The Path of Ascension 4: A LitRPG Adventure

13

It was Tara who gave everyone a somewhat workable answer to the first proprioception training room, where they were shot at silently in the dark. The pattern for the last set of attacks was just the previous two combined, but the first set was mirrored along the diagonal for the final round of shots in the dark. So, it was possible to know exactly where the shots were coming from, even without the warning sounds. That wouldn’t help them with the ricochets, or if the pattern changed, but it was an interesting tidbit.

They went to sleep almost immediately after they showered. An exhausted Matt didn’t even notice that his band was deactivated until the morning, when he woke with his body in far better shape than it should be, considering the brutal training they had been put through.

After a light breakfast, they were sent into more training.

Luna watched as her charges fought their monster opponents and signaled for Wrangle to increase the difficulty to a full dozen monsters against each individual. His creatures weren’t quite up to her standards of melee combat, but they were good enough for the training she needed.

Now, to sow seeds of doubt that could lead to the revelations she needed each of them to obtain. Just enough to make them angry, or to push themselves harder.

Seeing Mathew struggle, she sent her voice into his ear, “Melinda will be dragged down by you like a weight around her ankle, like the rock you try to be. If you want to protect her, you need to be faster and stronger. Smarter. Why are you letting your enemy flank you? In a group fight that means death for your team.” She decided to add a bit of help with the boy’s Concept. “A strong rock is solid from all sides, but that is not necessary.”

She paused, seeing the anger flare up in the boy. She didn’t particularly like this training method, but it was effective in the early stages, and this group could handle the extra pressure. If they couldn’t, they would die when an enemy taunted them. Or an illusion array showed their family turning against them.

After praise must come the truth.

“Or maybe you’ll just wait for your wife to save everyone. Again.”

As the boy’s rage flared brightly and fueled his attacks, she turned to Samantha.

“You rely on poison and venom, but without your Talent, you are more of a danger to your friends than your enemies. What will you do when you get taken out early? You could die happily, knowing that all your friends would follow you soon. If you’re dead, your poisons will rip through your team like the reaper. Oh yes, that’s right. You’ll just have Melinda save you. She’s always been doing the heavy lifting in the team, hasn’t she?”

That was enough to send the girl into a cursing frenzy so she hit her with one final fact she knew the girl hadn’t thought of, “Can Melinda’s healing last long enough to get them out of your poison? Or will she run out of mana first?”

Kyle was next on her list. “You’re so strong, but you can’t even protect your friends. You rely on Mathew and Melinda to protect everyone. Matt doesn’t even have a melee Talent and you can’t even beat him half the time when he’s not using [Mage’s Retreat].”

The boy didn’t react outwardly, but she didn’t miss the signs in his body. His heart rate increased, and his swings became slightly sloppier.

Tara required a different approach, but no less devious. “Are you afraid that you’ll leave them, too? If you are too strong or fast? What will you do if you outstrip them? Will you sacrifice your own future for theirs? Or will you let them die because you are afraid of being too strong?”

The girl was so afraid of the rest of her family dying she was stunting her own development.

To Melinda, she whispered, “Why do you fear death so much? You are death given form, no matter what your Talent lets you do. I see the hate still inside of you. Will you use that darkness? Purge it? Ignore it?” She paused to allow her words to sink in just enough. “I think you know the truth. You like to see the violence. It lets you be the savior and earn all the praise. But what good is a healer when no one needs healing? You need and want the violence. It’s not the dark reflection of you. It is you. I think a portion of you wants to fully embrace your Concept.”

With Vinnie, she was more direct. “The way you are performing right now, you might as well retreat underground once you get into danger. You couldn’t even save your friends if their lives depended on it. You can save yourself, but will you risk saving them?”

Luna turned her attention to Aster as the little fox half-heartedly wrestled with a tiny beetle. She yelled, “Buck up, or I’ll wash your fur in red ink that can only be removed with hot water!”

That turned the fox’s effort into overdrive. She understood how hard it was to keep fur clean. She also had no problem with using the method to get the slacker to work harder.

Matt was easy. “Do you want to get locked into a room? The Emperor will try to protect you, but without personal strength, you’ll eventually be snatched away and shoved in a cell. When they threaten Aster, will you not give up and give them your mana? Hmmm? What about Liz? Will you let them kill her to motivate you? If they aren’t afraid of you coming and glassing planets, you will never know freedom. Only personal combat power will protect you.”