She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 434: Cold Relief

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in deep orange and purple, a cool breeze greeted Alex as he emerged from the villa.

His entire frame throbbed with a symphony of pain.

Each movement felt like a monumental effort, his legs quivering under his weight, muscles ablaze as if engulfed in flames. His sweat-drenched shirt clung to his battered form, making even the simple act of breathing a struggle.

Viktor's training regimen was undeniably harsh.

He had shown no restraint, pushing Alex to the very brink for a grueling four hours. Errors, no matter how minor, were met with relentless repetition until his body surrendered, and combat was forced upon him in a state of utter depletion.

Alex had never subjected himself to such intense training before.

Just that very morning, after conquering four seasoned fighters in a series of bouts, a nascent belief in his own strength had begun to take root. However, following this punishing session with Viktor, the stark reality of his remaining deficiencies became painfully clear.

Alex paused, casting a glance back towards the imposing villa gates.

There stood Viktor, arms crossed, his gaze steady upon Alex, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. A subtle smirk graced his lips as he observed Alex's laborious progress.

"Return tomorrow," Viktor's voice carried, relaxed and untroubled. "I shall be most eager to assist."

Alex met his gaze for a moment before shaking his head with a weary smile. This seemingly amicable man had inflicted such a brutal ordeal upon him for merely a handful of minor infractions...

He proceeded slowly towards his car, his vision slightly clouded by exhaustion, his head feeling unnervingly heavy. With every step, a sharp, biting pain lanced through his thighs and calves.

Reaching the main gate, he halted, using the car for support as he gasped for air.

"Haah... Haah..."

His breaths came in ragged gasps, his heart still hammering against his ribs. He lacked the residual strength even to operate the car door.

At this precise moment, he bore the unmistakable appearance of someone who had survived a harrowing ordeal.

Yet, beneath the shroud of pain... a faint, contented smile graced his lips.

For deep within, he understood the unspoken truth.

"This is merely the beginning..." he vowed inwardly, even as his legs threatened to buckle. "This is the unavoidable cost."

With a low groan of exertion, Alex finally managed to wrench open the car door. He slumped heavily into the driver's seat, exhaling a long, drawn-out sigh as he reclined against the headrest. For a few moments, he simply sat, eyes half-closed, savoring the profound silence.

Then, a small smile began to form.

He raised his hand, summoning the familiar system interface.

A characteristic blue screen materialized before him.

[Battle Sense: 9.63%]

Alex's gaze fixed on the displayed percentage, a moment of quiet contemplation passing.

"Incredible..." he breathed, his eyes widening with unfeigned astonishment. "Is this not...?"

He blinked, then emitted a soft chuckle.

"Haha... 9.63%? Achieved from a single training session?"

He settled back into the seat, his gaze still locked on the screen, a broad grin now firmly in place. Every ounce of pain, every flicker of exhaustion, Viktor's relentless corrections... it had all proven undeniably worthwhile.

"If the progression continues at this pace..." he murmured, "reaching 100% shall not be a distant prospect."

The mere contemplation sent a jolt of exhilaration through his being.

However, the persistent ache in his body served as a stark reminder of his current reality.

"Lilith..." he whispered, his voice tinged with weariness. "Might you have some healing elixirs at hand...?"

A gentle voice immediately resonated within his mind.

"It is inadvisable to resort to medicinal aid at this juncture."

Alex's brow furrowed slightly.

"And why is that?"

Lilith's voice, calm and clear, provided the explanation:

"You should refrain from depending on external remedies for recuperation. Your body possesses a remarkable innate capacity for healing. Allowing it to mend naturally will facilitate optimal adaptation. With sufficient time, this process will compel your system to heal with greater speed and efficacy. The more you train and recover organically, the more robust your natural restorative functions will become."

She paused briefly before elaborating further:

"Healing elixirs are best reserved for dire, life-threatening exigencies. Their frequent application risks fostering dependency and impeding your inherent growth."

Alex absorbed her words in silence.

He considered her counsel for a few moments... and then gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"You speak the truth," he affirmed, a small smile returning. "I comprehend."

He dismissed the system interface, leaning back into the seat once more, allowing the profound exhaustion to envelop him.

Despite the clamor of his pained body, his spirit felt remarkably light.

Because, for the first time in what felt like an eternity... his path forward was illuminated with clarity.

