Chapter 32: Recovery Potion

Words : 1049 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 32 - Recovery Potion A few hours back. Stretching, he rolled his shoulders and prepared as he walked toward the control panel, a grin tugging at his lips. "Let's see how far I can push this..." Ethan stood in the underground training facility, an expansive, high-tech room designed for combat practice. The metallic walls shimmered with a faint blue hue, and various holographic displays hovered in the air, each showing different training modules and difficulty settings. The hum of energy coursing through the room was a constant reminder that this place was built for warriors. Stepping up to the control panel, Ethan skimmed through the list of training programs. The bots were divided into levels: Black-Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Naturally, he went with the Black-Iron level for his first attempt. It was the lowest rank, designed for those just starting their combat training. "Start combat simulation: Black-Iron." The system beeped in confirmation, and from the opposite side of the room, five humanoid combat dummies emerged from the ground. Their bodies were sleek and metallic, with glowing red eyes and reinforced plating covering their joints. They weren't particularly large, but their movements were crude and inefficient—clearly designed to exploit weaknesses. Each bot held a short sword and shield, which they gripped with surprising dexterity. They spread out, forming a semi-circle around Ethan. His heartbeat quickened as he eyed his opponents, his muscles tensing. "Well, let's get started." The moment the simulation began, the dummies surged forward, their movements precise and coordinated. Ethan dodged the first strike with ease, but the second dummy landed a clean hit to his ribs, sending him stumbling back. "Damn... they move faster than I expected." He barely had time to recover before another dummy struck his legs, knocking him off balance. Ethan hit the floor with a grunt, frustration bubbling up inside him. Simulation failed. A robotic voice echoed in the room, declaring his defeat. Ethan groaned, rubbing his sore ribs as he pushed himself up. 'I can't even land a hit...' It was like the bots could read his movements. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get past their defenses. But he wasn't ready to give up. "Alright, round two," he muttered, rolling his shoulders before stepping back into position. The dummies came at him again. This time, he focused more on reading their movements, but he was still too slow. After a few more blows to his torso and a particularly nasty kick to his side, Ethan collapsed once again. Simulation failed. Frustrated, he wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to calm down. 'I'm not giving up.' Gritting his teeth, he picked himself up and moved back into position. "Third time's the charm," he muttered, his breathing steady. The third time proved just as fruitless, and by the fourth time, Ethan was starting to think he had overestimated himself. But he did not give up. Instead, he adapted a little more in every round—his reaction speed improving, his movements becoming sharper, his strikes hitting harder. Still, his opponents proved too fast, their defenses too strong. Round after round, Ethan's efforts yielded the same result: total failure. After an hour of relentless beating, Ethan lay sprawled on the ground, panting and covered in bruises. His entire body ached, and his muscles felt like jelly. Simulation failed. Even with the help of his enhanced physique and improved reflexes, it was not enough. But despite the failures, he wasn't discouraged. Because every failure was a lesson. By the tenth attempt, he was blocking more hits than before. By the fifteenth, he was evading strikes that had previously landed clean. And by the twentieth, he finally managed to knock one of the dummies back with a well-timed counter. It wasn't much, but it was progress. By the end of the first day, Ethan had progressed from barely lasting a minute to holding his ground, dodging, and returning blows with increasing confidence. He couldn't deny the pain that came with the experience, however. Every time he blocked an attack, his bones shuddered and his skin bruised. Despite his increased durability, the impacts still hurt. Panting, he dropped to one knee, wiping sweat from his brow. "Damn... I'm really out of shape for this." 'Maybe it's a sign I should stop...' he thought as the ache in his limbs grew worse. "Terminal, cancel training program." A mechanical voice chimed. "Understood." Immediately, the combat bots retreated back into their hidden chambers. Ethan exhaled slowly, pushing himself to his feet. His muscles burned, and his head throbbed, but the pain was manageable. And just as he was thinking about what to do about this pain, the system's voice chimed in. [Hey, Master, why don't you buy a recovery potion from the store?] Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Can I do that?" Ding! System Notification: Recovery Potion (Consumable) Replaces fatigue and restores physical and mental stamina. Price: 50 Incubus Coins. "Damn, so expensive," Ethan frowned, his brows furrowing. "I only have a hundred and fifteen points, though." "Which means I can only buy two of these?" [Oh, come on, Master, you have to trust that this is the best deal you can get, and my items are top-notch and not something that can be made or bought easily.] Ethan chuckled. "Fine. Get me two of those." [Thank you for your patronage! Remember, Master, you're not just buying a potion—you're making a lifetime investment... that lasts about five minutes. But hey, what's five minutes of peak performance worth to you?] 'That seems kinda sketchy...' Ethan thought. 'But it should be fine.' "Alright, System, let me drink one." A small glass vial appeared in front of him. He grabbed it, inspecting the shimmering liquid inside. It swirled with an almost hypnotic glow. Taking a deep breath, he downed the potion in one go. The smooth, cool liquid slid down his throat, leaving behind a refreshing, honey-like sweetness with a hint of citrus. Almost instantly, the soreness in his muscles faded, replaced by a comforting warmth. It felt like energy was flowing through his bones, clearing his mind. The pain, aches, and fatigue vanished—his strength was fully restored.

Chapter 32: Recovery Potion

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