Chapter 242: Commencing Training (Part 1)

Chapter 242: Commencing Training (Part 1)



The official training grounds were located behind a garden with trees of varying heights, and upon first sight, Rain was awe-struck.

The Swordsman Division was indeed affluent!

In the capital city of Minster, where land was as precious as gold, the Swordsman Division's official training grounds were expansive.

At this moment, to Rain's right was a three-story indoor training building with a white, concave, arc-shaped structure. The building was also constructed from white, striped stone blocks, and its columns and top featured some simple, swirling decorations.

It exuded a grand and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.

In front of Rain was a lush, green lawn, an outdoor training ground the size of several standard horse arenas. Alongside the field were several stables.

At this moment, numerous Swordsmen were on the horse arena, maneuvering horses, jumping, and sprinting.

Rain focused his gaze and noticed that most of the horses were as robust and muscular as his black horse, with a tuft of distinctive hair on their lower legs.

These must be the high-grade 'Lochmare' horses that Veronica mentioned before.

As Rain's gaze swept further, he saw a griffin platform resembling a plate.

Indeed, it was a circular, massive platform about two meters above the ground, supported by a sturdy, thick white pillar. However, there were only a few griffins.

Including the two griffins soaring in the sky and the two remaining on the platform, there were only four griffins in total. It was unclear if this was the original number or if some griffins had been dispatched for tasks.

On the platform, each griffin had three to four staff members responsible for their care, surrounding and cleaning them while grooming their feathers.

This platform was likely an independent griffin platform for the Swordsman Division, unrelated to the one atop Minster.

"Controlling griffins?" Rain's heart stirred, and a thought immediately popped into his mind.

After presenting his bronze emblem to the vigilant guards, Rain inquired, and he learned that only Silver-ranked Swordsmen were qualified for griffin training, and the training fee was exorbitant, costing fifty Valor Points per hour.

This would be a significant expense for those with average talents!

Moreover, leasing griffins for tasks incurred additional costs.

Assigning tasks was akin to 'public service,' and if a griffin was designated for travel, it was considered official business, unaffected by permissions, and the fees were waived.

"Fortunately, I also have the Bloodfeather Wyvern. I'll wait a few more months."

"Oh, right. I should check on those two griffins in the next few days. I can consider feeding the Wyvern more of the mutation growth potion. I'm not sure if it will cause a mutation, but it should still have an accelerated growth effect."

"Also, when will my black horse enter the Feral Beast stage?"

"I remember 'Cookie' is in about two months."

Rain's thoughts wandered for a few minutes before he arrived at the tall, arc-shaped building with a white, striped stone exterior, guided by the guards.

Even standing outside the building, Rain could sense mysterious energy particles undulating from within, diverse and complex in nature.

Apparently, as Instructor Kurman had mentioned, witchcraft was being applied to enhance the bodies of Knights and Great Knights.

In Myester County, this would be an unimaginable luxury, but in the Swordsman Division of the capital city of Minster, it seemed to have become a common training element.

The disparity between the two was evident.

As Rain stepped into the first-floor lobby, he noticed a curved service desk ahead, where three female staff members were busy at work.

Outside the desk, a young girl, presumably a guide, noticed Rain's arrival and approached him with a bright-eyed greeting. "Hello, sir. This is the training building. How may I assist you?"

Hmm?

Not bad!

There's even a receptionist like in my previous life.

Rain asked, "Since it's my first time here, can you give me a brief introduction to the training building?"

"Of course, sir. To your left is the Sandstorm Pavilion and the Swamp Room, while to your right is the Torrent Chamber. If it's your first time, I recommend starting with the Torrent Chamber."

The hostess enthusiastically explained, "The Standard Torrent Chamber is primarily for simulating vortex environments for Swordsmen to practice the precision and stability of Extraordinary Battle Techniques. It also provides some physical enhancement."

"The Advanced Torrent Chamber, on the other hand, is prepared specifically for enhancing Swordsmen's physical qualities."

