MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

"Just a few more hits, and everything will be over."

Tightening his grip over the knuckles he wore, Valyr stared intently at the training dummy before him with [Hunter's Tracking Eyes], taking note of the various weak spots scattered all over its body.

Eventually coming up with a pattern that would allow him to strike as many weak spots as possible on the dummy, the young man took in a deep breath before sending both of his fists out at full force.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With great strength and momentum behind each strike, a solid thud would resound from the dummy's body as a loud sound akin to a thunderclap would accompany it on its surface.

Continuing to strike against the dummy with his eyes looking for more weak spots to strike, Valyr felt as if his fists had transformed into a pair of portable explosives with how much strength was contained in each fist.

Then again, with how he had struck out thousands of times on the training dummy to raise its corresponding mastery skill, something like that happening was only a matter of when.

If anything, the same could be said for the staff and the sword, the two weapons he had chosen to pick up first to max out their corresponding mastery skills.

'Well, it's not like there's no point to doing something like this every once in a while,' thought Valyr to himself, noting the various advantages constant repetition brought about to the way he wielded the three weapons.

For one, the repetitive movements the trial forced him to do prompted him to find ways to reduce the amount of energy he would consume with each strike he sent out.

With that, Valyr felt like if he were to fight with the sword, the staff, or the spear against another opponent, he would be able to last far longer through his stamina alone.

Much less the improvements repetition brought to his overall control over the weapons.

After all, aside from having to find ways to reduce the amount of energy he consumed with every strike, he also had to find the positioning that introduced the least amount of burden on his body during the process.

Because of that, even though his corresponding mastery skills in regards to the three weapons were only at the peak of Common grade, Valyr felt that his mastery over the three weapons had already far surpassed Uncommon grade.

'Though I was happy to find out that I didn't need to grind out the spear's mastery skill at first, now that I'm almost done with this trial, I find it quite a shame that the trial didn't force me to grind out the spear either.' 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Letting out a faint sigh at the thought, the young man eventually made up his mind to find some time in the future to work his control over the spear, continuing to strike the training dummy with both fists.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Landing both of his fists on what looked to be opposite sides of the training dummy, Valyr instantly felt a great amount of information regarding the essence of the fist inundate his mind, prompting him to close his eyes.

Remaining silent, he went over through his understanding regarding the fist thus far, as well as the information he had just obtained from striking the training dummy a bit more.

In the end, it did not take long for the young man's understanding over the fist to expand, opening his eyes with a gaze of clarity as he stared at the dummy with a solemn expression.

Ding!

[You have increased your understanding on how to use the fists better.]

[The passive skill 'Basic Fist Mastery' has upgraded to Level 10.]

[Would you like to consume 1 Common Skill Key and 100,000 XP to evolve the skill to Uncommon grade?]

"And with this, we're done."

Faintly smiling as he took a look at the notifications he had received, Valyr put the notifications to the side for the meantime while taking off the knuckles he had been using all this time.

Taking out a series of potions from his spatial bracelet, the young man did not hesitate to all of them in one go, swiftly returning all of his reserves to their peak condition.

It was also around the time the young man obtained the notifications did the monotonous voice speak out once more, prompting the smile on Valyr's face to grow even wider.

'Though your prowess in combat has already reached a realm that goes beyond the confines that shackle you, you have shown the Gates of Awakening that you still have the willingness and tenacity to go through hardships to polish your understanding of combat.'

'That characteristic already puts above even those standing at the pinnacle, with your potential towards combat far more vast than initially seemed.'

'With enough effort and patience, such potential shall be realized in due time. However, one must choose to go through the hardship rather than have it be forced upon them to truly blossom.'

'The Gates of Awakening hopes you make that kind of choice.'

'Congratulations, trial taker. You have cleared the Trial of Four Forms.'

Ding!

Just as the voice seemed to be finished congratulating him, a notification sound resounded throughout Valyr's mind once more, prompting him to take a look at the new notifications he had received.

[You have completed the quest: Gates of Awakening' Trial (1).]

[Your authority within the Gates of Awakening has increased by one level. This authority is only accessible once the user becomes a part of the Gates of Awakening.]

[Your other rewards shall be announced by the Gates of Awakening themselves, including the ones attributed to your performance throughout the three previous trials.]

[You have obtained a new quest: Gates of Awakening' Trial (2).]

'Guess I'll have to wait for the voice to start talking again, it seems.'

Reading through the notifications, a satisfied yet curious smile crept up onto the young man's lips as he wondered what other rewards he would obtain from completing the quest.

Fortunately, it did not take long for his questions to be answered, with the monotonous voice from the trial grounds resounding throughout the area once more.

'With what you've shown to the Gates of Awakening thus far, there is no doubt that you, the trial taker, have earned more than enough qualifications to be a part of the Gates of Awakening itself.'

'Though, that does not mean that your rewards in attempting these trials only extends to your membership into the Gates of Awakening.'

'Having passed what is considered the first bottleneck of the Gates of Awakening's trials, a couple of rewards shall be given to you that will aid you in your future endeavors.'

'Unfortunately, the Gates of Awakening is limited in what it could give, so it is up to you, the trial taker, to make a choice.'

'Would you like the reward to lean more towards combat? Or would you like the reward to lean more towards forging?'

'Or perhaps… you would like the reward to encompass both fields of interest?'