Reincarnated Into A World Of Elves As The Only Man-Chapter 45: Last training

."Five hundred and three," Eren counted through gritted teeth, his arms trembling slightly as he lowered his body toward the floor once more. Sweat dripped from his brow, creating small dark patches on the stone beneath him. The morning light streamed through the narrow window of his chamber, casting long shadows across the sparse furnishings.

His muscles burned with the familiar pain of exertion, but it was a sensation he had come to welcome. Each repetition brought him closer to reclaiming what had once been his—strength, power, purpose.

A sharp knock at his door interrupted his count.

"Five hundred and four," he muttered, completing the repetition before rolling to his feet in one fluid motion. His body glistened with sweat as he crossed the room, conscious of how differently he moved now compared to just days ago. Where once there had been hesitation, now there was only certainty.

He pulled the door open to find Viva standing in the corridor, her silver-blonde hair caught in a practical braid that highlighted the delicate points of her ears. Her emerald eyes assessed him with their usual perceptive intensity.

"I guess you’re ready for your final training," she said, a hint of approval in her voice as she noted his improved physique and the way he carried himself.

Eren wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "I’ve been ready since the day I arrived. I just needed to remember it."

A ghost of a smile touched Viva’s lips. "We’ll see. Meet me at the training grounds in twenty minutes." She turned to leave, then paused, glancing back over her shoulder. "Bring nothing but yourself."

As Eren approached the training grounds, he immediately sensed something different in the air—an expectation, a tension that hadn’t been present before. Commander Maria stood at attention, her posture rigid even by her austere standards. Queen Elena was beside her, resplendent in a flowing gown of deep emerald that caught the morning light. Mika lingered nearby, her face still showing faint discoloration from their battle, though she’d recovered remarkably quickly.

’What test awaits me now?’ Eren wondered, scanning the grounds for clues. ’Another fight? Or something else entirely?’

His question was answered moments later when the Lens twins stepped forward into the center of the training area. They moved with perfect synchronicity, their identical features set in matching expressions of concentration. Clad in simple gray tunics, they positioned themselves several paces apart, then extended their hands toward the ground between them.

The earth began to tremble.

At first, it was barely perceptible—a slight vibration beneath Eren’s feet. Then the ground between the twins began to bulge upward, as if some massive creature were about to burst forth. The twins’ arms trembled with effort, veins standing out on their foreheads as they raised their hands slowly, deliberately.

From the earth rose a massive boulder, at least twice Eren’s height and three times his width. It hung suspended between the twins’ outstretched hands, particles of soil cascading from its surface to reveal solid granite beneath. With a final gesture, they set it down, the impact sending a shudder through the training ground.

"So," Eren said, eyeing the massive rock, "I have to fight the twins?"

Commander Maria stepped forward, her boots crunching on the disturbed earth. "No. Your task is simpler." She pointed to a spot roughly fifty paces away, marked by a circle of white stones. "Move the boulder there."

Eren waited for additional instructions—tools to be provided, perhaps, or techniques to be explained. When none came, he looked at the commander with raised eyebrows.

"That’s it? Move the boulder?"

"That’s it," she confirmed, her face impassive.

Eren studied the massive stone, calculating its weight—easily several tons. A slow smile spread across his face as the challenge became clear. He rolled his shoulders, loosening them in preparation.

"Not complaining anymore," Elena observed quietly to Maria, though her voice carried to where Eren stood. "Not being cocky either. Now he sees a problem and wants to solve it, no matter the cost. That’s progress."

Commander Maria nodded slightly, her eyes never leaving Eren. "What are your demands for him regarding the TUNA?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Elena’s expression grew cold, her eyes hard as winter ice. "I have no demands. For he who is about to save the entire kingdom from what’s to come—I am not to stress him anymore."

As Eren approached the boulder, he could feel their eyes on him—Elena’s calculating gaze, Maria’s clinical assessment, Mika’s curious appraisal, Viva’s quiet confidence. The twins had moved to stand beside Commander Maria, their work apparently complete.

He placed his hands against the cool stone surface, feeling its rough texture beneath his palms. Taking a deep breath, he braced his feet and pushed.

Nothing happened.

He increased the pressure, muscles straining beneath his skin, tendons standing out like cords along his arms and neck. The veins in his forehead pulsed as he gritted his teeth, pushing with all his considerable strength.

The boulder remained utterly still.

Eren repositioned himself, digging his heels into the earth for better leverage. He pushed again, channeling every ounce of power through his body. The ground beneath his feet began to crack and crumble, forming small craters where he stood—but the boulder did not move even a hairsbreadth.

Sweat poured down his face and chest as he continued to strain against the immovable object. His breathing became labored, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. Still, the boulder remained fixed in place, as if mocking his efforts.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting shorter shadows across the training ground. Eren tried different approaches—pushing from various angles, attempting to rock the boulder to build momentum, even examining its base for any trick or mechanism. Nothing worked.

As afternoon waned toward evening, Elena finally departed without a word, her green gown billowing behind her like a banner. Commander Maria and Mika followed soon after, leaving only Viva to witness Eren’s continued struggle.

The Lens twins exchanged a glance before they too withdrew, their identical faces betraying nothing of their thoughts.

Night fell, stars emerging in the clear sky above, and still Eren pushed. His hands were raw, his muscles screaming in protest, but he refused to abandon the task. The boulder stood as immobile as when he’d begun, a silent adversary more formidable than any he’d faced.

Viva remained, a quiet sentinel watching from the edge of the training grounds. She made no move to offer advice or assistance, her presence neither encouragement nor distraction—simply witness to his trial.

As moonlight bathed the training ground in silver, Eren finally stepped back, his chest heaving with exertion. He stared at the boulder, his expression a complex mixture of frustration and determination.

"Rest," Viva said, breaking her silence at last. "Tomorrow is another day."

Eren looked at her, the moonlight catching the fierce gleam in his eyes. "Tomorrow nothing changes," he replied. "The boulder will still be here. And so will I."