My System Doesn't Give Power

The next morning, Zac and the others made their way towards the training ground under the same doubled gravity as the day before.

Their bodies had yet to adjust fully, leaving every step stiff, slow, and painfully deliberate. Students from other classes and years repeatedly turned to stare as they passed. Some whispered amongst themselves, while others regarded the first-years with looks bordering on pity.

"Why is everyone staring at us like that?" Kelly asked, her voice carrying the dull exhaustion of someone who had barely slept.

"Because we’re walking like mechanical zombies," Marty replied. "I’m fairly certain I saw an old man cross the road faster than me."

Adrian straightened his back with considerable effort. "Speak for yourself. Even while burdened by this dreadful gravity, my movements retain their natural elegance."

As the group passed two second-year students, one of them glanced at their strained movements. "What’s wrong with them?"

The other noticed the bronze bracelets around their wrists and immediately understood. "Have you already forgotten Sir Simon’s training?"

Realization dawned on the first student. "So that’s what it is."

He looked at the first-years again, this time with genuine sympathy. "Poor bastards."

Marty heard him and let out a miserable sigh. "I don’t like being pitied."

By the time they reached the training ground, Simon was already standing at its center with his hands clasped behind his back.

Marty froze in alarm. He hurriedly raised his VSB and checked the time. After confirming they were not late, he released such a deep breath that Kelly gave him a strange look.

"I thought we were late," he admitted.

Shobin shook his head.

"What are you shaking your head for?" Marty demanded. "Do you want to hop around the training ground like him?"

He pointed at Adrian.

"Especially with this much weight pressing down on you?"

"I didn’t say anything," Shobin replied.

While they argued, the remaining students gradually arrived. Once everyone was present, Simon calmly swept his gaze across the class.

"I see no one decided to arrive late today."

His eyes settled pointedly on Adrian.

Adrian immediately looked away and examined the sky as though he had developed a sudden fascination with the weather.

Simon continued without comment. "I had intended to teach you something new today. However, I’ve been informed that your class will enter a portal tomorrow to gain practical experience and increase your levels."

Several students visibly brightened at the mention of the portal. "For that reason, we’ll keep today’s training simple."

"Why do I feel uneasy whenever he says ’simple’?" Marty thought.

"Repeat the same routine you completed yesterday. Once you finish, you may leave."

"Is that it? No surprise torture?" Marty wondered.

Without wasting any time, the students spread out across the training ground and returned to the same places they had used the previous day.

Zac once again chose the shade beneath a small tree near the edge of the field. After loosening his shoulders, he lowered himself into position and began his push-ups.

The difference was immediately noticeable.

The false weakness he had experienced the previous day was completely gone, and his movements no longer felt unnatural. However, the doubled gravity presented an entirely different problem.

Every push-up felt as though someone had placed a heavy weight across his back. By the time he reached one hundred, sweat was already dripping from his chin.

This is definitely easier than yesterday, Zac thought as he rolled onto his back for the sit-ups. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though.

[Training is not supposed to be easy. If it feels easy, you probably aren’t gaining anything from it.]

"I don’t need motivation right now."

[Then my work here is complete.] With that, the system fell silent.

Zac ignored it and continued.

Across the training ground, the others had reached the same conclusion. The exercises no longer felt impossible, but the increased gravity made every repetition far more exhausting.

The routine that had felt like three full sets the previous day now felt closer to six.

Daniel maintained the fastest pace, keeping his breathing controlled as he moved from one exercise to the next. Sabrina followed closely behind, refusing to let her rhythm break even when her muscles began to tremble.

Kelly struggled the most with the push-ups, but once she moved on to the squats and running, she performed better than several students had expected.

Shobin paced himself more carefully, conserving his strength rather than exhausting himself too early.

Marty, meanwhile, looked as though every repetition had personally offended him.

"Why does it feel like gravity hates me?" he complained while forcing himself through another sit-up.

Adrian, on the other hand, attempted to perform every exercise with his usual grace and elegance, which only made things more difficult for him.

"A true noble never sacrifices elegance," he declared between strained breaths. "Not even under torture."

Despite their constant complaints, none of them stopped.

