Chapter 25: Training Grounds of the Dawn (1)

"Come back in about three days, and the potions will all be ready."

"Alright, I'll come back then."

After leaving the Wyrm Lizard's leather with the tailor and commissioning the Wizard’s Tower to make him some potions, Kai stepped back onto the street.

"Now I just need to find a suitable training ground."

The need for swordsmanship was urgent, especially with the sword that Solid would soon make for him. Being a Cleric, he couldn't learn skills at the Warrior's Tower, so his only option was to look for a swordsmanship training ground.

Kai then researched the list of training grounds operating in Glendale.

"Harrison Training Grounds, Alford Training Grounds, and... Training Grounds of the Dawn?"

Training grounds were places where one could pay and learn swordsmanship. Typically, they were frequently visited by people under level 10, but it was a place with which Kai, a Cleric, had no previous association.

Ha, I never thought I'd be learning swordsmanship at a training ground after reaching level 50.

But it was an investment for his future. Moreover, he felt uneasy having only Holy Explosion as his attack skill. If it hadn't been for the summoning of ten undead during the PVP with the Crimson Sunset guild, he would have been in real danger. Therefore, he needed to enhance his own battle abilities in preparation for such times.

First, I should compare the entrance fees and decide where to learn.

Kai's eyes widened to the point as if they would pop out of his head as he casually looked up the prices of the local training grounds.

[Harrison Training Grounds - Entrance fee 15 gold.]

[Alford Training Grounds - Entrance fee 12 gold.]

[Training Grounds of the Dawn - Entrance fee under 5 gold. Exact price to be determined after consultation.]

"What, why is it so expensive?" Kai was surprised by the higher-than-expected prices and involuntarily exclaimed.

Did it always cost so much to learn swordsmanship skills?

Of course, he was aware that the skills taught varied from one training ground to another. Surely, the swordsmanship taught at Harrison Training Grounds would be of the highest grade.

But still... over 10 gold for a supplementary weapon skill seems too extra.

Kai's gaze eventually settled on the remaining option. It had an unbelievably low price compared to the other halls! To be honest, he didn't even feel a hint of expectation.

You get what you pay for.

Kai remembered regretting buying earphones from a dollar store that broke within two hours, learning that the price often reflects the quality.

Ugh, well, I should at least consult about the price.

With a heavy sigh, Kai went on his way with sluggish, helpless steps.

***

Kai looked at the building in front of him with a bewildered expression.

"No, this isn't right.... This isn't a building."

What defines a building? It was a place where people lived, worked, or at least stored things.

This place isn't fit for living or working. It doesn’t even look like it could guarantee the safety of stored items....

It was a nearly collapsing ruin. The only thing intact was a sign that read 'Training Grounds of the Dawn.'

Creak.

"Oh."

Kai corrected himself. Even the sign, the only thing that seemed intact, had tilted as if its screws had come loose.

At this point, Kai couldn't help but seriously contemplate,

Do I really have to learn here?

As he debated whether to leave or stay, the door of the ruin flung open.

"Uh oh, why did this fall off again?"

The door was opened by a grumpy-looking old man.

"Huh?" The old man, after spotting Kai in front of the training ground, scanned him up and down with an annoyed look. "Wait, this aura is...?"

The old man's expression changed instantly and he rushed over and grabbed Kai's hand.

"Wha, what are you doing?"

"Just stay still for a moment." The old man, pressing his finger against the artery on Kai's wrist, exclaimed in admiration, "...Finally, the talent I've been waiting for has come!"

"Excuse me?"

"Come in. I'll teach you swordsmanship."

"No, I was just thinking of considering learning the sword for a bit...."

"What? Why think!" the old man shouted.

As Kai flinched, the old man, realizing his mistake, softened his expression and gently stroked the back of Kai's hand.

"Haha, I apologize. You might not know this, but this place is a historic training ground established by Patrick of the Radiance himself to pass on his legacy. If you can pass Patrick's test, you might inherit his vast legacy."

"Patrick of the Radiance? He’s...."

Kai recalled a story he had heard from the Chief Bunther. Patrick was a legendary Paladin mentioned in the Church of Solaris!

Kai's eyes sparkled.

Could this old man's words be true? If so, this could be a huge opportunity.... But why hasn't this been made public yet?

Glendale was a fairly large city. The monsters around it varied in level, so there were quite many players that started here.

