A man could be seen exiting the Tower, deep in thoughts. In his hands, he was playing with what looked like a small black button. How much corruption could such a little thing hold? Well, a bit given it was called a breath of corruption. 

He kept pondering about how to get stronger. His main flaw right now was the lack of skills. He couldn't control his mana one bit. Yet, he was able to make his weapon morph, which was very similar according to Dario. 

What this needed was a brainstorm. He entered the Draconic general chat. 

-Josh MF Malum: Anyone who's not busy, meet me at the guild in about 10 minutes. It will be a focus group on how one can become stronger, especially on the topic of skills.

Hopefully a few would show up, right? He slowly made his way there. As he arrived, he couldn't help but gasp as tons of members were gathered there. What was happening? 

They were excitingly talking about some amazing new super-secret training. It seemed that Josh had the worst timing. Who'd be interested in a focus group when there was something so cool going on? No one. 

But as someone noticed him, they instantly began clamoring. "Shhh everyone, he's here!" Then they all quieted down, staring at Josh with sparkling eyes. 

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow perplexed. "What are you guys up to?" 

"Sir, we're awaiting your wisdom!" 

"Wait, what? My wisdom? I don't have time for that, I'm busy with something." He figured he'd ask Dale and began heading to the VR room. But with every step he took, they followed. 

There was clearly a misunderstanding somewhere. Opening the chat, he figured out what had happened. 

- Tanky Barbara: Focus group? Why would THE Josh MF Malum be organizing a focus group? *confused* 

- Raffa loves Kunais: Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the bed? 

- Dimitri the Musician: Guys, guys! This is a test! He wants to see if we'll participate! 

- Crazy Axe: Guys, guys! I just told his two disciples about it and they will be attending!

- Joel the Explorer: So why should we care? 

- Crazy Axe: Because these freaks only know to train! Don't you realize? This is going to somehow be a form of training. I don't know how but….

- Li Jet: That actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks, I'll be attending! 

Josh almost face-palmed when he read that. Of course, they would only train, that's the very reason he had brought them to Draconic! 

They did other stuff, but they did it outside the guild, obviously. Had they forgotten that the two weren't members of this guild in the first place? 

The more Josh scrolled and the more idiots accepted that ridiculous idea. Then again, that would be a good lesson. 

"Alright, make sure to follow me if you want to participate in what is nothing else than a focus group!" He even added a wink at the end. 

Instantly smiles blossomed on the followers' faces as they couldn't believe their 'luck' of having this 'golden' opportunity. This was obviously the 'secret training'. Soon everyone was settled in the VR room, with his disciples joining them. 

There was no table or chair, only people sitting in a circle on the ground. This almost looked like that cool game where werewolves tried to kill villagers. What was it called again? 

Josh took a deep narrator voice. "Now, I will be handing out pens and paper. You will all think of one way to train magical skills. It needs to be unrelated to gaining experience in the Tower. Clear enough?"

They all nodded, some seemingly wondering what was happening. Skills were obviously awarded from leveling up. Could it be that he was testing their ability to think outside the box? 

"Now, every round, the two individuals with the dumbest ideas are going to get eliminated.  The last one standing wins. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir!" They had the spirit for sure. 

"Now, close your eyes. It is night. Start writing. Remember, it can be anything. It just needs to sound smarter than what your opponents are suggesting." Josh played the game master. 

Josh could see the tension as many wore serious expressions. Then they began scribbling their heart away. Some were even grimacing, apparently finding the exercise difficult. 

He began walking around checking all the answers. Let's just say there were many, they varied a lot from one to another too. 

- Sit in a pool until one can use water magic 

- Meditate in a temple until enlightenment is reached 

- Taser one's balls to develop an affinity for thunder. 

- Sacrifice lives to a dark god in exchange for power.

- Train blindfolded until a sixth sense is obtained. 

- Endure beatings every day until the body unlocked a resistance skill. 

- Chop wood until the hands become bloody, and an ability is gained. 

- Volunteer at a hospital until a caretaker skill is gained. 

- Pray to the gods for a skill. 

"Alright, everyone. You can now wake up. Whoever had 'beg the gods' you're out. We don't do that here. Same for the guy that suggested tasing your own balls. Like c'mon man!" 

Thus, soon continued the game. So far the consensus was that one needed to repeat an activity long enough that it would somehow magically birth a skill. There was just one issue, how long would that take? 

It seemed no one really cared about that point. They all started having fun coming up with imaginary training regiments.  At some point appeared plain ridiculous stuff too. 

- Bathing in lava to develop heat resistance. 

- Transfusing blood from a monster to the host to forcefully gain bloodlines. 

- Dance naked in front of the Tower to assert dominance. 

- Commit a crime and gain skills using the pressure from being on the run. 

- Eat too many carrots. How did that one even work? Who knew...

At some point, they just started naming torture methods. Josh simply interrupted them all. He confirmed that it didn't work since he had tried them all repeatedly without any result. 

They all began wondering if Josh meant that he had tried being tortured or if he had done the torturing. Somehow, they really couldn't tell.

That is when came the sound of heels on the floor. Before long appeared Serene, a woman Josh had seen before. Her long flamboyant hair was still as red and so was her entire dress. She exuded confidence and a tinge of curiosity. 

"What are you guys up to? I heard something about secret training." 

"Here is what we are doing…"

A short explanation later she just burst into sonorous laughter. "You guys are wasting your time. There is only one way to gain skills and that is to have perfect control over the resource required to cast it." 

"What do you mean?" Josh asked with rapt interest. 

"Spellcasters need control over mana. Some other classes need control over their life essence instead. Then there are the many hybrids. Honestly, you need a Class to attain that single requirement." 

She looked at Josh wondering how he would react. She had understood that this focus group really was for him to find a solution to his own problems. 

"I see, you may be right," Josh admitted. 

"May? I'm clearly right. Anyway, want to fight a VR round for me to show you?" 

"Of course!" Josh simply followed her as the both of them decided to fight in the VR world. 

That is how many guild members of Draconic now looked like fools. They were just sitting on the ground instead of doing anything else productive. What about the secret training? What about the victor? Was this really just a focus group? 

There went their dreams, but oh well. Josh was in no way responsible, right?! He was preparing himself to fight that crazy powerful woman. What would be the outcome of that?!....

Creator's Thought

The power of overthinking is strong. Sometimes, a situation so banal is simply that, banal in the end. Don't try to look for a meaning where there is none. Either way, people tend to believe what they 'figure out themselves'.