Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 880: Chapter 879 Hellish Devil Training

When Asuna accepted Fang Zheng’s invitation, she was determined she’d be able to endure his rigorous training. But when she actually started, Asuna realized just how big the gap was between reality and her ideals...

Fang Zheng completely controlled their daily lives. From the second day they joined the team, the three girls, including Asuna, had not returned to the safe zone. Instead, they stayed with Fang Zheng and their team, leveling up and training in the forest!

The basic routine was as follows.

They would wake up at six in the morning, do an hour of warm-up (leveling up), followed by guided training from Fang Zheng, Restia, and Ester for Asuna and the others. Although they were considered top-notch as players, they were essentially amateurs with cold weapons, lacking in many areas. Thus, Fang Zheng had them practice basic weapon attack and counter postures for three hours, and then continue leveling up.

Then at one in the afternoon, they were given a two-hour break to catch their breath, relax, and unwind before resuming swordsmanship skill training in the afternoon, followed by practical combat practice during leveling up.

This continued until eight in the evening... however, the training did not end there.

During the training period, all food was under Fang Zheng’s control. He gave Asuna and the others a challenge—they had to independently pass through a forest path within a certain time frame, where various creatures would spawn, alongside numerous obstacles.

Only by reaching the destination through the path on time would Fang Zheng give them food. If they were late... well, too bad, since you can’t starve to death in the game, you’ll just have to stay hungry!

After this ordeal, they were given another two hours for self-study, mainly to review any combat oversights or unclear elements from the day, continuing until midnight, after which they found a place to sleep in the forest.

Overnight in the wilderness!!

To be honest, when Fang Zheng first mentioned this requirement, even Asuna, along with Black Cat and Aoba, were stunned.

Even the most fanatic leveler Asuna would normally return to the Starting Town to relax in the warmth of an inn, properly unwinding to face the next day’s battles.

After all, a living area is also a safe zone, with no worries about creature attacks or anyone causing trouble. Once the door is closed, no one can enter. But in the wild? Besides the possibility of various creatures spawning at any time, what if malicious players come by?

However, in response to Asuna and the others’ protests, Fang Zheng explained it like this.

”This is to test the trust level among us. In battle, we need to entrust our lives to each other, and we must deepen this trust. If we can’t achieve this level of trust, facing a BOSS will only be harder without unified teamwork.”

In the end, Asuna had to agree to stay.

Of course, this kind of high-intensity training could easily have resulted in complaints, but neither Asuna, the Black Cat, nor Aoba complained much at all.

The reason was simple: Fang Zheng and his team were even more dedicated than they were!

Not only would they train and level up alongside Asuna and the others, Fang Zheng would also take Restia or Ester around to see if there were any elite monsters for extra ”meals” while Asuna and the others rested.

At night, exhausted from the day’s training, Asuna and the Black Cat would fall asleep immediately. Fortunately, the ground in the game was as soft as carpet, without the worry of disgusting bugs or snakes crawling on them, so they slept quite comfortably.

But each time, Asuna would see them awake before she fell asleep, and they would still be awake when she woke up!

It was as if they never slept at all!

If that were all, it would be fine, but what struck Asuna the most was the change in Aoba and the Black Cat!

All along, Asuna had considered herself the most dedicated leveler. Her level showed it, as she was Level 15 when she first joined Fang Zheng’s team, while Black Cat was Level 13, and Aoba was only Level 10. Asuna saw Aoba as an obedient child, and Black Cat... well, her over-the-top antics suggested she wasn’t cut out for hardship. Even Asuna, a leveling maniac, found the training tough, so she figured they’d have an even harder time.

Yet, reality was the opposite of what Asuna expected.

The first to get accustomed to Fang Zheng’s training schedule was the over-the-top Black Cat!

Not only her, but even Aoba’s leveling speed was gradually catching up. After about five days of Fang Zheng’s ”hell training,” the team levels were as follows: Fang Zheng, Restia, and Ester were Level 22, Black Cat was Level 20, Asuna Level 19, and Aoba Level 18!

At first, the gap between Aoba and Asuna was five levels. Although level increases meant reduced experience gains, for Aoba to close from a five-level gap to just one level, it certainly said a lot.

”That’s all for now, take a two-hour break!”

With Fang Zheng’s words, Asuna exhaled a breath, set down her rapier, and sat against a large tree. Black Cat stretched and sat beside her with Aoba.

”Ester, Restia, you take a break too. I’m going back to the Starting Town.”

After briefly instructing his sword sprites, Fang Zheng turned toward the Teleportation Crystal’s direction, while Asuna, watching his leaving figure, couldn’t help but sigh.

”I never realized... training could be this exhausting...”

”But isn’t it fun?”

Black Cat chuckled lightly.

”Sister Dear Restia taught me many interesting things, like how to wield a scimitar... I think even in the real world, these skills could be useful!”

”...Where would you use them? Isn’t that against the Weapons Control Act?”

Seeing Black Cat’s excitement, Asuna felt the need to remind her in case she left the Game World only to end up in jail...

”Hmph! The mere threats of the mortal world can’t stand against me, the Fallen Angel Black Cat! My Black Fang will break the chains of those rules! Regain freedom!”

”Black Cat, you sure have energy.”

Seeing Black Cat stand and pose dramatically, Asuna sighed. Though Fang Zheng told them they wouldn’t feel muscular fatigue in the Game World, the mental exhaustion was equally daunting...

”Because I am used to it.”

”Used to it?”

”Yes.”

Black Cat nodded, raising her head to look at the sky.

”I have two sisters to take care of. I wake up early to cook for them, play with them in the afternoon after school, and sleep with them at night... Compared to that, Mr. Fang Zheng’s training seems easier to me.”

After all, managing two troublemakers isn’t easy.

”You take care of them?”

”Yes, my family isn’t wealthy. Both parents work, so as the eldest, I shoulder the responsibility.”

”But you bought this helmet?”

Hearing Black Cat’s answer, Asuna was puzzled. Though unaware of the helmet’s exact price, she had heard something from her elder brother. If Asuna’s memory served, such a helmet wasn’t something a financially struggling family could afford.

”I didn’t buy it.”

But Black Cat shook her head.

”I won it in a lottery.”

”...A lottery?”

”Yes, didn’t a store in Akihabara hold a lottery event? I happened to be there buying a new issue that day and entered. I won.”

”Black Cat, you’re really lucky...”

Listening to Black Cat, Aoba couldn’t help but express her amazement and sighed.

”By contrast, my luck isn’t that good... I went to buy it with a friend, and when it was our turn, only one was left. Because she was ahead of me, it was sold to her. But my friend let me play first, only... I wonder how she is now.”

”...”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent, speaking no more.

Despite their different destinies, they all shared a common goal: to leave this world soon and return to their worried friends and family.

However, until now, this remained just a small wish.

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