DAY 2 –Training Begins
"Good
morning, students. At 7 a.m., we will begin with the Iron Pillar training,"
Veiron announced.
Meanwhile,
Lewosito thought to himself, Today I must endure this pain. I have to finish
this training as soon as possible. The best thing is, my fire will heal my
forearm immediately. Atharv is still angry with me from last night… huh.
"Students,"
Veiron said firmly, "your training starts now."
Lewosito
braced himself and began. He balanced his weight on his forearms, his body
trembling.
"Aaaaaa…
the pain is insane!" he screamed inside his head. I have to do this today. I
can't stop.
Sweat
rolled down his face, his body shaking from the torture. Then— shhk! Three
sharp granite stones dug deep into his forearms.
"Aaaaaaa!
No! I can't handle this!" Lewosito cried, collapsing onto the ground.
He
ripped the granite pieces out of his skin. Blood dripped, his forearms
trembling with agony. Yet, within moments, the Fire Fist began healing his
wounds.
Veiron's
voice cut sharply. "Lewosito, you fell. You'll start again. Your time is
reset."
From
behind, a cheerful voice came.
"Ohayo
gozaimasu (Good morning)!" It was Alex.
"Good
morning," Veiron replied.
Alex
smirked, "Ohayo gozaimasu, Rikaza."
Sam
Rikaza narrowed her eyes. "I don't have time for your good morning wishes."
Alex
chuckled. "Of course, you don't—your attitude takes up all your schedule."
Sam
clicked her tongue. "Tch… idiot. Don't think you're smart."
Ignoring
her, Alex pointed at the students. "The three kids in the fourth line—you fell.
Do it again."
Lewosito
gasped for breath. My hands… they hurt so much. But I can't quit. This pain is
temporary. If I do this every day, my forearms will stop feeling pain. They'll
become stronger.
Sweat
burned his eyes. This training, this sweat, this agony—it's mental torture.
All
around him, students were collapsing.
"Aaaaa!
My forearm! I can't do this anymore!" one cried.
Alex
pointed coldly, "You there, third line. You fell. Reset your time."
The
boy sobbed, shaking as he thought, I can't do this… it's too hard.
Meanwhile,
Lyron grinned, sweat dripping down his face.
"Interesting…
interesting. This training is fun. I love this pain."
Students
stared in shock.
"He's
so strong," a girl whispered.
"Yeah,
enduring like that… amazing," another murmured.
"Hey,
you two!" Sam barked. "Reset your time!"
"How
many minutes left?" Alex asked.
"Two
minutes," Veiron replied. "Then today's Iron Pillar training is over."
Lewosito's
arms went numb. The pain disappeared for a moment. My arms are numb… I can't
feel the pain. But it'll only last a few seconds.
7:28
a.m.
Just
20 more minutes… I can endure this… Lewosito thought. But suddenly, his balance
broke. He fell again.
"What?
No way! Why does this happen every time?!" he shouted.
"Lewosito,
your time is reset. Start again," Sam ordered coldly.
Lewosito
clenched his teeth. This training is torture.
Finally,
Veiron spoke. "Thirty minutes are over. Go eat breakfast. After 35 minutes'
rest, start running—150 laps around the ground."
"Yes,
Guruji. I understand," Lyron said calmly.
Lewosito
glanced at him. How can he keep going without falling? Does it not hurt him?
Blood dripped down his forearms, staining the ground red. Screams of pain
echoed from other students.
---
10:30
a.m.
Lewosito
had eaten and now sat quietly. He stared at his forearms. Why is my healing so
slow? The bleeding didn't stopped, and… my fire isn't working like before.
From
afar, Sameer watched silently.
Lewosito
walked downstairs. Suddenly— bump! Sameer shouldered into him.
"Oi,
idiot! Can't you see while walking? I was coming from the front. You ruined my
new shirt!" Sameer barked.
Lewosito
exhaled. "Sorry. I was lost in thought."
Sameer
grabbed his collar. "Just sorry? Clean my shirt, now."
"Lewosito!"
Kavishni's voice rang. She rushed over. "Why are you holding his collar,
Sameer?"
Lewosito
quickly said, "It's nothing. I'm fine now… and thank you so much for cooking
last night."
Kavishni
blushed. "N-no need to thank me." She turned to him. "Come, your next training
is starting."
Sameer
glared. Tonight, I'll smash him in front of her and his friends… grrr.
---
1:30
p.m.
Lewosito
had run 40 laps so far, gasping heavily. This ground is too big. More laps
left…
Nearby,
Lyron kept running nonstop, barely slowing.
Lewosito
groaned, How is he doing this? His throat burned. I need water.
Suddenly—
Gero gero gero! A boy vomited violently.
Lewosito
saw it and fell to his knees, vomiting too. "Cough! Cough! Gero!"
Jash
rushed, handing him water. "Are you okay, Lewosito?"
Panting,
Lewosito said, "Yes… but this ground… it's so big. Yesterday I barely finished
150 laps. I don't know if I can again."
"I
know it's hard," Jash said firmly. "But you must. After one month, you're going
to Himachal for Manali training. That'll be even harder."
Lewosito's
eyes widened. "Huh… really?"
"Yes.
And don't forget—you were born with the Fire Fist. Lord Shiva himself chose
you. Don't give up now."
