"Ohhh… How long will this hell last?!"

That was what Ethan muttered as he lay on the ground, his body covered in bruises, struggling to catch his breath.

The Minotaur stood before him, looking down.

"Break time isn't over yet," he said, grabbing Ethan's head and lifting him high.

"How did this even start?!" Ethan screamed.

Ten hours earlier

"You shall inherit my strength, human, and surpass your enemies," the Minotaur declared with enthusiasm.

A brief silence filled the air before Ethan, puzzled, responded, "Huh? My enemies? Do you think we're in some kind of space war movie? Those guys are just bullies."

The Minotaur's expression turned serious. "Anyone who crushes the dignity of others is an enemy of life itself."

Silence settled again. The Minotaur then turned to Ethan, looking a little embarrassed. "Don't give me that weird look. Yes, I may seem crazy, but I know a thing or two about self-defense and combat."

Ethan covered his mouth, trying to suppress a mocking laugh.

The Minotaur's eyes narrowed. "Hmph… Alright, training starts now!" He then added, "I'll be your guide in battle until your spirit of determination awakens."

Stretching his arms, he commanded, "Alright, jump!"

"What?" Ethan barely had time to react before the Minotaur swept his legs from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Ethan groaned in pain.

"Your reflexes are too slow. I won't go easy on you!" the Minotaur shouted, then quickly followed up with, "Dodge to the left!"

The Minotaur punched Ethan's left side while he was still on the ground.

"If you're not fast enough, I'll mash you like a potato!" the Minotaur bellowed as he threw a flurry of punches at Ethan.

"Dodge left, dodge right! Jump! Drop down!"

The bright sun, the lush green field, the Minotaur's powerful swings—all of it felt like a scene from an ancient martial arts battle.

Ethan was exhausted, on the verge of collapsing, but he pushed through, hoping this training would be the answer to many of his problems.

Their heavy breathing echoed across the field, the heat of battle turning the air thick with tension.

Punch after punch, blow after blow, Ethan's body became covered in bruises. Finally, the Minotaur stepped back, panting.

"Alright, that's enough for the first session." He took a deep breath before continuing, "My overall assessment? You're ridiculously weak. It'll take you a few days to improve. But you're a bit agile, and that's at least something."

Still lying on the ground, Ethan groaned in pain. "Ouch… Big words coming from a Minotaur who was screaming in fear just a while ago."

The Minotaur lifted his head in irritation. "Being afraid doesn't mean you're not strong, hmph!"

Ethan sighed. "But what I really don't get is… you're dead. How are you standing right in front of me?"

The Minotaur smirked. "This isn't my real self. It's my spirit, bound to the tattoo on your arm."

Ethan blinked. "Oh… I get it now."

Back Home

Ethan slowly opened the door, stepped inside, and carefully placed his shoes on the shelf.

He glanced at the clock 10 AM. It was already too late to go to school.

Walking on tiptoes, he headed to his mother's room, opening the door slightly. She was still fast asleep.

Ethan quietly shut the door and made his way to the bathroom.

Standing under the warm stream of water, he let the fatigue and pain wash away.

After finishing, he grabbed the towel beside him and stepped out, heading to his room. He changed into fresh clothes and then moved to the kitchen.

It was his daily routine.

With the remaining ingredients in the small kitchen its brown cabinets and old-fashioned fridge Ethan prepared a chicken stew, filling the house with its rich aroma.

He placed the stew into an old clay bowl and carried it to his mother's room.

Opening the door gently, he woke her up.

"Mom, wake up. I made lunch."

His mother blinked, then yawned. "I thought you went to school?"

Ethan avoided eye contact. "I was too tired… Just eat and go back to sleep."

Trying to steer the conversation away, he helped his mother eat, staying by her side until she dozed off again.

He stood up, turned off the lights, and headed back to his room, throwing himself onto the bed.

"Ughh… My bones are shattered…" he groaned.

A familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"Don't worry," it reassured him.

Ethan sighed. He already knew who it was.

"The Minotaur has extraordinary healing abilities. Rest, and you'll recover quickly."

Ethan closed his eyes. "Oh, I'm not even surprised this time… I'm just going to sleep. I don't care about anything else right now."

With that, he drifted off, like a warrior resting after a long battle against the unknown.

If you liked the chapter,  leave a comment ✍️, for with your support, my story will rise just like Ethan! 💪🔥

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