A Sparring Victory, Biscuit Arrives

(The next dozen or so chapters will be relatively calm, mainly covering the protagonist's growth and training to become stronger. After this section ends, there will be a major climax arc. It's also an experiment of mine, so it might be a little confusing. I'll do my best to write it clearly so everyone can understand...)

Heaven's Arena, Floor 211, Private Lounge 2115.

The training room was silent, save for the low hum of the air-conditioning system.

Leo and Wing stood five meters apart, the air seeming to freeze between them.

Wing pushed up his glasses, and his gaze sharpened behind the lenses.

He slowly lowered his stance and clenched both fists, his knuckles giving off faint cracking sounds.

Leo, meanwhile, stood casually with his arms hanging naturally at his sides. His whole body appeared full of openings, yet there was no suitable point from which to launch an attack.

After several seconds of staring—Wing moved.

His movements were not fast. They could even be called steady.

But when he took a step forward, the training room floor actually trembled slightly!

Bang!

His foot came down like a drumbeat!

Immediately afterward, Wing alternated his fists in a barrage—no flashy feints, no complicated footwork, only the purest, most direct attacks!

His left fist shot straight for Leo's face, followed closely by his right fist smashing toward his chest!

The force of his punches tore through the air with a piercing howl!

This was what Enhancers excelled at most: broad, forceful combat that broke skill with sheer power!

A hint of appreciation flashed through Leo's eyes.

He saw through Wing's intentions—Wing wanted to compete with him in strength. Although Leo had only developed one Enhancement ability, Moon, he had absolute confidence in his physique.

A faint smile curled Leo's lips.

He neither dodged nor blocked. Instead—he threw both fists as well!

Four fists collided violently in midair!

Boom—!!!

A dull, thunderous crash, like a sledgehammer striking an anvil, exploded through the training room!

The shockwave from the impact visibly spread in every direction, sending rippling wrinkles across the surface of the mats beneath their feet!

Wing felt the recoil traveling through his fists, and his arms went slightly numb.

Alarmed, he did not stop his assault. His second wave of attacks was already upon Leo.

His right leg lashed out like a whip, sweeping toward Leo's waist.

Leo raised his leg to meet it head-on.

Bang!

The collision of shin against shin produced a dull sound that set teeth on edge!

The two of them abandoned all defense and began the purest, most brutal exchange of blows!

Fist against fist! Leg against leg! Elbow against elbow!

Every collision came with a heavy boom. The training room echoed with an unending barrage of bangs, like torrential rain pounding against a drum!

Wing's fists fell on Leo like raindrops—his chest, shoulders, arms... And Leo's fists struck Wing's guard with equal force.

Five minutes! For a full five minutes, neither of them took a single step back!

The air in the training room heated up from the intense exercise. Sweat flew from their bodies, glittering like crystals beneath the lights.

The longer Wing fought, the more shocked he became.

His fists had struck the same spot on Leo several times—the area around his right shoulder blade.

If it had been an ordinary person, the bone there would have long since shattered, and the muscles would have been torn apart.

Yet Leo's skin had only reddened slightly with congestion. There was not even any swelling.

More frightening still, with every exchange, Wing could feel Leo's fists growing heavier, as though his body was constantly adapting and strengthening in the midst of battle!

This guy's physical condition... is absurd!

Wing thought to himself, his breathing already becoming hurried.

I trained bitterly under Master Biscuit for a year, enduring hellish training every day, just to build the physique I have now... But this guy...

He recalled the words Biscuit often repeated.

"Wing, there are many monstrous geniuses in this world. Don't get complacent just because you've made a little progress. You still have a long way to go!"

He had not taken those words seriously back then. Now, he finally understood.

Leo was also assessing Wing's strength.

As expected of a disciple taught by Biscuit... His fundamentals are terrifyingly solid.

He could feel the traces of rigorous training in every one of Wing's punches—the way he exerted force, his control of angles, his breathing rhythm. All of it was nearly perfect.

That kind of solid foundation had been bought with countless drops of sweat.

What a shame... He's too laid-back.

Leo sighed inwardly. He could tell that Wing's physical potential had yet to be fully drawn out.

If Wing possessed Sophia's nearly fanatical obsession, his current strength would be at least thirty percent greater!

But everyone had their own aspirations. It could not be forced.

Another five minutes passed.

Wing's forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and his breathing had become heavy.

His hands trembled faintly—not from fear, but from the physiological strain of muscles after such an intense exchange.

"Last punch!"

Wing drew a deep breath and gathered all his strength into his right fist.

A sharp gleam flashed in Leo's eyes. He clenched his own right fist, his muscles tightening like steel cables.

They charged forward at the same time, their fists colliding!

Boom—!!!

This impact was far louder than every one before it!

Fine cracks actually appeared across the soundproofing material on the training room walls!

The shockwave tore a gash in the mat beneath their feet.

Wing staggered back three steps, each one leaving a deep footprint in the floor.

He steadied himself, shook his numb right hand, and waved with a bitter smile.

"All right... no more. I surrender."

He took off his glasses, wiped the sweat from the lenses with the hem of his shirt, then put them back on.

