Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 54

The training in the Art of Iron Body was hell itself.

 

[Evelen! Twelve!]

 

“Ugh!”

 

Thump, thump.

 

After 20 push-ups, the muscles were torn.

 

[Twenty-five! Twenty-six!]

 

“Guuuh…!”

 

Thud, thud!

 

After 30 repetitions, the tendons ruptured.

 

[Thirty-eight! Thirty-nine…!]

 

Crack!

 

At 40, the arm snapped.

 

“Agh…!”

 

[You’re weak! Is this all you’re made of? Show some perseverance!]

 

But Ammut had no intention of going easy on the struggling trainee. Instead, he mocked Sooho’s weakened body.

 

This was the ultimate Sparta. The students who couldn’t withstand his training before were numerous.

 

But this pyramid was a training center of Iron Body specially prepared by the great sorcerer Kandiaru for Ammur.

 

[Even if your bones break, the training will continue!]

 

Shwaaack! When Ammut finished speaking, white bandages flew from all directions and wrapped around Sooho’s limbs.

 

Thump, thump, thud! As the broken bones were forcibly reset, immense pain followed.

 

[Now, we can continue the training, right? You still have sixty more to go!]

 

These bandages seemed to be of the same type as those used to wrap the mummies here. Surprisingly, these magical bandages made even a broken limb move. However, since it was not fully healed, the pain remained.

 

In fact, forcing the broken arm to move caused even greater agony.

 

“Guuhhh!”

 

Ammut laughed bitterly at the sight of Sooho sweating and gritting his teeth in pain.

 

[Why? Do you regret it now? It’s too late. Pain always follows great strength! You have two choices: enjoy the pain or die in agony.]

 

But Sooho had one more option.

 

‘So, this is how it’s done.’

 

Sooho forced a smile and opened the shop window.

 

Snap.

 

 

[You have purchased ‘Item: Lesser Healing Potion’.]

 

 

Gulp, gulp. Sooho snatched the healing potion with telekinesis and drank it. It flowed into his worn-out body. As a result, his broken bones began to mend, and his torn muscles started to regenerate.

 

[Huh?]

 

Ammut’s eyes widened at the sight.

 

Sooho looked at him confidently and asked, “So, how many more times do I have left?”

 

[…]

 

Ammut suddenly remembered.

 

How many disciples had he sacrificed to create someone like Tarnak? In the end, they all died screaming in agony.

 

But this guy was different.

 

What about this time?

 

Ammut laughed bitterly, showing his teeth.

 

[Hehehe! You’re using an interesting ability! Now I can increase the intensity without worrying!]

 

“No, wait-”

 

That’s not it!

 

Swoosh…!

 

“Gah!”

 

An even heavier sense of pressure pressed down on Sooho.

 

[We have a long way to go! Let’s continue training!]

 

 

After repeatedly drinking potions to heal his broken arms, Sooho barely finished his push-ups.

 

But then came the hellish sit-ups.

 

[One! Two! Two! Two! Oh no! Your posture is wrong!]

 

No, seriously. Were sit-ups such a dangerous exercise?

 

At first, his abs hurt so much that they felt like they were tearing, and eventually, his back snapped.

 

“Ugh…!”

 

This really hurts.

 

It hurts beyond words.

 

Shwaaaaaaa!

 

Then, a bandage flew toward Sooho’s back and wrapped around his waist. Again, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt just because he could move with some force.

 

Sooho opened the shop window with his superhuman mental strength, enduring the pain that felt like it would knock him out.

 

Snap.

 

[You have purchased ‘Item: Lesser Healing Potion’.]

 

 

With the healing potion, he forced his spine back into place and started exercising again.

 

[Haha, great! This is fun!]

 

Ammut found it very pleasing that Sooho could continue even when he was broken (?).

 

After his spine had broken twice more, they finally finished a hundred reps, and Sooho found himself wrapped tightly in bandages.

 

‘Ah.’

 

He suddenly realized something.

 

“Wait a minute. Could it be that all the mummies here were like this!?”

 

[Haha, you guessed it! The mummies in this pyramid are all the pitiful seniors who left first!]

 

“What…”

 

This gym is ridiculous.

 

[If you don’t want to die and become a mummy, then hold on until the end! Then the light will indeed be waiting for you! This time it’s squats! One! Two!]

 

This time, the hellish squats tore mercilessly at his thigh muscles.

 

Crack!

 

With the added gravity, there was a loud snap as both legs broke simultaneously. Then, once again, bandages flew in and wrapped around Sooho’s legs.

 

“Shop…”

 

Snap.

 

 

[You have purchased ‘Item: Lesser Healing Potion’…]

 

 

Sooho was now working out with the healing potion in his mouth like an IV.

 

And eventually…

 

Ding!

 

 

[The level of ‘Skill: Resilience has increased!]

 

[Physical Defense +40% → +60%]

 

 

“…”

 

Does this make sense? Did he really become stronger just from doing bodyweight exercises?

 

Of course, he didn’t become stronger just because his Resilience skill had improved, so the exercises were still just as hard. However, the pain was slightly reduced when he was hurt.

 

Considering that this hellish training was a daily quest, it would be a huge advantage in the long run.

 

Well, he should be happy about it.

 

So why are there tears…?

 

[Great! This time it’s running! Run at full speed!]

 

“…”

 

Running 10 km was undoubtedly not easy. Standing still under immense gravity was an accomplishment in itself.