***

Upon finally reaching his residence, Alex carefully parked the car in the driveway. With a weary sigh, he silenced the engine and reclined in his seat for a brief respite, letting the quietude settle around him.

'A bath... then directly to sleep,' he mused. His body was crying out for rest.

He cautiously exited the vehicle, his movements deliberate. Every single muscle protested vehemently with each step he took.

Just as he was about to head inside, a familiar voice called out from the side.

"Hey... You’re here!"

Alex turned his head and saw Danny walking toward him, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, his upper body completely bare. He had clearly been enjoying the evening by the pool.

Danny stopped in front of him and laughed the moment he saw Alex’s condition.

"What happened to you?" he asked, grinning. "You look like you got hit by a truck!"

Alex blinked, then suddenly remembered.

’Oh shit...’

This morning before going to practice, he had told Danny and Mike to come over and hang out after college. He had completely forgotten about it because of the brutal training with Viktor.

Danny didn’t wait for an answer. He walked up and gently grabbed Alex’s arm.

"C’mon, let’s go. We’ve been waiting for you."

Alex let himself be led as he asked, "Where’s Mike?"

"He’s in the pool," Danny replied with a chuckle. "Come on. You look too exhausted. A little time in the pool will help you relax."

Alex didn’t have the energy to argue. He simply nodded and let Danny guide him toward the backyard, where the glowing blue pool waited under the evening lights.

As Danny guided Alex toward the backyard, the glowing blue water of the pool came into view. Mike was floating lazily on his back in the middle of the pool, arms spread wide, clearly enjoying the cool evening.

The moment Mike noticed them approaching, he turned his head and immediately burst out laughing.

"Pfft—! What happened to you?" he asked, grinning widely as he swam closer to the edge. "Look at you... Did they beat you up today or what?"

Alex gave him a tired glare but didn’t have the energy to reply.

Danny chuckled beside him. "He looks like he went through hell and came back."

Mike laughed again, clearly amused by Alex’s miserable state.

Without saying much, Alex slowly started removing his clothes. He took off his shirt first, revealing the countless bruises and red marks covering his torso. Then he removed his pants, leaving only his underwear on.

He stepped toward the edge of the pool and carefully lowered himself into the water.

The moment the cold water touched his skin, Alex let out a sharp breath.

"...Haaah..."

It stung at first. The cold water hit every bruise and sore muscle like tiny needles, sending a wave of sharp pain through his body. But as he slowly sank deeper, the coldness began to soothe the burning heat in his muscles. The pain gradually turned into a strange, refreshing relief.

He closed his eyes and leaned back against the pool wall, letting the water support his exhausted body.

For the first time in hours, he finally felt like he could breathe again.

Alex slowly opened his eyes.

The moment he did, he found both Danny and Mike right beside him, leaning against the edge of the pool. They were staring at him with wide eyes, clearly waiting for an answer... while trying and failing to hold back their laughter.

Mike was the first to speak, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and genuine fear.

"Was it really just from the training...?"

Alex looked at their faces for a second... and then burst out laughing.

"Haha... Yeah," he said, still chuckling. "It was just from the training."

He leaned back against the pool wall, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.

"Don’t worry," he continued. "You two should be ready too... because I already asked them to train you as well."

The moment Alex finished speaking, both Danny and Mike’s faces turned pale.

Danny’s eyes widened in pure horror as he quickly raised both hands.

"Please... No! We’re not into fighting... Really!" he said in a rush, shaking his head frantically.

Mike nodded rapidly beside him, his usual playful expression completely gone.

"Yeah! We’re not built for that kind of training!" Mike added, his voice slightly higher than usual. "We just came to chill and hang out, not get destroyed like you!"

Both of them looked genuinely terrified at the thought of going through the same brutal training Alex had just experienced. The way Alex was covered in bruises and could barely walk earlier had clearly left a strong impression on them.

Alex couldn’t help but laugh at their panicked reactions.

Alex laughed at their extreme reaction, his shoulders shaking slightly as he leaned back and relaxed a little more in the water.

"Ok... We’ll talk about that later," he said with a small smile.

Danny and Mike visibly relaxed when they heard that. The tension in their shoulders eased a bit.

But then Alex asked casually,

"Anything interesting from college?"

The moment the question left his mouth, both of them tensed up again. They exchanged a quick glance before Danny spoke, his voice a little lower than usual.

"I don’t know if it’s true or not... but it seems like Pierce has gone missing."