After Changing Star's creepy answer. Instructor Rock seems satisfied. She no longer pursued the question and simply moved on to the next lesson.
Since morning to lunch, they were instructed about various ways relating to combat. First were the fundamentals, all of them varies depending on the fighting style but the one thing they all have in common is that they all start with repetition. You learn a single move, repeat it over a thousand times until your body can do it without thinking.
After that, they studied various combat theories until lunch. A brief one hour break that unfortunately, Dein cannot eat because of his flaw. Though starving, Dein still went to the afternoon lesson where they then learned the basics of hand-to-hand combat.
Mainly, how to throw a fricking punch.
'tsk, I can't believe learning how to punch will take this much time!'
It was simple really. Close your hand but don't squeeze, position it just within the line of your body. Too far back is bad. Then, plant your feet firmly, one forward one backward. The power then starts from the rotation of the back foot all the way to the leg. Then the twist of your waist, shoulder, until you let your arm explode forward along with your body.
Then you full it back faster than you throw it and prepare for the next attack or defense.
That's the gist of it. That said, Dein isn't too hopeful. After all, there's people here who could enhance themselves with their aspects. A simple normal punch really won't matter much.
Dein sighed. Before they knew it, the sun is almost already going down. Instructor Rock lined them up for a final lesson.
"Everyone, prepare yourself. Now that you know how to properly throw a punch, we will now test your overall physical strength using this."
He motioned at the measuring machine with a wide plate on it.
"Do not worry, aspects are part of your overall strength. You will be allowed to use them. After today, you will be assigned into three different group levels: novice, advanced, and expert. You will be categorized by your chosen weapons as well. Furthermore, those who do not reached the novice level will be given personal tutor and will be forced to train on their own."
Just like that, the explanation ended and one by one, people stepped forward to throw a single punch on the measuring machine. It was a bit fun really, people stepping up, preparing themselves, and then the anticipation of what would be the results of giving their best.
On their side, Nervig's turn finally came as he stood in from of the machine shaking.
"Please be high, please be high…"
He whispered like a chant, praying. That said, I wasn't really paying attention that much as I stared at Arthe.
"Hey, how the heck did you get 20 points?"
Beside me, Grob were wondering the same thing.
"Yeah yeah, even I only got 18 points! Did you cheat!?"
At the question, Arthe immediately rejected the accusations.
"Now, why would you accuse me of something like that? All I did is use my aspect…" He boast with a smug on his face. Well, Dein already suspected that. There's no way this guy will be the third most likely to survive, aka the third strongest, without some hidden card of his own after all.
He probably have some physical enhancement aspect. Maybe he can make his punch weight heavier? Dein can only guess, he doesn't want to ask without a good reason after all, that's taboo among the awakened.
"Dammit… I only got 10! I don't want to be tutored aloneeee…"
Just then, whining came from beside them as Nervig finally returned. The others immediately comforted him.
"Hey, don't mind, there's another test after this right? You should just do your best there!"
"Right right, don't mind! It's not like we won't see each other again if you fail."
Arthe and Grob spoke after another. Dein simply nodded but before he could speak. Nervig's eyes suddenly went wide and sparkled as he placed his hands on Dein's shoulder.
"Right you! Go get revenge for me!"
"Wha! Why would I do that?"
Then two more hands smack my back.
"Yeah, go get revenge for him!
"Hmm, we're counting on you Dein of Hearth. The mighty Legacy Scion!"
At Arthe sarcastic motivation, Dein glared at him angrily whiched caused him to pull his arm back and give an awkward smile while apologizing.
Dein sighed, shaking his head. He could hear the other three living inside him cheer him on as well albeit jokingly. That said, if it comes to this then… Dein turned his head towards them and gave a smile.
"Yeah, leave it to me…"
He said, lifting the three's mood. Dein really can't say no in that situation anymore, six people placed their hopes on him after all. Though others were just sarcastic and playing. Anyway, Dein decided he can't let them down.
And so, he walked towards the machine with motivated confidence.
[Hey, you know you always get unlucky when you're enthusiastic right?]
Serious reminded him. Indeed, when Dein feels confidence or hopeful, he always fails. That was the reoccurring pattern in his first nightmare. That said, there's a reason why Dein is confident right now.
'Don't worry about that, it's still an experiment but, the worse I'll get 11…'
Serious remained silent when he heard that while the little girl seem to giggle. Meanwhile, Dein positioned himself on the machine, he exhaled to calm himself. Place his arm above his waist. Then, he stood there for a while and summoned the runes of his useless aspect.
Aspect abilities: [Soul Imbiber]
Aspect Ability Description: [Your soul is a vast, unending ocean of nothing. And it wished to be filled. Mischievous as it is, it steals fragments of the souls of the beings you have defeated.]
After reading it. He smiled and then activated it from the depths of his soul.
Then… nothing happened.
Sigh… am I wrong then? No, that shouldn't be it. What Dein is trying to do, is summon the fragments of the souls of the people he defeated in his first nightmare. Of course, those souls has already been condensed into the 12 soul fragment Dein currently has.
And so, should be untouchable… but Dein just couldn't accept that. Ever since he decided he wanted to get strong, he'd been studying his powers intently. His aspect ability, at first glance, appeared to be a passive ability, but that shouldn't be the case. If it's passive then it should be classified as Attribute not Ability.
And so, holding onto that single hope, Dein hold on to his ability and concentrated. Then, in the next moment, a voice was heard on his mind.
It wasn't the spell but the little girl.
[Whoa! The Ability is absorbing the fragments!]
Upon hearing that, Dein smiled and stopped Soul Imbiber, he suddenly felt as if he drunk something and that something flowed into his body. It was about to condense into a soul fragment again or perhaps soul remmants, when Dein released it outside by throwing the punch with a twist of his body.
DOOM!!!
A loud sound echoed in the gym, accompanied by a gust of wind.
Everyone exclaimed when they turned towards Dein. Standing there, he held on his bleeding hand with the other. Panting.
"Hehe, it work…"
In front of him, the strength measuring machine showed: 28 points.