“Whew!”
Suru set the dumbbells down with a thud, his breath coming in ragged gasps, large beads of sweat cascading down his face.

Beside him, Angela raised an eyebrow, her expression darkening. "Your fundamentals are appalling! Are you really this out of shape? Did you forget to eat this morning?"

After settling the payment and completing the registration, Angela casually ran Suru through a quick test, and the results were nothing short of disastrous.

Suru, who had once been of average fitness, now seemed to have lost about a third of his physical capabilities, leaving him looking like someone severely unwell.

With his sharp mental clarity at a 1.6, Suru could easily discern the pity in Angela's gaze.

"A man as weak as you... now that's a rarity," Angela muttered, immediately catching herself. "Ah, sorry... I didn’t mean it like that. Please, don’t be discouraged. If you stick to a proper diet and train regularly, you can still make up for it." She waved her hands in a flurry, her tone more reassuring now.

"I understand... but, can you teach me martial arts?"
Suru asked calmly, fully aware of his condition.

"You want me to be your personal trainer? You've got great taste!"
Angela puffed out her chest with pride, but quickly stiffened her expression. "But right now, what you really need isn't martial arts training. You have to start from the very basics. Come on, I’ll first teach you how to train properly!"

The science of training—avoiding injury, maintaining the body, and improving performance—is indeed a subject all on its own.

Suru knew that the Portelli family had far better methods than any average martial arts club, but he had left home too early to learn about it.

After all, it’s impossible to train effectively when you’re too young. The best window for physical training is during one's developmental period, when a few months of proper training can yield better results than a year of average effort.

Fully aware of this, Suru approached the session with humility and focus.

Though his physical condition had declined, his other qualities remained impressive. Under Angela's attentive guidance, he quickly grasped the basics, which made her begin to develop a bit of admiration for him.

After the workout, Angela generously massaged his sore muscles to help him relax, and then offered a final piece of advice: "Remember to eat plenty of high-protein foods and make sure you rest well when you get home!"

"Thank you!"
While Suru hadn't yet learned martial arts, he felt that mastering the fundamentals of proper training was a worthwhile experience.

After a refreshing shower and a quick change of clothes, Sulu left the combat gym and made his way to the university cafeteria. He made a firm decision and ordered a creamy lobster, a crispy fried chicken cutlet, a fresh vegetable salad, and some bread to go with it.

After all, intense physical exertion requires a substantial intake of nutrition and calories to sustain the body. Without it, he'd be doing himself more harm than good.

As he devoured his meal, Sulu silently ran the numbers in his head.

‘I can’t keep up this level of spending for long. Maybe by next week, or at the latest the week after, I’ll be broke! Even if I rush my training, it’ll still take at least a month or more to see results... I really need to find a way to make some money.’

In this area, Sulu was no novice.

Though St. George University offered special loans for students in need, Sulu was one of the rare few who had already paid off his debt during his studies.

Carrying over habits from his past life, he absolutely detested the feeling of being in debt.

"Hey, Sulu!"

When he returned to the dorm, Sean immediately lit up, greeting him with enthusiasm. "I’ve got to admit, you really know how to pick 'em... That Molly, if she took off her glasses, she’d actually be pretty cute!"

Sulu rolled his eyes.

His roommate certainly had the instincts of a paparazzo.

"Wasn’t it Katherine’s type you were into?"

"This is about aesthetics, man! You wouldn’t understand, it’s art!" Sean shot back, then continued, "Molly’s daily routine is pretty regular—she moves between the dorm, library, and cafeteria... If you want to make your move, you’ve got to be on your own turf! Also... I sacrificed a job opportunity today to help you out. I'd say it’s worth about 10 coppers!"

"Five coppers! No more. If you say one more word, I’ll find someone else."

Sulu felt it was essential to keep his expenses in check.

"Deal!!!"

...

The next day, Sulu went to the combat gym, as usual, for his training session with Angela.

