Time sure flies, their training has been going on for four weeks. Only four weeks remain before the tournament. The registration deadline is just two weeks away from the selection to represent the sect.
[TONO POV]
For a week now, the intensity of my training has remained unchanged. My body is starting to adapt to the heavy training from Instructor Adi. Usually, I could only finish training after sunset. Now I'm done before noon.
"Not bad. Can you get up?" Instructor Adi looked down at me, lying sprawled out and panting.
"I-I'm fine!"I said with what little breath I had left as I got up.
"Starting today and onwards, physical training will only be this much." Instructor Adi put his hands on his hips and took a swig of snake wine. "We will continue with indoor training."
He walked towards the training room he had prepared.
I followed Instructor Adi without question. I was sure indoor training would be easier.
When we arrived at the training place, Instructor Adi threw a stick towards me.
"Try to hit me with all your might."
"B-but Instructor.... I mean, Master, I wouldn't dare...."
"You dare to oppose me? Which do you choose, me hitting you or you hitting me?"
"Alright."I took a stance.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"
Fwoosh!
Crack!
The stick I swung broke in two just from the movement of his finger.
"See," he said. "You swung with all your might, yet I only needed one finger to block it and break it. Do you know what that means?"
I was confused. I could only stay silent because I didn't know any answer.
"Apparently, that stupid brain of yours needs to be told everything one by one to understand."
Instructor Adi took out a scroll containing images of monsters, beasts, and human anatomy, filled with dots.
"This is the result of my research, containing notes on weak points in the bodies of humans and monsters." He pointed to a point on a picture of a bird.
I just listened and didn't comment because I didn't yet know where Instructor Adi's lesson was heading.
Then he pointed to the stick that had split in two.
"Just like the stick that broke in two earlier. When my strike hit its weakest point, not only did that attack not affect me, I could even destroy it."
My eyes immediately lit up. I began to understand why I had only done physical training all this time. So Instructor Adi wanted to teach me to become a fighter who....
"But I'm not talking about brute strength or physical power."
He threw a wooden sword before I could even guess.
"Channel your qi into that wooden sword without breaking it, and study this." Instructor Adi threw the scroll containing images and weak points towards me.
"Starting tomorrow, we will still do physical training in the morning. Then I will test how well you understand this lesson."
---
While Tono received additional training, Putri, from the first day until the fourth week, still hadn't shown any improvement.
[PUTRI POV]
Sob...sob...
I could no longer hold back my tears. A feeling of helplessness grew stronger within me, as I hadn't shown any progress. I could only sit down, exhausted.
"You have improved a lot, my child."
My father came over to me, then patted my head.
"But Father..."My words stopped because I was crying.
"I understands how you feel. But improvement isn't just about increasing ability."
"W-what do you mean, Father?" I looked at My Father's bright face.
"You have improved because you have reached your most desperate point. Indeed, there is no change. But at this point, enlightenment usually appears." My
Father stood up, ready to draw his sword.
"Look. Until now, your understanding has been like this."
My Father swung his sword and made all the leaves falling from the tree split into pieces.
"While the sword technique you are training is like this."
This time My Father swung his sword again. There was no pressure. Even a leaf that had just fallen wasn't disturbed by My Father's sword swing.
Suddenly...
Slash!
At the far end of the training ground, a plum tree was cut down and fell.
"Hehe...It seems I will be troubling our gardener again." My Father smiled, hoping to cheer me up.
"So, my child, don't force your slash. Just swing it following its flow. Then you only need to push a little to cut anything you want."
He patted my head again.
I immediately gained enlightenment. The same swing had different patterns and intentions. I immediately meditated on the spot.
My Father returned to his room with a bright smile.
---
Unlike Tono and Putri, Bonar still hadn't come out of his training place.
[BONAR POV]
"Finally. The way out is right ahead."
I saw a speck of light at the far end.
However, the traps were increasing and becoming more deadly. No mistakes were tolerated. One mistake meant death. It was as if my life hung by a thread.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
One by one, knives and other weapons flew towards me. I parried and dodged them. Spiked pits, splitting blades, and flying spears. No hesitation. If you take one step, you must complete the next thousand steps.
Finally, I was right in front of the exit. A hole leading upwards.
Just as I stepped out, Instructor Supeno was already standing, waiting for me.
Pow!
I thought I would be welcomed and declared passed. It turned out I was kicked so hard that I fell back into the hole, returning to the starting point.
Damn it!
---
While the four friends underwent intensive training, two people were talking in a corner of the cafeteria: Bagong and Suheri.
"I'm just reminding you. It's better not to make a move for now," said Bagong.
"What do you mean, Bagong? Are you scared?" Suheri taunted.
"Suit yourself. I'm just telling you for your own good. Because you can't possibly reach him." Bagong drank the freshly brewed tea.
"Just say you're scared, you weakling. I don't care what you say. I will still go forward and enjoy the chaos after this. HAHAHA!"
---
Behind the hustle and bustle of the world, Karman's fate is unknown. However, one chain that bound it was slightly cracked.
Crack!