Scumbag Fate System

Chapter 126: Training Week (2)

Day twelve! Limits and Connection

Reinhard stood alone in the arena, the moon casting long shadows through the high windows. Everyone else had gone to bed hours ago. But he couldn’t stop. Not yet.

He activated Precognition and Spatial Lord together. The vision appeared, five seconds ahead, showing him gripping space and pulling. Then he did it for real, his hand catching the air like fabric.

The conflicting energies tore through him. His vision fractured, and pain exploded behind his eyes again.

He managed to hold it for five seconds before his legs gave out.

Reinhard collapsed onto his back, gasping for air while staring up at the arena ceiling.

He felt sweat dripping into his eyes. His entire body was trembling from exhaustion and pain.

Fate System. He thought as he continued staring up at the white ceiling. I’m getting better at using multiple Sigils.

Reinhard wiped the sweat off his brow.

But why were they incompatible in the first place... Reinhard tilted his head.

[Host... As you already know, one can’t have multiple Sigil.]

[Each Sigil you possess was copied from a different individual. They carry traces of their original owners’ energy patterns. When you activate multiple Sigils at the same time, these patterns conflict, like mixing incompatible blood types or energies.]

Reinhard sat up slowly, ignoring how his muscles protested. So I’m forcing foreign energy patterns to work together inside my body?

[Correct. Your natural adaptability enables this, which would be fatal to normal individuals. But the strain is real, and the danger is significant.]

[Current synchronization rates:]

[Precognition + Spatial Lord: 34%]

[Precognition + Void: 12%]

[Spatial Lord + Phasing: 41%]

[All four simultaneously: 0.3%]

Point three percent. Essentially impossible.

But he was surprised that the Fate system could display his sync rates, which would be very valuable in the future.

What happens if I keep pushing? Reinhard asked.

[Your body will continue adapting, and the Sigils will harmonize. But Host...]

The system paused.

[If you force synchronization before your body is ready... something may break.]

Define "break," Reinhard thought carefully.

[Well, host... Your body will lose some of its functions, such as the ability to use your limbs, and permanent Sigil damage. In extreme cases: death.]

The blunt answer hung in his vision.

[My recommendation! Continue gradual training, but do not attempt three Sigil synchronization until compatibility reaches a minimum 60%. Do not attempt four Sigil synchronization until compatibility reaches a minimum 85%.]

[Current timeline for safe four Sigil use: approximately 8 to 12 months of continued training]

Eight to twelve months, but he had one week left before leaving for Silent Peak.

What if I don’t have eight months? Reinhard asked. What if I need that power now?

[Then, the host must accept the risk of catastrophic failure.]

Reinhard stared at the warning text, then dismissed it. He lay back down on the arena floor, staring at the ceiling again.

Tomorrow is day thirteen, he thought.

[Host’s base physical capabilities have increased significantly]

[Strength: Extreme to Extremely High]

[Stamina: Extreme to Extremely High]

[Your body is adapting well, but remember it has limits. Pushing past those limits puts severe strain on your entire system.]

The positive notifications tried to reassure him. But the warning still echoed.

Something may break.

He’d just have to make sure it wasn’t him. Or anyone he cared about.

"You don’t have to push that hard."

Reinhard’s eyes snapped open. He’d been so focused on the system notifications that he hadn’t heard anyone approach.

Yor stood a few feet away, looking down at him with concern clear in her silver eyes. She wasn’t wearing her usual training clothes, just a simple dress that suggested she’d come looking for him specifically.

"Yor," Reinhard said while sitting up slowly. His body protested every movement. "What are you doing here so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing." She moved closer and knelt beside him. "It’s past midnight. You’ve been training for over three hours since official practice ended."

"How did you know?"

"I’ve been checking the arena every night this week." Yor’s voice was quiet but carried an edge of emotion he wasn’t used to hearing from her. "You always come here after everyone else sleeps. You push yourself until you collapse, and you think no one notices."

Reinhard looked away with a sigh. "I need to get stronger. One week isn’t enough time..."

"Stop." Yor’s hand caught his chin gently, turning his face back toward her. "Just stop for a moment and listen to me."

Her touch was warm. Her composure, usually so perfect and controlled, had cracks in it now.

"If you’re not strong enough at Silent Peak," Reinhard said quietly, "Then a tragedy will happen. I can’t let that happen."

"Reinhard." Yor’s voice cracked slightly. "You’ve already done more than anyone could ask. You saved me when no one else could. You gave me back my parents. And help given me the chance to see what happened to my grandparents."

She moved even closer, her other hand finding his. "You don’t have to carry everything alone. You don’t have to destroy yourself trying to become invincible overnight."

"But what if..."

"What if you push so hard that you break before we even reach the mountain?" Yor interrupted, her grip on his hands tightening. "What if you damage yourself so badly that when we actually need you, you’re not there? What good is all this training if it leaves you unable to actually protect anyone?"

The logic hit harder than any punch to the face.

He knew she was right.

"I’m scared," Yor admitted, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "I’m scared of what’s waiting at Silent Peak. I’m scared of what the Void Sovereign might want from me. But you know what terrifies me more?"

She leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. "Watching you hurt yourself like this. Seeing you push past every limit your body has. Knowing that if something happens to you, it’ll be because you were trying so hard to protect me."

Reinhard’s chest tightened. "Yor..."

"As you told me before, you aren’t alone." She said softly with a faint smile. "Now, no more pushing yourself and trust that everyone will be ready by the end of the month."

Her calm presence, her steady grip on his hands, did more than even the Fate System notification.

Maybe he was pushing too hard, too fast.

"Okay," Reinhard said finally. "You’re right. I’ll be more careful."

Yor’s expression softened into something that looked like relief.

"Good," she said. "Because I can’t have you collapsing on me during the climb. Who else would I trust to watch my back?"

Was she... flirting? The slight tease in her voice, the way her smile lingered, was different from her usual composed demeanor. He didn’t think she would be the type, but it did make him a bit amused.

"I thought you could handle yourself pretty well," Reinhard said, matching her tone.

"I can." Yor laughed lightly. "But it’s better to know people have my back. I’m unfortunately not all-knowing ~" She paused as her thumb gently caressed his knuckles, making his body shiver in warmth.

"You make me feel the same way," Reinhard admitted. "Safe, I mean. Like, no matter what happens, we’ll figure it out together."

"Together," Yor repeated softly. "I like that."

They stayed like that for a moment, hands clasped, sitting on the arena floor.

Then Yor stood abruptly and pulled him to his feet with surprising strength. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Late-night snack." Yor’s eyes sparkled with unexpected happiness. "You’ve been training for hours. You need to eat. And I..." She paused, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I want to spend time with you. Away from training and Sigils and Silent Peak. Just... us."

Reinhard smiled and nodded. "I would love that."

Yor beamed at him before pulling him out of the room. And Reinhard simply laughed on the way.