I Alone Am an EX-Class Summoner - Chapter 155

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Am Alone EX-Grade Summoner Episode 155

SKY Physical Test (2)

Throughout the entire journey.

Rachel couldn’t contain her amazement.

‘Hunkyo.’

Just how absurd was the training method that E-rank summon was conducting…

Moreover.

“Do you follow that training every day too?”

She was also amazed by Baek Jin-woo.

Having finished one round of physical training, he was now doing a handstand on just his thumb, bending and extending his arms.

His expression was even relaxed.

‘Is that something a human can do?’

He said it was for building core muscles…

Considering human muscle structure and weight distribution, balancing the entire body on just one thumb was impossible.

‘Even from an ergonomic perspective!’

The thumb wasn’t designed to support that much weight in the first place.

For that to be possible meant…

Beyond human!

He was no longer human and had transcended those limits.

You know what was even more surprising?

– Uheoeoeong!

– Kwaralalalala…

– …!

Baekho, Golden Dragon, and Great Wizard were all following Hunkyo with satisfied expressions.

Those prideful S-rank summons, no less.

“How is something like this even possible?”

Rachel asked in disbelief.

“Consider yourself lucky. He doesn’t usually teach just anyone… He’s teaching you specially because we’re allies.”

Originally, this was a benefit only given to guild members…

Actually, Baek Jin-woo owed her a debt.

During the league.

She had accepted his absurd duel proposal on the condition of an alliance.

Responding to trust with faith!

That was Baek Jin-woo’s belief.

“Now that you’ve recovered a bit, you should start soon too.”

“…Me too? That absurd training?”

“Yeah, physical training and breathing techniques. Hunkyo will teach you the most suitable methods.”

“…”

She was silent for a moment.

Now she seemed to understand.

Why South Korea’s rankers had grown from low levels to world-class in an instant.

‘It was all thanks to Hunkyo.’

At the same time, she sensed that an opportunity had come to her as well.

Even if not to Jinugod’s level.

A golden opportunity to widen the gap even more with the current Five Emperors!

“Okay.”

She had already decided to do whatever Baek Jin-woo asked anyway.

She hadn’t done anything yet to break that resolve so soon.

“Let’s do it together.”

They had now crossed the mountain range.

After crossing one river and going a bit further, they would arrive at the Lumentian Holy Kingdom.

Not knowing what might happen then, Rachel was thinking of building up her strength as much as possible.

“Huk, heoeok!”

Finally, one of the participants collapsed to the ground in an exhausted state.

His face had turned pale, and his entire body was drenched in sweat.

He was so exhausted that he was even drooling.

“Give up! Give up! I can’t do anymore! Heeek, hek!”

He shouted desperately.

‘I can’t do anymore!’

His chest felt like it would explode rather than just beat fast, and his legs wouldn’t move as if paralyzed.

He was curious how the others were enduring it.

Extreme fatigue had accumulated throughout his body.

Every breath felt like his lungs were tearing.

“Haak, hak!”

At that moment, Gi Jae-hyeok and Kang Ji-ho quickly ran over.

“Well done, you really did great!”

“Here’s some cool water for you!”

A stainless steel tumbler filled to the brim with water floating with ice appeared, looking refreshing.

The participant gulped it down as if possessed by a parasite.

‘Ah, aah…’

‘I want…’

‘To drink too.’

The interns still running swallowed their saliva while watching that scene.

Would water from an oasis discovered in the desert be like that?

Or would the appearance of a soul rescued from hell be like that?

‘I want to be saved too…’

‘I want to escape from this pain!’

Gi Jae-hyeok further enticed and tempted the hearts of such participants.

“Giving up now would be a better choice. It’s only the first day out of a week. Running is the most basic of basics. It’ll be more painful later, you know?”

“That’s right, that’s right! You worked hard! You can practice more and challenge again during the 3rd batch!”

At the two rankers’ consolation, the participant hung his head as if frustrated.

But no tears came.

Rather, a sense of relief bloomed.

‘This is basic? It gets tougher later?’

Right.

It might be better to quit now.

3rd batch?

Bullshit!

The national team is for qualified people!

The participant who immediately acknowledged his own limitations nodded his head.

“Haak, hak. Yes… Huu, huu!”

First physical training.

20 people dropped out that day alone.

80 remained.

“Still impressive though? They endured running for 5 hours straight without rest.”

“We carefully selected them, so that’s expected. They probably prepared their stamina a lot too.”

Council meeting room.

Guild members were discussing this batch of applicants.

Everyone was in decent condition.

Especially.

“That woman named Seo I-yun… She was first place, right?”

“Yes, I heard she majored in ballet at Korea University… Her stamina was incredible.”

She was 28 years old.

Hong Ari had selected her as a key person of interest.

Since her movements were precise and delicate, hopefully her control would be the same…

That part would need to be observed further in the future.

“Everyone worked hard today.”

Clap!

Hong Ari briefly concluded the meeting with a single clap.

“As you know, tomorrow will have even more intense physical training than today. We need to compress it further.”

“What was tomorrow again? High ground running?”

Hwang Ju-won said while rolling his shoulders as if his body was stiff.

Come to think of it, even he, who was in his 50s, had run without breaking a sweat.

The guild members’ level had risen that much.

Actually, it was thanks to the breathing technique, but they’d be able to learn that when they officially joined the guild.

“Yes, it’s Geomdan Mountain hill running.”

