"My friend, are you sure about this?" Boris asked as he collected the dirty dishes from the dining table. "The kid seems young, and this military training is tough as hell. It has injured trained soldiers. Is football really that important to him that you're willing to risk crippling the boy?"
Dumi sat quietly, swirling the whisky in his glass before taking a slow sip. "It's up to him how important this match is. Believe it or not, he was the one who asked for this kind of training."
Boris glanced toward the latched door leading to the freezing chamber. His expression became thoughtful. "What happened to make him want something this intense?"
He turned back to the sink and began washing the dishes. Dumi leaned back in his chair, one hand resting around his whisky glass. He tapped his fingers against it before taking another sip.
"I don't know. He called me last night and asked me to make his training more intense. Something must have happened." He stretched his arms and let out a tired yawn. "To be honest, I was already pushing him close to his limit during our regular sessions. During the first week, I thought he was going to collapse."
Boris glanced over his shoulder. "But he didn't."
Dumi shook his head. "No. He surprised me, too."
He slowly swirled the whisky in his glass before looking toward the latched door again. "When I first started training him, I thought he was simply a talented kid who lacked proper guidance. But the more I watched him, the more I realized something was different."
Boris raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
"His work ethic." Dumi's expression became serious. "He trains before our scheduled sessions. Sometimes I find him already warming up when I arrive. And when I tell him to stop, he keeps going."
Boris frowned. "That doesn't sound healthy."
"It isn't." Dumi sighed. "I've been watching him from a distance and taking notes. At first, I thought his lack of sleep might have something to do with Dr. Haruto's treatment. But during the second week, I noticed something else."
"What?"
"He's constantly pushing his muscles beyond what they can comfortably handle." Dumi placed his whisky glass on the table. "Even when he's exhausted, he keeps going. He repeats drills over and over until he gets them right. He doesn't seem to understand when enough is enough."
Boris remained silent for a moment. "And you think my training will fix that?"
"Not exactly."
Dumi looked toward the freezing chamber. "I think it will teach him where his limits are." He paused. "His body recovers unusually quickly, but that doesn't mean he should keep abusing it. If he continues training without understanding his limits, eventually that determination could become his greatest weakness."
Boris nodded slowly, "So you brought him here to teach him restraint."
"Partly." Dumi leaned back. "And partly because he asked me for something more intense. If he's determined to push himself this far, I'd rather have someone experienced monitoring him than let him destroy himself training alone."
Boris gave a low chuckle. "You've always been stubborn."
Dumi smiled faintly. "Look who's talking."
The two men laughed quietly. Then Boris glanced toward the freezer door. "Still, the boy has courage."
Dumi's smile faded. "That's what worries me." He picked up his whisky again. "He's willing to endure almost anything if he thinks it'll make him better."
Boris nodded. "Then we'd better make sure he learns the difference between enduring pain... and destroying himself."
Behind the thick door, Winston remained completely unaware of their conversation. All he could think about was surviving the next round.
After a couple of hours, the latch door swung open. Winston emerged shivering, his teeth chattering. Both Dumi and Boris glanced at him with concern. Winston went straight to the open fireplace. Crouching front it, he rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them. Ivan and Anna lay nearby, their bodies stretched out comfortably beside the fire.
Dumi placed his whisky glass on the table. "That's enough for now, kid. Go wash up, and we'll continue with another drill tomorrow."
Winston turned toward him in confusion. "Oh... I thought Mr. Boris said I was supposed to stay in there for the entire night."
"It's your first time attempting this exercise," Dumi replied. "Besides, staying in there any longer would put you at risk of frostbite."
Winston slowly stood beside the fireplace and glanced at the two German Shepherds before looking back at Dumi and Boris. "Oh, I understand."
Seeing the disappointment on Winston's face, Boris placed a hand on his back and gave him an encouraging pat. "Do not underestimate your own capabilities, my friend. You actually lasted longer than most people I know. Most quit during their first break."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, you're only the fourth person who didn't quit on their second attempt."
Winston's eyes widened with curiosity. "Who are the other three?"
Boris glanced at Dumi before turning back to Winston with a grin. "Me, Dumi over there, and..." He flicked his thumb and middle finger together as he tried to remember the name.
"Samuel Jones," Dumi interjected.
"Oh, yeah! That guy." Boris nodded. "He was a beast. I wonder what happened to him."
He glanced at Dumi, the two men exchanged a silent look. Winston noticed the strange reaction but decided not to press the issue. He couldn't help wondering why Dumi and Boris had subjected themselves to such brutal military exercises in the first place.
