under the table. "My body isn’t going to train itself is it?" Vergil stretched.

"You’re insane," she sighed before shaking her head.

"Maybe." He began walking to the exit. "But it builds muscle."

------

Vergil walked beneath the stray beams of moonlight that spilt down from the dark, before finally facing the empty training ground which was illuminated by the hanging lights.

Immediately, he dropped to the ground and began pushups. Each one was done slowly with a near-perfect form.

Each set of three pushups made his arms tremble, the day’s weariness made his movements feel like stones were attached to them.

Once he reached five sets, he switched to plank holds. Keeping his body as straight as possible while also resisting the urge to collapse.

And from there he moved to squats, launching himself up with all the strength he could muster into his legs.

Lastly, he ended it off with shadow footwork. Swift sharp dashes, painting precision and speed whilst mimicking the orc brawler’s fighting style.

The motions were still being perfected, but he could still vividly remember how the brawler moved. Practising his arts till he could no longer.

By the time he was done, his body moved to the dirt as if it was a part of it yet beneath the fatigue, his body felt more alive than ever.

The System chimed in his mind.

[User has gained the following stats]

[Strength +0.04

Dexterity +0.03

Constitution +0.06]

Vergil wiped the sweat from his face, catching his breath as he gazed upon the stars above. "I’m still weak." Vergil smiled as he made a circle with his fingers, encircling a star from his gaze. "But at least I have a goal to strive towards."

He got up, dragging his body towards the inn as the stars above blinked.

Eleanor was already asleep by the time he had returned to the room. He didn’t disturb her, lying down on the opposite side of the bed and letting the exhaustion pull him under.

The next day was as routine as ever, Vergil headed to collect his reward for the subjugation after handing in two Astralyth Crystals, much bigger than what he usually had.

-------

Two days later — Training Grounds

The past days consisted of nothing more than morning runs, harsh training with Elvira and relentless exercises and shadow footwork at night.

The repetition had now become a daily routine along with the sweat and pain. And on the final day of training, Vergil collapsed to the ground — soaked in sweat as his muscles twitched.

[Progress summary

Strength: +0.15

Constitution: +0.12

Dexterity: +0.11

Martial Arts Proficiency F+ 90%

Fire Spark and Frost Touch (F+)

Icebind Thread: F 47%]

[Looks like somebody’s ready for payback.]

Vergil spread his arms on the soil below before exhaling hard. "Hell yeah."

[Go get em girl.] The system cheered him on.

’Okay, please never do that shit again.’ Vergil sighed as he stared at the orange sky that began to finally fade. "Tomorrow’s the day," he whispered.

Vergil dragged his body once more, back to the inn as the warmth from the hearth and the murmuring of the guests silenced as he entered his room.

Eleanor sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed as she meditated calmly. She opened one eye after hearing the click at the door.

"You’re back later than usual."

Vergil shrugged, sitting down on the chair next to the window. "Had to make sure that I was ready."

Eleanor’s gaze lingered on him, noticing the soreness in his limbs. "You’re pushing yourself too much."

"I know that already," he spoke with an unfazed look. "But it paid off in the end."

Eleanor only nodded slowly as her voice steadied. "You think we’ll see that demon again?"

Vergil paused, looking outside the window before speaking. "I’m counting, no I’m betting on it."

Then silence fell between the two, before Eleanor finally broke it. "Then we’d better sleep early, we’ll need everything we’ve got."

Vergil stood and stretched, wincing slightly. "Yeah. Get some rest. I’ll wake you before sunrise."

As he turned toward the bed, Eleanor opened her eyes again, watching him for a second.

"...Vergil," she whispered.

He paused, glancing back.

"I’ll make sure I’m strong enough to support you."

Vergil gave a light smile. "I know."

Vergil lay in bed, the ceiling fading into darkness as the firelight flickered low. His body was sore, but beneath the ache was all the progress he made from training.

"System," he muttered, "show me my progress."

A familiar blue screen shimmered into view above him.

---

[Vergil –

Strength: 42 [+0.12]

Constitution: 44 [+0.15]

Dexterity: 43 [+0.11]

The Lowest Form, the Highest Peak: (F+) 90%

Spell Proficiency:

Flame Spark – F+

Frost Touch- F+

Icebind Thread – F

’2 of my skills have reached the max they could reach, they won’t go any further. Combining is inefficient as well.’

Vergil exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling with the calm rhythm of exhaustion.

The numbers on the translucent screen faded away.

"Just as I thought..." he whispered, "My martial arts proficiency didn’t go up much."

He turned around, burying his face into the pillow. ’System care to enlighten me.’

[Zzzzzzz]

’Fucking useless system, sleeping on the job.’

I can draw three conclusions," he murmured thoughtfully. "One, proficiency increases more during real combat... especially when I mimic techniques from others. Or two–I haven’t learned enough different martial styles or I haven’t developed my current arts enough for the system to register true progress."

Either way, the path forward was clear.

"A little more," he breathed. "Just a little more..."

Outside, the wind rustled softly as the village was cradled by lanterns and silence.

Tomorrow, he would return to that forest.

Not as a target. Not as someone desperate to survive.

But as someone ready.

Prepared–for the reckoning.

----------

The trees stood like skeletons. Their bark charred with black wood and their leaves rotting and withering which each passing day.

The forest was now littered with bones of dead beasts, shattered weapons and the ruins of an outpost — now nothing more than broken ruins and vines that spread like the plague.

At the heart of this mess. A crimson jewel pulsed with a red light above a pedestal. Surrounded by the corpses of five slain adventurers.

The crystal greedily drank from their blood that soaked into the dirt and stone cracks as the light grew ever-brighter.

A lone hunter stumbled through the ruins, his cloak was in ruins, his eyes were wild with terror.

He couldn’t scream, his tongue had been pulled out moments after they’d pulled out that man from the pit.

They thought they saved a straggler. He limped, coughed and even smiled.

Said his name was Kael. He was kind, grateful yet all he remembered was the slaughter that came after. It was no man and he needed to warn the others.

The hunter’s thoughts faded fast, his vision began to blur as his legs felt like stones weighing him down.

He collapsed beside a pile of bloodied armour. He let out a noise gasping as he heard it.

Behind him, something walked. Each step deliberate, only adding delicacy to the hunt.

"Ah, such a waste," came a familiar voice. "Your friend begged so sweetly as he offered himself to spare all of you — it was music to my ears I tell you."

Morvax approached, still in the form of the man they had saved. His features pleasant and human, but now all that remained was a fallacy as his eyes shimmered with a crimson light.

"You should be honoured," Morvax whispered. "Your deaths shall be for something far greater."

The hunter clawed at the ground, trying to run. But he didn’t get far.

Morvax stepped on his back, pinning him. The hunter tried to scream. A last ditch attempt, but only blood was spat out.

"Don’t struggle," Morvax spoke with a mocking comfort as he crouched. "Embrace it."

With one hand, he grabbed the hunter by the jaw, clenching it shut and the other drove into his spine. A wet crunch echoed throughout as flesh tore and bones snapped.

The hunter’s body spasmed violently and in a single motion, Morvax ripped the spine free from his back as blood arced in the air like a fountain.

Morvax held the spine for a brief moment, blood falling from the vertebra before dropping it beside the body.

"A few more, then it will be ready." As he began dragging the body back to the crystal.

He paused for a moment, looking behind to see the vast horizon. "Will he come back?"