Free Web NovelChapter 54: Chapter 54 The bruises will be gone tomorrow.
Something struck her shoulder.
She stumbled but didn’t fall.
"Damn it!"
More objects came.....faster now and she blocked what she could....dodged when possible but many still slipped through her defense.
Each hit sent sharp pain shooting through her body.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Her arms, back, legs.....even her sides.
It wasn’t just her face anymore but her entire body was under attack.
At one point, the force of a hit made her feel like her bones might crack.
Her vision blurred slightly, jer breathing grew heavier but she didn’t stop not wanting to start all over.
Ding!
{One hour and thirty minutes remaining, Host.}
Ivy gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her face.
Another object flew toward her and this time...she caught it, her reflexes sharpening.
Her movements faster, her body adapting even through the pain.
****
It was no longer early morning.
The sun had fully risen and now hung high in the sky, blazing down relentlessly on Ivy. Its harsh rays bore into her skin, making everything feel hotter, heavier... suffocating.
The heat only added to her suffering as beads of sweat rolled continuously down her face, tracing along her jaw and dripping from her chin. Her entire body was drenched, her clothes clinging tightly to her skin as though she had been submerged in water.
It wasn’t just sweat anymore....it was exhaustion pouring out of her.
Ding!
{One hour remaining, Host.}
Ivy’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing uneven and heavy.
Her entire body ached.
Every inch of her skin throbbed with pain, marked with splashes of color from the relentless attacks. Bruises layered over bruises, her body a canvas of punishment.
Yet her grip on the baseball bat tightened.
Her fingers trembled slightly...but they did not loosen.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
More objects flew toward her.
Thwack!
One object deflected.
Smack!
"Ow—!"
A sharp cry escaped her as something struck her side.
Her knees buckled slightly.
For a moment...
Her vision blurred.
Darkness threatened to creep in at the edges. freeweɓnøvel.com
She bit down hard on her lower lip, the taste of blood grounding her.
Ding!
{Thirty minutes remaining, Host.}
Ivy let out a shaky breath, her lips curling into a faint, exhausted smile.
"Thirty minutes..." she murmured weakly.
"Just thirty minutes more..."
Her voice was barely audible, almost swallowed by the sound of objects slicing through the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The attacks didn’t slow.
If anything, they felt faster.
More aggressive but Ivy pushed through.
Ding!
{Congratulations, Host. You have successfully completed the two-hour training.}
And with that...Ivy collapsed unto the ground.
She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently as she struggled to breathe.
Without needing to ask from her system...A bottle of cold water suddenly appeared beside her, along with a bucket filled with cold water.
Ivy quickly grabbed the bottle of water, and opened it and the moment the cool liquid touched her lips, she drank.
Water spilled slightly from the corners of her mouth as she gulped it down, her throat working quickly.
Soon, she let out a relieved breath once the bottle was empty, her body relaxing just a little. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
With what little strength she had left, Ivy dragged the bucket closer to herself and poured it over her head.
Water rushed down her body, soaking her completely.
The coolness sent a sharp, almost painful sensation through her overheated skin.
The training continued after a thirty-minute rest, giving Ivy just enough time to check on her children. Once she confirmed they were fine, she returned to her training without hesitation.
Since she had completed the basic drills, she moved on to weapon handling.
Guns. Cutlasses. Bows and arrows. Bombs.
Everything was provided by the system, neatly stored in a basket that seemed endless. It only took Ivy three guided attempts from the system before she began to grasp each weapon properly. By the fourth try, she was already firing guns with steady precision and shooting arrows with surprising accuracy.
The training lasted the entire day.
In between sessions, Ivy breastfed her baby, prepared dinner for Aria and Lila, and endured the growing soreness in her body. To hide the injuries she had sustained, she wore long-sleeved hoodies and trousers, concealing everything except her face since Aria and Lila had already seen it earlier.
However, the discoloration on her face had worsened compared to the morning.
So, Ivy put on a face mask.
"Why are you wearing a face mask, Mommy? Are you okay?" Lila asked first, her brows furrowed with concern as she stood beside her sister in the kitchen.
The two girls watched Ivy carefully as she cooked creamy spaghetti and chicken, the rich aroma filling the small space.
"It’s nothing, my love," Ivy replied gently. "Mummy just doesn’t want to inhale too much of the food aroma."
Aria and Lila exchanged glances before nodding, seemingly satisfied with the explanation.
Then suddenly, Aria accidentally pressed against Ivy’s hand.
Ivy flinched sharply.
"Mommy, what’s wrong?" Aria asked immediately, her voice laced with worry.
Ivy forced a small smile, quickly masking the pain.
"It’s nothing, sweetheart," she said calmly. "My body is just a bit sensitive since I just gave birth."
Once again, the girls nodded, trusting her words without question.
After finishing the cooking and serving the girls their meals, Ivy continued multitasking....breastfeeding Hope, bathing her, and settling her to sleep.
Only after everything was done did Ivy quietly step out of the shelter once more.
Hope was already asleep, and by the time Ivy resumed her training outside...
Aria and Lila had also drifted off.
Hours later, Ivy returned.
She let out a deep sigh of relief as she stood by their side, watching their peaceful sleeping faces. For a moment, the tension in her body eased.
Then she headed to the bathroom.
Cool water ran over her skin, washing away sweat, dirt, and the strain of relentless training. By the time she stepped out, her muscles still ached, but her mind felt clearer.
She lay down on the bed, her body finally surrendering to exhaustion.
{The bruises will be gone before tomorrow, Host.}
Ivy gave a faint nod in response.
Then she closed her eyes...
...and waited for sleep to claim her
