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Chapter 43 — The Bear… and the Unforgettable Lesson
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Scene 1 — Living Room
The giant bear took another step forward.
Kiora stepped back, his heart pounding, his breathing quickening… while the bear kept approaching steadily, without hesitation.
And suddenly—
The bear grabbed Kiora's head with a massive hand, lifted him off the ground as if he were a doll, then slammed him harshly onto the floor.
It sat on top of him.
And began raining punches down on him.
One hit…
Then another…
Kiora's face shook with every blow.
Kiora:
(Help! I'm getting beaten up here!)
Kazo slowly turned his head.
Kazo:
(Huh?)
Renyon looked with concern.
Renyon:
(He says he's getting beaten… and wants help.)
Kazo looked at them with coldness mixed with suppressed anger.
Kazo:
(I heard what he said.
And I told you to ignore him.)
Miro stepped forward with calm steps, her voice as warm as always.
Miro gently:
(Don't be harsh…
In the end, they are your first students. They've endured until this moment and didn't run away from your training.
Help him.)
Kazo sighed.
Kazo:
Alright… alright.
In the corner, Nero rubbed her eyes lazily.
Nero:
(I want to eat… but I also want to sleep.
Which one should I start with?)
Miro smiled.
Miro:
(Eat, but you won't go back to sleep.
The sun has already risen.)
Kazo walked toward Kiora, stood near his head, and looked down at him… with deadly coldness. Then he took a bite of bread and a sip of tea while watching.
Then… he smiled.
Kiora:
(What are you doing? Help me!)
Kazo:
(I'm observing… the level of my elegance.)
Kiora:
(This is not the time for jokes!)
Kazo slightly turned.
Kazo:
(Hofi, stop this.)
Hofi hid behind the wall, his voice faint.
Hofi shyly:
(I… can't.)
Kazo raised an eyebrow.
Kazo:
(I'll have to stop it myself…
But wait—
Can't you stop it yourself?)
Kiora's eyes widened.
Kiora:
(That's right… why didn't I think of that before?)
Kazo calmly stepped back, sat on the couch, and began eating.
Kazo:
(I forgot he can defend himself.
Hofi… come eat.)
Hofi:
(I… don't want to.)
Miro carried a small plate, placed some food on it, and walked toward him.
At that moment—
The bear threw a punch at Kiora, but he dodged it, causing the fist to crash into the ground.
Kiora countered with a punch toward the bear's face…
But it did nothing.
Kiora:
(I'm hitting cotton… this won't work.
It won't take any damage.)
Kiora placed his hand on the bear's chest while the punches kept coming at his face.
Rings of water gathered on the bear's chest, beginning to expand… then its movement slowed.
Its body grew heavier.
And in a moment—
The bear collapsed onto Kiora, unable to move.
Kiora pushed it away with difficulty, then began crawling toward them, his face swollen, his body covered in bruises.
He finally sat on the couch, panting.
Kiora thought:
(I just… want to know… what kind of family is this?)
Kazo stood up.
Kazo:
(Come on, it's time for training.)
Kiora looked at him calmly, exhausted.
Kiora:
(I haven't eaten yet.)
Kazo:
(I don't care.
If you're three seconds late… you'll be punished.)
He opened the door and headed down to the basement, Renyon following him.
Kiora looked behind him.
Kiora:
(I have no other choice…)
And he followed them.
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Scene 2 — Basement
They went down the stairs, and the cold basement air wrapped around the place once more.
Kiora:
(We're back to training again.)
Renyon:
(Be happy… you almost got a full day off.)
Kiora smiled bitterly.
Kiora, tearing up:
(I didn't do anything with it, I told you.
I was on the verge of death…
and I lived through the scariest moments of my life.)
Kazo stepped forward and pointed at the massive rock.
Kazo:
(Kiora… the final test of the stone category.
Lift the biggest rock, and you'll finish this training and move on to another.
As for you, Renyon… wait until he's done.)
Renyon:
(Understood.)
Kiora took a deep breath.
Kiora:
(My muscles are tearing from this training…)
He lay down.
Kazo placed the rock on his back.
Its weight dropped like punishment.
Kiora felt as if his muscles were tearing apart, his bones screaming, the ground beneath his hands and feet digging deep holes…
But—
This time, the pressure… wasn't like before.
It was lighter.
Kiora's thoughts:
(It's heavy… but I don't feel its weight like before.
That means I've gotten stronger… even if just a little.)
Kazo looked at him sternly.
Kazo:
(Do 10,000 push-ups without stopping.
No rest.
No use of mana.
No eating.
No drinking.
No thinking.
No doing anything… not even going to the bathroom.)
Kiora's eyes widened.
Kiora in fear:
(T… ten thousand times?)
Silence fell.
And the training… began.
To be continued…