Something seems fishy....

As Kai looked skeptical, passing women shouted from across the street.

"Oh my, that old man is scamming again. That was hundreds of years ago."

"That grandpa claims every person wandering around the training ground is the awaited talent! Ridiculous."

"Hey, young man! You should go to Harrison Training Grounds near the eastern wall! My kid learned there too!"

"That headmaster is handsome and in good shape. Hehehe."

"No one has received Sir Patrick's legacy or whatever from Training Grounds of the Dawn in hundreds of years!"

As the old man cleared his throat and glared at the women, they quickly left the scene. "Ahem, ignore such baseless slander.... Come join. I'll teach you at a good price."

"Ummm...."

There were countless training grounds in

MID Online

. Naturally, each training ground pursued different sword styles, and the swordsmanship skills taught varied as well. In short, what and where to learn was entirely the player's choice!

No one inherited the legacy for hundreds of years, that means... there might still be something hidden.

After a moment of contemplation, Kai made his decision.

Alright, since the entrance fee here is the cheapest, I'll consider it a learning experience.

Kai firmly grasped the old man's hand. "If you insist so much, I'll give it a try. It's a special favor I'm doing for you."

"Right! You've made a good choice!" The old man, lifting his arms in joy and smiling brightly, extended his palm. "Considering your sincerity, I won't charge much. 4 gold for a week's course. Payment upfront."

"Just to confirm, does this week consist of seven days?"

"Do you have weeks made up of thirty days where you come from?

"...."

Of course, that wasn’t possible.

Kai's body trembled. He hadn't expected the fee mentioned as 5 gold to be for a week, and not a month.

"But, you said you wouldn't charge much considering my sincerity just now..."

"Originally, it would be 5 gold. I'm giving you a discount, making it 4 gold."

"...."

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Kai took out the gold from his inventory and handed it over.

Well, it's still much cheaper than other training grounds.

After taking the money, Huey, the old man, smiled and said, "Follow me."

"Okay...."

Kai resolved to learn negotiation skills the next time an opportunity came.

***

In

MID Online

, there were three main ways to properly learn skills. The first was learning basic skills at each class's tower.

The skills learned are average in power, but they're cheap and quick to acquire.

Moreover, with every 10 levels, higher skills became available, so most adventurers learned their skills this way. However, if one was of a different class, they couldn't use the class tower.

And the second method is acquiring skills through skill books.

Skill books randomly dropped from dungeon bosses or raid monsters, and their advantage was that anyone could learn rare and powerful skills not typically available through normal means just by opening the book. However, due to high demand and low supply, they were expensive.

"

Hoo... hah...

and the last method is...." Kai muttered with clenched teeth.

It was getting skills directly passed on from NPCs. This was the last method.

Skills learned this way are generally more powerful than those learned at the class tower, and compared to skill books, they're much cheaper, making it a frequently used method by players... at least that’s what I heard.

However, this method came with one fatal flaw.

"We’re not done yet. Finish before the sun sets."

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Hnngh.

Kai's face, as red as a ripe persimmon, trembled as if it would burst at any moment.

Huey, looking at him, scolded him in a tone as if he was pathetic, “Boy, you can't even do a thousand push-ups. I’m so shocked I’m at a loss for words."

Difficulty was the only drawback and the reason why many players avoided this final method.

Ugh... I heard other training grounds had very systematic methods.

But there was only one system that existed here, and it was that the master's word was the law.

Hnngh.

Initially, when Kai entered the training grounds, he was quite satisfied with the clean and spacious main arena.

Let's properly try and learn something here.

Just as he was about to set his mind to it, something prevented him.

"Start with one thousand push-ups. Try that first."

Huey's first instruction began.

After three hours had passed, Kai still wasn’t allowed to do anything but push-ups. Of course, he hadn't thought it would be so bad when he first heard it.

Thanks to my Benevolence stat, my Strength stat is quite high, and if anything, I can use the Solaris Cleric buff. This is easier than I thought.

This was a very, very big misconception.

Ding!

[Training at the Training Grounds of the Dawn has begun.]

[During this period, all stats have been fixed to 10.]

[During this period, the use of all skills is banned.]

Strength at 10 was the average muscle strength of an adult male in reality, and doing a thousand push-ups with that strength?

...I'm doomed.

Kai's face fell as if something had gone terribly wrong.