The Strongest With Nothing Left

As the conversation started to die down, Arin suddenly realized something he never actually got the chance to ask for her name. Every time they interacted, it was either about his injuries, his quest, or his training with Li.

"Hey, uh…" Arin scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I just realized… I never actually got your name." The receptionist blinked in surprise. "Oh! Seriously?"

Arin laughed awkwardly. "Kinda rude of me, huh?"

She smiled warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's fine. Happens a lot around here." Then, extending her hand toward him, she said, "My name's Elise."

Arin grinned, shaking her hand. "Nice to officially meet you, Elise!" "Likewise, Arin." Elise giggled. "And, you know, if you ever need help with quests, healing, or just advice you know where to find me."

Arin smiled brightly. "Heh, thanks! I appreciate it." But deep down, Arin couldn't help but think Maybe master isn't as cold-hearted as everyone thinks… if someone like Elise is surprised he's even helping me, then that means…

His thoughts were interrupted when Elise suddenly leaned in with a sly smile. "Sooo… how's training under the 'strongest adventurer' going?" Arin paled. "…Hell. Absolute hell." 

Elise burst out laughing. "Thought so."

As Arin waved goodbye to Elise and stepped out of the guild, the cool afternoon breeze hit his face. Stretching his arms, he sighed. "Man… today's been wild."

Just as he was about to head home, his eyes caught sight of a familiar figure across the street. His childhood friend the same girl Li had saved from the A-rank monster before was standing there, seemingly waiting for someone.

Wait… is that—?" Arin's eyes widened. Without thinking, he ran toward her. "Hey! Mia!" he called out.

The girl flinched at first, but when she turned and saw Arin, her face instantly lit up. "Arin!" The two of them met halfway, and Mia immediately gave him a tight hug. "You idiot! I haven't seen you in forever! Where have you been?!"

Arin laughed sheepishly, scratching his head. "Ah… yeah. Sorry about that. Been kinda busy lately." Mia pulled back, placing her hands on her hips. "Busy? Doing what?"

"…Training."

"Training?" Mia blinked, confused. "For what?"

Arin puffed his chest proudly. "I'm an adventurer now! Just got my license."

Mia's jaw dropped. "W-What?! Seriously?! But you… you couldn't even kill a rat without screaming like a girl back then!" "Okay, ouch." Arin pouted. "But yeah, I've been training real hard. My master's super tough on me, but I'm getting stronger."

Mia tilted her head, curious. "Master? Wait… you have a master?" "Yup!" Arin grinned proudly. "And guess what? It's the guy who saved us back then Li Vrak!"

Mia froze. "…Wait. What?" "Yeah, I know! Crazy, right?" Arin chuckled. "I didn't think he'd accept me at first, but after a lot of begging and nearly dying, he finally caved in and started training me."

Mia stared at him, still processing what he just said. "…You're telling me that Li Vrak the most cold-hearted and ruthless adventurer in the entire kingdom took you in as his student?"

"…Well, yeah."

"…And you're still alive?"

"Barely." Arin laughed awkwardly.

Mia just stared in pure disbelief. "…Unbelievable."

Mia still couldn't wrap her head around it. "I mean… Li Vrak? Training you? That's like… asking a dragon to raise a bunny."

Arin laughed nervously. "Yeah, that's kinda what it feels like sometimes." Mia's curiosity burned even brighter. "Wait—can I… watch you train with him?"

Arin blinked. "Huh?"

"I-I mean," Mia stumbled over her words, "it's just… I still remember how he saved us that day. I kinda wanna see what kind of training he puts you through. Plus…" she gave him a teasing grin, "I wanna see if you're actually any good or if you're just bluffing."

Arin puffed his chest proudly. "Oh, you're gonna regret doubting me. Fine! Come tomorrow morning I'll show you how strong I've gotten!"

Mia smirked. "I'm holding you to that, tough guy." "Yeah, yeah. Just don't freak out when you see how brutal my training is…" Arin mumbled under his breath.

The next morning arrived. Arin showed up early to the same training spot, Mia trailing behind him. Her excitement was clear she was finally going to see the Li Vrak in action.

Arin spotted Li standing in the usual spot, arms crossed, waiting. The moment Li's eyes flicked to Mia, his expression twisted slightly. "Why is she here?" 

Arin scratched his head nervously. "Uh… she just wanted to watch. Is that okay?" Li clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't argue. "Tch. Do whatever you want."

