Chapter 82: Ironskin (I)
Although Mark and Lila suddenly got their willpower strengthened after what happened yesterday, they were still undoubtedly weak and new to these things.
They might have known the Broad Kick as a wrestler, of course; the only difference between Arnold and other wrestlers was his ability to deliver moves in a more terrifying, brutal way.
This was why the system had raised an alarm.
"That's too bad... Again. When you two make a perfect strike, I will notify you," Arnold said, shook his head, and walked out of the ring Lila was practicing.
Mark was in another ring next to Lila's, but Arnold was also paying good attention to his strikes. With the help of the system, he wouldn't need to pay too much attention anyway... The system would be doing that for him.
However, at the same time, it would be taking care of his Hardcore Wrestling lessons as well.
Crazy? Well, the Pro Wrestling System can just do that.
[6% perfect.]
[5% perfect.]
[7% perfect.]
[10% perfect.]
Before Arnold began his training, the system had made several analyses of Mark and Lila's practices.
Shockingly, Lila was making more progress than Mark. Not only did she have a stronger willpower than him, she was more focused and smart.
She always tried to make the next strike tougher than the initial, always making every next move better.
Mark, on the other side, was also trying to improve, but it was clear that he lacked full devotion... His willpower wasn't as high compared to that of Lila.
Noticing this, Arnold could only shake his head...
'Alright... I should begin the Hardcore Wrestling now," Arnold was set to work on his ambition.
[Sure, if you say so. But are you sure you really want to start now?]
"Yes, I'm ready... I know you want me to start now, too," Arnold gave a confident expression.
[Hardcore Wrestling isn't like the typical wrestling practices you do. This is different and difficult, attribute-consuming until you can gain your first Combat Energy Point.]
The system began explaining.
"Attribute-consuming? Do you mean it would take some points out of my attributes when I practice?"
[Absolutely, yes. Until you gain your first Combat Energy Point, your lessons on the Hardcore Wrestling Art will consume some attribute points, depending on the kind of skill you practice.]
Honestly, Arnold was shaken by this information. How could one have to spend his hard-earned attribute points to practice Hardcore Wrestling? It was crazy indeed, but it only looked like he had little to no choice.
He needed to learn Hardcore Wrestling since the system told him that it was important for his improvement. Although the attribute points were important as well, as they had helped him enhance his physical fitness, well, it wasn't until the system gave some advice that Arnold had second thoughts.
[You don't need to worry too much, host. You would only learn a single Hardcore Wrestling move and perfect it before learning another.]
[You are going to learn "Ironskin" for a start.]
[Ironskin is not an attacking move but a skin-strengthening body art. After learning this, your skin would gain some hardness, making wrestling attacks cause little to no harm to you... Slight pain.]
Arnold's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Whoa. Why would I need that? All wrestlers are humans and we almost have the same kind of skin. Having a hard skin would only make the cheat too much," Arnold thought about this and decided to object.
[All wrestlers are humans... Yes. At least for now... Maybe not in the future.]
"What do you mean?" Arnold needed more explanation, noticing that the system had left him in suspense.
[Like I said, you aren't ready to hear about this yet. But trust me, you need to practice everything about Hardcore Wrestling. I'm your Advocate, and I only want your success.]
The usual statement always hit him the same way every time, boasting Arnold's belief. He only needed to know what the system had in mind, perhaps what was going to happen someday...
Arnold was someone who hated being kept in suspense, and not with something that required practicing a skin-hardening body art. It was crazy and frightening at the same time.
Sigh...
"Honestly, the system is becoming more strange these days," Arnold muttered.
When he was set to begin the Ironskin training, he summoned the system for guidance.
[Ironskin (Skin of Champions)(A-grade).]
[Learning duration: 10 days.]
"Ten days? Why can't I complete the practice now, today?!"
[This is unlike the typical wrestling moves and skills you practice in a day. It's a development made gradually for quite a while. Even if you try to complete the training today, well, it's just impossible.]
Arnold frowned. "Well, I'd better start training now."
In a few days, Arnold would be meeting the general manager together with Tristan Black for the Winner Takes All Match confirmation. After that, they would be announcing it to the fans, perhaps officially making it a pay-per-view main event in December.
Arnold didn't want his training life to affect his rightful duties, so he, at least, had to create schedules.
Although he needed to see what the Hardcore Wrestling Art have got.
The training began.
[Ironskin is learned by causing hard damage to your skin and giving it force pressure. At this point you have a 12% Ironskin level due to the attacks you have received in wrestling matches.]
[If you could only reach 90%, it would be satisfying.]
"No, I'm reaching the peak," Arnold objected.
[That's ambitious of you, host. Then you would have to put more effort.]
[Remember, this is unlike typical wrestling moves... Be extremely ready. I would spare 5 status points for you to allocate to your Endurance to reduce the rate of pain after every received attack.]
Arnold nodded in acceptance.
This turned out to be some kind of crazy training in the end. It was unbelievable why he would have to launch attacks like the Splash, the Swanton Bomb, and other devastating wrestling moves against himself.
In short, the system had just advised him to summon his friends to come beat him up.
Though it was going to be challenging...
It was only a matter of time before he could become an Iron-skinned wrestling monster!