CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 726: Third Week [Castle Bonus - ]

For over five hours, Asher navigated the dense forest, skillfully evading an array of traps he hadn't conceived of. Eventually, he burst through the trees on the far side. His impact upon the ground created a deep, resonant thud that faintly reverberated through the surrounding woods.

The instant his feet touched down, Asher's body gave out, and he collapsed onto the forest floor, gasping for air as if his lungs were on the verge of collapse from the sheer exertion. Sweat slicked his face and neck, yet his body remained otherwise dry. The jumpsuit's self-cleaning system worked diligently, keeping him immaculate despite the grueling trial he had just undergone.

The moment Asher completed the course, Instructor Sane materialized in a sudden blur. "You have one hour to rest," he stated. "Use this time to catch your breath, reflect on what you could have done better, consider traps you ought to have foreseen." Without awaiting Asher's response, the instructor dematerialized as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving behind only an oppressive silence and the heavy weight of his directives.

Asher could only manage a sigh. He knew, without needing to be told, that his training would resume in precisely one hour. It would likely take place in a different sector of the vast forest, as the current area was actively being ravaged by traps and explosions, rendering it increasingly unusable with every passing moment.

'At least we get an hour,' he mused inwardly, settling into a lotus position. He recalled how Instructor Mira had only granted ten minutes of respite. Yet, Asher also recognized that Instructor Sane's hour-long break wasn't born of compassion but necessity, allowing students to truly process their experiences and absorb the lessons embedded within the chaotic ordeal.

Morning had already dawned, and sunlight streamed through the forest canopy, banishing the lingering darkness that had shrouded the environment. This light enabled the students to see more clearly, though it offered little solace to many who still suffered. Their bodies ached, and their minds were frayed from the relentless pressure.

More than half an hour elapsed, and various students emerged from the woods. Some were coated in soot, others in dust, their clothes tattered, hair dishevelled, and blood staining their garments as it trickled onto the ground. They walked with pallid faces and expressions of pain, some gritting their teeth, pushing forward with each step, determined not to succumb despite their grievous condition.

Indeed, at this juncture, no one contemplated the complimentary point system sanctioned by Cindralis. There was simply no opportunity to indulge in or capitalize on it, save for the single day the announcement was made. Survival and sheer endurance had commandeered absolute priority over all else.

Asher shifted his gaze to the side, his senses detecting Finch's emergence from his section of the forest. The young man was panting as if he couldn't draw enough oxygen from the atmosphere, yet strangely, he bore no visible injuries. It was as though he had simply sprinted from one end of the forest to this point without encountering any genuine peril.

Asher simply shook his head, choosing to dismiss the observation and concentrate on his own recovery. Queen of Bones, Ryaen Silvershade, had also completed the course. She, too, had sustained minor injuries, but she fared considerably better than many of her peers who had clearly endured far harsher outcomes. Throughout the entire session, only Asher and Finch emerged unscathed. Even Thalric and Teo bore injuries, having been unable to evade over a thousand arrows without impact, regardless of their formidable skills.

The day swiftly concluded, and soon darkness descended as the moon supplanted the sun. Instructor Sane reappeared before the assembled students. He tersely announced that their training would commence daily from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and then vanished without another word. Those who were injured received aid from healers, though their recovery was incomplete, leaving them with residual fatigue—a deliberate component of the training's intended burden.

Asher exchanged a glance with Finch, who had apparently initiated his transportation service. He then nodded to William, Teo, Ryaen, and Thalric before dematerializing from his spot without a sound. Naturally, he removed the marker from Instructor Mira's training ground and repositioned it at their current location, ensuring his transitions remained fluid and efficient.

And just like that, a week vanished in the blink of an eye.

A week filled with pain. A week marked by suffering. A week echoing with screams that reverberated through both day and night.

Many couldn't help but yearn for their time under Instructor Mira's tutelage. At least there, injuries were scarce; the task was merely to scale a mountain, which, while arduous, felt manageable compared to this maddeningly unforgiving training.

Asher observed the escalation in his training's intensity, as Instructor Sane augmented the weights that confined him, consequently decelerating his movements even further in a deliberate attempt to provoke an injury. Whenever Asher began to acclimate to the training's rhythm, Instructor Sane's cunning would reveal itself, as he would abruptly substitute the entire obstacle course with an entirely different configuration, compelling continuous adaptation without reprieve.

He even orchestrated a scenario where several students were thrust into the forest, tasked with navigating the obstacle course while blindfolded. The outcome was predictably horrific and severe in every conceivable manner; injuries mounted at an alarming rate. Even Asher himself sustained no true harm, though he wasn't spared from the impacts. After absorbing a few blows, he managed to grasp the pattern and adapt with remarkable speed. These potential injuries could have been entirely circumvented had he employed his Omni Perception, a tool he intentionally chose to forgo.

A handful of students appeared to suffer hearing loss due to the relentless barrage of explosions detonated near their ears. However, such a remedial task did not necessitate the involvement of high-ranking Crownstar Life Rankers; a rudimentary healer was sufficiently capable of restoring their faculties without undue difficulty.

Yet, irrespective of the training's arduous and demanding nature, the resultant progress was immense. Observable improvements manifested in their movements and responses in real-time. Although the students voiced complaints, being children by nature, who could truly deny the gratification derived from demonstrable advancement? At times, they all wore smiles, proudly recounting their honed senses and accelerated reflexes. Some even boasted of perceiving events from distant Empires with effortless ease, whether their claims were embellished or factual.

Asher was observed within the confines of his quarters. Instructor Sane had informed him that the subsequent day would introduce a novel form of training, to be conducted at an entirely separate venue, indicating yet another shift in the challenges awaiting them.

'A distinct training regimen each week, it seems,' Asher mused internally. At this juncture, a multitude of students were already submerged in slumber, endeavoring to recuperate their stamina and strength for the impending maniacal training session. However, Asher possessed the luxury of remaining awake, as his Absolute Physique facilitated recovery within a mere three to four hours, bestowing upon him a significant preparatory advantage.

By this point, two weeks of the month-long training had elapsed, and they were now entering the third week, a period where the difficulty was poised to escalate further, propelling them beyond any prior endurance thresholds.

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