As Atticus emerged from the forest, he observed some of his fellow trainees already in the water. He remained cautious, knowing that there could be traps hidden beneath the surface. His instincts told him to wait and see, and he didn't have to wait long.
A boy at the front of the group suddenly experienced a shocking encounter. A powerful burst of water erupted from below, propelling the boy high into the air before sending him crashing back into the forest area with terrified screams echoing in his wake.
Atticus couldn't help but think, 'Damn, aren't they taking this too far?'
After observing the situation for a while, Atticus decided to enter the pool. He walked to the water's edge but came to an abrupt halt. 'Fuck! I don't know how to swim!' he thought with frustration.
In his past life, he had never learned to swim. His mother had always been busy with work, and he never had the opportunity. Even in this new life, his focus had been solely on becoming stronger, and he hadn't had time for recreational activities like swimming.
'With my intelligence, I should be able to learn easily,' he reasoned. Atticus turned his gaze to a boy who was about to jump into the pool.
He focused intently on the boy's movements, observing how he smoothly moved his hands through the water with purposeful strokes. He paid attention to how the boy's fingers extended and caught the water's resistance and how his legs kicked in a controlled and powerful manner, propelling him forward with each stroke.
Atticus noticed how the boy turned his head to the side to breathe, perfectly timed with his arm movements, maintaining a seamless flow in his swimming technique.
Atticus jumped into the water and seamlessly mirrored the movements he had observed earlier. He swam effortlessly, even surpassing the speed of the trainee he had been watching.
"I love this intellegence stats!" Atticus marveled at the benefits of his intelligence stat, appreciating how it made learning new skills almost second nature to him. He passed the trainee with ease, his swimming speed surpassing that of professional athletes on Earth.
Despite the weight he was carrying and the absence of mana, Atticus, an awakened intermediate+ ten-year-old, proved to be incredibly powerful. He continued swimming at an astonishing pace.
However, after a few minutes, Atticus began to feel the strain. The weights he was wearing were making the task more challenging.
He decided to reduce his speed momentarily to catch his breath. But then, his heightened perception detected something subtle around him.
It was an almost imperceptible change, but it couldn't escape Atticus's notice. He reacted instantly, utilizing his newly acquired skill to swim rapidly to his left just as a powerful burst of water jet erupted from below, its intensity alarming.
'Close call! That was even crazier in person,' Atticus thought, a slight chill running down his spine. After a few seconds, he continued moving forward.
At the forefront of the group, Nate and Lucas were swimming. Nate's competitive spirit refused to let him lose, despite his body's silent protest. Without the passive recovery provided by mana, the trainees enduring this intense training session were all succumbing to body aches and soreness, but Nate pushed through.
Lucas, on the other hand, was not as physically inclined as his friend. He excelled more in intellectual pursuits, and the physical exertion was taking a toll on him. "Nate! Slow down, let's catch our breath!" he pleaded.
"We have to keep going, Lucas! We'll rest after we get across!" Nate responded, swimming even faster, much to Lucas's dismay.
Just as Lucas was about to protest further, the water around him started to move. A miniature whirlwind formed around him, creating a swirling motion that disoriented him and disrupted his swimming rhythm.
"Nate!" Lucas shouted, but it was too late. He was propelled toward a spot where a burst of water jet shot from below, carrying him with it. "Nate! This is all your faulttttttt"
Nate turned and saw Lucas being shot back toward the forest. "I'll make sure I win, Lucas!" he shouted determinedly and continued swimming.
As more and more trainees fell victim to the traps and were sent back, Aurora struggled at the back of the group. Her exhaustion was evident as she paddled through the water with trembling hands.
The intense training session she had endured the previous night, coupled with her lack of sleep, had left her physically drained. For some reason, her father had personally trained her yesterday, pushing her to her limits.
"I have to keep moving," she muttered, her determination shining through her weary state. Despite her body's protests and aching muscles, she refused to give up.
Suddenly, Aurora's heightened senses detected the water around her beginning to move. She tried to swim away, but her tired body wouldn't cooperate.
'No,' tears forming in her eyes, as she was carried away by a burst of water.
After approximately ten minutes, Atticus reached the other side of the pool. His entire body screamed with exhaustion, and he panted heavily.
Despite the physical strain, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. He knew that enduring these hardships now would pave the way for greater strength in the future.
After catching his breath for a few moments, Atticus turned his gaze forward and was met with the sight of a massive cliff, towering around 500 meters tall. Some trainees had already started climbing it.
"The more challenging, the better," he muttered, determination coursing through him as he clenched his fists. With resolute steps, he approached the imposing cliff, ready to face the next phase of their training.
***
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