"Your physical strength is too astonishing. In terms of physique alone, I'm no match for you."

Leo lowered his fist and smiled.

"This body of mine was built through long-term training, along with a bit of... special fortune."

He walked over to the wall, picked up two bottles of water, and tossed one to Wing.

"You're not bad either. If you put in just a little more effort, you could reach this level too."

Wing caught the water, tilted his head back for several gulps, then let out a long breath.

"Maybe..."

He leaned against the wall, his tone somewhat lazy.

"I still prefer living a peaceful life. Fighting and killing... doesn't really suit me."

Leo heard the deeper meaning in Wing's words. He nodded without saying anything more.

Everyone had their own aspirations. Wing was mild-tempered and disliked conflict. There was nothing wrong with that.

Not everyone had to pursue the pinnacle of strength.

The two rested for a while, and the only sound left in the training room was that of drinking water.

Wing suddenly asked, "By the way, why exactly are you looking for my master? Can you tell me?"

Leo thought for a moment and decided there was nothing to hide.

"My Nen training... I figured it all out on my own."

He turned the water bottle in his hand.

"When you figure things out alone, there are always omissions, blind spots you can't see. I heard that Ms. Biscuit is exceptionally good at teaching disciples, so I want her to guide me for a while."

Wing nodded.

"Hmm... Master does have a great deal of experience teaching others."

He paused, his expression becoming somewhat complicated, as though he had recalled an unpleasant memory.

"But..."

Wing hesitated, then finally sighed.

"You should know that my master's training methods are... well, rather special. During that time, every day I woke up feeling like I was about to die."

Although it had been exhausting and painful—Wing had to admit that he had progressed faster during that period than at any other point in his life.

Leo smiled.

"I know what you mean. Since I've made this decision, I'm naturally prepared for it."

His gaze became resolute.

"I'm not afraid of hardship. As long as it helps me improve, I don't care how exhausting or painful it is."

Wing looked at the nearly burning determination in Leo's eyes and finally understood.

This person was completely different from him.

What Wing sought was a peaceful life, while what Leo sought was the pinnacle of strength.

"All right."

Wing stood and stretched his still-sore arms.

"Then I won't say any more. Master will arrive in a week. You can talk to her yourselves then."

Leo stood as well.

"It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer."

He walked to the door, then turned back and waved.

"Thanks for sparring with me. I learned quite a lot fighting you too."

Wing smiled.

"Likewise."

The door closed softly, and the training room returned to silence.

Wing stood where he was, staring at his slightly reddened fists as he muttered to himself.

"Master Biscuit... I'm afraid you'll be meeting a rather extraordinary 'disciple' this time."

Time flew by, and seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

During those seven days, Leo participated in another match.

His opponent was an unaffiliated Nen user who had only awakened Nen after being "baptized" on the 200th floor. He had never received systematic training, possessed only a shallow understanding of Nen, and fought entirely on instinct.

Leo had no interest in wasting time on someone like that.

Three seconds after the match began, he punched his opponent in the chest and knocked him out directly.

Clean and decisive. One strike, one victory.

When the referee announced his victory, the cheers from the audience were deafening.

Leo's "undefeated myth" continued, and his strength had instilled genuine fear in the other competitors on the 200th floor.

Those who had originally wanted to challenge a newcomer for easy wins quickly abandoned such thoughts.

No one wanted to run into that monster.

A warm sensation came from the tattoo on the back of his hand.

[Level: 27 (91%)]

He was only 9% away from Level 28.

During that time, Sophia also came to visit once.

She showed him the results of her training over the past few days—her Ten had become stable, and she had begun attempting the basic applications of Ren.

Though her progress was not particularly fast, every step she took was solid.

Leo nodded and gave her an approving evaluation.

"At your current pace, you can consider registering for matches in another two months."

When Sophia heard that, joy burst from her eyes.

"Really? Thank you, Master! I'll keep working hard!"

She bowed deeply, then clenched her fists.

"I'll definitely win my first match beautifully. I won't disgrace you, Master!"

Leo waved a hand.

"Not for me. For yourself."

Sophia nodded vigorously and left, brimming with motivation.

On the eighth day, early in the morning.

An endless stream of people passed before the grand entrance of Heaven's Arena.

A petite figure stood before the gates, looking up at the towering structure that pierced into the clouds.

Her golden twin-tails swayed gently in the morning breeze. Her large eyes, set in a delicate doll-like face, gleamed with nostalgia.

Biscuit Krueger, a two-star Gem Hunter, stood at the entrance to Heaven's Arena.

"The last time I came here... was thirty years ago."

She murmured softly, a smile curling at her lips.

"Time really flies... It makes me miss those days a little."

She recalled her youth, when she had trained and fought here—the blood-pumping matches, the evenly matched opponents...

"But now..."

Biscuit's smile became somewhat dangerous.

"I'm here to meet that little brat who wants to hire me, and to 'teach' my disappointing disciple a lesson while I'm at it."

She started forward, walking toward Heaven's Arena's entrance.

The soles of her shoes tapped crisply against the ground. Sunlight stretched her shadow long behind her.