“Here, you go. The sword is finished,” Meeting the NPC in the forest, the developer remarked as he held the blacksmith’s new creation. “This’ll likely help her.”
“So this was what you meant by getting the blacksmith to help,” The NPC replied, moments before receiving the sword. “The weight of this will definitely be useful in her training.”
“Good, I’m looking forward to fruitful results.”
“...I have a question though, if you don’t mind me asking,” The NPC added.
“Ask away,” The developer replied.
“Why didn’t you just give Lilith the sword yourself?”
“You know how they get when they see me,” The developer answered with a smug smirk. “I ain’t there for their excessive hostility.”
“Excessive, huh?” The NPC muttered under his breath.
“You got something to say?” The developer questioned.
“No, I’ll go give Lilith the blade now,” The NPC replied, quickly changing the subject of the conversation.
“...You do that. Make sure Lilith puts that blade to full use,” The developer said. “She likely doesn’t have a lot of time now…considering Ada is getting extremely restless now.”
“Alright,” The NPC agreed as they went their separate ways without looking back. Lilith has already become plenty strong. What does he expect of her at this point?
“Wait…don’t tell me…” The NPC muttered as he walked. “He doesn’t expect ‘that’ of her, right?”
- * * *
The NPC had returned to Lilith’s lodgings and was greeted by the expectant Lilith, fully refreshed and ready to continue her training.
“Oh, you’re back,” Getting up from the outdoor chair she sat and waited on, Lilith remarked. “Wait, is that a sword in your hand?”
“Yup, and it’ll be yours to train with?” The NPC replied. “This will carry you to another level.”
“Oh? I like the sound of that!” Lilith said as she happily approached the NPC. “Lemme try it out–Woah!!!”
Almost immediately after the NPC relinquished his grip for her, the sword plummeted to the ground with a thunderous boom, still in Lilith’s hand.
“W-What!? I-It’s heavier than I thought!” Strain dripped from her voice as Lilith struggled to lift it. “What the hell is this made out of!?”
“The blacksmith made that specifically for you. Not only does it weigh a little more than fifty tons, but it has a special effect where the body of the holder experiences ten times earth’s gravity while holding it,” The NPC explained. “So your body is experiencing five hundred tons right now.”
“Ugh, that…seems quite…intense,” Mustering her strength, Lilith lifted the sword. “This…is bearable.”
“Good. Now try swinging it around,” The NPC suggested. “Just like you do with your katana.”
“A-Alright,” Lilith obliged as she raised the sword into a combat stance, audibly grunting in the process. She swung with all her might, tearing through the air and stirring up violent wind pressure. The sheer weight of the sword caused Lilith to wobble, even tilting slightly after she swung. “Ugh…so heavy.”
Despite the struggles she obviously experienced, Lilith made an effort to draw the sword across the air once more. She repeated that motion again…and again, and again, and again. Lilith had roused both the garments and hair of herself and the developer, along with nearby floral life of the forest, with the sheer wind generated by her swings.
“Huff! Ugh!” Lilith gasped as the sword fell from her hand, the lactic acid which ate away at her stamina deprived her from continuing her swings. “How can…a sword be so heavy…!?”
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“Well, I imagine you have some idea of what you’ll do next,” The NPC replied. “You’ll train like hell for the next few days with that sword to increase your stamina.”
“O-Oh…”
“You’ll spend hours with that sword, whether it is practicing your swordsmanship, or pushing your physical stats,” The NPC explained. “After you receive a break, you’ll spend hours practicing your breathing. It’ll be difficult and even excruciating, but you could operate at your body’s peak capabilities as a blessed human if you fully meet the results.”
“...I’m ready when you are!”
- * * *
With the passing of several days, Lilith had undergone training far more intense than she’s ever experienced in her life. She had started her mornings with the torturous sword training, not with the katana granted as a tool for her blessing, but the weighted, gravity altering longsword she received.
The NPC sparred with her, disallowing any pauses in her slashes and cuts, no matter how much fatigue plagued Lilith. Not only was she forced to spend hours sparring with the NPC using that weapon, Lilith was also required to travel miles throughout the forest while she had the sword sheathed to her side.
