Sparring was essential in developing boxing skills.
No matter how much one practiced techniques and ingrained them into their body, if they couldn’t apply them in a real match, they would be utterly useless.
If the goal was merely to improve physical fitness, there was no need for it.
However, if one aimed to become stronger through boxing, sparring was a path that could not be avoided.
‘That was true for me as well.’
Ian was no different.
Of course, there was the difference that he had been somewhat forcibly led to the ring by the gym owner.
At ten in the morning, when the gym was empty, Ian would spend his time there.
After teaching techniques, the owner would often finish with a brief sparring session.
‘It hurt like hell. I thought I could at least throw a one-two combo. Not a chance.’
His first experience with sparring still lingered as the worst memory.
In the chaotic situation, he couldn’t make sense of what was happening, and just when he tried to gather his thoughts, a punch would fly at his chin.
There was no feedback to be had.
He hadn’t even managed to throw a punch before being thoroughly beaten, so what was there to analyze?
After getting thoroughly thrashed, he would sit on the ring, sip water from a paper cup, crumple the cup, and toss it into the trash.
That had been Ian’s routine at the gym.
How long had it been? Once, the owner had said something like this.
“Hey, Hyun-Woo, why aren’t you throwing any punches? Shouldn’t you at least try to dodge?”
It was a comment about why he was only taking hits. At that time, Ian had interpreted it as a form of high-level teasing.
Even though he had paid for the training, he felt that rather than comfort, he was being mocked!
‘But that wasn’t it. He was genuinely curious.’
However, when Ian realized that the owner’s words differed from his interpretation, he finally recognized his shortcomings.
“I don’t know what to do because it’s so chaotic… Just when I try to throw a punch, you throw one at me instead.”
“Are the weaving and steps I taught you just for decoration?”
“No, I know them. But my body doesn’t cooperate! What can I do?”
He knew what techniques to use in various situations, but his body wouldn’t follow through.
The solution the owner provided was straightforward.
“Then just rush in without thinking….”
“Excuse me? You want me to not think?”
Don’t think. Don’t try to calculate—just throw your punches and think later.
He questioned this somewhat incomprehensible advice.
“Won’t I just get hit more that way? I’m not a master at infighting.”
“I told you earlier. Where did you put those weaving and steps?”
“I know them! But my body just won’t follow! Just rushing in won’t make my body move on its own…”
“That’s not true. That’s what we practiced for.”
He would move on its own.
The owner, who said that, chuckled and lightly tapped Ian’s arm with his glove.
“Hey, why do you think I have you jump rope and do shadow boxing in front of the mirror as soon as you arrive?”
“To learn the techniques, right?”
“Do you think that’s the main purpose? It’s not, you know? If it were your first time, I’d understand, but at your level, a few rounds of shadow boxing should suffice.”
For two minutes, he would practice mixing the techniques he had learned into combinations, take a one-minute break, and then repeat the combinations again.
The relentless cycle of repetitive training wasn’t solely for mastering techniques.
“It’s to make it second nature. Even if your head doesn’t process it. When a dangerous moment comes, you need to be able to execute those techniques reflexively.”
Responding to unexpected attacks with speed and calculation was a level only elite athletes could achieve. It was beyond what an ordinary person could dream of.
That was why it was crucial to repeat techniques until they became ingrained in the body.
“Don’t forget, Hyun-Woo. Once the body learns something, it won’t easily forget. Even if you enter carelessly, when danger strikes, the techniques you’ve learned will come out automatically.”
It was a sweet lie meant to encourage.
That phrase lingered in Ian’s mind.
Swoosh!
“Keruk!”
Slash!
“Craaaack!”
As enemies fell before his swiftly swinging sword, a smile began to bloom on Ian’s face.
‘The body doesn’t forget what it’s learned… That saying was true.’
In truth, enduring for twelve hours while wielding a sword wasn’t easy.
After all, he had never used a sword before.
It was one thing to forget past experiences.
Now, having lost all memories, it was inevitable that he lacked confidence in his swordsmanship.
‘Rather than making a fool of myself with skills that won’t work, I genuinely contemplated just giving up and using my fists.’
It was heartbreaking to give up the bonus effects of Rebrion and the Holy attribute.
Yet, given that a prolonged battle was necessary, he seriously considered the sacrifice of using his fists.
But how much time had passed while swinging the sword?
‘Thinking back, it was such a foolish dilemma.’
He was almost incredulous that he had wasted mental energy on a problem that was entirely unnecessary.
Even if he had forgotten the memories of using the sword, the skills he had honed through countless regressions were still firmly embedded in his body.
