(The next ten or so chapters will be quieter, focusing mainly on the protagonist's growth and training. After that comes a major climax. It's also something new I'm trying, so it might get a little confusing, but I'll do my best to make everything clear...)
Heaven's Arena, Floor 211, Private Lounge 2115.
The training room was silent except for the low hum of the air conditioning.
Leo and Wing stood five meters apart. The air seemed to have gone still.
Wing adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharpening behind the lenses.
He slowly lowered his center of gravity and clenched his fists. His knuckles gave a faint crack.
Leo stood casually with his arms at his sides. He seemed to be full of openings, yet Wing could find no good way in.
After several seconds of staring each other down, Wing moved.
He was not particularly fast. His movements were measured, even steady.
But as he stepped forward, the training room floor trembled beneath him!
Bang!
His foot struck the ground like a drumbeat!
Then Wing unleashed a barrage of alternating punches. No fancy feints, no elaborate footwork—just the purest, most direct attacks!
His left fist shot toward Leo's face, his right following close behind toward his chest!
His fists tore through the air with a shrill whistle!
This kind of open, forceful fighting—overwhelming technique with raw power—was what the Enhancement Type did best!
Appreciation flashed in Leo's eyes.
He saw what Wing intended: a contest of strength. Leo had developed only one Enhancement Type technique, Against the Moon, but he had absolute confidence in his physique.
A faint smile touched Leo's lips.
He did not dodge or block. Instead, he threw both fists forward too!
Four fists collided in midair!
Boom!
A heavy crash, like a sledgehammer striking an anvil, exploded through the training room!
A visible shock wave spread outward. The cushioning mats beneath their feet rippled and creased!
The force rebounding through Wing's fists left his arms slightly numb.
Startled, he pressed on without breaking his assault. His next attack was already coming.
His right leg whipped toward Leo's side.
Leo raised his own leg to meet it head-on.
Thud!
Their shins collided with a dull, bone-jarring crack!
They abandoned defense entirely and began the purest, most brutal exchange of blows!
Fist against fist! Leg against leg! Elbow against elbow!
Every collision brought a heavy bang. The blows rang through the training room without pause, like a downpour beating on a drum!
Wing's fists rained down on Leo's chest, shoulders, and arms... while Leo's punches hammered against Wing's guard.
Five minutes! For five full minutes, neither man gave a single step!
Their exertion heated the air. Sweat flew from their bodies, glittering like crystal under the lights.
The longer they fought, the more alarmed Wing became.
His fists had struck the same spot on Leo's body several times: his right shoulder blade.
An ordinary person's bone would have shattered and the muscles around it torn apart.
But Leo's skin was only a little red and flushed. It had not even swollen.
Worse, with each clash, Wing felt Leo's punches growing heavier, as though his body were constantly adapting and strengthening during the fight!
This guy's physique is ridiculous!
Wing's breathing had grown labored.
I spent a year training under Master Biscuit, enduring hellish workouts every day, just to build the body I have now... but this guy...
He remembered something Biscuit often said.
"Wing, there are plenty of monstrous geniuses in this world. Don't get carried away just because you've made a little progress. You still have a long way to go!"
He had dismissed those words at the time. Now he finally understood.
Leo was assessing Wing's strength too.
As expected of Biscuit's student... his fundamentals are frighteningly solid.
Leo could feel the marks of rigorous training in every punch Wing threw. His use of force, his angles, his breathing rhythm—all were nearly perfect.
That kind of foundation had been earned through countless hours of sweat.
It's a shame... he's too laid-back.
Leo sighed inwardly. He could tell that Wing had nowhere near exhausted his physical potential.
If Wing had possessed Sophia's near-obsessive drive, he would have been at least thirty percent stronger by now!
But everyone wanted different things. There was no forcing it.
Another five minutes passed.
Sweat beaded Wing's forehead, and his breathing turned heavy.
His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the strain of the prolonged clash.
"One last punch!"
Wing drew a deep breath and gathered all his strength into his right fist.
Leo's eyes flashed. He clenched his right fist as well, his muscles tightening like steel cables.
They charged at the same time, their fists colliding!
Boom!
This crash dwarfed every one before it!
Fine cracks appeared in the sound-absorbing material on the training room walls!
The shock wave tore a gash in the cushioning mat beneath them.
Wing staggered back three steps, each leaving a deep footprint in the floor.
He steadied himself, shook out his numb right hand, and raised it with a rueful smile.
"That's enough... I'm done. I concede."
He took off his glasses, wiped the sweat from the lenses with the corner of his shirt, and put them back on.
"Your physical strength is incredible. In a contest of pure physique, I'm no match for you."
Leo lowered his fist and smiled.
