Terra Nova Online: Rise of The Strongest Player

Chapter 607: Last Day Of Training

( One week later )

On the last day of Dumpy’s initial one month training, he grew in size to become an 18 feet tall behemoth when it stood up vertically on both legs.

While squatting like a frog, his height was reduced to only 12.5 feet, however, he still looked nearly twice as tall as Leo and was a towering presence in any room that he walked in.

He had in fact grown so tall that he could no longer fit in many of the manor’s rooms, and apart from the main hallway that led to the garden and out, Dumpy could visit no other spots.

“I quite enjoy listening to your tales of epic adventures Lord Father and it saddens me greatly that you will no longer entertain me with more such tales” Dumpy said painfully, his voice sounding gruff and deep as he voiced his dissatisfaction to Leo.

“Tales and adventures are for kids Dumpy, REAL MEN, create adventures together.

If you think I’ll keep you sheltered forever, then you’re wrong.

It’s time for you to go out in the world now, and write your own story–” Leo replied, as despite looking puny in front of Dumpy now, he did not lose any of his usual suave and confidence.

“By Lord Father’s command, I’m prepared to charge into any battlefield you choose and take part in whatever adventure you set before me.

I no longer fear writing my own story, but I do fear losing Lord Father’s protection.” Dumpy said, as Leo raised his hand in anger.

“You will never lose my protection, but if you think I’ll shelter you forever then you’re wrong.

You have to start fending for yourself and grow up.

And as your first challenge, I’m going to take you with me to an active battlefield soon.

I tolerate your insolence in private, but if you endanger my missions, I will not forgive you boy, you better remember that.

I have not yet laid a hand on you out of love, but if you force my hand, it won’t be a battle where you come out victorious, believe that— ” Leo said, as Dumpy hung his head in shame.

After the incident with the adventurer group, Leo had given him the harshest scolding of his life and had taught him the importance of showing restraint.

Although his motivations to challenge the adventurers were pure, Leo scolded him enough to ensure that a repeat of this event did not take place.

“I will not fail you, Lord Father. I will show restraint, both to your allies and even to your enemies,” Dumpy promised. Yet, despite his words, Leo found his promise hard to believe.

Even now, if Albert happened to stumble upon their conversation, unintentionally interrupting them, Dumpy would glare at the poor butler with murderous eyes, clearly harboring the intent to punish him for the offense, which made Leo feel like the frog had clearly not learnt his lesson.

Nonetheless, since Dumpy had made his promise, Leo nodded in acknowledgment and began his final story for the moment.

This time around, he recounted the pain of losing his master, Ben, and revealed his plan to wage war against the Empire, vowing to burn it down for the crime of killing his mentor.

It was a deeply emotional story, and Dumpy found Leo’s motivations to wage this said war to be completely justified.

He vowed to take revenge not only for Leo’s master but also for his own Lord Grandfather, as he now considered Ben to be his grandfather after Leo’s story.

However, Leo did not take Dumpy’s promise too seriously yet, as despite being an impressive fighter, Dumpy’s skills were on par with a level 350 player at best, with the added advantage of a remarkable burst of speed.

While Leo trusted him to hold his own on a battlefield, he doubted Dumpy’s ability to bring down the entire Empire at this stage.

As per the beast tamer’s manual, it would take another six months to a year for a normal ancient swamp frog to reach the level of a master warrior, and a few more years to ascend to the grandmaster realm.

These were normal standards, though, and if Dumpy proved to be a prodigy, he could cut this time in half.

Nonetheless, for now, Dumpy was not a key factor in the upcoming rebellion to seize control of the Eastern Duchy and as a result, Leo assigned him the role of an ordinary foot soldier, giving him the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the art of war.

“Come, today, I’ll give you the honor of fighting me in a spar, consider this to be your final direct lesson from me.

If you manage to land a single hit on my body, a single scratch, I promise to continue telling you the stories you like for a month more.

But if you fail, I want you to remain absolutely obedient in the upcoming war, accepting any role I give you with humility and grace” Leo said, as Dumpy looked towards him with eyes full of determination.

For him, Leo’s story time was invaluable and he wanted to continue listening to his tales of valor for a month more, and hence he decided to fight Leo with all his strength.

However, this was a calculated move on Leo’s part, whereby he wished to end Dumpy’s training by directly establishing his dominance.

The gap between the two was still large enough for Leo to not break a sweat in the spar and hence he remained confident that no matter what Dumpy tried today, the frog would be unable to land a hit on his body.

*Shing*

Pulling a single dagger out from his assassin’s belt, Leo took a very casual fighting pose as he did not even look too bothered, while Dumpy drew his sword and clutched it anxiously, thinking about a million attack combinations in his head.

The atmosphere between them became charged, as after letting out a deep nervous breath, Dumpy finally charged at his master with the intent to injure him.