"Now, let's talk about the punishment for those who failed the training." The instructor said,
"Hey! Spiky hairs, come here." The instructor called a person from the left side, where people who had completed their training were standing.
Though confused, the person with spiky hair went.
"You were the first person to finish the training, so you will get a reward. Go! Slap them all! Hahaha." The instructor said, shocking the trainees.
Kael was also shocked, but he was more focused on the spiky-haired individual. As something inside him irked when he heard that guy was first.
It was like this ever since he finished the laps, as he was angry at himself for being last, as if the very pride that made him fight those seniors yesterday had resurfaced for him losing, and now the pride had marked the spiky hairs as his target.
Kael subconsciously tightened his fist and made a subconscious decision to be first.
*Slap*
As Kael was busy in thoughts, he didn't realise, but the spiky hairs had already gone to the first person in line on the right side and slapped the person as the instructor had asked.
"Nice one! Now continue slapping." The instructor cheered, and the spiky hairs continued to sleep.
First he was sceptical about this, but as he continued to slap, he started enjoying it, and by the time he reached the last person, he had this big smile plastered over his.
And as soon as the activity ended, he felt a little sad, as he was enjoying it.
"No need to be sad, spikey hairs. If you win tomorrow, you will get another chance, and if these guys lose tomorrow, the slaps will be doubled." The instructor said
"Now, let's head to our next activities. Since today is the first day, we will be doing the bodyweight exercises. Now get down." And the instructor himself bent down in the push-up position and started doing it.
Though tired, some injured, and some angry, everyone started doing push-ups.
After push-ups, the instructor started doing sit-ups, then squats, and after 500 repetitions of each, they stopped.
"Well, as it was the first day, we did a light workout. From tomorrow onwards, the real one will be started, including weights. Oh, one last thing: go to Pit after having your breakfast." And the instructor left everyone stunned.
Soon everyone started going towards the mess to have their breakfast, as after the morning training they were beyond tired and hungry.
Kael was beyond tired, but he knew if he wanted to survive in this world, he had to become strong.
He decided to head to the mess to have his breakfast before heading to Pit, as the instructor said. And soon they reached the mess.
"Ohh, the newbies are here." One of the people present in the mess said, noticing the trainees that arrived.
"Hahaha, how was it?! Did you enjoy it?!"
"This is just the start. That instructor isn't called 'The Morning Demon' for no reason."
The senior talked with the trainees, shared their experience, and even told the nickname the instructor goes by.
After having their food trainees stated going towards Pit,
There, a board was present, on which a paper was attached; Kael went closer to have a look. And realised it was their schedule that they have to follow for the next six months.
"Morning physical activities, then breakfast, then close combat training, a second break, then theoretical lectures 1 and 2." One of the trainees muttered as he skipped the details present, like timing, the person in charge and the place where each of these classes will be held.
"Fuck, this will be the death of me." Someone said reading the hellish training starting from 4 o'clock in the morning till 6 in the evening.
Kael, after reading and memorising the schedule, headed for his next class. The close combat training was in one of the training grounds.
But also followed suit, as the time for their next session is about to start, and remembering the punishment many received in the morning, no one wants to take any risks.
***
Weapons of different kinds were racked along the walls – wooden swords, spears, maces, daggers, and all kinds of weapons were present.
In the centre was a risen platform for spars.
When the trainee grunt reached the training hall, they noticed two individuals standing on the platform. One of them had the same uniform as the morning instructor but with modifications like the morning demon had.
While the other person standing with him, someone many of the grunts had seen, he was one of the sphere who checked their status the previous day.
The training quickly lined up in front of the two people present , waiting for the instructor to speak.
"Hello trainees, I am Malric Den, your close combat instructor. I will be teaching you close combat and will expect proper decorum from you."
The instructor, who introduced himself as Malric Den, said. He was lean yet muscular with his steel-grey eyes and similarly coloured hair.
After a brief pause, he continued.
"This here is Lyra Cael; he will also be helping during the training." The instructor said, while pointing at the sphere standing next to him.
"In this session I will be teaching you about close combat, or more specifically, how to easily kill someone, while also guiding a little bit about the weapons you want to learn." Malric calmly said.
"Now, without further ado, let's get to it. Go and select the weapon you want and come back here."
And everyone sprinted towards the weapons present.
Kael also sprinted towards the weapons with everyone else, as he had already decided which weapon he would be using.
First, he had many options: learning a sword, as that is the most commonly used; a spear, which will give a long reach; a dagger, the one the assassin uses and good for one strike, one kill; or a mace to smash the enemy to bits.
The more he thought, the more difficult it got, as each weapon has its merits and demerits.
Which led to him thinking about what his goal is.