Chapter 5 — Sunrise Discipline
The sun wasn't even up.
The sky was still navy blue, the air cold enough to make most people crawl back into bed. But I was already in the courtyard doing push-ups with the weighted gauntlets strapped to my arms.
Each rep felt like a hammer smashing my shoulders.
Good.
That meant growth.
Retsu sat nearby, sipping tea like an ancient sage who woke up early out of spite.
"Your breathing is uneven," he said without looking at me.
"That's because these things weigh a ton," I replied mid–push-up.
"Excuses are for the weak."
"You're the one who gave me these!"
"I said excuses, not complaints. Complaining is healthy."
"…Old man logic again."
He smiled behind the teacup.
Steps echoed on the stone walkway.
Helmeppo arrived.
Hair messier than usual. Eyes half-open. Moving like someone dragged him out of sleep with a rope.
He stopped a meter away and pointed at me with a trembling finger.
"Why… why are you already training…? It's… it's nighttime…"
"It's morning," I said without stopping the push-ups.
"No it's not!"
Retsu spoke calmly, "Boy, if you complain now, you won't survive even one hour."
Helmeppo startled. "Y-you're training me too?!"
"I'm supervising. Damian is training you."
Retsu's smile thinned.
"But if you anger me, then I will train you."
Helmeppo paled instantly.
Good. Fear was a fantastic motivator.
I stood up, sweat rolling down my face, muscles burning beautifully.
"Alright," I said, cracking my neck. "Warm-up time."
Helmeppo blinked. "That wasn't the warm-up?!"
"That was my warm-up," I corrected. "You? You start with basic endurance."
He sagged in relief.
Then I pointed to a stack of sandbags.
"Carry one around the courtyard for thirty minutes."
His relief died.
"THOSE WEIGH MORE THAN I DO!"
"Then it's perfect."
Retsu nodded approvingly.
"Yes. If you want to stop being pathetic, you must suffer."
Helmeppo turned to him with watery eyes.
"A-aren't teachers supposed to encourage their students?"
Retsu took a slow sip of tea.
"I am encouraging you."
"How?!"
"You haven't quit yet."
Helmeppo froze.
He realized Retsu was right.
And for the first time ever, he swallowed his complaints and squared his shoulders.
"Fine… I'll carry it."
He lifted the sandbag.
Or tried to.
It didn't budge.
I stepped behind him, placed one hand on it, and lifted it slightly.
"Use your legs, not your back," I said.
He braced himself, pushed harder—
And finally got it up, wobbling dangerously.
His face turned red.
His pride turned purple.
His legs shook.
But he walked.
Retsu chuckled.
"Your brother has potential after all."
"I know," I said. "He's annoying, cowardly, and dramatic—"
"HEY!"
"—but he doesn't quit immediately. That's enough to build a warrior."
Helmeppo stumbled past us, wheezing.
"You're… both demons…"
Retsu corrected him.
"No. I trained your brother. He became a demon. You are a merely frightened child."
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
We ignored him.
Weighted Speed Drills
When Helmeppo shuffled out of sight, I started my second training phase.
Retsu tapped his staff on the ground.
"Time for speed."
"With these weights?"
He smirked. "Yes. If you want to become the strongest, you must master moving under pressure."
He pointed to the far end of the courtyard.
"Run. Five laps. Full speed."
"Easy."
I dashed forward—
—and immediately nearly face-planted.
The added weight dragged at my arms, throwing off my balance. My steps felt uneven. My body felt heavier than my previous life's Monday morning soul.
But I refused to slow down.
The first lap felt like running underwater.
By the third, my lungs burned.
By the fifth, my legs trembled.
Retsu walked beside me casually as I finished, like he wasn't even winded.
"This," he said, "is the difference between strength and mastery. Anyone can get stronger. But only those who push past their limits become monsters."
I panted.
"You really want me to be a monster, huh?"
"No. You want that."
He tapped my forehead.
"And I am simply helping."
Fair enough.
Helmeppo's First Real Lesson
Helmeppo stumbled back into the courtyard, drenched in sweat, clothes soaked, hair plastered against his forehead.
He looked like a melted candle.
The sandbag was still somehow in his hands.
Retsu raised his brows.
"I expected you to quit."
Helmeppo collapsed onto the ground.
"I wanted to! Every second! But Damian would laugh at me if I did!"
I shrugged. "True."
"That's not encouraging!"
Retsu stood over him.
"Very well. Since you finished the task, I will train you."
Helmeppo perked up.
"You will?!"
"Yes."
Retsu raised his staff—
—and tapped Helmeppo lightly on the forehead.
Helmeppo dropped like a sack of potatoes.
"OWWWW!"
"That was a test," Retsu said calmly. "You failed."
"What kind of test was THAT?!"
"A test of awareness."
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
"Then improve."
I sat down beside Helmeppo.
"Adjust your stance. Keep your center of gravity low. And stop crying, damn it."
"I'm NOT crying! This is sweat!"
"On your cheeks?"
"…Yes."
Retsu tapped the ground.
"Again, boy. Stand."
Helmeppo groaned but pushed himself up.
He wasn't good.
He wasn't fast.
He wasn't naturally talented.
But he stood.
And in that moment, I felt something weirdly rare for my brother:
Pride.
Retsu whispered beside me.
"He may not become a warrior like you. But he may become a man."
I smirked.
"I'll make sure he does."
Nightfall Resolve
Hours later, training finally ended.
Helmeppo limped toward the mansion like a soldier returning from war.
Retsu left quietly, humming an old tune.
I lay on the grass, staring at the night sky.
Every day I felt myself climb higher.
Every day I felt my body evolving.
Every day this world felt more promising.
I flexed my arms, feeling the weight still dragging them down.
Good.
If the world wanted to challenge me—
I wanted to be ready to break it.
Tomorrow?
More weight.
More pain.
More growth.
The path to becoming the strongest man in the world wasn't easy.
But damn…
It was fun.