Arin grinned. "Alright! Time to show you what I got, Mia!" Li's cold voice immediately cut through his excitement. "300 push-ups. Now."

Arin gulped. "…Yes, sir." Mia watched with wide eyes as Arin dropped to the ground and began his push-ups. Li didn't go easy on him. And she could already tell this was going to be brutal.

As Arin was on his fiftieth push-up, his arms already starting to tremble, Li walked off without a word. Mia tilted her head, confused. "W-Where's he going?"

Seconds later, Li returned carrying a boulder large enough to make most grown men struggle. Without hesitation, he slammed it onto Arin's back, forcing his body to the ground.

"Gah—!" Arin gasped, his arms buckling under the sudden weight. "W-What the hell, Master?!" Li's expression remained deadpan. "I said a hundred. No breaks. Keep going."

"B-But this—!"

"Shut up and push."

Arin gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he pushed against the crushing weight. Mia took a step forward, concern etched on her face. "H-Hey, isn't this a bit too—"

"Stay out of it." Li's voice was colder than ice. "If he can't handle this, he has no business calling himself my disciple."

"Rrgh…!" Arin's face twisted in pain, his arms trembling violently. Every push-up felt like it was tearing his muscles apart, but he refused to stop. "I… can do this…!"

Li watched silently. He's adapting again… Even under extreme pressure, his body is adjusting.

As Arin finally pushed the boulder off his back and completed his hundredth push-up, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Sweat drenched his entire body, his arms felt like jelly, and his vision blurred from exhaustion. "H-Hah… hah… I… I did it…" Arin wheezed, his chest rapidly rising and falling.

Li stared at him for a moment, his usual cold and unreadable expression present. Arin braced himself, expecting Li to immediately bark another order like usual. 

But instead —

"…Fifteen-minute break." Arin's brain froze. "…H-Huh?" He blinked, his breath still ragged. "D-Did you just… say break?"

"You deaf now?" Li said flatly, already walking to sit under a nearby tree. "Fifteen minutes. Don't pass out." 

Arin laid there, utterly flabbergasted. "W-What the hell… My Master… just gave me a break…?*" He blinked rapidly as if making sure he wasn't dreaming. "Is this real life?"

"Shut up," Li grumbled from under the tree. "I can take it back, you know."

"N-No! I'll take it! I'll take it!" Arin frantically waved his hand, his body still sprawled on the ground, but his face was lit up with disbelief. "Man… Master must be in a good mood today…"

As Arin lay on the ground, savoring his unexpected break, he turned his head slightly and froze.

Li, without a word, had stood up and moved a bit farther from them. Without any warm-up or hesitation, he began his own training. But it was nothing like what Arin was doing. It was far, far worse. 

Li first picked up a massive boulder — easily five times the size of the one he placed on Arin's back earlier. Without showing any struggle, he hoisted it onto his shoulder with one hand and began doing squats. His pace was brutal, fast, and unwavering, his expression dead cold as if it meant nothing to him.

What the hell… is that boulder even humanly possible to lift?! Arin's jaw dropped. "W-What the hell…" 

But it didn't stop there. After a few minutes of squatting, Li casually tossed the boulder aside like it was paperweight and immediately dropped down for push-ups. But unlike Arin, he used only one hand. And not just that on his back was another boulder he grabbed mid-air after tossing the first one aside.

"…What the actual…" Arin could barely believe his eyes. Li's push-ups were aggressive, fast, and ruthless. Each rep caused the ground to slightly crack beneath him, and his breathing was perfectly controlled. No strain, no hesitation — just pure, monstrous strength on full display. 

Mia, also watching from the sidelines, covered her mouth in shock. "I-Is he even human…?" she whispered. "That's insane…" But it didn't stop there. Once Li finished the push-ups, he immediately leapt to his feet, grabbed the boulder again, and began sprinting across the clearing with the boulder still on his shoulder. His speed was unreal, kicking up dust behind him with each step.

"T-There's no way…" Arin's throat went dry. "That training is insane…" Minutes passed, and Li showed no signs of slowing down. He finally stopped after a brutal round of sprints and immediately began doing handstand push-ups against a thick tree. His arms moved like pistons, and his face remained dead cold as if it was just a morning jog. 