"This body of mine took a long time to build. That, and a bit of... unusual luck, got me where I am today."
He walked to the wall, picked up two bottles of water, and tossed one to Wing.
"You're no slouch either. If you put a little more effort in, you could get here too."
Wing caught the bottle, drank several mouthfuls, then let out a long breath.
"Maybe..."
He leaned against the wall, his tone languid.
"I'd rather live a quiet life. All this fighting and killing... it's not really for me."
Leo heard the deeper meaning in Wing's words. He nodded and said nothing more.
Everyone wanted different things. Wing was gentle by nature and disliked conflict. There was nothing wrong with that.
Not everyone had to pursue the pinnacle of strength.
They rested for a while. The only sound in the training room was the water they drank.
Wing suddenly spoke.
"Oh, right. Why exactly are you looking for my master? Can you tell me?"
Leo thought for a moment. He saw no reason to hide it.
"I figured out all my Nen Ability training on my own."
He turned the water bottle in his hand.
"When you work things out alone, you're bound to miss things. There are blind spots you can't see. I heard Ms. Biscuit is an excellent teacher, so I'd like to ask her to guide me for a while."
Wing nodded.
"Mm... Master does have plenty of experience teaching people."
He paused, his expression turning complicated, as though he had recalled something unpleasant.
"But..."
Wing hesitated, then sighed.
"You should know that my master's training methods are... well, unusual. Back then, I woke up every day feeling like I was about to die."
It had been exhausting and painful, but Wing had to admit that he had never improved faster in his life.
Leo smiled.
"I know what you're getting at. I wouldn't be asking if I hadn't prepared myself."
His gaze grew firm.
"I'm not afraid of hardship. If it helps me improve, I don't care how exhausting or painful it is."
Wing looked at the fierce determination burning in Leo's eyes and finally understood.
This man was nothing like him.
Wing wanted a peaceful life. Leo wanted to reach the pinnacle of strength.
"All right."
Wing stood and flexed his still-aching arms.
"I won't say any more, then. Master arrives in a week. You two can talk when she gets here."
Leo stood as well.
"It's getting late. I'll get out of your way."
He headed for the door, then looked back and waved.
"Thanks for sparring with me. I learned a lot from fighting you."
Wing smiled.
"Likewise."
The door closed softly, and quiet returned to the training room.
Wing stood where he was, studying his slightly reddened fists. He murmured to himself.
"Master Biscuit... I think you're about to meet one extraordinary 'student.'"
Time flew. Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
During those seven days, Leo fought another match.
His opponent was a self-taught Nen user who had awakened Nen only after undergoing a "baptism" on Floor 200. With no formal training and only a shallow understanding of Nen, he fought entirely on instinct.
Leo had no desire to waste time on someone like that.
Three seconds after the match began, he punched his opponent in the chest and knocked him out.
Clean and decisive. One blow settled it.
When the referee declared him the winner, cheers thundered through the stands.
Leo's "undefeated legend" continued, and his strength had become a very real source of fear for the other fighters on Floor 200.
Those who had hoped to challenge the newcomer for an easy win quickly abandoned the idea.
No one wanted to run into this monster.
The tattoo on the back of his hand grew warm.
[Level: 27 (91%)] Only 9% remained before Level 28.
Sophia also visited once during that time.
She showed him the results of her recent training. Her Ten had stabilized, and she had begun working on the basics of Ren.
Her progress was not especially fast, but every step was solid.
Leo nodded and gave her his approval.
"At this rate, you can think about entering a match in another two months."
Sophia's eyes lit up with joy.
"Really? Thank you, Master! I'll keep working hard!"
She bowed deeply, then clenched her fists.
"I'll make sure I win my first match in style. I won't let you down, Master!"
Leo waved a hand.
"Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself."
Sophia nodded firmly and left full of motivation.
On the morning of the eighth day.
People streamed past the grand entrance of Heaven's Arena.
A petite figure stood before the gates, looking up at the tower that pierced the clouds.
Golden twin ponytails swayed gently in the morning breeze. On her delicate, doll-like face, her large eyes shone with nostalgia.
Biscuit Krueger, a two-star Gem Hunter, stood at the gates of Heaven's Arena.
"The last time I came here... was thirty years ago."
She spoke softly to herself, a smile touching her lips.
"How quickly time flies... I almost miss those days."
She recalled the years she had spent training and fighting here in her youth: the thrilling matches, the evenly matched opponents...
"But now..."
Biscuit's smile turned a little dangerous.
"I'm here to meet the kid who wants to hire me—and give that disappointing student of mine a little 'guidance' while I'm at it."
She started toward the entrance of Heaven's Arena.
Her shoes clicked crisply against the ground. The sunlight stretched her shadow long behind her.
Before you continue