Chapter 17: Stat Training Center （1）
There are two main ways for a Hunter to grow.
The first is raids.
Going over to the Other World, gaining real-world experience and securing rewards is the usual method most choose.
The second is training.
There are various methods of training.
Just as there were various martial arts and training methods even in the days when there were no special abilities, people engage in training that suits their abilities. There are those who simply train their bodies to increase their stats, and there are those who maximize their strength through repetitive skill usage. But people usually choose the former method. Strengthening through training is safe, but the expected growth is significantly lower, whereas raids come with the expectation that you can become dramatically stronger at once depending on the rewards.
Kang San’s growth was a case of hitting the jackpot.
Special rewards.
Two growth-type skills and three 2-star or higher skills.
Usually, E-rank Hunters only possess 1-star skills, but excluding Iron Man, all of Kang San’s were over 2-stars.
Naturally, based on Kang San’s experience, gaining rewards through raids rather than training was the more beneficial method, but Kang San chose training as the very first step while formulating a broad plan.
‘I’ve grown stronger in a short period of time. Just a month ago, I was nothing more than an F-rank human shield without a single skill, but now I have a whopping 7 skills. Getting stronger is obviously a good thing, but growth with low proficiency can’t withstand sudden variables. In a situation where I don’t know when or what kind of trial Azmoon will give me, blindly rushing forward while only focusing on growth is a shortcut to hastening my death.’
His own strength.
It’s still like a sandcastle.
It could collapse at any moment because it was built in a short time, so it was necessary to solidify the foundation.
It’s the same now as it was then.
Just because you give a famous sword to a brat who hasn’t even learned swordsmanship for a year, it doesn’t mean they can defeat a master swordsman wielding an old iron sword. Even though you can develop your strength like a game system, unlike a game, if you get hit in a vital spot, you’ll d*e in reality. People who are called strong in the world, aside from possessing great skills and high stats, have learned how to utilize their strength to that extent.
Haste ruins growth.
At a time when one could be blinded by rapid growth, Kang San calmed his excited heart and faced reality.
‘I’m an unlucky person. Let’s not hope for a fluke.’
Recurring misfortune.
Every moment was a difficult hurdle for Kang San, but looking back, misfortune always left a lesson.
What mistakes not to make.
What judgments are shortcuts to disaster.
While experiencing misfortune, Kang San tried to live his life the right way.
Therefore.
‘I’ll solidify my foundation first.’
Kang San’s destination was decided.
Stat Training Center.
It was the Mecca of training.
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Thousands of pyeong of land in Gangbuk.
The land where a park used to be was completely cleared, and with government support, the Stat Training Center was born.
The Stat Training Center was planned to provide a training ground for Hunters. Since a training environment that relied solely on real-world experience often took the lives of novice Hunters who were just starting out, an efficient environment where they could train alone was needed. The Stat Training Center, born in this way, received a lot of attention from the beginning. Although a somewhat expensive training fee was set, it was worth the expense to become stronger.
“What is the name of the person who made the reservation?”
“Kang San.”
“Um… You’re the one who applied for the Reaction Speed Stat and Skill Proficiency courses, right? Since you’ve set up two training sessions, the cost is 5 million won each, totaling 10 million won. Will you be paying in a lump sum?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll help you with the payment.”
Beep.
The employee swiping the card.
Seeing the balance being drained to the bottom, Kang San felt a slight pang in his stomach.
If he had been exaggerating about not having money before, from now on, he really didn’t even have the luxury to buy scrolls.
But it’s a necessary expense.
Kang San calmed his churning stomach and signed the card terminal the employee handed him.
“Payment has been completed. To explain it once again, the course you have chosen is the normal course, and you can use the training ground for one month. When you go inside, we have prepared a schedule according to the training system, so if you refer to it, you can proceed with your training efficiently.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll guide you to the training ground.”
It was something he already knew.
Since he had used the Stat Training Center before, Kang San followed the employee with familiar steps.
『E-8 Training Ground』
E is for rank.
The number is the training ground number.
It means training ground number 8 used by E-rank Hunters.
Kang San entered the training ground as instructed, and he heard the clicking sound of the door locking from the outside.
‘I won’t be able to leave this place for the next month.’
He looked around.
The overall gloomy training ground was centered around a circular space of about 15 pyeong, with two doors on each side. One was a training ground for 『Reaction Speed』, and the other was for 『Skill Proficiency』.
First, he read the guide.
The contents were as follows:
『The training ground is divided into two systems. Reaction speed training is conducted four times a day, once every four hours, for one hour each time. The pattern is to avoid attacks in a dark space, and the stages are divided into 1 to 10 levels. If you perform perfectly in one stage, you move on to the next stage, but if you fail to reach level 5 or higher by the end of the one-month training period, you will be deemed below standard and will not be able to use the training ground for three months. Skill proficiency training is conducted once a day, and 20 monsters of the corresponding training ground rank are assigned. The number of monsters to face at once can be set at the user’s discretion, and if all 20 monsters are dealt with, 24 hours must pass before training can be conducted again.』
“It’s been a while.”
When he was just starting out as a Hunter.
Kang San, who didn’t know anything, didn’t rush into real-world battles but entered the training center and sufficiently built up his strength.