Lewosito
stared at his hand, fire faintly glowing. Maybe it's true. Maybe Lord Shiva
really chose me. Then… I must endure.
Jash
nodded. "This path is the hardest. But it will make you stronger."
Lewosito
clenched his fists and stood tall. I can do it! No matter what. This hardest
path will make me strong—physically and mentally. I will endure! He broke into
a sprint once again.
7:20
p.m. – Evening
Crows
cawed in the distance. "Caw… caw… caw…"
Lewosito,
Jash, Natasha, Kavishni, and Atharv were returning from the Fisttonoi
Headquarters.
Jash
broke the silence. "Atharv, you didn't bring the car today?"
Atharv
replied, "Yes, I gave my car for servicing."
"What
car do you have?" Jash asked.
"A
Mercedes-Benz S-Class," Atharv said casually.
Both
Jash and Natasha froze. "Huh?! Really?" Natasha's eyes lit up. "Oh, I love that
car!"
Lewosito
smirked. "Honestly, the first time, I thought Atharv begged and bought this car
when we were coming to Mumbai."
Jash,
Natasha, and Kavishni burst out laughing.
"Shut
up, you idiot!" Atharv snapped. "Because of you, my Japanese vase broke—it was
my favorite!"
"I
already said sorry!" Lewosito protested.
"Guys,
guys, cool down. Don't fight," Jash said, trying to settle them. "Atharv,
chill. By the way, are you two going by train, right?"
"No,
we're going by cab. He'll meet us at Churchgate Station," Atharv explained.
Jash
asked, "So… your forearm and legs, are they hurting?"
Lewosito
exhaled. "Yeah, my legs are hurting a lot… but my forearm healed. Though… it
was healing slower than usual."
Atharv
groaned, his voice almost crying. "Yes, both my legs and forearms hurt so much!
My forearm's swollen, full of bruises—it really hurts!"
Suddenly—
whoosh!
Jash's
eyes widened. "Careful, Lewosito! Watch your back!"
Aquaonoi
Fist, Level 2: Oceanic Silent Punch!
BAM!
Lewosito
had no time to defend himself. He was blasted far away, blood flying from his
mouth.
The
one who struck him was Sameer.
"What
are you doing, Sameer?!" Jash shouted.
Sameer
smirked coldly. "I just want to test him. Let's see if he can defeat me or
not."
"Don't
talk nonsense, just stop here!" Natasha yelled.
Kavishni
ran straight to Lewosito. "Are you okay?!" she cried. Atharv rushed beside her.
Lewosito
coughed, blood dripping from his lips.
Kavishni
glared at Sameer. "What are you doing, idiot?! Stop! He got hurt!"
"Shut
up! Urusai na, onna!" Sameer spat.
Lewosito
staggered up. "I don't want to fight you, Sameer. Just go."
"Hah!
Why? Are you scared?" Sameer mocked.
Lewosito
clicked his tongue. "Tch…"
"Are
you insane? Stop this, otherwise—" Jash tried to intervene.
"I
know what I'm doing! Don't interfere. This is between me and Lewosito," Sameer
cut him off.
Lewosito's
eyes narrowed. "…Okay. Then come."
Kavishni
gasped. "Huh?!"
Atharv:
"Huh?!"
Natasha:
"Huh?!"
Jash:
"What?!"
Sameer
charged instantly.
Aquaonoi
Fist, Level 2: Vortex Waves Attack!
CRASH!
Lewosito
blocked with his forearm, but the impact still sent him flying.
"Ghhaa!
His punch is so strong… this is going to be tough. I'll have to read his
movements," Lewosito thought.
Sameer
unleashed a barrage of strikes. Wham! Wham! Wham!
Lewosito
struggled, blocking each one with his arms.
"Tch…
he's seeing through my every punch…" Sameer thought. His eyes narrowed. "Then
I'll crush him with this!"
Aquaonoi
Fist, Level 3: Water Force Smack!
SMASH!
Lewosito's
neck took the full blow. He stumbled, coughing blood.
Jash
clenched his fists. I have to stop Sameer… but how?!
Sameer
grabbed Lewosito's collar, pulling him close.
Aquaonoi
Fist, Level 3: Finger Lock Squeeze!
BAM!
BAM! BAM! He struck repeatedly, slamming Lewosito mercilessly.
"LEWOSITO!!"
Jash shouted.
Natasha,
Atharv, and Kavishni froze in shock. "Huh?!"
Lewosito's
body was flung back again. This time, the damage was worse—he was coughing
blood continuously, his body trembling.
Sameer
sneered. "What happened, poor boy? Going to cry on Kavishni's arm, coward?"
"Enough,
Sameer!" Jash barked.
"Not
now!" Sameer snapped.
Lewosito
wiped the blood from his mouth. His eyes glowed with fire.
"…You've
made me angry."
"Huh?"
Sameer scoffed.
In
a blink— FWOOOSH!
Lewosito
vanished.
"What—?!
Too fast?! But how— I can't defend!" Sameer panicked.
Lewosito
reappeared right in front of him, fist blazing.
"Fire
Fist!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The
flames roared, shaking the air itself.
---
TO BE CONTINUED:- 5.0
THE PATH OF STRENGTHS