Chapter 664: Lonely Man (1/2)

”...601, 602, 603, 604...”

The counting stopped. A stifled breathing could be heard. Drops of sweat and tears drenched the concrete ground as a lonely man chewed on his lips in order for his whimpers to not escape from his lips.

He would rather die than to allow other people to witness his suffering. He can't bear to see their faces filled with pity if they saw him crying over something like this.

The lonely man steeled his resolve. His gaze burned with righteous indignation as he pushed himself to continue with his exercise.

”605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 700!!”

*Bam!*

The man's arm gave-in. He lied face down on the hard concrete. His breathing was erratic, his consciousness was dizzy as if he was about to pass out. He could feel his arms throbbing painfully. He wasn't sure if he even had the strength to get up from his position.

Despite his fatigue though, he gnashed his teeth and got up from the ground. Gently patting away the dirt on his face and sweating body, he removed his vest and threw it beside him.

*Boom!!*

The ground shook ever so slightly when the vest fell. Unexpectedly, that vest was incredibly heavy. Well, considering the fact that the vest was carrying thick blocks of solid Meteorite Ores in their pockets, of course it would be heavy. It's already considered as a miracle that the lonely man's body remained intact when he used it while exercising.

Usually, the lonely man would stop here however, he had other matters to do today and it just so happens that it required him to be at the verge of losing consciousness.

He got up, dragging his exhausted body into a hot basin filled with numerous ingredients. A thick medicinal scent assaulted his nose. The lonely man frowned in displeasure, he never really like this part...

Groaning as he took off his clothes, he dipped his body on the medicinal bath. All of him, except from his head, were submerged in water. A few minutes passed and the lonely man's body started steaming.

His face was red and his expression twisted in pain. He was suffering yet not even a sound escaped his lips. He endured, telling himself that he could do this, this pain is nothing, no pain no gain, etc. Anything to keep him going really. He had no other choice, in order to get the full benefits of this medicinal bath, he had to endure this pain. Even though the idea of just giving-up kept tempting him, he pressed-on.

The lonely man was even putting-up with some delusional thoughts. He could hear whispers of familiar voices next to his ears, telling him that he had already done everything he could. They told him to let go, to rest, to give-up and just live a life of mediocrity.

Such temptations were too enticing and the lonely man's heart was struggling to resist it. The only thing that kept him going, was his Will that's being tempered relentless as he fought this invisible battle. Nobody could understand his pain since there's nobody at all.

For the sake of upholding his promise, he gritted his teeth and endured everything by himself. He promised. He vowed in their graves. He won't give-up no matter what.

As the lonely man suffered from physical pain and mental demons, he was unaware that a silhouette manifested behind him. It was a silhouette of a tall and elegant man, long blue hair, crimson colored robes, other-worldly looks, this man would be considered as a god amongst men. This man was a stark opposite of the lonely man in all aspects.

The god-like silhouette observed the lonely man closely. His face was expressionless but his eyes posses infinite wisdom. He had been watching this lonely man for quite some time now, quietly accompanying him throughout the suffering he experienced. The god just observed and did not interfere, he was merely an observer of this lonely man's life after all.

The lonely man was unaware of the god that's observing him. He was unable to see him nor feel him but the god was there. The lonely man, wasn't so lonely after all.

*Roar!!!*

The lonely man's eyes suddenly shot wide-open. As if energized, he jumped out of the basin and ran towards the nearby table. In that table, lies a huge black great sword. The man grabbed the handle of the sword as killing intent leaked out of his body.

Not even bothering to put on any clothes, he kicked his door open and ran outside. There he saw gigantic creatures running towards him with crimson colored eyes and baleful auras.

The man leapt from his yard, brandished his great sword and decapitated a giant ape. With a feral roar, he released his palpable animosity that didn't lose out to the baleful auras of the beasts that wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.

Using the decapitated carcass as a platform, he jumped and shoved his huge sword on the mouth of a giant three-headed lion. A winged beast dove down and grabbed him by the beak. The lonely man let out a pained groan but his killing intent never faltered. Using his bare hand, he punched the beak of the bird. The force was strong enough to shatter the beak, allowing him to wiggle out of it.