A few weeks later, the pristine white training hall was no longer so clean. Scorch marks streaked the floor where fireballs had missed their mark.
The walls were riddled with countless tiny indentations from thrown daggers, and a distinct, musky scent of sweat and exhausted mana hung in the air.
The team had been pushed to their breaking point and beyond, each day a new trial concocted by Jinchul.
The quiet, almost serene authority that Jinchul possessed was now a demanding, relentless presence. His training was not about brute strength, but about control, efficiency, and instinct.
He had used his mana perception to exploit their every weakness, forcing them to adapt or fail. Byung-gyu watched from a safe distance, his respect for his new friend growing with each session. He had never seen a leader push hunters this way, not even an S-rank.
Seok's training with Jinchul was a sight to behold. Jinchul, without revealing his secret, would strike Seok with mana-infused blows. The attacks weren't meant to injure, but to test and improve Seok's Fortify skill.
In the beginning, Seok would reel from the impact, his bones groaning under the pressure. But with each day, his body became a more efficient tool. He no longer simply absorbed the shock; he learned to channel the force, diffusing it across his body and nullifying its impact. He could now stand firm, his legs unmoving, against a blow that would have sent him flying a week ago.
"Chiefl, his skill, Fortify, is now on a whole new level," Dun-He reported, her mana reader blinking with data points. "His mana usage for Iron Bastion has dropped by almost 20%. It's like his body is doing a lot of the work itself."
Jinchul nodded, his gaze fixed on Seok. "He's not just a tank; he's a mana-absorbing wall. He can now be the team's shield, not just a meat shield."
Kang Taeshik was a blur of motion. Jinchul had him practice against illusionary figures that only he could see, forcing him to rely on his mana sense rather than his eyes.
The assassin's movements, once fluid, were now a lethal dance, each step calculated. He could now weave through Jinchul's physical and mana-infused attacks, his daggers landing on Jinchul's weak points—marked with a faint mana signature—with unnerving precision.
"You're relying too much on speed," Jinchul had said on the first day. "A true assassin moves with purpose. Every step, every flicker of a blade, must be a thought-out strike. Speed is a byproduct of efficiency, not the goal itself."
Now, Taeshik moved with a quiet, lethal grace. He could disappear and reappear in a split second, his presence a ghost-like flicker. He had learned to read the mana flow of his opponent, predicting their moves before they even made them.
Song Chiyul's greatest weakness was his mana control. He could throw fireballs like a cannon, but he'd burn out quickly. Jinchul's training focused on precision and efficiency.
He had Chiyul use his flames to draw intricate patterns on a wall, forcing him to use only the bare minimum of mana. Then, he had him create mana constructs and hold them in the air for minutes at a time.
Chiyul could now conjure a small flame in the palm of his hand, and it would not flicker, nor would it burn out. He could create complex mana constructs, shaping fire into shields, blades, and even a whip. He was no longer just a mage; he was a conductor, a master of his own element.
"I can feel the mana flow differently now," Chiyul said, a bead of sweat dripping from his chin. "It's not just something I throw; it's a part of me."
Even the two D-Rank hunters were training and pushing their limits. Kim even thought that if he trained like this he would either become a Top C Rank or Die.
Lee & Kim didn't know but their rank was slowly becoming a C Rank. They were stuck at D Rank for years thinking they wouldn't advance anymore. But Jinchul knows their true strength is not being a hunter but in administration.
So he taught them how to read/sense mana mainly without any devices and they proved his choice was right.
Looks like we need to increase the monitoring team's training later. Let these two take care of it, thought Jinchul while turning his head to the training hall entrance where now everyone can hear the sound of faint footsteps.
The President of the association, Go Gunhee, arrived at the entrance looking at the team which was focusing on their own training.
"Greetings, Mr. President" ,Jinchul bowed slightly along with Lee & Kim.
"It looks like you trained them well. Unlike before, they are using their mana appropriately" said Gunhee, who was heard by everyone and they came forward to greet him.
"Yes, President, they are learning to use it effectively but it will take some time for them to make it a habit" replied Jinchul while looking at his team. Even though he said like that he can already see they are more than ready to participate in dungeons and clear it effectively.
"Can I also join your sparring session then?" questioned Gunhee suddenly for which everyone widened their eyes in shock.
"President, you are still healing, so no you cannot participate in any activities like sparring. It's for your own good" wailed Min Byung-Gyu to the President.
"Jin, talk to your president, he keeps on asking regarding this" Byung-Gyu transferred the ball to Jinchul who was watching from the side.
"President, when you are fully healed, myself and my team will fight you. So please heal yourself properly." told Jinchul.
"Hahahaha I thought of relaxing a little you know. Always sitting in the desk is breaking my back" laughed Gunhee.
"Well the Knight Guild Master is going to be here sometime, You need to be present for the discussion, Jinchul as you are the mastermind behind it" Gunhee told Jinchul.
"Definitely President, I will come with you right away. You guys can have a day off" replied Jinchul while also giving the team their off time which led to happiness on their faces.
"It looks like you had grilled them thoroughly," Gunhee asked Jinchul while they were walking back.
"Well, we do not know how much time we have left. So I trained them fully. Luckily the load for monitoring the dungeons was less and going peacefully" replied Jinchul.
"Do you think their rank may increase?" questioned Gunhee
"I think it will happen when they hit the dungeons regularly, President. They need its environment to push higher" replied Jinchul.