[Check Out My P4treon For +30 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][p4treon.com/echotales]
===
Yukumo Back Mountain, Hunter Training School.
"Roo-ha-ha-ha! Rookies, move it! Don't stop! If you can't even run when encountering a monster in the wild, you will die!"
Perched atop a giant rock, a mustachioed middle-aged man wearing a Black Belt set of armor yelled down at the students running laps below, his arms crossed and a strange laugh on his face.
Even though there were only three people here in total, and only one was officially his student, he still showed immense passion.
"Huff… puff… huff… puff…"
Iwata, a Hunter-in-training for two and a half days, felt his throat burning and his legs as soft as noodles. If he hadn't seen a figure still running ahead of him, fueling his competitive spirit, he probably would have collapsed already.
Ethan's condition was even worse than Iwata's. After all, Iwata wasn't running with several hundred kilograms of weight strapped to his back.
He struggled to regulate his breathing, squeezing every last bit of energy from his body. The Charge Blade, which normally felt only slightly heavy, now felt as massive as a mountain, almost crushing him.
"Keep running! Imagine a Rathalos is chasing you right now! If you stop, you die!"
Slowly, the instructor's voice seemed to drift in from the clouds, sounding so unreal. Ethan only moved his feet mechanically, his head growing dizzy. But it was in this hazy state that a warmth seemed to surge out of his body, thread by thread, filling his cells that were nearing their limit, which then devoured the energy ravenously.
The instructor, who was constantly monitoring the state of the two below, was about to call a halt, but when he saw a faint red light flickering around Ethan, he let out a soft "Eh?" of surprise.
"Hmm, to touch upon 'Chi' so quickly? What a gifted little guy…"
After watching Ethan for a moment longer and noting Iwata's state, the instructor felt a touch of regret but had to call an end to the physical training.
He leaped down from the giant rock, covered the few steps to the collapsed Iwata, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up. He then pulled out a bottle of semi-transparent, pale blue liquid and poured it down his throat.
"Don't sit down immediately! Walk slowly for one lap!"
He then caught up with Ethan ahead, performing the same routine.
Ethan, who was still in a daze, suddenly felt a cool liquid rush into his mouth. After swallowing, it rapidly transformed into a surging warm current that poured into his limbs and bones, quickly reviving him from his exhaustion. While he wasn't fully recovered, he was at least halfway there, once again steadily carrying the weight of the Bone Glaive.
"This is…?"
Opening his eyes, he saw a rough, unshaven old face staring intently at him. Ethan instinctively took a step back.
"Mega Nutrients."
Seeing Ethan regain his alertness, the instructor nodded, but then his mouth twisted downward.
"This isn't provided for free, it's from my private stock. The fee is 200z."
Ho-How much?
After experiencing the miraculous effect of Mega Nutrients in quickly replenishing stamina, Ethan immediately began to consider making it a necessity for future hunts. However, the instructor's next sentence shattered his fantasy.
What the hell! His single Jaggi quest only earned him 300z. That amount of money wasn't even enough for two bottles of Mega Nutrients!
Not to mention that he had spent nearly 150z yesterday buying seasonings and quality ingredients for the feast, meaning his current wallet wasn't even enough to cover the debt!
"Ahem, it's not that I am being stingy. It's just that money is tight. You wouldn't want to see an instructor who works hard to teach you guys end up on the street, unable to afford food, would you?"
Noticing the change in Ethan's expression, the instructor suddenly looked nervous.
"Uh, please give me two days' grace. I will go accept a quest and earn the money immediately!"
Ethan's mouth twitched. Didn't they say a Hunter's life was prosperous? How was he, a Hunter, already taking on quests just to make ends meet?
The instructor relaxed slightly, nodding.
"Mm-hmm, no rush. Just don't forget… And you! Iwata! Remember to bring money to training tomorrow!"
"Got it…"
Iwata responded weakly, still looking somewhat listless despite drinking a bottle of Mega Nutrients.
Before, although he was tired during physical training, he never felt this drained. It was definitely because of Ethan! He was forcing the pace so hard! If it weren't for that bottle of Mega Nutrients, Iwata feared he might have just passed out.
The instructor let out a breath and clapped his hands. "That's it for today's training. Dismissed!"
"Goodbye, Instructor!" x2
Iwata approached Ethan, slinging his arm over his shoulder to lessen the burden on his legs.
"I am absolutely not training with you again! I feel like I've been burned out!"
Ethan, however, clenched his fist, checking his condition. He said with a touch of uncertainty:
"This running training seems to be more effective than I imagined. I have a feeling that my physical stamina will jump up a level after today."
This method of gently pushing the body to its limit and then breaking through was relatively mild. At least he didn't have to worry about accidentally smashing the axe onto himself like when practicing the Charge Blade, which prevented him from training when he was too tired… It seems there's a reason why running training has endured. He would never laugh at Shrek Academy for running for tens of thousands of years again!
"Hey, wait up, both of you! I almost forgot something important!"
The instructor's thoughts, which had drifted to the fantasy of his money pouch getting a little fuller, were suddenly pulled back to reality.
"?"
"What is it?"
He watched Ethan and Iwata turn and walk back, clearing his throat.
"Ethan, did you notice a special warmth surging through your body during the training just now?"
Ethan thought back carefully. Yes, it seems, possibly, maybe?
What's going on?
"Pay more attention to that feeling in the future. It is indispensable for becoming an excellent Hunter."
Seeing the confused looks on both their faces, the instructor thought for a moment and explained:
"According to the scholars, it should be called 'Life Energy,' but I prefer to call it 'Chi'."
Seeing they were still bewildered, he added another sentence:
"By mobilizing their own Life Energy, Hunters can make their moves more powerful. Although its manifestation is different for Hunters using different weapons, the essence is the same."
"For example, the Great Sword's charge, the Long Sword's Spirit Gauge, the Dual Blades' Demon Mode… all of these are achieved by mobilizing Life Energy in conjunction with the weapon."
Iwata was still somewhat lost, but Ethan suddenly understood.
Oh~ Why didn't you just say that? It's just the unique mechanics of each weapon! Why use such mystical terminology as 'Life Energy'? I thought the Monster Hunter world had turned into a fantasy setting!
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 35 on my p4treon, go check it out
Gain access to exclusive early chapters, and so much more. This is your chance to get a ton of exclusive content while supporting my work.
p4treon.com/echotales
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Power Stones == Bonus Chapter
every three 5-star reviews == Bonus Chapter