Terra Nova Online: Rise of The Strongest Player

Chapter 95: Weight Training

Luke’s limbs ached with the memory of his previous training as he arrived at his next training spot, the Armored Terrain ground.

This ground was designed such that it improved the conditioning and stamina of a knight by exposing them to the various real life conditions that they might have to face while wearing their heavy armours.

For a Knight, their armor was 50% of their battle prowess, as good armor versus great armor often became the deciding factor between victory and defeat.

A knight’s fighting style was extremely physical and crude, when compared to agility based styles such as swordsmanship and hence they needed the extra layer of protection as their fighting style did not necessarily need them to be fast or avoid attacks.

This particular training ground was made in a way that there was a large 2 mile track running across its edges that shifted from sand, gravel, mud, grass to obstacle course.

Each section presented a unique challenge, waiting to test the mettle of those who dared traverse it.

At the center of the training ground stood the armory display, an array of weighted armor sets meticulously arranged from the lightest to the heaviest and beside it sat the squire knight, who was the assistant running the training ground.

As Luke approached, the assistant introduced him to the armor options.

” We have several sets that range from 20 kilograms, suitable for beginners, up to 600 kilograms, for those who seek to push beyond the ordinary,” he explained, gesturing towards the gleaming metal suits.

Luke’s gaze lingered on the 20-kilogram set, it looked to be the one that was made from the thinnest sheet of metal, however, unfortunately his male ego did not allow him to choose the lowest possible weight as he instead chose the 30-kilogram option, even though it was only him and the assistant at the ground.

As he put on the 30-kg suit, he felt like his body was being crushed by an invisible force, as after wearing the thick metal armor which has 0 breathability functions, Luke realized that not only did he have to battle the weight, but also struggle with heat regulation as the suit would not let his body naturally cool down, acting like an artificial insulator.

The assistant’s nod signaled the beginning of the drill, as Luke stepped onto the track and started to run on the normal ground for the first 400 meters.

Running with 30kg over his body, made Luke feel extremely uncomfortable as his joints felt much stiffer for no reason.

The armor did not move up and down with his body and it came crashing down on his shoulders every time that he moved as he soon realized that there was a rhythm that he would need to maintain if he did not want the armor to unnecessarily hurt him.

Knights did not run with their shoulders moving, knights ran with their body upright and at a much slower pace when compared to other professions.

Without knowing that method, all that Luke did was burn through his stamina faster as while running on solid ground was still fine, once he reached the sandpit, things started to get messy.

In the sand, each of his feet sank deep, the weight of the armor turning the soft sand into quicksand, pulling him down and challenging his every step.

Sometimes he found himself half a knee into sand, sometimes he jogged off while being ankle deep, however, he could not understand the difference between both those steps as he struggled immensely to move forward.

As he transitioned to the gravel, the sharp stones bit into his soles through his boots.

Here, the weight of his choices became literal, each step sending jarring shocks through his body as the armor magnified the impact of the uneven ground.

The mud was next, a thick, clinging adversary that grasped at his feet with every step. Unlike sand the mud did not suck him in, however, it did not let him move freely either.

He could not find a rhythm to jog in the mud and ended up burning even more stamina to get through.

Finally, the grass offered no solace.

The uneven terrain, large shrubs and thorny plants forced him to brute force his way through them, however, the basic movements such as jumping, turning, creating force while pushing through, felt different and uncomfortable with the armor.

By the time Luke reached the obstacle course that needed him to climb, jump, duck and perform complex actions, he had no gas left in his tank as his initial jog had come down to a slow walk as he barely completed just one single round of the training arena in 25 minutes.

“Wow, that was absolutely terrible” The training assistant said, as he put on a 50kg weighted suit out of pity and showed Luke the right way to move.

He started off much slower to the pace at which Luke started, however, there was a rhythm to his run that was missing to Luke’s.

He maintained an upright posture, his spine straight, minimizing the bobbing motion that had plagued Luke’s earlier attempt.

This technique reduced the strain on his shoulders, allowing the weight of the armor to distribute more evenly across his body.

Luke watched intently as the assistant demonstrated the knight’s running rhythm.

Each step was measured, deliberate, with the assistant’s feet striking the ground in a way that conserved energy.

As the assistant approached the sand, Luke noticed the careful placement of his feet, avoiding the deep, energy-sapping pits that had ensnared him earlier.

The assistant’s steps were wider, distributing his weight more effectively to prevent sinking. It was a dance of sorts, one that respected the sand’s treacherous nature.

On the gravel, the assistant’s pace hardly faltered. His steps were softer, absorbing the impact with a slight bend in the knees, a technique that protected his joints from the jarring shocks Luke had experienced.

The armor’s weight seemed to work with him, each step a testament to his understanding of how to move within its confines.

The mud presented a different challenge, but the assistant navigated it with the same careful rhythm. Instead of fighting the mud’s resistance, he used it, pushing off with more force but fewer steps, preserving his energy for the challenges ahead.

Finally, reaching the obstacle course, the actions of climbing, jumping, and ducking were executed with the same precision and rhythm that characterized his run, showcasing a level of mastery over his body and the armor that Luke certainly lacked.

‘7 minutes 40 seconds’ Luke noticed the time as he was beyond impressed by the assistant.

“Your turn,” the assistant said, his voice steady, his breathing surprisingly even despite the exertion and the weight he bore. “Remember, it’s not about speed. It’s about rhythm, awareness, and efficiency. Let the armor work with you, not against you.”

Luke stepped up to the start of the track once more, this time with a new understanding. He adjusted his stance, took a deep breath, and began to run, focusing on the lessons demonstrated by the assistant. Each step was a conscious effort to replicate the rhythm he had observed, to move with purpose and precision.

The difference was immediate. Though the armor still weighed heavily upon him, Luke found a rhythm that made the burden bearable. The sand no longer felt like quicksand, the gravel less punishing, the mud less consuming, and the grass less obstructive. The obstacle course, while still challenging, felt achievable as he applied the same principles of movement and energy conservation.

By the end of the circuit, Luke was exhausted but exhilarated. He had completed the run in significantly less time of just 16 minutes, improving almost 40% compared to his first attempt.

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