In terms of talent, Shirou Emiya was absolutely a genius-level magus. In the original story, with Rin Tohsaka, EMIYA, and Saber taking turns teaching him, it didn't take long for Shirou to gain the capital to fight Heroic Spirits, even managing to deploy the Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works.
EMIYA was the future Shirou; having him teach was practically like handing over the answer sheet to copy from. Combined with Rin's theoretical instruction and Saber's tactical and swordplay training, that was how Shirou Emiya achieved his late-stage strength.
But even so, when he fought the golden boy Gilgamesh, luck played a massive role in his victory.
If Gilgamesh hadn't been so arrogant and underestimated his opponent, failing to use any decent attacks the entire time, and if he hadn't been hard-countered by Unlimited Blade Works, Shirou Emiya's strength at the time wouldn't have been enough to win.
Furthermore, Unlimited Blade Works was an ability that burned through one's lifespan. The burden it placed on a human body was far too great; the more it was used, the more broken the body became.
To forge iron, the blacksmith must be strong. Technique and magical ability were important, but physical fitness was equally crucial. Anyway, Shirou Emiya had the scabbard Avalon inside him to accelerate healing, and Zenith had Potions of Healing and Potions of Regeneration. All they had to do was train him to death!
First up was weight training. Zenith held up a single finger. "Only a good body can bear stronger magical energy. I've already asked for a leave of absence from your school, so for the near future, you're going to stay home and train with us like a good boy."
Naturally, the training location wasn't Shirou Emiya's house. Although his home technically counted as a bounded field-equipped magus workshop, it was simply too small to stretch out in.
The training took place at Zenith's manor, located in the suburbs of Fuyuki City. It wasn't far from Ryuudou Temple, where the Greater Grail was located—a true prime piece of real estate.
"Don't ask me why I'm crashing at your place when I have a manor this big. This rundown place is too quiet and deserted. Sure, it's huge, but living alone is just boring."
What a capricious elder. However, Shirou didn't say anything; at this point in time, training was indeed more important than going to school.
"First up, weight training."
Zenith pulled out a set of Chainmail Armor with very little durability left. He couldn't feel its weight while holding it, but handing it over to someone else was a completely different story.
In Minecraft logic, the loss of durability also meant the loss of raw materials, which was why equipment could be repaired with materials of the same origin. By the same logic, the lower the durability of a piece of equipment, the lighter its actual weight.
A standard set of Chainmail Armor at full durability weighed around 775 kilograms. This particular set, with its durability bottomed out, still weighed a solid 125 kilograms.
"Running with weights can effectively improve your endurance, lung capacity, and muscle strength. Come on, put this on and let's do a five-kilometer run to warm up."
Shirou turned to look at Saber. The plate armor she wore looked much thicker and heavier than this chainmail. But that made sense; it was best to get used to the lighter weights first.
The moment he took the chainmail, Shirou Emiya regretted it. Seeing Zenith hand the armor over with one hand, he had assumed it wasn't that heavy. As a result, he was instantly dragged down, crashing face-first into the ground.
"It's broken! My arm is broken!"
Was Shirou's constitution really that weak? Rin Tohsaka and Saber looked over in confusion. But upon noticing the heavy thud the chainmail made when it hit the ground, both of their expressions changed.
"How heavy is that chainmail?"
"Only a little over a hundred kilograms. It's the beginner's model."
Zenith walked over and inspected Shirou Emiya's arm. It wasn't a major issue; the sudden, massive weight had merely dislocated his shoulder.
"It's just a dislocation. You don't even need a potion for this."
Zenith popped his arm back into place, then casually slipped the chainmail over Shirou's head. "Here, get used to it. I'll give you five minutes, and then we start running!"
He couldn't move. He couldn't move at all. Even trying to roll over felt incredibly difficult.
"Idiot, why are you so inflexible? Is your magical energy just for show? If you can think of Reinforcing objects, why can't you Reinforce yourself?"
With the support of his magical energy, Shirou Emiya finally managed to stand up. After a brief moment of adjustment, he took the first step of his five-kilometer run.
It was exhausting. Every single cell in his body felt like it was rebelling, and the air entering his lungs through his nasal cavity felt like a red-hot knife churning inside him.
"Didn't you say you wanted to be an ally of justice? Is this all you've got?"
Zenith and Saber jogged alongside him, while Rin and EMIYA followed behind, though they weren't wearing the same weights as Shirou Emiya.
This little bit of weight was absolutely nothing to Zenith. For a Minecraft player, as long as their hunger bar was full, they could casually sprint around with a mountain of gold on their back.
It was easy for him to say when he wasn't the one suffering. Fortunately, Shirou Emiya's spirit was indeed resilient. By now, he could no longer hear any outside noises. His mind was a chaotic blur, and his magical energy circulated mechanically to support his body.
A single lap around Zenith's manor was exactly five kilometers. He could see the finish line flag now. Two hundred meters. One hundred meters. The moment he crossed the finish line, a satisfied smile appeared on Shirou Emiya's face before his vision went black, and he collapsed stiffly onto the ground.
"Shirou!!"
Rin Tohsaka couldn't hold back her panic. That was just how young couples in love were.
"Don't panic, he won't die. I slipped a Totem of Undying on him. Even if he actually dies, I can pull him back."
Zenith hauled Shirou Emiya up, forced a Potion of Regeneration down his throat, and patted his shoulder. "Not bad, though your pacing was a bit slow. Warm-up complete. While your body is still fired up, let's knock out a few sets of strength training."
Rin Tohsaka hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. "Isn't this intensity way too high for his first time? At least let him rest for a bit, right?"
The gentle power of the Potion of Regeneration washed away the hidden injuries and exhaustion in his body. Shirou slowly climbed to his feet and looked at Zenith. "I can keep training. What's next?"
Zenith looked at Shirou and Rin Tohsaka, eventually turning his gaze to Saber. "Saber, what do you think?"
"If one decides to fight, they must maintain the resolve to keep fighting. Zenith possesses precious potions that can rapidly repair the body, which means the body can grow at an accelerated rate."
"The knights who followed me also spared no effort in honing their bodies for battle. Back then, they had nowhere near the conveniences Shirou has now, yet they still wagered their lives to become stronger. That is resolve."
Saber didn't answer directly, but her words made everything perfectly clear.
"Well said, Saber. Rin, you have to understand that Shirou has no combat experience. His stamina is lacking, his magical energy is weak, and he only has a half-baked grasp of his Stand's abilities. He can't keep going like this. The more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed in war. That's the logic here."
Rin was convinced. Shirou's hellish training had only just begun, but this was the process of a person's metamorphosis and growth.
Wanting to become an ally of justice wasn't as simple as just saying it. It wasn't enough to simply value the lives of others above one's own; to protect others, one needed the power to protect.
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