Chapter 55

Alone Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 54

The training in body hardening was hell itself.

[Eleven! Twelve!]

“Gasp!”

Thud, thud.

His muscles tore after 20 push-ups.

[Twenty-five! Twenty-six!]

“Gasp…!”

Snap! Thud, thud!

His tendons ruptured at 30.

[Thirty-eight! Thirty-nine…!]

Crack!

His arm broke at 40.

“Gah…!”

[Phew! You’ve become so weak! Is this all your will is worth? Show me your determination!]

But Ammut had no intention of showing any mercy.

Instead, he mockingly laughed at Shuhao’s weakened body.

The extreme Spartan training.

Many of his disciples had been unable to endure his training and had fallen out.

But this pyramid was a special body hardening training ground prepared by the Great Mage Candiaru for Ammut.

[Even if your bones break, the training will continue!]

Whoosh!

As soon as Ammut finished speaking, white bandages flew from all directions, wrapping around Shuhao’s arms and legs.

Snap, snap!

The broken bones were forcibly aligned, causing immense pain.

[Now! Can you continue the training? There are sixty more to go!]

It seemed that these bandages were of the same type used to wrap the mummies here.

The magical bandages, which could make even a decomposed corpse move, surprisingly allowed Shuhao’s broken limbs to move.

However, since they did not heal the injuries, the pain remained.

In fact, the pain was even greater as the broken arm was forced to move.

“Gasp!”

Sweat and blood poured from Shuhao’s entire body as he clenched his teeth, and Ammut sneered.

[Why? Do you regret it now? It’s too late. Great power comes with great pain! You have two paths: enjoy the pain or die in it.]

But Shuhao had one more path.

‘This is how I’ll get out of this, right?’

Shuhao forced a smile and opened the shop window.

Click.

[‘Item: Low-grade Healing Potion’ purchased.]

Plop.

Shuhao used telekinesis to grab the healing potion and drink it.

Gulp, gulp.

The healing potion seeped into his tattered body.

Then, the broken bones reconnected, and the torn muscles began to regenerate.

[Phew?]

Ammut’s eyes widened at the sight.

Shuhao, looking more composed, met his gaze and asked,

“So, how many more are left?”

[...]

Ammut suddenly recalled.

How many disciples had he pushed to their deaths in an attempt to create another Tarnak?

In the end, they all died, screaming in pain.

But this one was different.

Maybe this time?

Ammut bared his teeth and laughed sinisterly.

[Hehe! You have an interesting ability! This means I can increase the intensity without worry!]

“No, wait.”

That’s not right!

Grrr!

“Gasp!”

The pressure became even heavier, pressing down on Shuhao.

[You have a long way to go! Continue the training!]

Shuhao repeated the cycle of breaking his arm and drinking potions several times before finally finishing the push-ups.

But the next exercise, sit-ups, awaited him.

[One! Two! Two! Two! Oh! Your form is off!]

No, really.

Are sit-ups this dangerous?

At first, his abs felt like they were about to tear, and eventually, his back snapped.

“Gasp…!”

This is really painful.

Unbearably painful.

Whoosh!

Then, bandages flew and wrapped around Shuhao’s back.

Again, while he could move, the pain did not subside.

Shuhao, using his superhuman mental strength to endure the pain, opened the shop window.

Click.

[‘Item: Low-grade Healing Potion’ purchased.]

He forced his spine to reconnect with the healing potion and started the exercise again.

[Hehe! Good, good!]

Ammut seemed very pleased with Shuhao, who could be fixed and used again even if he broke.

After his back broke two more times, the 100 sit-ups were finally over, and Shuhao’s entire body was wrapped in bandages.

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, a realization hit him.

“Wait. Are all the mummies here like this?!”

[Hehe! You got it! The mummies in this pyramid are all your incompetent predecessors who left before you!]

“No….”

This gym is really ruthless.

[If you don’t want to die and become a mummy, then don’t die and endure until the end! There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel! This time, it’s squats! One! Two! Two!]

This time, the hellish squats mercilessly tore his thigh muscles.

Crack!

With the added gravitational field, both of his legs broke simultaneously.

Then, bandages flew and wrapped around his legs.

“Shop…”

Click.

[‘Item: Low-grade Healing Potion’ purchased…]

Shuhao was now drinking healing potions like an IV while exercising.

And then, finally.

Ding!

[‘Skill: Toughness’ level has increased!]

[Physical Defense +40% → +60%]

“...”

No, is this even possible?

Just doing some bodyweight exercises and his toughness increased.

Of course, the increase in the toughness skill didn’t make him stronger, so the difficulty remained the same.

However, the pain was reduced when he was injured.

Considering that this hellish training was a daily quest, it would be a significant long-term benefit.

But why, why are there tears…?