"The method involves high-speed water jets striking various parts of the body, offering strong water impact to improve vascular elasticity, muscle tension, and nerve response."

"The longer you stay in the advanced torrent chamber, the better the effect, but this depends on each person's physical condition."

Rain found this amusing and glanced at the girl, judging from her breath that she was just an ordinary person, and had no idea about fascial tension.

So, the receptionist girl's words were obviously memorized by rote.

It was like a two-year-old child in his previous life reciting ancient poems; he could recite them fluently, but when asked about them, he didn't understand at all.

"At the same time, in the advanced torrent chamber, there are multiple options, such as cold-hot alternation. Cold water baths and cool water baths can enhance the effects of the training. Of course, if you want to add these options, it will cost an additional five valor points per hour."

"Also, you can choose to add firestone particles to further enhance the water jet effect. However, this will cost an extra fifteen valor points per hour."

"Of course, while these options improve the effect, they also significantly increase the stimulation of the torrent on the body. It is recommended that you proceed according to your capabilities."

Cold-hot alternation?

Add firestone particles?

Does this sound like a high-intensity spa?

Rain's face showed contemplation.

Additionally, the standard torrent chamber primarily focuses on the precision and stability of Extraordinary Battle Techniques. This doesn't align with my purpose for coming here.

However, I can try it later to practice my Lockean Axe-Shield Battle Skills and observe the effects.

For now, following Instructor Kurman's advice, it's best to start with the advanced torrent chamber.

So, Rain turned his head and asked, "Yes, please. Is there an available room in the advanced torrent chamber now?"

"Sir, you're very lucky. The standard torrent chambers are all full, but there happens to be one room left in the advanced torrent chamber. Would you like to use it now?"

"Yes, right now."

"Then, please show your emblem at the reception desk." The receptionist girl led Rain to the desk.

"By the way, I'd like to choose the cold-hot alternation and add the firestone particles." Rain thought for a moment and said.

"Sir, are you sure?"

"No, I mean, you can proceed gradually," the receptionist girl said, covering her mouth and blinking her big eyes at Rain, her expression filled with apology.

Apparently, she had said something wrong, fearing Rain's inquiry.

Rain waved his hand and said, "It's fine, just add them both."

"As for the time..."

"Regarding the time, I suggest you don't set it in advance. You can stop the process at any time you feel any discomfort. Is that okay?" The girl hurriedly explained.

"Yes, by the way, how is it charged if it's not a full hour?" Rain suddenly thought of a question.

"The charging is as follows: for any time exceeding a full hour, less than half an hour is charged as half an hour, and more than half an hour is charged as a full hour."

"Yes, very reasonable." Rain smiled and nodded.

Seeing Rain's smile and agreement, the receptionist girl finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her service attitude improved, and she proactively asked,

"Sir, shall I take you there now?" The receptionist girl pointed to the right corridor and said.

In fact, the receptionist girl's duty was to greet guests at the entrance, not to accompany them.

However, perhaps to make up for her mistake earlier, or maybe because of Rain's handsome appearance, the girl was quite enthusiastic and proactive.

"Yes, thank you."

"It's my honor, sir. Please follow me. Over here on the right side of the first floor are the standard and advanced torrent chambers. Every day, there are quite a few adults who come to train here." The girl explained as they walked.

Soon, Rain followed the girl through a long corridor and arrived at a spacious hall. In the hall, there were several long chairs covered with soft roe deer leather, resembling sofas.

On the long chairs sat several sturdy and muscular men, each one larger than Rain.

Thinking about it, it made sense; this torrent chamber was designed for knights and great knights.

However, Rain also noticed that almost all of them were holding weapons, indicating that these people were waiting for the standard torrent chamber to train their Extraordinary Battle Techniques.

"Sir, these are the advanced torrent chambers. The procedures you completed at the reception desk allow you to enter with your Swordsman Emblem. Just swipe it on this black Wisdom Slate, and you can go in."

"Until you cancel, this advanced torrent chamber is exclusively for your use." The girl explained.

