Heaven's Arena, 200th floor, Room 2079.
Leo sat cross-legged in the center of the training room, eyes half-closed, his breathing slow and steady.
Nen Aura hung around him like a thin mist, flowing gently with each breath.
Seven days had passed since his exhilarating sparring match with Wing. Apart from one match, he had spent the entire time strengthening his grasp of the Four Major Principles.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Someone knocked on the door in a light, brisk rhythm.
Leo opened his eyes and drew his Nen Aura back into his body.
He rose and walked to the door. The instant he gripped the handle, he paused. The presence outside was unusual: dense and restrained, yet as vast as the deep sea.
He opened the door.
A blonde girl with twin ponytails stood outside.
She wore an elegant pink princess dress. Slender wrists peeked from its lace-trimmed sleeves, and her large pink eyes blinked above a perfectly shy blush.
"Hello, Mr. Leo."
The girl's voice was bright and sweet. She clasped her hands in front of her, looking timid.
"I'm a fan of yours. Your matches were amazing! Could you... give me an autograph?"
Leo's hair stood on end. Cold sweat broke out across his back.
The "girl" before him was Biscuit, without a doubt. That doll-like face, those seemingly innocent yet unfathomable eyes, that unmistakable princess dress.
Her mischievous streak had struck again.
Leo knew better than to expose her disguise to her face. Especially while she was enjoying herself.
"H-hello!"
Leo forced a smile, his voice a little dry.
He could feel Biscuit's gaze roaming over him without restraint. It wasn't how a fan looked at an idol. It was how a hunter sized up prey.
He took a deep breath, made himself relax, and let his smile turn more natural.
"It's an honor to have such a beautiful young lady as my fan."
Amusement flickered in Biscuit's eyes.
The moment he had opened the door, she had caught the tiny shift in his gaze and expression. He had hidden his surprise quickly, but not quickly enough for her.
This kid knows who I am.
Biscuit immediately lost interest in keeping up the act.
She shrugged and slipped past Leo into the room, her skirt brushing the doorframe.
"Your acting's terrible. No fun at all."
Her voice was still bright and girlish, but her tone had changed to one of casual superiority.
"So, what do you need me for? My time is precious."
Leo closed the door. When he turned around, his face showed just the right amount of embarrassment.
"Sorry for spoiling your fun, Biscuit."
He picked up a small velvet pouch from a nearby cabinet, untied it, and tipped out a red gemstone the size of a pigeon's egg.
The gem refracted the room's light in dazzling flashes. Within it, flame-like patterns seemed to turn slowly.
"This is payment for the commission."
The gemstone caught Biscuit's attention at once.
She took Red Storm and examined it in her palm, her blue eyes shining.
"Pure color, flawless clarity, a master's cut... And the storm patterns inside formed naturally. Every swirl is unique."
She murmured like a professional gem appraiser.
A moment later, she looked up, excitement plain on her face.
"It's gorgeous! Red Storm certainly lives up to its name!"
Biscuit rubbed the gem against her cheek, looking utterly entranced.
"I'm going to call you Little Red from now on!"
Leo watched her and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Appealing to her tastes had been the right move.
Biscuit played with the gem for a while before turning her attention back to Leo.
She walked up to him and tilted her head to look at the young man who stood a head and a half taller than her.
"I know you're not only beautiful, but incredibly strong."
Leo bowed slightly, his tone sincere.
"I'd like you to guide my training for a while, if you're willing."
Biscuit didn't answer at once.
She had already met with Wing before coming here and had learned the basics about Leo from her student. Leo was powerful, fought with clean efficiency, and had already won twice on the 200th floor.
"How much do you know about Nen? And how long have you been training?"
Biscuit's eyes remained on the gem as she asked.
"I have a basic understanding of the Nen system. As for how long I've trained..."
Leo paused.
"Less than two months."
Biscuit's fingers stilled.
She set down the gem, turned, and gave Leo a serious once-over.
Her pink eyes were sharp as knives now, as though they could pierce his skin and flesh and inspect every detail of his bones and meridians.
Leo stood calmly under her scrutiny.
His breathing was steady, his gaze open.
Only two months?
Biscuit was startled.
She could sense his solid foundation. Even judging by his presence alone, he was far beyond an ordinary beginner.
More importantly, there was his body. His muscles were perfectly defined, every inch packed with explosive strength.
Faded scars dotted his skin, proof of countless real fights.
He reached this point in two months?
Either he was a monster of talent, or... he had encountered some unusual opportunity.
Biscuit leaned toward the latter.
There were no shortcuts in training Nen Ability. Even the most talented person needed time and sweat.