Fatigue had torn through her at this point, and her run was filled with stumbles and falls. By the time she had finished, at around midday, Lilith was a sweaty mess.
The break she received was not that helpful, as all Lilith could do was throw herself under the chilling and soothing wind of her air conditioner, laying there with her sore, fatigued muscles.
Oddly enough, the second half of her daily schedule may have been more tame compared to the mornings. Although having to abuse the breathing technique to enhance her strikes while sparring with the NPC was utterly excruciating, especially with her already lowered stamina and fatigued muscles, Lilith truly saw this as the better of the two halves.
The NPC gave leeway when her stamina constantly gave out while utilizing the breathing technique, allowing her to catch her breath occasionally. Well, catching her breath would be an understatement, as Lilith had been reduced to a gasping, sweaty mess.
This brutal, extensive training was not something Lilith had to go through for one day, but that had been her new way of living as the days passed. The only true rest she received was the moonlight shining above the land, signaling her nightly slumber.
Lilith was not the only one whose life had changed up in the past few days, as a certain addicted criminal continued to wander the streets.
“Tsk, the damn discomfort is back again,” Zack muttered as he strolled in the early morning. “I’m all out of cash again…I’m gonna have to steal again.”
- * * *
“Madam Ada, our units have located Zack Isaac, and are on standby waiting for your orders,” In the midst of an intelligence room, with its fancy holographic screens and cameras which illuminated the dark room, a military official had spoken to Ada. “Unfortunately, he seems to be roaming around a residential zone, so this may be tricky.”
“Heh, I bet the crackhead was searching for places to rob, so he could fuel that pathetic addiction of his. Even when he probably knows I’m out to murder him, he still can’t help himself, hehe,” Ada remarked as she gazed at the holographic screens which showed Zack strolling in the neighbourhood as the military official said. “Give the super soldiers the word to eliminate Zack. Just worry about any civilian casualties later.”
“As you command, madam,” The military agent responded before carrying what seemed to be a radio up to her mouth. “Go ahead and engage.”
Pleased to hear the command, Ada gazed at the screen with a delighted smile.
- * * *
Lilith had roused herself from the bed, preparing herself for yet another day of training. She did all the standard rituals a human commit to after awaking - cleaning her teeth, taking a shower, and changing from her sleepwear to an amethyst tracksuit.
It never took her that long to end up around the dining table, having breakfast with her friend Olivia.
“Soooo…how are you feeling…Lilith? Y-You’ve been at this…for over a week now,” Olivia questioned with concern as they snacked. “You’re barely…able to get much rest ever since. T-That can’t…be healthy.”
“Fufu, I understand how you feel, but I’m doing quite fine actually. At the end of each day, the doctor restores my body for me,” Lilith replied. “I become stronger in a shorter amount of time when the doctor repairs my muscles!”
“...Well, I’m glad y-you’re seeing this in a positive light,” Olivia replied. “...If only you never had to go through this in the first place, though.”
“...It’s too late for any regrets now,” Lilith muttered with a cold expression. “I already casted that aside…”
“I see…”
“Breaking news! The advent of peace draws near,” On the television which played in the living room as the two women ate, the reporter remarked. “The S-Class criminal Zack Isaac may finally pay for his crimes.”
“Huh? What did I just hear?” Lilith questioned as they shifted their attention with confusion. “Did she just say Zack?”
- * * *
Zack had minded his own business, roaming the streets to pick a property to plunder purely to fulfil his addiction. He was all alone as he strolled in the residential area…that was the impression he was under.
“...Huh? What the hell?” Zack remarked as his attention turned to the loud, constant tapping like footsteps which only got louder and more intense. Zack’s eyebrows scrunched as his curiosity and confusion peaked.
His curiosity was fulfilled with the sight of several super soldiers approaching his vicinity. There were no more than half a dozen of them.
“H-Huh? How the hell?” Zack muttered as he gazed at them with shock.
“Officer Dave of the anti-blessed malefactor corps, here,” The super soldier ahead of his comrades remarked as he addressed Zack. “Zack Isaac, prepare to be eliminated.”
Just when I thought my life couldn’t get more shit than this… Zack internally remarked. I just can’t get any reprieve…