The lesson from the previous day had already settled into their minds. Whenever exhaustion threatened to overwhelm them, they forced themselves to keep going.

By the time the final student completed the routine, everyone was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

Simon watched them from the side but offered neither praise nor criticism.

Once Zac had recovered enough to stand properly, he began walking towards the exit with Marty and the others beside him.

"Are you excited about tomorrow?" Marty asked.

"You mean the portal?"

"Obviously. What else would I mean? It’s our first proper chance to fight monsters together and gain some levels."

Zac shook his head. "I’m not going."

Marty stopped so abruptly that Shobin nearly walked into him from behind. "What?"

The others slowed down and turned towards Zac.

"What do you mean you’re not going?" Marty asked. "The academy is giving us this opportunity. Why would you skip it?"

"Because I’m already close to reaching C-rank," Zac explained. "Initially, I thought entering a D-rank portal might be useful, but since they changed it to an E-rank portal, I doubt I’ll gain much combat experience or enough XP to level up."

"That’s true," Daniel said. "It was originally supposed to be a D-rank portal, but because we’re still wearing these bracelets and carrying twice the normal gravity, Ms. Matilda decided an E-rank portal would be safer."

Zac raised his wrist, displaying the bronze bracelet.

"With this thing suppressing my attributes and increasing the gravity around me, I’d spend most of the trip moving at half speed and fighting weak monsters. I’d gain almost nothing from it."

He lowered his hand.

"Even if there’s something worth grinding inside, I doubt it would benefit me as much as staying home and practicing my mana control."

"So you’re going to spend the next three days practicing mana control and mana coating?" Marty asked.

"That’s right."

Marty considered it for a moment before nodding. "Well, if that’s what you think is best for you, fair enough."

"I’m not going either," Sabrina suddenly said.

Everyone turned towards her.

"You’re also close to C-rank, aren’t you?" Shobin asked.

"Yes." Sabrina folded her arms. "The portal offers no meaningful benefit to me."

She offered no further explanation.

Daniel looked between Zac and Sabrina, his expression becoming thoughtful.

"I need to pick up the pace. I’m only about halfway through D-rank. I still need another ten or fifteen levels before I reach C-rank."

"You say that as though being halfway through D-rank is a bad thing," Marty complained. "Some of us are still near the beginning."

However, Marty soon stopped listening to the discussion. His eyes moved repeatedly between Zac and Sabrina.

Zac noticed and frowned. "What?"

Marty continued staring without saying anything.

"Seriously, just spit it out. You look ridiculous trying to hold it in."

Marty hesitated before speaking. "So everyone else is going tomorrow, but only the two of you are staying behind."

Zac narrowed his eyes as a grin slowly spread across Marty’s face. "You two aren’t planning to go on a date, are you?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the air around Sabrina turned cold.

Marty’s smile vanished.

Ice spread rapidly from his neck, crawling down across his chest, wrists, and hips before locking most of his body in place. He stood frozen where he was, his eyes wide with immediate regret.

Sabrina glared at him for several seconds before turning around and walking away without a word.

Zac stared at Marty with open pity. "What were you even thinking?"

"You’re right," Marty admitted through chattering teeth. "I wasn’t."

"That much is obvious," Shobin said. "You really need to learn how to control your mouth."

Daniel shook his head and followed Sabrina towards the exit. Kelly hurried after them.

Adrian passed beside Marty. "You should consider yourself fortunate. Had you insulted someone of my noble standing, the consequences would have been far more severe."

"Stop talking nonsense and help me," Marty snapped.

Adrian examined the ice, then looked down at his own hands. "I would, but touching common ice might damage my skin."

With that, he walked away as well.

Soon, Zac and Marty were the only ones left behind.

Marty looked at him hopefully. "Can you get me out of this?"

Zac raised his head and studied the morning sun. "Give it some time. I’m sure it’ll melt eventually." He turned and began walking towards the exit.

"Wait!" Marty shouted. "Zac, I’m your best friend! You can’t leave me like this!"

Zac continued walking without looking back. "That’s what you get for taking her side yesterday."

"What? You’re still angry about that?"

[You sure are petty.]

Zac left without answering, while Marty continued shouting after him.