The Author's POV

Laying down on the floor panting, I turned my head to the right where Donna's figure could be seen holding onto a large metal staff. Seeing this, I pleaded.

"Huff..huff...huff...Miss Longbern, please let me rest!"

Hearing my plea, Donna ignored me and proceeded to lightly sway the metal staff on her shoulder as she shook her head and said.

"Nope, we still have got one hour left before the session ends so hurry up and get up"

" Ghhh...damn it!"

Helpless, I could only lift my tired body up and once again prepared myself to be subjected to Donna's merciless beating.

-Clank!

"khh..."

As soon as I stood up, without giving me a chance to recover, Donna appeared before me and horizontally swung the staff in her hand. As she swung her staff, hurtling in my direction, it's metal body split the air apart.

"huup!"

Seeing the staff move, without hesitation, I ducked my body down and avoided it within a hairbreadth.

"Not bad but not good enough"

Seeing me dodge her attack, a faint smile appeared on Donna's lips as she suddenly halted her movement mid-swing and swung the staff downwards. Seeing this, I helplessly mumbled.

"...that's cheating"

-Bang!

The last thing I heard was the sound of the staff splitting the air before a tremendous force hit my back causing me to fall face-first on the ground.

-Dank!

"Gaaaahhh!"

Hitting the ground, a painful groan escaped from my mouth as I clenched my fists and tried my best to withhold the pain.

...it hurt like hell.

It felt as though someone had slapped my naked back with the palm of their hand at full force. The pain was something that couldn't be described in words...excruciating.

On the bright side, fortunately, she held back, otherwise, I would've found myself without a spine.

"Not bad you've improved quite a bit since your first lesson"

Leisurely putting the metal staff on her shoulder, Donna walked around me as she nodded her head in appreciation.

...ever since the first day that Donna had started training Ren, she realized that he was indeed talented.

With every lesson they had, she would see him improve quickly. When she asked him how he was able to learn so quickly, the response Donna got was...

'I just repeat what we've learned in the previous lesson until I memorize what I could've done better and where I went wrong, this way I don't make the same mistake again'

incredibly pleased. This was exactly what

someone to be talented...but unless you put in the work and actively sought to improve yourself rather than remaining complacent...only then that you will set yourself apart

regardless of their talent

Donna's

that you were moving and positioning yourself, I can see that you've improved a lot. I'm

had just spoken, as a

was able to improve so much is because of your amazing teaching ability Miss Longbern. Without you, I would've never gotten

true, half of it was just me being

been continuously beaten black and blue by her. There was not a single day where I would come

the training was that whenever I managed to somewhat adjust to Donna's rhythm, she would once again increase her intensity resulting in the same thing repeating all over

had persisted for one and a

since I started training with Donna, and my strength had seen a considerable

to get a better understanding of wind psyons which resulted in my sword art seeing an improvement

the [Keiki style] and [Drifting steps] were now at the Greater realm of mastery which was resulted in a significant boost in my strength as I was now finally able to perform the third movement of the [Keiki style]

move, what set this move apart was that it

although it was strong, it wasn't perfect as it required far more mana to use and took more time to charge

being able to perform the third movement, I was now significantly stronger than

took from Donna. Simply put, if the current me fought against the me from a month prior, I would beat myself black and blue as Donna did to

beaten figure and hearing his sarcastic remark, Donna

learn the

firmed my tone and

Every word that

her purple eyes shining slightly, I suddenly lost control

the sarcasm, I

I once again sarcastically

and wholeheartedly follow the wise words

brow and lifting the metal staff in the

"You want another beating?"

staff, smiling kindly, I shook my

seems like I have to go...goodbye Miss Longbern, see you on Friday

it looked like I was running away, in fact, I wasn't. Even though I said all of that, I

a half with Donna, we had gotten

Longbern, our relationship had gotten to the point

serious about beating

...I hope.

I

I was about to leave, Donna's crisp voice

leave I have something I want to

around, I raised my

do

took out her tablet from her dimensional

a couple of

ominous feeling arose in my heart.

"...Ready for what?"

of her hand on top of the staff, Donna twirled the staff on the

on the first day. Do not worry, you won't be alone as

"..."

a short pause, I couldn't help but groan out

"...you're kidding"