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[Skill-Eater] Chapter 85: Beatdown
🕑 Added 2024-08-21 17:01:00 +0000 UTCA few hours earlier, a realization had come to him. If Edge wanted to condition his durability, he didn’t have to wait until he was injured in the field. He could train the attribute while he was safe behind the town’s warded walls instead. All he had to do was let someone beat the shit out of him, then regenerate the punishment he received.
Letting a beast wound him on purpose was an idiotic and borderline suicidal idea. But if Edge found someone he could trust, who was willing to bring the pain and back off when he’d had enough, it might just be crazy enough to work.
He doubted that most people would be disposed to knocking the stuffing out of him over and over again, but he did know one individual who probably wouldn’t mind. Melania the deputy was known to enjoy a few rounds of bareknuckle boxing from time to time. The rumor was that she enjoyed hurting people a little too much. But in this situation, that tendency was more of an asset than a liability.
If Edge was being honest with himself, he had some reservations about whether this plan was wise, and he wasn’t looking forward to the pain. But after what he’d already been through, he wasn’t afraid of it either. It would be far better to take his licks now, than to receive a critical wound in the wild. A few points of durability could mean the difference between taking an injury that regeneration could heal and one that would cripple or kill him.
In the end, he decided that he was willing to bleed some today to bleed less tomorrow. It’s also a good chance to work on pain management. To learn how to keep thinking and moving when you’re hurt, without letting the intense sensation overwhelm you. To not let the anticipation of suffering make you hesitate to go all in during a critical moment.
After crossing the town square, he walked by the peacekeepers’ headquarters to see if Mel was around. He didn’t have her schedule memorized, but he thought that she was working the dayshift and got off around now. Sure enough, a few minutes after he entered the big brownstone building used by the Earl and his deputies, Edge found Mel clocking out for the day.
She was surprised to see him and looked ready to head home. But when he explained what he was attempting and offered to throw a few thousand credits her way, she broke into a beaming grin that was honestly rather frightening.
“That’s brilliant, Edge. I don’t know of a way to learn regeneration or anything similar without a skill gem, or we would already be using the same method. You wouldn’t mind letting me know how you got it, would you? If you teach me the requirements, I’ll train you for free.”
“Sorry, Mel. My skill came from a gem that I found in a sealed chest. I have no idea how to acquire it without one. If it helps, there are bits and pieces on the plains that were brought here from elsewhere on the planet. The one I came across had some ruins inside. I didn’t see any other chests. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other valuable finds scattered across the biome.”
“That’s too bad. I wish that I had time to go treasure hunting. I can’t leave town while things are so hectic. I doubt that many people will be venturing far from the settlement anytime soon, so maybe a few of us can make an excursion of it in a few weeks. On a more promising note, I have a method in mind that won’t just condition your durability. It will help raise your reflex and control too.”
His ears pricked up at those words. While they talked, Mel led him through the building and into an open room that the guards used for training. It was a large space, with good lighting and a high ceiling. It had exercise equipment set along one wall and a boxing ring in the corner.
He set down his pack, then they stepped into the ring. Edge’s heart started racing as he steeled himself for what was coming. She put on a pair of thin leather gloves, then gave him a serious look. “Before we try this, are you absolutely sure that you want me to do this? You have to promise that you won’t get mad.”
“I’m sure and I promise. Now what did you have in mind…”
Edge’s words were cut off as Mel drove her fist into his stomach, hard enough to bruise his ribs and knock the wind out of him. He looked up in dawning realization, only to catch a punch square in the nose, breaking the bone and sending blood spraying out of both nostrils. He nearly fell before catching his balance, backing away to open some distance.
It only bought him a heartbeat. The veteran guardswoman followed hot on his heels, laying into him with far too much enthusiasm. Her fists felt like leather-wrapped bricks, pulverizing tissue and cracking bones with every punch.
Edge raised his hands and tried to fight back. Although he managed to take a few wild swings, he never had a chance. Over the next five minutes, he received one of the most savage beatdowns of his life. Certainly the most intense pounding that he’d ever taken from someone who wasn’t trying to kill him. At least, I think she isn’t trying to kill me.
Dark humor aside, he had the sense that each of Mel’s attacks was carefully controlled and precisely aimed. That she was spreading the damage she dished out across his body, making sure not to knock him out or pulp any organs in the process.
When Edge couldn’t get up anymore, Melania handed him a pitcher of water. He drank half before pouring the rest over his head. “Holy shit, Mel. Remind me never to piss you off. Give me minute to catch my breath and I’ll be ready to go another round.”
She waited for regeneration to heal the damage, then started laying into him again. Since he was getting the shit beat out of him already, he figured that he might as well try to learn a little of her technique in the process.
Though he’d taken some self-defense courses before leaving Earth, Edge had never boxed before. Although he supposed that this was probably considered kickboxing, since Mel was happy to use her knees, elbows, and feet.
Until he had the basics down, he didn’t bother trying to land another hit. He just did his best to get out of the way until he was out of mana and so exhausted that he could barely walk.
When they stepped out of the ring and he pulled up his menus, a pair of notifications was waiting for him.
By conditioning your body, your durability has increased by 1.
By conditioning the connection between your body and brain, your reflex has increased by 1.
“That’s amazing.” He pumped his fist, shared his gains, then thanked Mel again for her time. “Can we do this again sometime soon? I want to earn a few more points before I take Trapper’s exam.”
She seemed happy to be able to practice her technique without having to hold back her strength. “Sure, I’ll even teach you a few moves if you’re interested. We can develop your coordination along with your knowledge of the fundamentals. Since we know that this method is going to work after all, I’ll charge you a thousand credits for each session.”
Considering that Mel was helping him to condition three separate attributes and teach him the basics of hand-to-hand combat, the price was more than fair. He paid it gladly and arranged for several more sessions over the coming week.
They said their farewells and Edge went back to his room, so exhausted that he fell right into bed and slept like the dead.
Comments
Bryan Dickerson
lol
Robert McCarter
Okay... less jealous now!