They would run up and down a mountain with a 30-degree incline for 4 hours straight.

There were even obstacles installed throughout the slopes.

“We’ll be running together too, so get plenty of sleep.”

SKY spared no expense in providing the best treatment for the remaining 80 applicants.

They had top-tier medical staff and healers restore their muscles, and added premium massage services to gently loosen stiff muscles.

The meals were also flawless.

“Wow, if you join SKY, do you eat food like this every day?”

“…This level could even aim for Michelin three stars, right?”

“Ahh, it just melts in your mouth.”

A full table of delicacies rich in nutrients was prepared.

Energy recovery!

Through the collaboration of Grotelring (A-rank) and the chefs, fresh seafood, meat, and various nutritious dishes were provided.

The sleeping arrangements were the same.

They were provided with the highest-grade premium apartments inside Yubaek City, so that said it all.

“There’s a reason SKY has no choice but to be elite.”

“I feel like all the earlier hardship is being rewarded.”

“I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

The participants recovered from their fatigue and prepared for tomorrow’s second physical training.

They felt both anticipation and nervousness.

Today felt like death, so how hard would tomorrow be?

Still, they couldn’t complain.

All the guild members were enduring that ordeal under even more disadvantageous conditions than themselves.

The fact that they could become stronger just by getting in!

Rather, the participants gained confidence in that.

The next day.

The sun rose.

“This mission is high ground climbing. It’s the same as yesterday. If you want to give up, you can quit anytime.”

Along with Hong Ari’s voice!

Bang!

The starting pistol fired.

“Let’s go go go go go!”

“Let’s gooooo!”

The participants rushed toward the high ground with fighting spirit.

And what about the guild members?

Today was the same.

Two tires each attached!

On this day.

Another 5 dropouts occurred.

The third day.

The intensity of physical training gradually increased.

This time it was circuit training!

A training method that strengthened full-body muscle power in addition to stamina, resembling merciless military training.

Squats, burpees, push-ups, planks, etc.

Under Hong Ari’s commands, they had to perform the corresponding positions accurately…

If they couldn’t do it, they were driven to shout surrender.

On this day.

10 more dropouts occurred.

The fourth day.

The remaining 65 players did track running just the same.

However, what was different?

They also wore two tires!

Naturally, the guild members wore tires plus 20kg sandbags on both legs.

‘Is this even possible?’

‘No, but muscles need time to grow too…’

More and more participants harbored complaints in their hearts, but what could they do?

If they said do it, you had to do it!

Still.

It seemed only the elite remained now.

On this day, only exactly 1 dropout occurred.

To be honest.

Having come this far, it was a moment when the psychology of not wanting to give up worked strongly.

The fifth day.

This time was also high ground climbing, but with tires attached like the fourth day.

Strengthening lower body muscle power and building endurance in situations of continuous stamina consumption!

Naturally, cardiopulmonary endurance was also required.

The participants gradually became afraid.

They had become quite close with the guild members while training together…

Because there was something they always said.

“It’s getting manageable now, right? But we’re basically doing this while relaxing.”

“Actually, the real demon in this training ground exists separately. If you join later, you’ll face this truly terrifying existence every day.”

“…Called Hunkyo. Ugh, my whole body aches already. Did you see? Just thinking about it now made my hair stand on end.”

“Haha, you can’t even whine in front of Hunkyo. He’s a ghost who can tell exactly how much stamina you have left and how much more you can perform with just one look.”

Hunkyo.

His notoriety seemed quite high.

‘My goodness.’

‘Hunkyo was like that?’

‘…He’s Baek Jin-woo’s summon though.’

But it didn’t really hit home.

Since they hadn’t experienced it yet.

On this day.

For the first time, there were no dropouts.

The sixth day.

The time for the final physical training had come.

Today’s training was a comprehensive extreme course.

Running, climbing high ground, circuit training!

These three continued endlessly, and it truly was literally endless.

“We’ll continue until dropouts occur. Only 50 people! Can advance to the next stage.”

Hong Ari declared coldly.

Her words signaled the beginning of competition.

The intensity increased even more harshly, and hellish time continued.

Eventually, 14 dropouts occurred in less than 5 hours.

The 14 had to taste the bitterness of elimination with their heads hung low, while conversely the remaining 50 felt relief and could finally meet the end of physical training.

“Huff, huff!”

None of them who sat down gasping for breath could believe their achievement.

‘I survived.’

‘It was a nightmare…’

‘Even North Korean operatives wouldn’t have been this intense.’

Their bodies were tired, but joy and accomplishment soaked their entire beings.

Hong Ari stepped forward in front of them.

A slight smile appeared on her usually hardened expression.

“Congratulations. You have passed the first gateway.”

But the words that followed were cold and sharp, unlike her smile.

“However, this is only the beginning. During the remaining 3 weeks, you’ll face more tests and extreme training. Tomorrow you’ll be given complete rest time, so rest freely and think carefully. Whether this path is truly the one you want to take.”

It was a kind of warning.

SKY is a group that aims to become the world’s best, beyond national representatives.

Entering there is never an easy task.

Talent is needed, and effort to match it must be made.

The will and tenacity to accomplish all of this is also necessary.

Her warning ignited fire in the participants’ hearts rather than surrender.

‘Absolutely…’

‘I’m going to get in no matter what.’

‘I’ve come this far, so I must succeed!’

However, there were still 50 people remaining.

SKY’s door was still extremely narrow.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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