There were three trainers at the gym, two of whom were men. While Sulu trained with Angela one-on-one, he noticed several envious glances aimed at him.

After all, Angela was not only a young woman with an appealing appearance but also in top physical shape.

Unfortunately, most students were financially constrained and couldn’t afford such personalized training.

In truth, if it weren’t for his pressing need to build strength quickly, Sulu would have hesitated to go down this path.

However, after persistent requests, Angela finally agreed to teach him today.

"Today, I’ll show you some basic combat moves!"

She stood in front of him, adopting several stances. "Follow my lead and focus on your breathing... Don’t underestimate these moves. Once you’ve mastered them and they become second nature, even with your current physical condition, you’ll be able to catch an attacker off guard in a dangerous situation!"

Sulu wholeheartedly agreed with her.

In any martial art, the most essential element is instinct: the ability to react immediately and decisively when attacked, without a moment’s hesitation.

“The combat techniques we teach at the Fighting Club are inherited from the Church of the Goddess of Light. These techniques are also used by the Federal Army, where they are known as 'Maga Combat Arts'!”

As Angela demonstrated, she explained, “Maga combat arts come in many forms. The military version focuses on targeting vital areas—such as the eyes and throat—in order to incapacitate and eliminate the enemy swiftly. Our version here at the Fighting Club is a simplified one. It consists of eight basic techniques, known collectively as the ‘Eight Forms.’ Think of them as formulas, each designed for a specific combat situation. If you remember these, you can apply them whenever you encounter a similar situation.”

Since Sulu had paid for the lessons, Angela was teaching with great care.

Sulu listened intently, fully engaged. This was the type of training he had been seeking.

‘The Maga Combat Arts focus on exploiting an enemy’s weaknesses, using precision and speed to turn the tides of battle. It’s a path of turning weakness into strength—perfect for me at this stage...’

He absorbed the material carefully, and by the end of the lesson, he had barely managed to memorize the eight basic techniques and their key elements.

“Learning the techniques is just the beginning,” Angela emphasized. “You need to practice—hard, relentless practice! Only when these moves become instinctive will you have truly mastered the art of combat.”

Angela concluded the lesson but noticed a flicker of something unusual in Sulu’s expression. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s… nothing! I just want to practice a bit more,” Sulu replied, a wave of excitement rising within him.

His eyes turned to his attribute panel, and a prompt appeared, making his heart race with joy:

【Ding! You have learned Maga Combat Arts, current level: lv1!】

【Maga Combat Arts lv1: You have a basic grasp of the ‘Eight Forms.’ Health +0.1, Strength +0.1!】

Name: [Sulu Portley]

Occupation: [None]

Class: [0]

Title: [None]

Strength: [1.2], Agility: [1.2], Health: [0.7], Mental: [1.6]

Skills: [Corpse Queen Creation lv1], [Maga Combat Arts lv1]

Passives: [Common Hebrew lv3], [Basic Physics lv4], [Demonology Knowledge lv1], [Ancient Greek lv2]

XP: [0]

‘It seems that skill books can be learned, but what’s even better is that I can learn them directly from others. It’s not about experience points—it’s about gaining true mastery from a teacher.’

‘Maga Combat Arts lv1 really boosts Health and Strength!’

Sulu clenched his fist, feeling a surge of energy flow through him, as if his muscles had grown slightly stronger.

At the same time, the techniques of the ‘Eight Forms’ became etched in his mind, transforming into instinctive actions.

“Alright, show me again. Practice it for me!”

Angela nodded.

Sulu took a deep breath and tightened his fist. “First form!”

“Huh?”

Angela’s face shifted with surprise. In that split second, she sensed a profound change in her student. His movements flowed effortlessly, precise and fluid—far beyond the skill level expected from a beginner.

‘As I thought… With the help of the attribute panel, he’s managed to internalize these techniques instantly. His reflexes are already at the level of someone who’s trained for a year or two. This is truly remarkable!’

After completing the full set of movements, Sulu felt so exhilarated that he wanted to shout with joy.