Weighted Long-Distance Run, Arrival at Moonlight Tundra

Three days later, six in the morning.

The main road on the eastern side of Heaven's Arena was sparsely populated. The morning fog had yet to fully disperse, and the streetlights cast dim yellow halos through the mist.

Leo stood alone at the appointed intersection, carrying a simple pack. His breath condensed into white vapor in the cool air.

Footsteps sounded in the distance.

Biscuit approached with light steps, her golden twin ponytails swaying slightly with each stride.

Today, she wore a light green tracksuit suited for movement, looking just like an ordinary girl preparing for an outing.

Wing followed behind her, carrying a bulging bundle in one hand and a hiking backpack on his back.

The bundle looked quite heavy, producing dull metallic clanks with every step he took.

"Morning~"

Biscuit stopped in front of Leo and greeted him with a cheerful smile. She looked nothing like a mentor about to begin brutal training.

"Morning."

Leo nodded in reply, his gaze falling on the bundle in Wing's hand.

Before he could ask, Biscuit had already turned to instruct Wing.

"Take everything out."

Wing acknowledged her and gently set the bundle on the ground.

The cloth hit the ground with a heavy thud, making it clear that what was inside was no lightweight.

He untied the fastenings and pulled back the wrapping cloth—revealing a specially made set of weighted gear.

A dark gray metal vest, heavy wrist guards, and a pair of shin guards.

Every component had been cast from some kind of high-density alloy. Their surfaces had been matte-treated, reflecting only a dull sheen under the morning light.

Biscuit pointed at the gear and said to Leo.

"This set weighs a hundred kilograms in total. Put it on, and run south from here without using Nen."

She paused, a hint of mischief showing through her smile.

"Until you reach Moonlight Tundra Forest. You can't rest or stop along the way."

Leo asked no further questions. He crouched down and began putting it on.

The moment the vest fastened behind his back, his shoulders sank sharply—the weight was evenly distributed, but the burden immediately spread through his entire body.

The wrist guards and shin guards were secured in turn, visibly limiting the flexibility of his limbs. An extra hundred kilograms was equivalent to running a long distance while carrying the weight of an adult.

"How does it feel?"

Biscuit asked, tilting her head.

"Manageable."

Leo rolled his shoulders and adjusted his breathing rhythm.

His body had been strengthened by life energy, and his basic physical abilities far surpassed those of an ordinary person. Still, a long-distance run with this much weight was a challenge.

"Then get going."

Biscuit clapped her hands, then turned toward Wing. Her expression instantly became stern.

"Wing, train properly! I'll check your progress when I get back, and if you've been slacking off..."

She clenched her fist, her knuckles cracking sharply.

"...you can wait to get beaten up!"

Wing awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"Understood, Master Biscuit. I'll train seriously."

He looked at Leo and pushed up his glasses.

"Mr. Leo, safe travels. Goodbye."

Leo nodded and waved to Wing.

"Yeah. Goodbye, Mr. Wing."

There were no further farewells. Leo took a deep breath and started forward.

His first few steps were somewhat sluggish, the weight making his stride heavy.

But after running several dozen meters, his body gradually adapted to the rhythm. His cadence stabilized, and his breathing shifted into a deep pattern suited for long-distance running.

Biscuit followed easily behind him, keeping a distance of around three meters.

She even pulled a fashion magazine out of her hiking backpack, flipping through it as she observed Leo's condition.

One in front and one behind, they soon left the city.

Tall buildings gradually gave way to low houses. Asphalt became gravel road, which eventually turned into a dirt path stretching south.

The buildings along the roadside vanished completely, replaced by endless fields and scattered woods.

The morning mist fully dispersed, and the sunlight grew scorching.

Biscuit closed her magazine and watched Leo's back.

He maintained excellent running form—his spine straight, core tight, stride even, and landings light.

The weight had clearly affected his speed, but his movements had not deformed in the slightest.

His physical condition really is quite good, Biscuit thought.

Moonlight Tundra Forest is 289 kilometers from here... I wonder how long he can last.

Time passed with the sound of footsteps.

Two hours later, they had already traveled more than forty kilometers from the city.

The road had fully entered the outskirts, with dense forests on both sides and the occasional farmhouse flashing past.

The direct sunlight drove the temperature noticeably higher.

Fine beads of sweat formed on Leo's forehead, but his breathing remained steady.

As he ran, he distracted himself with thought.

With a hundred kilograms of weight and my current pace, the strain on my heart and lungs is still manageable. Muscle fatigue is beginning to accumulate, but I'm still far from my limit. The problem is that I don't know how far the total distance is...

Without knowing the distance to the finish line, he could not distribute his stamina reasonably.

This was a double test of mind and body.

He adjusted his breathing rhythm and focused his attention on every step in the present.

He would not think about how far remained. He only had to make this step firm, and the next would naturally follow.

Biscuit noticed Leo's adjustment, and a trace of approval flashed in her eyes.

Being able to recognize the problem and find a response so quickly—this mentality was more valuable than mere physical ability.

Five hours passed. The noon sun scorched the earth, and the dirt road kicked up fine dust.

Leo had already covered half the distance. The surrounding scenery had become even more desolate—vast stretches of wilderness, sparse shrubs, and the occasional outline of distant mountains.