But she also knew that some people in this world defied common sense.
"Since you've shown such sincerity..."
After a moment, Biscuit spoke, a satisfied smile on her face.
"I'll take the commission."
Leo's eyes lit up. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you very much."
He straightened, walked to the cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out several beautifully packaged books.
Their smooth, glossy covers caught the light.
Biscuit glanced at them. The covers showed several shirtless, handsome men striking dynamic poses, their defined abs, pecs, and biceps gleaming under the studio lights.
Her eyes widened. Stars seemed to sparkle in her pupils.
"These are a thank-you gift. Please take them."
Leo held out the books.
Biscuit practically snatched them from him. She flipped through a few pages, her eyes growing brighter with each one.
"Muscle Man's Fitness Diary... The Aesthetics of Muscle... The Combination of Strength and Beauty..."
She murmured the titles, her smile spreading wider and wider.
"Not bad! You even found out exactly what I like!"
Biscuit hugged the books tightly to her chest and looked up at Leo with open approval.
"You're a good kid. I like you more and more."
Leo smiled faintly.
Of course he understood. When asking someone for a favor, it paid to give them what they liked.
If he made her happy, she would take his training seriously.
"All right, enough small talk."
Biscuit carefully placed the gem and books on the table, her expression turning serious again.
"You're an Enhancement Type, right? Show me your Ren."
Leo nodded, stepped back, and took his place in the center of the training room.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
The next second—Boom!
Nen Aura erupted from Leo like a volcano!
White currents instantly filled the training room, stirring the air into visible vortices.
Leo's hair and the hem of his clothes lifted as a dense glow enveloped him.
Biscuit folded her arms and watched in silence.
The minutes passed.
Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen... Sweat began to bead on Leo's forehead, and his breathing grew heavy.
The glow of Nen Aura around him remained steady, but maintaining it was clearly becoming a struggle.
Twenty minutes... Leo's body began to tremble. He clenched his teeth, and veins stood out on his forehead and neck.
Twenty-four minutes.
"Hah... hah..."
Leo finally gave out, and his Nen Aura receded like a falling tide.
He gulped for air. Sweat dripped from his chin and left dark spots on the floor.
Biscuit's gaze remained calm.
"Twenty-four minutes. Nowhere near enough."
Her voice was flat.
"A competent Nen user should be able to maintain it for at least half an hour. You'll need to use Ken repeatedly in combat, and that demands even greater endurance with Ren."
Leo wiped the sweat from his face and nodded between breaths.
"Still..."
Biscuit changed tack, a hint of approval in her eyes.
"You've only trained for two months. Reaching this point isn't bad."
She walked up to Leo.
"What about your ability? Can you show me?"
Leo steadied his breathing and answered slowly.
"I haven't developed one yet. I want to build a solid foundation before I consider creating an ability of my own."
Approval showed in Biscuit's eyes.
"Good. That's the right idea."
She rose, clasped her hands behind her back, and began pacing the training room. Her tone took on the cadence of a lesson.
"Enhancement Types don't have much need for flashy finishing moves. Their bodies are their greatest advantage. Take the Four Major Principles—Ten, Ren, Zetsu, and Hatsu—to their limits, and no one can stop you in a head-on fight."
She stopped and turned toward Leo.
"Of course, if you have a particular need, you can develop an ability. But remember: abilities for Enhancement Types are best kept simple and direct. The simpler the restriction, the more useful it often is."
Leo listened closely and committed her words to memory.
"I'll train you properly."
Biscuit went to the table and picked up the gem and the books of handsome men, smiling again.
"How far you get will depend entirely on your own effort."
She headed for the door and looked back before opening it.
"Pack your things. We're leaving Heaven's Arena in three days."
Biscuit glanced around the spacious but ultimately limited room.
"This place isn't suited to the kind of intensive training you need."
The door clicked shut.
Leo stood where he was, looking around the quiet room as a smile slowly touched his lips.
The real training was about to begin.
He walked to the window and looked down at the people and vehicles flowing like ants far below Heaven's Arena.
This towering building had witnessed his growth. Now he would leave it for a while and head to a wider training ground.
The dark red tattoo on the back of his hand glowed faintly beneath his sleeve.
[Level: 27 (91%)]
He was almost ready to level up.
But more important than gaining a level was the systematic training ahead. That was what would truly strengthen his foundation.
Leo turned and began packing.
He knew Biscuit's training wouldn't be easy. Wing's conflicted expression had told him that much.
But he wasn't afraid. No matter how grueling it got, if it made him stronger, he would welcome it.
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