Tier 2

Kraun arrived at the church in high spirits, only to be told that Father wasn't there.

"Mr. Moya, Father said he had to go to the Quarry to take care of something. He doesn't know when he'll be back. He told you to practice the exercises you trained yesterday and push yourself."

Avina's voice was gentle and clear. Kraun found himself a little distracted by it.

"Thank you, Avina. I understand."

After politely thanking the nun, he couldn't help but scorn himself inwardly. Just hearing a beautiful woman's voice has me acting like this. What a loser!

The nun smiled, dimples appearing in her cheeks. "I'm going to help guide the people attending the service. Goodbye."

Watching the nun's graceful, shapely figure recede into the distance, Kraun suddenly shook his head and took a deep breath.

He patted a certain part of his body and laughed at himself. "What a hot-blooded young man I am."

After a brief warm-up, he put on the Sand Vest and started running.

This time, when he felt he had used up half his stamina, he began visualizing the Golden Light Incantation as he ran.

He didn't pay attention to how many laps he had run. When he felt hunger was about to Devour his reason, he turned and sprinted toward the dining hall.

At that moment, his spiritual sense told him it was past twelve.

He felt he had done better than yesterday. He had managed his stamina more wisely and maintained an almost even pace throughout.

If he hadn't been hungry, he thought he could have run another seven or eight laps.

At dusk, the clouds blazed with color.

Kraun swung his sword with steady strength, his steps measured and controlled.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, keen as lightning. The only sounds on the Training Ground were the sword cutting through the air and his breathing.

"Clap, clap, clap."

A round of applause came from behind him.

"Even though I've repeatedly overestimated you, your rate of progress still amazes me."

Nick strode into the Training Ground, unable to hide his delight.

Kraun stood still, bringing his practice to an end.

He turned to face the church's master and noticed a trace of worry on the priest's face.

"Father, it looks like something's troubling you."

"There's been a supernatural incident at the Quarry, but I suspect someone was behind it."

"Someone? Do you mean a Spirit Controller used a bound Evil Spirit?"

"Not bad. You even know about Spirit Controllers. I thought you knew very little about the mystic side."

Kraun smiled. "I'm acquainted with a Witcher who came to town."

Nick nodded slightly and sighed. "It wasn't a Spirit Controller. Some unusual Mystic professions can control Monsters. I suspect a Beast Tamer was involved. I'll write to the church for help tonight. This incident is tricky. It may have been an Evil God Ritual."

Kraun was about to ask more about Beast Tamers and Evil God Rituals, but Father had already walked past him and away. "Keep it up, young man. Things are happening faster than we expected."

Shaking his head, he gave up asking what, exactly, they had expected. He was too weak; knowing too much would only make him worry.

The next day, when Kraun came to train, Father had already left early, just like the day before.

He followed his own rhythm and continued his training methodically.

When he left that evening, Father still hadn't returned.

Mao Hour was nearly over, and the sun finally rose.

Kraun seized the last moments and formed the Great Sun Seal, completing several cycles of visualization.

When he felt a dry heat rising in his body, he stopped visualizing.

[Golden Light Incantation: 2012/50000; Tier 1]

[Basic Swordsmanship: 896/1000; Tier 1]

Golden light flickered in his eyes, and a smile played on his lips.

His Basic Swordsmanship proficiency was increasing faster than he'd expected. Today, he would reach Tier 2 swordsmanship.

After several days of stamina and sword training, the muscles in his arms had become more defined.

He smiled at his reflection, pleased with himself, and cheerfully walked out the door.

"Father, I thought I wouldn't see you again today." When he arrived at the church, he was surprised to find Nick waiting in the middle of the Training Ground. The priest seemed to be in a good mood.

"We found out what happened. It was the work of a band of Cultists. Their hideout was empty, so I believe they've moved on."

It was good to have trouble out of the way, so Kraun buttered him up. "You must have scared those Cultists off, Father!"

Nick bared his teeth. He hadn't even come face-to-face with the Cultists, let alone intimidated them.

"Let's not talk about that. For now, all you need to do is train with everything you've got and reach the requirements for Transcendence as soon as possible. I'm going to see if you've been slacking these past two days. Put on the Sand Vest and get running."

"Of course, Father. You're going to be amazed," Kraun replied calmly.

He loosened his joints, then put on the Sand Vest and walked and hopped around until he had fully adjusted to the added weight. Then he began to run in earnest.

One lap. Two laps.

One hundred laps. After only four or five days of training, his stamina had reached the minimum standard for advancing to a Crusader Order warrior.

Nick was filled with surprise and pride.

He was surprised by how much faster Kraun was progressing than an ordinary person, and proud that he himself had trained this future Crusader Order warrior.

In the church of the Lord of Flame, he was practically Kraun's guide.

Kraun kept running, while Nick silently cheered him on. "Come on! Let's see what your Limit is now!"

The sun was high today, and Kraun tried visualizing as he ran.

As expected, visualization couldn't restore his stamina or energy. His body temperature even rose abnormally fast, frightening him into stopping at once.

Without a way to replenish his stamina, he soon couldn't keep going.

When he ran past the priest again, he could hold on no longer. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.

Nick crouched beside him and said gently, "Wearing a Sand Vest and leg weights totaling fifteen kilograms, you ran 108 laps in an hour. Your stamina has reached the minimum standard for Transcendence. From now on, your goal for morning stamina training is to get faster. Rest for fifteen minutes, then we'll move on to strength training."

After hearing Father's words, Kraun struggled to his feet, went to the shade, and leaned against the wall to visualize the Golden Light Incantation.

"Break's over." Nick's voice interrupted his visualization. Kraun immediately went to the Training Ground and stood at attention.

The priest picked up a dumbbell beside the weapon rack. "Train like this."

He gripped the dumbbell and raised both arms naturally until they were level with his shoulders.

Father demonstrated an exercise much like the muscle-building exercises Kraun remembered from his previous life, then tossed him the dumbbell.

The rest of the morning was spent entirely on strength training.

In the afternoon, the two practiced swordsmanship together, with Kraun attacking and the priest defending.

The attacker tried everything he could, but still couldn't break through his opponent's guard.

Kraun stepped forward, held his weapon level, and thrust at Nick.

The priest stepped back and casually parried the incoming attack with his sword. His wrist flicked as he went to knock Kraun's sword aside. He had done this several times before, but this time he struck at empty air.

As soon as his opponent blocked his sword, Kraun instinctively slid his weapon down the other blade, aiming to cut his enemy's hand.

By the time the priest sensed something was wrong and tried to change his move, Kraun's sword tip was already near his hand.

Without thinking, he released the hilt. His weapon clattered to the ground.

My weapon was knocked out of my hand? Nick stared, stunned.

They had been practicing for less than two hours, yet the young man's improvement was almost visible to the naked eye.

Kraun was delighted too, because he felt the thrill of his skill advancing a tier.

[Basic Swordsmanship: 4/2000; Tier 2] (You are no longer just a conventional, by-the-book swordsman. Your hard training has taught you to combine a variety of basic moves.)