Boris certainly looked like someone who had lived through them. His burly frame and broad, powerful chest made Winston think of a walking tank. Boris shook his head. "Bah, forget about it. Old news. Anyway, congratulations, my young friend!"
He gave Winston a hearty slap on the back, laughing loudly. Winston nearly stumbled into the fireplace. "Thank you, Mr. Boris."
Leaning back in his chair, Dumi smiled. "Congratulations, kid. You should get some rest for now. Early tomorrow morning, we'll start more training. This time, Boris will be the one training you. I'll be monitoring your progress, though."
The numbness Winston had felt after emerging from the freezer slowly began to fade as he lay on his back in his room. Then the discomfort intensified. Every time he tried to move, a sharp, piercing sensation spread throughout his body, as though thousands of tiny needles were stabbing into his muscles.
Before Boris had carried him to the room, he had mixed a strange concoction for Winston to drink. It tasted sour and bitter, leaving behind an unpleasant aftertaste. Yet, within minutes of drinking it, Winston had felt heat spreading through the upper half of his body.
Then paralysis had taken hold. Unable to move on his own, Winston had been carried upstairs by Boris and placed in bed. Frankly, he had reached the absolute limit of his endurance. There was no way he could have continued the freezer drill, and he suspected Dumi had realized just how exhausted he truly was. Winston let out a relieved sigh and stared at the ceiling. "That freezer drill was brutal..."
He shifted slightly before immediately regretting it. "Boris said the concoction would help bring my body temperature back to normal."
His eyelids grew heavy. "My head feels like it's spinning..."
Ding!
[Stats]
Name: Daley Winston
Age: 19
Weak Foot: 2
Foot: Right
Profession: Footballer
Team: Westminster F.C. (Under twenty-one team)
Player Rating: 84
Position: Center forward.
Potential: 88
Acceleration [Voltage Core: 64%]
Sprint Speed [Voltage Core: 64%]
Shooting
Passing
Dribbling
Physical [Nethen Essence: 64%]
Reward Points: 050
Skills moves: None.
Just as I figured... the freezer exercise didn't count. I didn't receive any skill boosts or bonus reward points.
Ding!
[Physical]
[Nether Essence: 64%]
Physical: 70
Jumping: 70
Stamina: 70
Strength: 70
Aggression: 70
Despite briefly checking his physical attributes, Winston noticed no changes. A faint disappointment settled over him as the stiffness in his body remained. He stared at the ceiling for a while, wondering what kind of exercises Boris would put him through next.
Sleep didn't come easily. Winston lay on the bed for hours, waiting for the sharp, needle-like pain spreading through his body to subside. The discomfort gradually began fading from his head and neck before slowly retreating through his upper body. After several more hours, he finally managed to drag himself into a sitting position.
By the time the orange hues of dusk painted the sky, Winston had fully recovered. As usual, he immediately began exercising. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. He finished his set, stood up, and stretched his aching body. Just as he rolled his shoulders, the sound of heavy boots scraping against the wooden floor caught his attention.
The door creaked open. Boris's upper body appeared in the doorway. His eyes widened when he saw Winston already exercising. "Oh, you're already up?" Boris asked, clearly surprised. "How are you feeling, my young friend?"
His gaze dropped toward Winston's sweat-soaked clothes. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Good. Wash up and meet me in the front yard."
Winston nodded. "Yes, sir."
After washing up, Winston stepped outside and spent several minutes surveying the vast training field surrounding Boris's house. Various pieces of equipment were scattered across the grounds, many of them resembling the tools used in military training.
He stood there for a while, mentally preparing himself. Excitement and nervousness battled inside him. Then two familiar German Shepherds approached, their tails wagging enthusiastically. Winston crouched down and scratched both dogs behind their ears.
"Glad to see you two are here. Thanks for the support." He smiled. "Wish me luck, Anna. Ivan."
Footsteps approached from the other side of the house. Dumi appeared, looking just as exhausted as Winston felt. Sweat covered his clothes, and he was breathing heavily.
Winston glanced at him in surprise. "Coach? Were you training too?"
Dumi wiped the sweat from his forehead before catching his breath. "yeah, how are you feeling, kid?"
"I'm okay. My body was aching all night." Winston slowly stood up. Before Dumi could respond, Boris approached from behind them. "Alright, my young friend."
He folded his arms across his massive chest. "Let's begin."