Sweat soaked his back, his training clothes clinging tightly to his skin.

His lips were somewhat dry from prolonged breathing, but he had no intention of stopping for water—Biscuit had said, "You can't rest along the way," and he followed her instruction strictly.

Biscuit still followed behind him with ease, without any noticeable change in even her breathing rhythm.

From time to time, she assessed Leo's condition, calculating the remaining distance and estimated arrival time in her head.

His endurance is better than I expected... It seems his past experiences gave him an excellent foundation.

Ten hours passed. The sun slanted westward, dyeing the sky orange-red.

Leo had expended more than half his strength. His breathing began to grow heavy, and every step required more effort than before.

Sweat continually dripped from his chin, leaving dark spots on the dry dirt road.

But he did not slow down or stop. His gaze remained focused, fixed on the road stretching endlessly ahead.

Biscuit watched Leo begin to pant, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

He's almost at his limit... but it's not far now. He should arrive in another four hours.

At this point, only the final eighty kilometers remained before Moonlight Tundra.

Night fell, and the temperature plummeted.

A cold wind swept across the wilderness, bringing biting chills against his sweat-soaked body.

Leo's muscles began protesting with aching pain. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and every breath came with a stinging sensation.

His speed inevitably slowed.

But he did not stop.

One step, then another. His legs moved mechanically in alternation, his body instinctively maintaining its running posture.

His consciousness began to blur. Only one thought kept him going.

Can't stop, can't stop...

The moon rose.

Cool moonlight spilled over the wilderness, turning the road into a silver-gray ribbon.

In the distance, along the horizon, a hazy glow began to appear—it was not moonlight, but some kind of natural light source outlining the silhouette of a vast forest against the night.

That forest emitted a soft radiance. Pale blue, light green, and luminous white glimmers interwove and flickered like a scene from a dream.

The light was not dazzling, yet it was enough to pierce the night and illuminate the surrounding landscape clearly.

Moonlight Tundra Forest.

When Leo saw that glow, the last of his strength surged from his exhausted body.

He clenched his teeth, quickened his pace slightly, and ran toward that dreamlike radiance.

Four hours later.

When Leo finally stepped onto the edge of Moonlight Tundra, Biscuit's voice came from behind him.

"Mm, we're here."

Leo stopped. His legs gave out, and he nearly dropped to his knees.

He barely steadied himself. His hands and feet trembled uncontrollably, and his face looked pale beneath the tundra's glow.

289 kilometers. A hundred kilograms of weight.

Fifteen hours of uninterrupted running.

Biscuit walked in front of him and looked up at him, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Not bad. I underestimated you."

She looked around at the glowing forest, its radiance dancing in her eyes.

"The entire journey was 289 kilometers, and you managed to run all the way here... Your physical condition truly exceeded my expectations."

Biscuit turned back to him, her smile taking on a more dangerous edge.

"Looks like the special training ahead will need to be a little more difficult."

Leo panted heavily, sweat sliding down his cheeks.

He tried to steady his breathing. A few seconds later, his voice was hoarse but clear as he spoke.

"Just give the order. No matter how harsh the training is, I'll endure it."

Biscuit's smile brightened even further at those words.

She patted Leo's arm—a simple motion that made him bare his teeth in pain, his muscles already in a state of extreme fatigue.

"All right, get a good rest tonight. Consider it your reward."

She pointed deeper into the forest.

"There's an open patch two hundred meters in, good for setting up camp. Tomorrow morning..."

Biscuit's smile turned meaningful.

"...the devilish special training begins."

Leo nodded, dragging his nearly unresponsive legs as he followed Biscuit into the glowing forest.

The interior of Moonlight Tundra Forest was even more fantastical than it had appeared from afar.

The ground was covered in thick moss, every clump emitting a gentle glow.

The tree trunks were also covered in luminous lichen, pale blue points of light decorating the branches and leaves like stars.

The glow was enough to light their path without hurting their eyes.

The air carried a fresh scent like earth after rain, mixed with a faint sweetness.

The two set up camp in the clearing.

Biscuit took a simple tent and cooking utensils from her hiking backpack.

Leo, meanwhile, practically collapsed onto the ground and slowly removed the weighted gear.

The metal components struck the ground with heavy, dull thuds.

Dinner was simple: compressed rations and reheated meat soup.

Leo ate quickly. His body urgently needed energy.

Afterward, he did not even have the strength to clean up. He crawled straight into the tent and fell onto the sleeping pad.

A full day of weighted running had indeed exceeded his previous expectations.

Every muscle in his body ached, and every joint protested.

Yet at the same time, he could feel that beneath this extreme fatigue, something deeper was being awakened.

It was the instinct born from the union of life energy and flesh—the restorative power long engraved into his bones.

Outside the tent, Biscuit sat on the glowing moss and looked up at the starry sky visible through gaps in the branches.

She toyed with the Red Storm in her hand. Against the tundra's faint glow, the gemstone refracted even more entrancing colors.

"Only two months of training... and he already has this kind of foundation."

She murmured softly, a smile rising at the corner of her lips.

"It looks like I can get serious with this special training."

The night deepened, and Moonlight Tundra's glow gently enveloped the campsite.

The cries of unknown insects drifted from the distance, ethereal and faraway.

Leo fell into a deep sleep inside the tent, his breathing gradually becoming steady and long.