[Good! This time, it’s running! Run at full speed!]

“...”

Running 10km was certainly not easy, especially under the immense gravitational field, where just standing was a struggle.

The moment his legs weakened while running, his ankles sprained.

The immense pressure crushed his ankles, tearing the ligaments.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

The sound of ligaments tearing one by one was terrifying.

And as if waiting for this moment, bandages flew and wrapped around his ankles.

‘These damn bandages, really!’

Shuhao, now a proper mummy, burned with determination.

If he was going to run anyway, wouldn’t it be better to run faster?

Then this hellish exercise would end sooner!

“Gray, possess!”

[The priest’s body is possessed by ‘Pet: Gray’.]

Whoosh!

Shuhao’s head turned silver, and a wild aura spread through his body.

[‘Skill: Wind of the Grassland’ activated.]

[Movement speed temporarily increased by 30%.]

[Attack speed temporarily increased by 30%.]

As Shuhao’s speed increased, Ammut burst into a satisfied laugh.

[Good, good! This disciple has many tricks! Go on, use all your means and methods to run and run!]

“This is ridiculous. What kind of training is this? It’s torture.”

Eshil, watching from a distance, was speechless.

But Ber’s reaction was different.

[Hehe. I miss it.]

Ber was lost in nostalgic memories.

[Looking back, Lord also went through such training. Of course, the difficulty was a bit different.]

“Mr. Seong Jin-woo also went through such training? Oh, now I remember…!”

Eshil, recalling old memories, realized something.

Once, when she was a guide, she followed Seong Jin-woo.

He did do some light exercise occasionally.

“...?”

Suddenly, Eshil’s expression hardened.

But, wasn’t it really light back then?

Just push-ups?

Just sit-ups?

“...?”

[...]

Suddenly, Eshil and Ber’s eyes met in the air.

Without a word, they nodded in unison.

‘Mr. Seong Jin-woo was eating us alive.’

‘Lord…’

This must be kept a secret for Shuhao’s mental health.

Nod.

Thus, a silent agreement was made between them.

* * *

Ding!

[‘Daily Quest: Body Hardening Training’ completed.]

Push-ups 100 times: Completed (100/100)

Sit-ups 100 times: Completed (100/100)

Squats 100 times: Completed (100/100)

Running 10km: Completed (10/10)

*Note: Must carry Ammut.

“Gah, it’s over…!”

Shuhao, completely wrapped in bandages, fell flat on the ground.

Ammut, watching him, muttered to himself.

[Oh, this really works?]

“What, what?”

[No, hehe. Of course it works. No one has succeeded except the Lord of Body Hardening. Really, I mean it.]

“...”

Ammut subtly avoided Shuhao’s piercing gaze.

Ding!

Just then, a message arrived, and Shuhao turned his attention away from Ammut.

[Completion rewards have arrived.]

[Would you like to check the rewards?] (Y/N)

[The following rewards are available.]

Reward 1: Status recovery

Reward 2: +3 ability points

Reward 3: 1 random box

Since it was the same daily quest, the rewards were the same as when he killed 100 goblins.

But why does it feel so unfair?

“All accepted.”

Whoosh!

Reward 1: Status recovery.

Shuhao, who was about to faint, instantly recovered all his conditions.

Shuhao, who had been lying flat, jumped up with a light body, and Ammut’s eyes gleamed with interest.

[Oh. You’re really tough. Very good.]

Shuhao poured all the ability points into strength.

To endure this daily quest in the future, strength was essential.

And the moment of truth, opening the random box.

Ding!

[‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’ obtained.]

“Damn…! Who’s messing with me!”

Cursing reflexively.

But having experienced it firsthand, the effect of the bandages was excellent.

[‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’]

Acquisition difficulty: C-rank

Type: Consumable

A magical bandage created by the Great Mage Candiaru.

Helps force the body to move even in a near-death state.

(If sold in the shop, it will be added to the purchase list.)

“...”

Shuhao sold the bandage to the shop without a word.

Click.

[‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’ added to the purchase list.]

[You can now purchase ‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’ from the shop.]

While the bandage itself did not heal wounds, it worked very well with potions.

Most importantly, the bandage automatically wrapped around the body, making it convenient.

But why does it feel so frustrating?

As Shuhao regained his senses, Ammut returned to his crocodile giant form and spoke.

“Hehe. Good job. Today’s training ends here. Now, use that skill again.”

“What? The punch?”

“Yes. That clumsy body hardening skill.”

“...?”

Confused, Shuhao channeled the Overlord’s power into his fist.

[‘Skill: Punch’ activated.]

At that moment.

Whoosh!

The black gauntlet wrapped around Shuhao’s fist extended past his elbow to his shoulder.

Ding!

[‘Skill: Punch’ upgrades to ‘Skill: Body Hardening’.]