Warrior Training System

With the introduction of tasks and the new system of training points to purchase advanced functions, Cassian felt a renewed sense of purpose. The idea of using the points to unlock abilities like the master ghost instructor or the low-level simulator sparked a determination he hadn't felt in a while.

He knew that to reach those goals, he would need to complete the tasks quickly, so he dove into his training with a new intensity.

He spent long hours in the training field, challenging himself against shadows of opponents he had faced before. These shadows were eerily accurate, moving with the same skills, speed, and style as the real individuals they represented. One moment, he would find himself parrying Robert's quick thrusts, feeling the familiar rhythm of his friend's strikes.

The next, he'd be dodging the heavier blows of other sparring partners he had encountered over the months.

The system's upgrade made the experience more grueling than he'd anticipated. The shadows fought relentlessly, never tiring, never losing focus. They pushed him harder than any of the real-life training sessions, forcing him to think quickly, adapt, and refine his techniques on the fly.

Each time he faced a shadow, it felt like he was going up against a perfect version of his previous opponent—one that didn't make mistakes, didn't hold back, and always exploited any flaw in his form.

But that challenge was exactly what Cassian craved. He saw it as a chance to improve faster, knowing that if he could defeat these perfect simulations, his real-world opponents would seem that much easier. He was relentless, practicing move after move until his muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his mind was sharp with focus.

The system's new training tasks were always on his mind, a constant reminder of what he needed to accomplish to earn those elusive training points.

Before the upgrade, Cassian had almost written off the training field as a useless feature. Back then, it was little more than a space where time flowed slightly faster—a small advantage, but not nearly enough to help him make real progress. He couldn't interact with the field in any meaningful way, and simply fighting shadows had felt repetitive and uninspiring.

It had been more a place to pass the time than to grow stronger.

But now, with the system's upgrade, everything had changed. The training field wasn't just a space for practice—it was a proving ground where he could refine his skills against perfect versions of his enemies. The shadows, which once seemed like dull imitations, now felt like invaluable teachers.

Every dodge, every parry, every perfectly executed strike brought him closer to mastering the techniques he needed. And with each victory, he was one step closer to earning the points he craved, points that would unlock even more potential in his training.

Cassian knew that the real challenge would come when he faced these same opponents outside of the field, but he looked forward to it. If he could outlast their shadows, he felt confident that the real versions wouldn't stand a chance. His eyes were set on the prize—completing the system's tasks, earning the training points, and seeing what new functions the system might reveal next.

He was also contemplating how to tackle the other tasks, especially since work at the office was dragging on with little progress. Most of their days were spent interviewing witnesses—mainly nosy neighbors—who, while being incredibly observant, tended to exaggerate every detail they shared.

These nosy neighbors were often the ideal witnesses, seeing everything with a sharp eye, but their habit of embellishing facts made the information less reliable. Still, Cassian and the team continued to question them daily, hoping to uncover something useful about the victims' families, friends, or any regular interactions they might have had.

It was exhausting work, especially since the murdered families seemed oddly isolated from the rest of the world. The most they learned was about the victims' jobs, but even that led nowhere—none of their coworkers knew them well, beyond the basics of their presence at work.

It was frustrating, but it did highlight one curious fact: all the families shared this strange detachment from society, despite living in one of the most densely populated cities.

"Just thinking about it makes my head hurt..." Cassian muttered, pausing his sword swings as his thoughts drifted back to the case. He shook his head, remembering a piece of advice from his seniors: don't bring work home, or your home will soon feel like an extension of the office.

Cassian refocused on the tasks he had accepted: winning 10 friendly duels, killing 10 low-level magic beasts on his own, and giving 10 perfect full-body massages. The first seemed straightforward—he was confident he could wrap it up within a week or two. The second task, however, proved trickier.

He'd learned that while the low-level magic beasts were plentiful in the jungles surrounding the city, they weren't easy to take down one-on-one, even for seasoned fighters who aren't circle warriors.

Feeling a bit misled by the system, Cassian couldn't help but feel a sting of regret. If he'd known how tough those beasts were, he might've skipped that task altogether. He only accepted it, assuming it would be as manageable as winning the duels.

As for the last task—giving 10 perfect full-body massages—Cassian hadn't yet figured out how to tackle it. He still needed to learn how to massage the entire body, as he had only mastered techniques for the lower body so far.

He suspected that the massages required by the system wouldn't be as simple as those taught in typical massage parlors; they likely needed to be on par with the advanced techniques he'd learned from those oddly named books.

The problem was, he didn't know where to find more of those books. Katherine had mentioned that they were lost, leaving him with little choice but to try and improvise the remaining techniques. While he had a solid foundation, he realized he'd also need to study human anatomy, particularly focusing on the muscles, veins, and other structures of the upper body.

Fortunately, this task came without a time limit, so he could take his time to master the skills required and complete it whenever he was ready. And as he finished thinking about he went to clean up.

Tomorrow was the last working day of the week, and Cassian couldn't help but feel a buzz of excitement. Not only would Julius be holding another one of his weekly lectures, but it would also give Cassian the chance to spar with the other attendees in friendly duels. Winning those could help him check off one of his training tasks, and he felt confident about making progress.

But that wasn't all he was looking forward to. In the evening, Lucy would be meeting him to pick up a book she'd been waiting for, and they had plans to explore the city a bit before heading back to the Beacon of Knowledge.

It would be a rare moment of relaxation in their busy schedules, and Cassian hoped to make the most of it—specifically, he was aiming to get a bit lucky with Lucy before the night was over.

Afterward, they would return to the Beacon, where Cassian would be massaging Katherine as usual. But first, he needed to finish a different task tonight—copying down the contents of the book Katherine had ruined during their last session. The memory made him smirk; it wasn't every day that a massage technique caused someone to lose control like that.

He was confident that by getting everything done, he'd have a good chance of enjoying some intimate time with Lucy. Even if it was just kissing and some playful touches, he'd be satisfied—but he was definitely hoping for more.

"The Night Torments and a Ravager," Cassian read the book's title aloud as he settled at the table after cleaning up. He frowned, not quite understanding what the title meant.

"Is this about someone being tortured and then getting revenge?" he muttered, puzzled, basing his guess solely on the name. Cassian had always thought the only novels worth reading were those packed with action or war, the kind he used to read at Master Russle's school.

Driven by curiosity, he flipped through the copied pages he had transcribed absentmindedly. Now that he was reading it with more interest, he muttered, "So it's about a woman..."
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Cassian usually wasn't a fan of stories with female main characters, but he could understand why Lady Katherine might be interested in them. So, he moved on to the first paragraph where the protagonist was introduced.

The story centered on a woman in her late-thirties, set in a world without mages, warriors, or even the concept of mana. Cassian felt a pang of boredom as he realized this; after all, the presence of mages and warriors was the only reason he'd ever picked up a few novels back in the day. Still, he pushed himself to read a bit further, deciding to give it a few pages before making up his mind.

The main character was the daughter of a successful merchant, a fact that had always been a point of pride for her family. Despite the societal norms of her time, she had defied expectations and proven her worth by rising to the position of head of their trading organization after her father stepped down.

This achievement was remarkable, especially considering she was both younger than her eldest brother and faced the challenges that came with being a woman in a male-dominated field.

Her success was a source of admiration and envy, and she navigated the complexities of her role with skill and determination. Business was thriving, and the organization was well-respected throughout the region. Yet, beneath the facade of success, she was haunted by an unsettling issue. Each night, as darkness enveloped her home, she found herself besieged by torment.

This torment had begun several months after she reached her mid-thirties, creeping into her life like a shadow that refused to be cast away.