Chapter 84: Difference

Warden put on eight weight bags on his limbs, each weighing 10kgs, and sparred with the students. With all the restrictions on, Warden almost made the spars fun. Unfortunately, the students paid more attention to the numbers of their attributes than their actual abilities to give him any challenge when they were alone.

So soon it became Warden versus the four students with the highest attribute. They finally managed to push him after sparring a couple of times and understanding his abilities.

The class came to an end, and with all the students weak on their feet, their butts rested on the ground. Warden only had to give 2 points to one student with an archer class who managed to complete the challenge.

"I'm disappointed," Warden said coldly. "This is the third arcane academy. I thought their standards would be higher. But look at the sorry faces of your lots. Do you think you'll graduate at this rate? Even if some of you do, you'll be second and third rate at best."

Even though he had practised with them, he wasn't feeling that tired, probably because of his high points in recovery. None of them seemed to have that attribute. Then again, he still felt he would do better than any of them if he did not have the attribute, just because his mindset was well above theirs.

The students were only beginning to come to terms with the superior qualities, not to mention they were unable to use the full potential of their attributes. Well, with all things considered, this was rather a good beginning. These were merely kids after all.

"The class is dismissed," Warden said, though none of them stood up to leave. They'd want to, but lacked the will and strength to do it.

Although all of his attribute points are almost actualized, Warden felt the need to push them to the very limit. He had raised his strength quickly, a process that tends to leave dormant power for most rankers. For example, if one raised their strength by 10 points in a day, they wouldn't be able to exert all of that power soon.

The book suggested that the most promising candidates would manage 5,6 points, while the rest of the groups would stay at around two points.

To actualize all those 10 stat points, a ranker needs to push their body to the limits through exercise, exhaustion, rinse, and repeat. A week though such rituals were enough to actualize that, though it tends to be harder the higher your attribute went.

Although gaining attributes was easy, just by killing beasts, the formula still boils down to hard work. Talent is good and all, but the one who puts in the most effort will get the highest benefit.

Warden didn't fear work; he feared the absence of it. He had already figured out that once he had been at a higher rank, perhaps gold or close to it. But whatever happened almost ripped out all the essences from his body, leaving him only in the copper rank. Even his title seemed to be ripped from his being. His memories wiped, and left in the foreign land to wander on with only one hint of his past.

The best he could do was to advance his strength first with all the resources available to him.

"I would remain in the gymnasium for some more time to train," Warden told the students, "The class is dismissed, but you are open to training as well."

Of course, most of the students were exhausted beyond measure. They had barely started their academic year, and nobody had pushed them so hard. Warden found a couple of them with better health who might stay for another session. Dirk and Arsala were in that group, while the rest of the class was ready to run out of the gymnasium the moment they stopped feeling lethargic.

Warden couldn't help but laugh as they left. Having completed ten laps with the students, he decided to go for some mixed exercise. Sparring with the students wouldn't bring in any rewards for him to enhance his fighting capabilities.

[Strength: 82.7] | Efficiency: +45%

[Dexterity: 75] | Efficiency: +25%

[Mind: 25.4] | Efficiency: —

[Spirit: 79.4] | Efficiency: +85%

[Recovery: 100] | Efficiency: +90%

Abilities:

[Imbuing: Iron 13%] [Regeneration: Iron - ??%] [Indomitable Will: Spacial]

[Left Hand of Calamity: > 10%] [Void Space: Grade-9]

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The attributes were low as he remembered, barely putting him in the league him as an Iron ranker. Only the destructive power of void energy and the benefit of efficiency percentage put him in high order.

The newly credited title [Idomitable] gave him 5% efficiency in all the attributes and a passive skill [Idomitable Will], which couldn't seem to be levelled up or upgraded. Still, it was great to have it.

Perhaps I should do some dungeon dive, Warden thought on feeling down. He considered the reason for his depression was probably related to getting nowhere with the healer. Jason might be able to help me with that.

Apprently, there was no rule saying a combat instructor couldn't be a guildman, though the priority should always be the academy.

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Mass Release 5/5

Finally...