Thanks to that, he was able to increase his stats a little, and he used the real-world experience he gained from the training center to work as an F-rank human shield. He had judged that F-rank training was meaningless by now, but as his rank increased, a reason to revisit it had emerged.
The Stat Training Center’s system was quite decent.
A compulsory yet efficient training environment definitely helped with growth.
The price of 10 million won wasn’t cheap, but considering the gains that could be made, it was definitely worth it.
‘I barely finished level 7 in the F-rank reaction speed training before. Level 5 is an average level in that rank, and you need to have outstanding abilities to reach level 7. And from level 8 onwards, it’s only possible with abilities that surpass that rank.’
Through that training, Kang San was able to increase his Agility.
The exploration was over.
Kang San decided to start with the reaction speed training first.
Confirming the effect of Blood Demon Art in skill proficiency training was very important, but unlike skill proficiency training, which could be used at any time within 24 hours, reaction speed training had a set time. If he missed the time while doing skill proficiency training, it would be a loss, so Kang San proceeded with the urgent training first.
Kang San moved towards the training ground.
And as he was about to enter, a familiar voice greeted him.
Ding!
『The fifth Trial and Tribulation has been assigned.』
『The karma of the wicked has forcibly increased the difficulty of the training ground. Time in the training ground will be distorted, and from now on, time here will flow slower than in the outside world. If you survive for 30 days outside, 300 days inside, you will be able to resolve your karma, even if just a little.』
『Reward: Divine Power +5』
‘I wondered why there was no word.’
An expected part.
Trials didn’t discriminate against time and place.
And the effect of the trial was immediate.
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“…Hoo, hoo.”
He was out of breath.
As the trial was applied.
With the sudden increase in the force of gravity, Kang San felt suffocated and struggled to control his body properly.
It was the effect of the trial.
The trial not only extended the time in the training ground but also placed heavy shackles on Kang San’s ankles.
‘Let’s adapt to the gravity first.’
Time was needed.
However, Luca Bellino didn’t allow such leisure.
“Start the reaction speed training within 10 minutes. If you don’t, this trial will end in failure.”
A voice from somewhere.
The devil’s laughter was clearly visible.
Kang San had no choice but to get up. Fortunately, there was enough food in the training ground. If he adapted well to the gravity and completed the training safely, it seemed like he could overcome this trial without any major problems.
‘But it won’t be easy.’
He had a bad feeling.
As he moved and entered the reaction speed training ground, all the surrounding light disappeared, and a pitch-black darkness enveloped his vision.
Beep.
『Level 1 training will begin. 10, 9, 8… Start!』
Thud!
‘Right!’
He heard a sound.
Although he couldn’t see it, something was launched aiming for his head.
Clack.
Kang San quickly moved to the side.
But he was a step too late.
The speed of the object that cut through the darkness was faster than he thought, and contrary to his thought that he had dodged it, it grazed Kang San’s face by a hair’s breadth. A stinging shock ran through him for a moment. His cheek burned, and blood trickled down.
“As expected, it couldn’t have been just training.”
Arrows.
The identity of the object was definitely arrows.
Arrows with very sharp arrowheads that could k*ll him if they hit him directly.
His ominous feeling became reality.
When the fifth trial was given, Azmoon didn’t just apply a different flow of time, but he said to survive for 300 days in this place. That meant there was an element that could threaten his life. The arrow that had just grazed his face was exactly that. Even though it was an expected situation, his heart pounded.
There wasn’t much time to think.
The training had already begun, and the next arrow was fired.
Whoosh!
This time, from both directions.
As soon as Kang San heard the sound, he reacted immediately. This time, the arrows didn’t touch him. He exquisitely dodged in a direction where neither arrow could reach him, but the arrow attack didn’t end with just one or two shots.
Swoosh!
“…!”
Right in front of his eyes.
Kang San tilted his head back to avoid the arrow.
Because of his vigorous movements, he missed the sound of the arrow.
From then on, it was chaotic.
Having lost his timing, Kang San had to instinctively avoid the arrows. Blood flowed from all over his body as the arrows grazed his skin, but Kang San responded to the arrow attack with calm eyes. A situation where his eyesight wasn’t allowed. He knew that if he got excited and his other senses were disturbed, his life would be in danger.
However.
Thwack!
“Ugh.”
He couldn’t be perfect yet.
This was training, and if there were no hurdles with Kang San’s abilities, the meaning of training would have been lost in the first place.
The arrow that pierced his thigh.
Kang San winced.
Suppressing the pain, he barely dodged the next attack.
‘This is just level 1?’
The difficulty was tremendous from the start.
He pulled out the arrow.
Kang San, who calmed the burning pain with Healing Aura, suddenly remembered the Blood Demon.
The monster that massacred people.
The Blood Demon’s image ignited Kang San’s will.
‘I can’t d*e because of that trash.’
He gritted his teeth.
This was a reality he had to get used to now.
Anytime, anywhere, his life would be threatened under the guise of a trial.
Instead of panicking and being swayed by the trial every time, he had to calmly find a way to overcome it.
Day 1 of 300 days.
Thus, a hard day was beginning.
