Chapter 83: Ironskin (II)
Arnold started by hitting his chest severally at first. He pulled his blue elastic shirt, leaving half of his body naked. Then, he hit hard.
Mark and Lila, who were focused on their Broad Kick practices, were suddenly drawn by Arnold's action.
"Don't worry, keep practicing!" Arnold shouted from his spot.
Mark and Lila glanced at themselves after that statement, but they did as Arnold said right after, continuing to practice the Broad Kick.
[12% hardness.]
[12% hardness.]
[12% hardness.]
It was certain that having to make progress in the "Ironskin" training was very difficult just like the system had said.
Arnold spent over twenty minutes hitting his chest region, only to get the same result. His skin hardness remained at 12... Even his hurting chest was also having the effect of the blow... Pain.
After all, pain is just an obstacle... Arnold didn't dare to stop while having those words in his mind. It wasn't as if he was one who knew giving up as a choice.
Although it appeared hopeless, Arnold continued inflicting more pain on his chest... His chest began to turn red in a moment, but he continued hitting hard.
Again and again, the hits continued, but it only seemed like there was no noticeable progress yet.
At a point, the system voiced out.
[It would have been better if you asked one of your friends to help hit it. There would be quicker progress with that.]
It was now that Arnold had the idea to invite his friends to come beat him up.
[26% perfect.]
[Lila had been trying to surpass this point for a while now. You have to make her understand that she isn't a genius like you. She would always practice the move next time.]
The system gave him Lila's record.
[Once you tell her to stop, invite her to do the chest hitting for you then... I'm afraid she has a stronger Attack Power than Mark.]
'Whoa?! That's impossible. She is just a female wrestler," Arnold was forced to shout out loud.
[It's not about being a female wrestler, it's the fighting nature. In the future, I think Lila would make a great impact.]
Arnold: "...?"
[I didn't say Mark would be a waste anyway.]
Although it was a casual statement, Arnold's heart relaxed upon hearing that Mark wouldn't be a waste. Nothing was more crazy than striving for years only to become a useless wrestling superstar at the end.
While Arnold didn't pray for such a thing for himself, he never wanted that kind of story for his friends.
He only hoped that they would actually learn a lot and also earn improvement in their fitness after his teachings.
"Lila!" Arnold looked over and called.
"What?" Lila replied casually, still focusing on the forged humanoid structure that she was constantly launching the Broad Kicks against.
"It's enough... You will continue practicing tomorrow," Arnold said.
"Really? Five more Broad Kicks please!"
Despite the trickling sweat wetting up her face and body, Lila was still focused and unwilling to stop. Even though her teacher had told her to stop, she actually seemed to have no reason to.
Arnold shrugged in a second.
Even he, Max Fury, wouldn't mind stopping if the system urged him to, but Lila Ross actually finds it hard to stop!
"I said it's enough! Common! Come over, please!"
Arnold always remembered that Mark and Lila were older than him, so he never forgot to show some respect while conversing with them.
Although Mark was three years older while Lila was only having a year ahead, seniority was still seniority.
When Lila approached him in the ring, he started with a compliment.
"I love your effort sis. You are wonderful."
"Thank you, Max," Lila could only smile.
Immediately, he went straight to the point.
"I want you to hit me severally on my chest until I order you to stop."
"And why should I do that? Why didn't you call Mark instead?" Lila asked, a little confused.
"I believe you are a better puncher than Mark, that's why. Those fists of yours might be as small as a cherry, but they are two terrifying bombs. I need them," Arnold explained, persuading her.
Instead of getting to understand, Lila's brows furrowed more, still looking like a lost, confused cat.
"What are you not telling us, Max? This kinda training is kinda crazy!" Lila complained, pretty worried about her friend. "And where did you even discover it?"
Lila's face was giving a crazily curious aura, leaving Arnold with no choice but to speak. Although he had to speak, he did not expose his Advocate.
"In a wrestling chat group on WhatsApp," he smiled shamefully with the joy of a successful lie dancing inside of him.
"Whoa cool... I want you to add me there," Lila showed her ever-interested attitude, which made Arnold's face turn dark.
This was true because there was no freaking Chat Group in WhatsApp where he saw the Ironskin Art. It was his system that had urged him to practice it.
Arnold promised to add her to the non-existing group, which she didn't know. However, she had already agreed to punch him in the chest to continue the training.
When they began the training, it took Lila quite a while before he summoned enough courage to hit her friend.
He asked for it...
So he'd had to get it.
When she started punching, Arnold saw the difference. It was Lila's Attack Power was better than Arnold's, the fact was just that he wouldn't make huge progress being the one to hit himself.
[13% hardness. Good job.]
It only took a few minutes before the first progress was noticed. Arnold smiled upon seeing the notification, believing that all his efforts hadn't just been a waste of time.
Lila was relentless in the punch since it surprisingly turned out to be training for herself as well. Gradually the force of the punch increased, but Arnold was doing nothing more than letting out shouts and clenching his fist.
Minutes became hours before they could know it, and neither Mark nor Arnold had stopped training until then.
When he finally asked Lila to stop... Well shockingly...
[40% hardness.]
"Argh! My fist hurts already. Your skin is already getting tough!" Lila exclaimed after several blows.
One thing she only wondered about was if he would fight other wrestlers with such hardening skin.
He was basically going to be fired if he did so.
******
[A/N: Okay, end of training for now. Time for action! Please keep supporting, hehe.]