Accepting the Commission, Leaving Heaven's Arena

Heaven's Arena, Floor 200, Room 2079.

Leo sat cross-legged in the center of the training room, his eyes slightly closed and his breathing steady and deep.

Aura swirled around him like a thin mist, slowly circulating with every breath.

Seven days had passed since his exhilarating spar with Wing. Aside from competing in one match, he had spent all his time consolidating the Four Major Principles.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A light, brisk knock sounded at the door.

Leo opened his eyes and drew his aura back into his body.

He rose and walked to the door. The instant he gripped the handle, he paused slightly—the aura outside was unusual, solid and restrained, yet as vast as the deep sea.

He opened the door.

A blonde girl with twin ponytails stood outside.

She wore an exquisite pink princess dress, slender wrists peeking out from beneath lace-trimmed sleeves. Her large pink eyes blinked as a perfectly measured blush of shyness colored her face.

"Hello, Mr. Leo."

Her voice was crisp and sweet. With her hands folded before her, she looked timid and bashful.

"I'm your fan. Your match was amazing! Could I... have your autograph?"

Leo's hairs stood on end, and cold sweat instantly seeped across his back.

The "girl" before him was undoubtedly Biscuit herself—that doll-like, exquisite face, those seemingly innocent yet unfathomable eyes, and that signature princess dress.

Her wicked urge to tease people had flared up again.

Leo knew perfectly well that exposing her disguise to her face would be courting death, especially while she was having so much fun.

"H-Hello!"

Leo forced out a smile, his voice somewhat dry.

He could feel Biscuit's gaze sweeping brazenly over him—not the look of a fan admiring an idol, but a hunter sizing up prey.

He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to relax, and lifted the corners of his mouth into a more natural smile.

"To have such a beautiful young lady as my fan is an honor."

A hint of amusement flashed through Biscuit's eyes.

The instant he had opened the door, she had caught the subtle changes in Leo's gaze and expression—that fleeting surprise had been quickly concealed, but it could not escape her eyes.

This brat knows me.

Biscuit immediately lost interest in keeping up the act.

She shrugged, then casually slipped past Leo into the room, her skirt brushing against the doorframe.

"Your acting is awful. No fun at all."

Her voice remained that of a sweet young girl, but her tone had changed, carrying a casual air of superiority.

"Well? What do you need to commission me for? My time is very precious."

Leo closed the door. When he turned around, a perfectly appropriate look of embarrassment appeared on his face.

"My apologies, Big Sister Biscuit. I interrupted your fun."

He took a small velvet pouch from a cabinet beside him, untied its string, and poured out a red gemstone the size of a pigeon egg.

Under the room's lights, the gemstone refracted a dazzling brilliance. The flame-like patterns within seemed to slowly revolve.

"This is the payment for the commission."

Biscuit's attention was instantly drawn to the gemstone.

She accepted Red Storm and carefully examined it in her palm, her blue eyes shining brilliantly.

"Pure color, flawless clarity, masterful cutting... The storm patterns inside formed naturally, and every flowing strand is one of a kind."

She muttered to herself with the professionalism of a jewelry appraiser.

A moment later, she raised her head, undisguised excitement on her face.

"It's absolutely gorgeous! As expected of Red Storm!"

Biscuit rubbed the gemstone against her cheek, looking utterly intoxicated.

"From now on, I'll call you Little Red!"

Watching this, Leo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Appealing to her tastes had been the right move.

After playing with the gemstone for a while, Biscuit finally turned her attention back to Leo.

She walked up to him and looked up at the young man, who stood a head and a half taller than her.

"I know that besides being stunningly beautiful, you're also very powerful."

Leo bowed slightly, his tone sincere.

"I would like to ask you to guide my training for a while. Would that be possible?"

Biscuit did not answer immediately.

Before coming here, she had already met Wing and learned roughly about Leo from her disciple—he was formidable, fought cleanly and decisively, and had already secured two victories on the 200th floor.

"How much do you know about Nen? And how long have you been training?"

Biscuit asked, her eyes still fixed on the gemstone.

"I have a basic understanding of Nen's system. As for how long I've trained..."

Leo paused.

"Less than two months."

Biscuit's fingers paused slightly.

She set down the gemstone, turned around, and gave Leo a serious once-over.

Her pink eyes were now sharp as blades, as though they could pierce through his flesh and inspect every detail of his bones and veins.

Leo stood calmly, allowing her to examine him.

His breathing was steady, and his gaze was open.

Only two months of training?

Biscuit was secretly astonished.

She could sense that Leo had a solid foundation, but judging from his aura alone, he had already far surpassed an ordinary beginner.

More importantly, this body—its muscle definition was perfect, every inch packed with explosive strength.

There were quite a few faded scars on his skin, proof that he had gone through countless real battles.

Could someone reach this point in just two months?

Either he was a monstrous genius, or... he had encountered some special opportunity.

Biscuit leaned more toward the latter.

There were no shortcuts in Nen training. No matter how talented one was, it still required time and sweat.