"Yes, okay, thank you." Rain followed the girl's instructions and swiped his Bronze Emblem.

On the black Wisdom Slate, several lines of text appeared:

"Start timing: 13:33."

"Charging standard: 15 Valor Points/hour."

"Additional attachment: 1"

And with that, the receptionist girl led Rain into an advanced torrent chamber.

In the hall, several muscular men looked over with envy.

"It's good to be a pretty boy; I've never had a girl so eager to accompany me here." Bartan said enviously.

"Bartan, with your size, that girl could be crushed by you." A companion teased Bartan, a muscular man standing at a height of 2.3 meters.

"Don't say it, if he can go to the advanced torrent chamber, he must have a lot of valor points. He might even be a captain."

"He's so young, and I don't recognize him. How could he possibly be a captain? He must have some connections and accumulated quite a few valor points in the imperial functional departments before joining the Swordsmen." A young man in his twenties with a goatee analyzed.

"That's right, Kim. You make a lot of sense." The others nodded in agreement after hearing Kim's words.

However, Kim paused and seemed curious about how long this young man intended to stay in the advanced torrent chamber. He got up and quickly walked towards the entrance of the room that Ryan had just entered.

He casually glanced at the black wisdom slate and, in the next second, couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"Hiss~"

Below the pricing information, there were a few lines of small white text:

"Additional Option 1: Cold-Hot Alternation, +5 Valor Points"

"Additional Option 2: Firestone Particle, +5 Valor Points"

"Total Cost: 35 Valor Points/hour"

Kim couldn't help but curse under his breath when he thought about how he scrimped and saved his 5 valor points per hour in the standard torrent chamber.

"Damn! He's so rich!"

The people around him noticed Kim's change in expression and curiously approached him. When they saw the slate, they exclaimed in surprise:

"Is this how valor points are spent?"

"He's so wealthy!"

They weren't unable to afford the cost, but rather, they were mindful of their expenses in other areas, such as purchasing higher-level extraordinary battle techniques, combat potions, and auxiliary training potions, which required them to be frugal with their valor points.

Although the torrent chamber with all options added provided the best results, the cost was too high, and the value for money was much better in the standard torrent chamber, where one could practice extraordinary battle techniques while gradually improving their physical fitness.

Additionally, the intense stimulation and short duration of the advanced chamber made it less effective.

"Hey, wait a minute, Baltan, have you seen this person before?"

"No, this is the first time I've seen him." Baltan looked pensive for a moment before shaking his head.

Kim turned to the others, and they all shook their heads as well.

"Hahaha, this is interesting. This young man must be here for the first time." Kim said with a playful smile.

"Without any options added, a Great Knight can typically last for a couple of hours, but with the cold-hot alternation, they might not even last an hour."

"The key thing is, he also added the firestone particle! Now, that's interesting."

"How long do you think he'll last?"

"Ten minutes? Or maybe a quarter of an hour, hahaha." Kim laughed.

"A quarter of an hour, I'd say."

"I'll add five more minutes, so twenty minutes."

"I think he can last for half an hour. After all, young people care about their image!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

At that moment, a muscular man with thick eyebrows approached with a smile and asked, "What's so funny? Why are you all so happy?"

"Hey, it's Captain Wayne."

Everyone greeted him.

"Boss, this is what happened," Kim explained with gestures and a smile. "Are you here to use the torrent chamber as well?"

"Then, I'll queue for this one. It shouldn't take long, just a few minutes."

"No wonder the receptionist said it was full earlier. I'll take your advice and queue for this room." Captain Wayne smiled and, without further thought, walked up to the black wisdom slate at the entrance of Ryan's room and swiped his emblem.

Soon, a line appeared at the bottom of the wisdom slate:

"New person added to the queue: 1."

When Ryan closed the door, he realized that the torrent chamber was quite spacious, approximately fifty square meters. The centerpiece was a large bath with a diameter of about four meters.

There was a prominent red handle next to the bath, which could be used to stop all torrents within the chamber.