Clang! Slash!
‘Don’t think. Don’t overthink—just let your body move.’
In a trance-like state, he swung the sword.
Should he slice horizontally or dive into the enemy ranks for a rotational strike to sweep away their upper bodies?
There was no need to entertain such trivial and useless thoughts.
His experienced body would display the optimal movements according to the situation.
At that moment, what Ian had to do was simple.
‘I mustn’t disrupt the flow. That’s the most important thing.’
Not to think a step ahead but to follow along with the flow as it guided him.
Enduring the waves for twelve hours meant doing everything possible to relieve his fatigue.
That was all he needed to keep in mind.
“What’s stopping me?”
With determination, Ian took his stance.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
Kuwagagaga!
A storm of swords made from blades of light erupted.
Horizontal, vertical, spinning—it didn’t matter. All Ian needed now was the optimal path to slice through his enemies.
He would simply follow where his body led him.
Chwaajak!
“Craaaack!”
The storm that blossomed amidst the enemies began to expand as if it would swallow everything, ripping and tearing apart anything it touched, creating a bloody mess.
The rain of blood obscured his vision, but he didn’t care.
His grip on the hilt felt like it was about to burst, but he gritted his teeth.
Even as his joints screamed in protest, begging him to stop, he swung again, using his rapid regeneration to fight through the pain.
The sticky blood clinging to his clothes and the horrific screams tormented his mind, yet he endured with indomitable will.
Twelve hours. It was a life made for Ariel Volkanov, a life marinated in despair without a glimmer of hope.
‘I must endure.’
He stubbornly held on.
Why was he putting himself through this? He felt an overwhelming sense of injustice.
With each passing moment, the thought of giving up crossed his mind.
Yet, no matter how hopeless things seemed, he would never concede.
Why? It was simple.
‘It had been a life filled with regrets… A life forged through hardship and adversity.’
If he closed his eyes without witnessing even a single flower bloom from that pain, wouldn’t it be unbearable?
That was the reason.
“Just a little more…. Just a bit more.”
Even as he approached ten hours of swinging the sword, Ian refused to give up.
The word “give up” was not permitted in Ian’s life, and he had no intention of embracing it.
‘It’s been 11 hours.’
His sense of touch had long since disappeared. Despite using rapid regeneration countless times, before he could recover, cracks would reappear in his wounds, causing them to burst open again.
‘11 hours and 30 minutes.’
He realized he couldn’t afford the luxury of recovery, so he decided to let go of that desire.
Instead, he began to fill that void with longing.
He just needed to hold on a little longer. He thought that if he could last for another thirty minutes, he would be able to lay the foundation for the flower to bloom.
‘11 hours and 50 minutes.’
His vision had begun to blur, and he could no longer distinguish the enemies clearly. But that didn’t matter. Even if his sword was blind, it was sharp enough to slice through the enemies.
Sometimes, his body would falter under the strain. But each time it did, he would use Lo Aias to hold on, allowing him to catch his breath.
How long had he been mindlessly swinging the sword?
Kagak!
As the enemies’ cries and the sounds of flesh being severed began to fade, Ian planted Rebrion into the ground and surveyed his surroundings.
“Hah…”
The dusty, dry floor was now soaked in blood, rising to knee height, and the dismembered bodies floated like pieces of debris.
It was a brutal sight that made him feel nauseous, yet…
For some reason, Ian found himself smiling contentedly.
“It’s over….”
The trial that felt like an eternity had come to an end. Wasn’t that enough?
As he steadied his staggering body and took a deep breath, he noticed something.
[Emergency Quest ‘Lure’ completed. As a reward, the mock battles have been changed to special mock battles!]
The status window appeared with a clear chime.
– Ian! Are you okay? It must be tough… Do you want a hug?
He saw Neltalion approaching cautiously, ready to support him.
He wanted to tell her not to get too close because he was covered in filthy blood, but Ian had no strength left to say so.
It might seem ridiculous to receive help from a child of about six years old, but he reluctantly decided to accept her assistance.
– Hic… Ian….
“Don’t cry… I’m okay.”
At that moment, as he leaned on her while comforting her, he heard a sudden voice.
Saaak!
“What… what’s going on? No, this isn’t the time! Brother!”
“Senior Ian!”
His younger sister and her companions emerged as the bunker’s duration ended.
“Ah… ahhh…”
Seeing his sister unable to approach due to the horrific scene before her, Ian calmly spoke.
“…It’s okay now.”
His vision was still hazy, but at that moment, he could see clearly.
“It’s all over.”
“Ahhh….”
Seeing his sister cry, Ian rose to his feet once more.