"H-He's not even taking a break…" Mia muttered in disbelief. "That… that's probably why he's so strong…" Arin gulped. "N-No kidding…"

After what felt like an hour of nonstop self-inflicted hell, Li finally stopped. Without any sign of exhaustion, he simply walked back, grabbed his water, and took a sip as if none of that grueling training ever happened. His face still void of emotion.

Arin, on the other hand, felt like he was staring at something inhuman. "H-How do you even…" 

Li suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning his head toward Arin. "Break's over."

Arin, still sprawled on the ground, groaned. "Ugh… are we doing more push-ups again—" 

"No." Li interrupted coldly. "Get up. I'm teaching you close-quarter combat now."

Arin's eyes widened. "W-Wait, what? Really?!"

"Yes. You have the strength to fight, but your form is garbage." Li said bluntly, walking toward him. "I'm fixing that today." Arin scrambled to his feet, feeling a surge of excitement. "Alright! S-So what do we do first—"

Without warning, Li's fist shot out aiming straight for Arin's face. "W-WAIT—" Arin barely dodged, stumbling backward. "WHAT THE HELL, MASTER?!" "In a real fight, no one warns you." Li said coldly, cracking his knuckles. "If you can't react instantly, you're dead."

"Y-You could've killed me just now!" Arin stammered.

"I pulled my punch." Li stepped forward again. "Now, shut up and defend yourself. You're not leaving here until you land a clean hit on me."

"A-A CLEAN HIT?!" Arin's soul practically left his body. "BUT YOU'RE YOU—"

Li didn't wait. He lunged.

Mia sat quietly on a nearby rock, her eyes glued to the intense training unfolding before her. She expected Arin to get completely destroyed by Li after all, everyone in the village knew how monstrous Li Vrak was.

But to her surprise… Arin was holding his ground. "Hah… Hah…" Arin panted heavily, his feet shifting back and forth as he barely dodged Li's brutal strikes. His body screamed at him to collapse, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. "D-Damn it… you're not holding back at all…"

"Why would I?" Li stated coldly, his stance low and predatory. "The world won't hold back against you, so why should I?" 

Mia watched in awe as Li's body moved with terrifying precision. Every attack, every step, every movement it was like watching a master predator toy with its prey. Yet, despite that… Arin was keeping up, barely but surely.

"Good. You're improving." Li said suddenly, his tone as harsh as ever. "But your footing is sloppy. Fix it."

"H-Huh?" Arin blinked, and in that split second of distraction — 

BAM!

Li's fist stopped inches from Arin's face, the sheer force of the wind brushing against his skin. Arin froze. "If I didn't pull that hit, you'd be unconscious." Li said bluntly. "I told you already don't get distracted."

"S-Sorry…" Arin stammered, sweat dripping from his face. "Watch my feet." Li suddenly said, and Arin blinked in confusion. "What?"

"My feet, idiot. Look how I shift my weight." 

Arin quickly glanced down, and for the first time, he noticed it. The subtle, almost unnoticeable shift of Li's stance. Every time he moved, his center of gravity was perfectly balanced, allowing him to unleash devastating power without wasting energy. 

"That's how you stay in control during close combat." Li explained, his tone firm but teaching. "Your feet are your foundation. If they're unsteady, you're as good as dead. Now… copy me." 

Mia's eyes widened. "H-He's… teaching him for real…" she whispered in disbelief. 

Arin gulped and quickly adjusted his footing to match Li's. "L-Like this—" 

"No. You're too tense." Li walked behind him and slammed his foot against the back of Arin's leg, almost causing him to fall. "Lower your stance. Relax your shoulders. Distribute your weight evenly."

"H-Hey, that hurts!" Arin complained. "So will dying in battle. Shut up and fix it." 

Arin grit his teeth but did as told. After a few agonizing moments, Li finally spoke. "Better. Now, defend again." 

Arin barely had time to react as Li exploded toward him once more — but this time… "Tch—!" Arin managed to block. "I-I'm getting it!"

"Don't get cocky." Li snapped and delivered a powerful low kick. Arin barely dodged, but his footing wobbled. "Your stance is still weak." Mia watched, completely stunned. "He's… really teaching him everything he knows…"

But what truly caught her attention was how, despite Li's brutal training, she could see the subtle change in his demeanor. His voice, while harsh, had a layer of instruction. His movements, while dangerous, were measured. He wanted Arin to learn. 

And deep down… he wanted Arin to survive.

"Again." Li commanded coldly. "This time, hit me."

"Y-Yes, Master!" Arin gritted his teeth and charged forward once more.