 

As he ran, the moment there was even a little relaxation in his legs, his ankle sprained. An enormous pressure crushed his ankle, tearing his ligaments apart one by one with a bone-chilling sound.

 

Crackle!

 

And then, as if waiting for this moment, bandages flew in and wrapped around his ankle.

 

‘These damn bandages!’

 

Sooho, who had become a full-fledged mummy, glared at them.

 

If he was going to run anyway, wouldn’t it be better to run faster? Then the hellish exercise would end sooner!

 

“Gray, Divinity!”

 

 

[The spirit of ‘Pet: Gray’ dwells in the shaman’s body.]

 

 

Schwaaack!

 

Sooho’s hair turned silver, and wild energy spread throughout his body.

 

[Use ‘Skill: Prairie Wind’.]

 

[Movement speed temporarily increases by 30%.]

 

[Attack speed temporarily increases by 30%.]

 

 

As Sooho’s speed increased, Ammut let out a satisfied laugh.

 

[Well done, well done! This disciple is quite talented! Come on, use all your means and methods to run and run!]

 

“This is insane. What kind of training is this? It’s torture,” Esil, who had been watching everything from a distance, couldn’t help but speak her mind.

 

But Beru’s reaction was different.

 

[Ahem. I missed this.]

 

Beru was lost in thought, with a somewhat nostalgic expression on his face.

 

[My liege once trained like that. Of course, the difficulty level was a bit different.]

 

“Did Sung Jinwoo also do that kind of training? Oh, now that you mention it…!” Esil remembered an old memory of when she used to follow Sung Jinwoo as a guide. He had definitely done some light exercise back then.

 

“… Hmm?” Suddenly, Esil’s expression hardened.

 

No, back then, it was really light, right?

 

Was it just push-ups?

 

Was it just sit-ups?

 

“…?”

 

[…]

 

For a moment, Esil and Beru’s eyes met in mid-air.

 

And without anyone saying anything, they both silently nodded their heads.

 

‘Sir Sung Jinwoo really had a light one.’

 

‘My liege…’

 

This is definitely something that should be kept a secret for the sake of Sooho’s mental health.

 

Nod.

 

And so, an unspoken agreement was made between the two.

 

***

 

Ding!

 

 

[You have completed ‘Daily Quest: The Art of the Iron Body Training’.]

 

 

100 Push-ups: Complete (100/100)

 

100 Sit-ups: Complete (100/100)

 

100 Squats: Complete (100/100)

 

Run 10 km: Complete (10/10)

 

※Note: You must carry Ammut while doing the exercises.

 

“Ah, it’s over…!” Sooho, wrapped in bandages, collapsed onto the floor.

 

Ammut, who had been watching him intently, murmured.

 

[Oh, this is really something, isn’t it?]

 

“What is it?”

 

[Well, ahem. Of course it’s possible. It’s just no one except the Monarch of Iron Body has succeeded before.]

 

“…”

 

Ammut avoided Sooho’s cold gaze.

 

Ding!

 

A message arrived just then, and Sooho turned his attention away from Ammut.

 

 

[The quest completion reward has arrived.]

 

[Do you want to check the reward?] (Y/N)

 

 

[The following rewards are prepared.]

 

Reward 1: Status Recovery

 

Reward 2: Ability Points +3

 

Reward 3: 1 Random Box

 

 

The reward for completing the daily quest to kill 100 goblins seemed the same.

 

But why does it feel so unfair?

 

“Accept all.”

 

Whoosh!

 

The first reward was status recovery. All the conditions that made Sooho feel like he was about to faint were instantly restored as he jumped up with his lightened body. Ammut’s eyes lit up with interest as Sooho stretched out on the ground.

 

[Wow. He’s really tough. Very good.]

 

Sooho poured all of his ability points into his Strength stat. It was essential to have the strength to endure this daily quest in the future.

 

And then, the long-awaited random box was opened.

 

Ding!

 

 

[You have obtained ‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’.]

 

 

“Who the fuck are you messing with…!?” A reflexive curse came out of his mouth. But having experienced it firsthand, the effect of this bandage was excellent.

 

[Item: Mummy’s Bandage]

 

Acquisition Difficulty: C

 

Type: Consumables

 

A magical bandage made by Great Sorcerer Kandiaru.

 

It helps to move the body even when in a near-death state.

 

 

(If sold at the shop, it will be added to the purchase list.)

 

 

“…” Sooho sold the bandage to the shop without saying a word.

 

Snap.

 

 

[‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’ has been added to the purchase list.]

 

[From now on, you can purchase ‘Item: Mummy’s Bandage’ from the shop.]

 

 

Although the bandage itself did not have a wound-healing effect, it worked very well when used with potions.

 

Above all, it was convenient and good because it was a magical bandage that wrapped itself.

 

But why was he not satisfied?

 

When Sooho came to his senses (?), Ammut returned to his original form of a crocodile giant and spoke, “Hehe. Well done. Today’s training is over. Now try that skill again.”

 

“What? Smash?”

 

“Yes. That clumsy Iron Body technique.”

 

“…?”

 

Sooho tilted his head and infused Ruler’s Authority into his fist at those words.

 

 

[Use ‘Skill: Smash’.]

 

 

That moment.

 

Swoosh!

 

A black gauntlet wrapped around Sooho’s fist and covered his shoulder, surpassing his elbow.

 

Ding!

 

[‘Skill: Smash’ has been upgraded to ‘Skill: Art of the Iron Body’.]