A few hours earlier.
Ethan rolled his shoulders with a quiet exhale as he stepped into the underground training room.
The place looked like something out of a sci-fi movie—smooth metallic walls, glowing panels, and soft blue lights lining the ceiling. The air even had a faint electric hum to it.
Holographic screens floated in the air above the central console, listing simulation types, difficulty levels, and combat stats.
He gave a small grin.
"Alright. Let's see how much I've let myself slip."
Despite what people might think, Ethan wasn't new to combat. He'd been trained since childhood in self-defense, tactical drills, and firearm safety.
With a family like his, being helpless was never an option. His sisters didn't exactly go easy on him either.
Still, it had been a while since he'd trained seriously. And now that he had awakened his Incubus bloodline, his body felt different—stronger, faster, sharper. But also unfamiliar.
He needed to test it.
He tapped the console and scrolled through the available options.
[BLACK-IRON]
[BRONZE]
[SILVER]
[GOLD]
[PLATINUM]
[DIAMOND]
He hovered over Silver for a second, then shook his head.
"I'm not stupid."
He selected Bronze—one rank above the lowest. Although it is higher than his rank, he is confident that he should not get beaten that badly, as he has been training with the black iron bot while training with Liliana and others.
"Start combat simulation: Bronze tier."
A soft beep echoed.
From the far wall, five humanoid training bots rose from the ground. Their bodies were made of dark metal, about human-sized, with red sensor lights for eyes. Each carried a short sword and a round shield.
The bots spread out as they approached, forming a loose semicircle around him.
Ethan took a deep breath and settled into a stance. His feet moved into place automatically. Muscle memory.
"Let's go."
The bots surged forward.
Ethan dodged the first blade cleanly and slipped past the second, his body moving faster than expected. He could feel the strength in his legs, the tension in his arms—it was all new but solid.
He managed to land a hit on one bot's shoulder. The metal let out a sharp clang, but the bot didn't even flinch.
The next moment, another bot caught him in the ribs with its shield.
Ethan grunted, staggering back two steps.
'Tch. Overextended.'
He blocked the next sword swing with his forearm and pivoted, trying to follow up, but a third bot struck him clean in the side.
He hit the floor with a thud.
"Simulation failed," the robotic voice announced.
Ethan groaned, rubbing his ribs as he sat up.
"Alright. Not terrible… but not great either."
He stood and cracked his neck, already feeling the bruises forming.
"Again."
The bots reset. This time, Ethan didn't rush. He let them come to him, trying to read their patterns.
The first few attacks, he managed to block or dodge. His timing was still rough, but his instincts were starting to kick in.
Still, by the end of the second round, he was back on the ground, breathing hard.
"Simulation failed."
His shirt was damp now. His hands ached. But he could feel it—he was adjusting.
Third round. Fourth. Fifth.
Each time, he lasted longer. His dodges became tighter, he countered faster, and he wasn't just swinging wildly anymore—he was picking his moments.
The bots still overwhelmed him in the end, but the gap was shrinking.
By the seventh round, he managed to knock one of them down with a clean sweep kick, followed by a punch to the core.
It wasn't a win.
But it felt like one.
His heart was pounding as he sat on the floor again, trying to catch his breath.
'Damn… I'm out of practice.'
Even with his body getting stronger, even with years of training behind him, this new strength came with its own learning curve.
His muscles were sore. His joints ached. But underneath the pain, something else was starting to build.
Focus.
By the tenth round, he was dodging hits that had landed clean earlier. He was starting to move like he used to—except faster.
Stronger.
He didn't need to relearn everything. He just needed to adapt.
The simulation ended again with him on one knee, gasping.
"Simulation failed."
Ethan didn't even curse this time. He just nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Alright… getting better."
His body felt like jelly now. The kind of full-body ache that would hit even harder in the morning.
His ribs were tender, his arms bruised, and his legs were burning from all the movement.
But he didn't regret it.
He stood slowly, stretching his arms.
"Terminal, cancel simulation."
A soft chime responded. "Confirmed."
The bots returned to their storage slots, vanishing back into the floor.
Ethan stood there for a moment, hands on his hips, breathing slow and steady.
He had made progress. Not enough, but enough to know he was on the right path.
And just as he was thinking about a shower and maybe passing out somewhere, the system's voice popped back in.
[Hey, Master, why don't you buy a recovery potion from the store?]
He blinked. "That's an option?"
Ding!
System Notification:
Recovery Potion (Consumable)
Restores physical and mental stamina.
Price: 50 Incubus Coins
Ethan frowned. "I've only got a hundred and fifteen points…"
"So I can buy two."
[Exactly! And trust me, Master, these are the real deal. Not the cheap stuff you'd find on discount. You're basically buying time—and time is power.]
He gave a tired chuckle. "That sounded way too rehearsed."
[Thank you, I practice.]
He sighed. "Alright. Give me two."
[Excellent choice! Remember—you're not just buying a potion. You're investing in greatness! For five minutes. Maybe six, depending on your metabolism.]
A glass vial appeared in the air, glowing faintly with a golden swirl. Ethan grabbed it and popped the cap.
The liquid smelled like honey and lemon. He downed it in one gulp.
Almost instantly, warmth flooded his body. The soreness faded. His limbs felt light again, and his mind cleared.
He let out a breath.