The Thorny Road
Deep in the dense primeval forest, the light was dappled and fragmented by layers of giant leaves. The air was filled with the earthy smell of decaying plants, and occasionally the buzzing of unknown insects could be heard.
The group struggled through knee-high ferns. However, the most eye-catching figure in the group was Lupa.
At this moment, the red-haired girl is undergoing a silent and unimaginable ordeal.
Countless thorny vines, formed from dark purple magic and extending from Lowell's hands, coiled tightly around her arms, legs, and even waist, as if they were living creatures. The thorns dug deep into her flesh, plowing new bloody gashes into her tough skin with each step she took. Blood soaked through her red short-sleeved outfit, dripping onto her feet and leaving intermittent dark red marks.
Lupa gritted her teeth, her lower lip even tasting a metallic, metallic sweetness. A near-mad stubbornness Burning in her heterochromatic eyes. Her body trembled slightly from the excruciating pain, each breath a heavy, hoarse sound, yet her steps were unusually firm, one step after another, as if she were using all her strength to crush the roots and vines blocking her path, moving forward. Her gaze seemed to be offering her own blood and pain as a sacrifice, launching the most stubborn and Indomitable challenge against her predetermined fate.
Ruby, walking beside her, watched this scene, her large blue eyes filled with unbearable pity and heartache, her small hands unconsciously clenching her staff. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer, quickening her pace to Lowell's side and tugging at his sleeve.
"Lowell... this... is this kind of training really necessary... it's too... too cruel..." She looked at the increasing wounds on Lupa's body and felt as if her own skin was throbbing.
Lowell's gaze remained fixed on Lupa, his eyes filled with complex emotions. His usual languidness was replaced by a deep calm and a hint of barely perceptible pity. He sighed softly, his voice low but clear enough to reach everyone's ears:
"I can't bear it either, Ruby."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lupa's back, soaked with blood and sweat, his tone carrying an undeniable sense of reality and heaviness:
"But since she chose the path of a warrior, forging her body to its limits and honing her will to the point where it can overcome instinctive pain is the most basic, yet most brutal, compulsory course for a warrior's survival and growth. On the battlefield, the enemy will not show mercy just because you are a woman. A moment's hesitation caused by pain, a distorted movement, could cost you your life. I've said before that I don't want to be 'worn down' anymore, and I've asked Lupa if she's willing to pay 'everything' to become stronger."
He looked at Ruby, his gaze gentle yet unwavering. "Don't worry, with Heiter here, this level of superficial injury can heal instantly, without even leaving a scar. But 'pain' is an obstacle she must personally experience and ultimately overcome."
Ruby pouted, her blue eyes glistening with tears, as if she was about to say something, but was interrupted by a clear, panting voice coming from ahead.
"It's okay, Ruby!"
Lupa didn't turn back; all her energy was focused on fighting the relentless pain and maintaining her will to move forward. Sweat and blood mingled and dripped from her taut jawline, but her words carried a resolute strength:
"This is what I want! I want to become the strongest warrior! If women are inherently inferior to men in terms of physical strength, and humans are inferior to dwarves... then I will use ten times, a hundred times, more training and willpower to break through these limits!"
Her heterochromatic eyes shone brightly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, like two stars Burning in the abyss of despair.
"I have the best teacher in the world training me in the most effective way, and Mr. Heiter can heal my injuries and restore my strength at any time... This is the most luxurious training condition that countless warriors dream of! The pain I am in front of me is nothing compared to the despair of helplessness when I lose everything!"
Ruby looked at Lupa's smile, a mixture of pain and determination, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. In the end, she just nodded vigorously and muttered softly, "... Stupid Lupa..." She turned her face away and secretly wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve.
Eisen, who had been walking silently to the side, had no expression on his bronze face, but his steady voice rang out, affirming Lowell's actions:
"It's cruel, but it's true. On the battlefield, the fear and reaction to pain are often more deadly than the weapon itself. Any negligence can cost you your life. Lowell usually seems easygoing, but I didn't expect him to be such a realistic... and very clear-headed and responsible person when it comes to training."
Upon hearing this, Lowell's lips curled into a faint, self-deprecating smile, "Yes, when it comes to matters of life and death and the very essence of power, there is no room for sentimentality or wishful thinking. I've already learned my lesson in this regard." His gaze seemed to drift towards the distant past before quickly focusing again.