The bath was surrounded by special white bricks, meticulously laid without any gaps. The most striking feature was the numerous holes of various sizes on the bricks, some as large as a fist and others smaller than a thumb.

The bath's bottom also had many holes, presumably for spraying torrents.

The bath's depth reached three meters, and when Ryan stepped in, the water level only reached his knees.

At that moment, the lights in the room dimmed.

Apparently, this was to help the trainee focus their mind on their body.

"Sizzle!"

The sound of dense water streams filled the room!

"Is that all?"

"I don't feel anything."

Ryan realized that his 'Intermediate Steel Body' talent was a passive ability, and he concentrated his mind to disperse the defensive effect of his talent.

Suddenly, a stinging sensation coursed through his skin!

But soon, this stinging and impact began to take effect.

Ryan felt his body undergoing internal changes; his muscles and fascia began to tremble slightly as if stimulated, becoming more active.

After a while, the temperature of the gushing water changed abruptly, rising rapidly from near zero degrees to thirty degrees, then forty degrees, and soon reaching seventy to eighty degrees—a scalding temperature!

A world of ice and fire!

So refreshing!

But the effect was remarkable.

Ryan's muscles and fascia became even more active, and he could feel that some of the smaller muscles and fascia that weren't exercised by the Bear King Breathing Technique were now being activated, trembling slightly.

After a while, the lights dimmed again.

Suddenly, the sound of the water jets became sharper, as if mixed with tiny particles.

At this moment, Ryan's eyes narrowed, and he noticed that the water gushing out of the holes in the pool walls had turned a faint red, which should be the so-called firestone particles.

These tiny particles stung painfully when they hit Ryan's skin.

But the effect was excellent.

After hitting the connective areas, some of the previously burst muscles that had adhered together were now loosened and scattered by the impact.

The pain was real, and Ryan knew that his skin must look like a grilled lobster, even without looking.

As time passed, the pain became more and more unbearable, just as the girl had said. Ryan tried to slowly restore the defensive effect of the 'Intermediate Steel Body' technique.

Of course, to maintain the effect of the torrent, Ryan kept the Steel Body effect at around ten percent.

The pain was visibly reduced, but the overall impact of the torrent was not significantly affected.

This made Ryan overjoyed!

Moreover, the potent constitution potion he had taken earlier was now being rapidly absorbed into his body due to the torrent.

Soon, fifteen minutes had passed.

At this moment, the crowd outside the door began to look up frequently, anticipating the 'imminent' sound of the door opening.

After a few more minutes, the crowd was puzzled.

"Kim, this young man's strength is impressive," Bartan said with a deep breath.

"Yeah, he is!" Kim was also surprised.

"But it should be almost over."

After five more minutes, the crowd was even more perplexed.

"Are you sure the young man who entered is a stranger and not a captain of another team?" Bartan asked, his face filled with doubt.

"Never seen him before!"

"Yeah, even the captains promoted last year, we've seen them once or twice. This is the first time we've seen this guy."

"Bam!"

Suddenly, Kim's eyes lit up, and he smacked his thigh, realizing, "Hey, do you think it's possible that this young man didn't have time to turn the handle and passed out inside?"

The crowd was stunned, and Kim glanced at his captain, Wayne, beside her, feeling embarrassed. He hadn't noticed that the young man hadn't come out yet.

However, Wayne wasn't paying attention to Kim at the moment, deep in thought.

After a few more minutes, Wayne asked with confusion, "Are you sure the person who entered was a stranger and not another team's captain?"

"Never seen him before!"

"Yeah, even the captains promoted last year, we've seen them once or twice. This is the first time we've seen this guy."

"Bam!"

Suddenly, Kim's eyes lit up, and he smacked his thigh, realizing, "Hey, do you think it's possible that this young man didn't have time to turn the handle and passed out inside?"

The crowd was stunned, and Kim glanced at his captain, Wayne, with a slightly embarrassed look, as he was the captain who hadn't come out yet.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end