But she also understood that there were always some existences in this world that defied common sense.

"Since you're this sincere..."

After a moment, Biscuit spoke, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

"I'll accept this commission."

Leo's eyes lit up, and he gave her a solemn bow.

"Thank you very much."

He straightened up, walked to a cabinet nearby, opened a drawer, and took out several beautifully packaged books.

Their covers were made of smooth coated paper that glimmered faintly under the lights.

Biscuit's gaze swept over the covers—several handsome, bare-chested men with sharply defined muscles posed in all kinds of dynamic positions. Their abs, pecs, and biceps gleamed with healthy luster beneath the studio lighting.

Her eyes instantly widened, and it seemed as though stars had appeared in her pupils.

"These are a token of my thanks. Please accept them."

Leo handed the books to her.

Biscuit practically snatched them away. She rapidly flipped through several pages, and her eyes grew brighter with every page.

"Muscle Man's Fitness Diary... The Aesthetics of Muscle... The Combination of Strength and Beauty..."

She murmured the titles, the smile on her lips growing ever more radiant.

"Not bad! You even investigated my tastes so thoroughly!"

Biscuit hugged the books tightly to her chest, then looked up at Leo with eyes full of appreciation.

"Good boy. I'm liking you more and more."

Leo smiled faintly.

Of course he knew. Since he needed her help, he had to appeal to her preferences.

Only by pleasing her could he make her take his training seriously.

"Enough small talk."

Biscuit carefully placed the gemstone and the books on the table, her expression turning serious again.

"You're an Enhancer, right? Show me your Ren."

Leo nodded, took several steps back, and stood in the center of the training room.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The next second—Boom!

Aura erupted from Leo's body like a volcanic explosion!

White streams of aura instantly filled the entire training room, churning the air into visible vortices.

Leo's hair and the hem of his clothes lifted upward, while a dense glow enveloped his entire body.

Biscuit stood with her arms folded, watching quietly.

Second after second passed.

Five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes... Sweat began to seep from Leo's forehead, and his breathing gradually grew heavy.

The aura around his body remained stable, but it was clear that maintaining it was becoming difficult.

Twenty minutes... Leo's body began to tremble slightly. He clenched his teeth as veins bulged across his forehead and neck.

Twenty-four minutes.

"Ha... ha..."

Leo finally could not hold on any longer, and his aura receded like a tide.

He panted heavily, sweat dripping from his chin onto the floor and spreading into dark stains.

Biscuit's gaze remained calm.

"Twenty-four minutes. Far from enough."

Her voice did not rise or fall.

"A qualified Nen user must be able to maintain it for at least half an hour. In battle, you'll need to use Ken frequently, which places even greater demands on the endurance of your Ren."

Leo wiped the sweat from his face and nodded as he panted.

"However..."

Biscuit changed her tone, a trace of approval flashing through her eyes.

"You've only trained for two months, so this is passable."

She walked over to Leo.

"What about your ability? Can you show it to me?"

Leo steadied his breathing and slowly replied, "I haven't developed an ability yet. I want to build a solid foundation first, then consider constructing a personal ability."

A pleased look appeared in Biscuit's eyes.

"Not bad. That's a good way of thinking."

She rose to her feet, clasped her hands behind her back, and began pacing through the training room. Her tone shifted into that of an instructor giving a lesson.

"Enhancers don't really need to develop flashy special moves. The body itself is an Enhancer's greatest advantage. As long as you train the Four Major Principles—Ten, Ren, Zetsu, and Hatsu—to their limits, no one can stop you in a direct fight."

She stopped and turned to look at Leo.

"Of course, if you have particular needs, you can develop an ability. But remember, an Enhancer's ability is best when it's simple and direct. The simpler the restriction, the more useful it often is."

Leo listened intently, committing her words to memory.

"I'll guide your training properly."

Biscuit walked over to the table, picked up the gemstone and the handsome-men books, and smiled again.

"As for how far you can go, that depends entirely on your own effort."

She headed toward the door, then looked back before opening it.

"Pack your things. We're leaving Heaven's Arena in three days."

Biscuit's gaze swept across the spacious yet ultimately limited room.

"This place isn't very suitable for giving you special training."

The door closed softly.

Leo remained where he was, looking at the room as it fell quiet again. The corners of his lips slowly rose.

Special training was about to begin.

He walked to the window and looked down at the ant-like streams of people and vehicles below Heaven's Arena.

This great tower had witnessed his growth, and now he would temporarily leave it behind for a broader training ground.

The dark red tattoo on the back of his hand glowed faintly beneath his sleeve.

[Level: 27 (91%)]

He was only a little short of leveling up.

But compared to raising his level, the systematic training ahead was the true key to strengthening his foundation.

Leo turned around and began packing his luggage.

He knew Biscuit's training would never be easy—he could tell as much from Wing's complicated expression.

But he was not afraid. No matter how bitter or exhausting it became, as long as it made him stronger, he would embrace it willingly.