I Need Money to Level Up

Chapter 22: Real Weapons

"I thought that the old man would make you suffer a bit for reaching his level after a couple of months, but perhaps I underestimated you," Harth said while he studied Raiden from top to bottom. "How was the first day with the old man?"

"Just a bit tougher than I had expected, just a bit," Raiden replied.

"I really hated the old man... I lost count of how many times I tried to punch and kick him when I was at his class," Iri said and then sighed. "I got used eventually, but what pissed me off the most was his attitude of ignoring our anger."

"That is the reason he is there in the first place," Lenore added. "Anyway, don't talk too much about him, or he will notice that Raiden knows more than he is supposed to, and he will give him a harder time."

"I am fine with that, as long as I can graduate faster," Raiden said while shrugging.

"The graduation test has already started; you will have to convince the old men that you should reach the next level," Harth said. "He is a tough one to convince; being old and stubborn comes with the territory. So, good luck with that."

Raiden nodded. He was fine with a food challenge as long as he could get something out of it. In any case, Raiden sighed in relief when he reached his room and didn't have to pretend anymore. Any movement on his legs made him feel like groaning, so he didn't move a single bit once he lay on his bed.

"I definitely need some herbs to help with muscle pain... the ones with work as tea should do the trick since they are cheap and are supposed to taste good," Raiden thought. "In any case, I can't mess up anymore. Doing that kind of exercise all day is almost a waste of time if I don't have some time to train with weapons."

Raiden training in the morning was very efficient, but more in a practical sense. Raiden could only truly improve his basic skills while he was training by himself, sharpening his moves a thin layer at a time.

When Raiden woke up the following day, his legs still were a bit sore. Still, he soon felt better once he began to move around and try some spear moves. Raiden knew the reason for that... because of gentle exercises and active recovery.

Gentle exercise refers to low-intensity activities that aim to increase blood flow and promote muscle recovery without putting excessive strain on the muscles. These activities help flush out metabolic waste products, deliver nutrients to the muscles, and promote overall circulation, which can aid in muscle recovery. Gentle exercise is typically performed in a comfortable place.

Active recovery involves engaging in specific activities or movements that are designed to enhance the recovery process after intense workouts. It is a proactive approach that focuses on active movement rather than complete rest. Active recovery can include exercises such as low-intensity aerobic activities, mobility drills, or flexibility exercises. That is exactly what Raiden was doing.

In any case, a few hours later, those three were back at the tower of mastery, and the old man insisted on calling them by numbers and telling them to do other things. The old students received the order to do handstands for half an hour and then take a break of five minutes. During this time, Raiden received the order to do push up, Javier to do sit-ups, and Ruth to do planks...

"I suppose we will have to endure this for a while until we confirm if we are getting results or not," Raiden thought while furrowing his eyebrows.

After two weeks of that grueling training method, Raiden, Javier, and Ruth finally had the chance to do the same thing as the other kids and soon confirmed that the old man treated everyone the same shit way. They were all numbers, people who don't deserve names until they realize that they don't deserve to become true warriors or until they show that they deserve that title.

They thought that they would get used to the exercises, but the old man made sure that they would always do something that would make the whole session almost unbearable. Meditating on that weird chair that made feel like their asses were being pierced by knives. Moving around the tower of Mastery while crawling and unable to use their arms, doing push-ups with a single arm all morning... those were the most basic examples.

"I feel like my mind has gotten stronger, but not my body," Raiden suddenly said when they were heading home. "We should buy weapons and train with them for real now."

"Real weapons?" Ruth asked, visibly shocked.

"Naturally, we will use them while they are sheathed," Raiden explained.

"Most weapons are too big for us, though," Javier said. "Still, I like the idea of having one. We can use it in case of emergencies. Suppose things get dicey for some reason here. In that case, we will have to defend ourselves, and there will be others that will need the protection of the soldiers and the others who already graduated."

Those two were holding up, so Raiden could tell that they were on the right path to reaching the next level. With that in mind, helping and being helped by them was the best option for the group.

Speaking of groups, Raiden realized that even in that class, they were considered outsiders. The kids and then were of the same age, but the others were good friends and even went to their homes together. They seemed to have developed some pride for being born and raised there... The fact that it has been a while since the group feared slaves was probably one of the reasons.

"Do you know any good shops?" Javier asked.

"No, but we don't need anything high quality to train," Raiden shrugged. "Besides, do you have that much money to spare? I am pretty sure you are using everything you earn."

"Only half," Javier said while showing a thumbs up.

"What about you, Ruth?" Raiden turned to the side and asked.

"I already bought a bow, arrows, and a target to train at home," Ruth replied. "Two hundred shots after waking up and two hundred more before going to bed. Still, I suppose I need a melee weapon as well."

That was pretty hard work for her. Raiden thought that girls at her age would care less and less about training and more about their appearance. Still, since she didn't have any girlfriends, she wasn't following that route. She also would buy some medicine from Raiden now and then since he offered a discount to her friends. She probably uses it on her hands.

Now that Raiden thought about it, the ratio of boys to girls in the class was sixty to forty percent, and the girls didn't look that rough... Iri also didn't seem much of a muscle woman; she actually had thin arms.

"I guess on the next levels, physical training and muscle gain don't become that important; that aura thing that Iri used should work way more than any amount of muscle would," Raiden thought and then recalled Harth. "Father still looks quite buffed, though. More for aesthetics, I guess."

In any case, Raiden decided to ask his parents where he could buy some durable weapons when they were having dinner. It didn't seem like the best of topics to have while they were having a meal. Still, they all had things to do, and they were only together during meals early in the morning and at dinner, soon before he went to bed.

"You three have the energy to spare despite the old man, huh? I respect you for that..." Harth said while nodding and furrowing his eyebrows.

"I suppose we can't buy weapons, huh, even to use them only at home," Raiden said while he watched Harth lost in thought.