"In comparison, Linié has it much easier in this regard." His gaze shifted to Linié, who was silently following behind Lupa.
"The bodies of Demons are mostly composed of magic, making them extremely insensitive to pain; many high-ranking Demons even experience almost no pain. Therefore, Linié only needs to focus on increasing her strength and honing her combat skills. However, this very structure also results in a natural weakness in the cultivation of 'willpower' among Demons. They find it difficult to unleash power beyond their limits through pure willpower in dire situations, unlike humans."
As if to verify Lowell's words, Linié stopped and raised her arm.
Lowell understood, and with a slight twitch of her fingertips, the same dark purple thorn phantom instantly coiled around her, the spikes easily piercing her skin. But her expression remained unchanged; she merely tilted her head, seemingly sensing and analyzing this "damage." Then, Lowell withdrew her hand, the thorn phantom dissipated, and only a barely perceptible amount of magic slowly repaired the insignificant damage.
"Pain sensation, faint," Linié stated in her flat voice, then continued to follow in silence.
This almost inhuman scene, in stark and cruel contrast to Lupa beside her, who was covered in blood and whose every step seemed to be a struggle against her own limits, further highlighted the arduousness of the path of a human warrior and that kind of almost tragic tenacity based on flesh and blood and emotion.
Heiter took a swig of wine, looked at Lupa's appearance, and clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk... it looks painful. Little Lupa, just say the word if you can't hold on, the Goddess's healing light is always ready for you." His tone was relaxed, but the hand holding the Holy Scripture was constantly emitting a soft light, clearly ready at any moment.
Himmel looked at Lupa, his blue eyes filled with admiration and a hint of barely perceptible pity. He elegantly swung his sword, the blade nimbly severing the drooping vines in front of them, clearing a path for the group, while gently encouraging her, "Miss Lupa's will is admirable. This tenacity will surely make you an outstanding warrior who is second to none."
Even Frieren, who was usually uninterested in training, surprisingly didn't fall behind. Her emerald eyes swept over Lupa's wounds and bloodstains, then looked at Lowell's focused profile, and she clicked her tongue softly, muttering in a voice only she could hear, "... asking for trouble."
But she unconsciously maintained a distance that allowed her to observe the overall situation while also being able to provide support at any time, the bottom of her staff tapping the ground lightly without her noticing.
Finally, just as Lupa was nearing her limit and began to stagger, Lowell snapped her fingers.
The magical thorns that were wrapped around Lupa vanished instantly.
Lupa's body went limp, and she almost collapsed to her knees, but Ruby caught up with her immediately. Then, Heiter healed her with a gentle holy light. The warm light enveloped her, and her wounds healed rapidly at a visible speed, leaving only faint pink marks. Even the weakness caused by blood loss was quickly fading away.
"Ha... ha..." Lupa collapsed in Ruby's arms, panting heavily, her chest heaving as she felt life force returning to her limbs. Although her heterochromatic eyes showed deep exhaustion from overexertion, they also shone with an unusually bright light, as if she had overcome some invisible barrier, like steel that had been tempered.
She looked up at Lowell, nodded vigorously, her voice still a little hoarse but full of strength. "Master! I can continue!"
Lowell walked up to her and reached out to ruffle her sweaty hair. "That's enough for today. Too much of a good thing can be bad. You've only recovered your body; your spirit won't recover so quickly, and there's a limit to physical tempering. Rest a bit, then do your magic sensing practice tonight."
"Yes!" Lupa answered loudly, a bright smile Bloom across her face.
Ruby rushed over, took out a water pouch and a clean handkerchief, and carefully wiped the blood from Lupa's face and arms. Her little face was full of heartache and lingering fear, and she kept muttering, "Be gentler next time, Lowell... It was so scary, my heart almost jumped out of my chest..."
Lowell watched this scene, smiled slightly, and cast his gaze into the dark depths of the forest.
This warrior's path, paved with blood and thorns, is still long. But at least, this stubborn young girl is resolutely walking forward, each step leaving a bloody mark. And he will ensure that she doesn't fall prematurely on this path. This is both fulfilling his promise and perhaps, making up for some kind of "wear and tear" within himself.
This road is fraught with thorns, and blood is its most authentic testament. But the inextinguishable flame in the girl's eyes tells everyone more clearly than any words—she will never turn back.