Special Training Complete, Return Journey

On the plains, the wind swept up dry dust.

Sunlight poured down without obstruction, baking the ground until it was scorching hot.

"Bang—!!!"

A dull, heart-stopping boom erupted, and the shockwave kicked up every speck of dust within a ten-meter radius.

Leo crossed his arms before his chest as a terrifying force blasted him backward, his boots gouging two deep furrows into the ground.

He slid a full seven meters before barely managing to steady himself.

The dust slowly settled.

Leo lowered his trembling arms and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his chest heaving violently.

He could feel a deep, bone-piercing ache in his arms—a warning that the force had exceeded what he could withstand.

"Master Biscuit."

He panted and gave a bitter smile.

"Your strength in your original form... is too much. My arms nearly got crippled."

Standing opposite him was a figure over two meters tall.

Her muscles bulged as though forged from steel and iron, every inch of her body packed with explosive power.

Her long golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail behind her head, while her formerly petite princess dress had long been replaced by fitted black training clothes.

Her face remained delicate, but its contours were sharper, and her gaze was as keen as a blade.

This was Biscuit Krueger's true appearance.

"Tch."

Biscuit curled her lips, her face full of displeasure.

She rolled the right arm that had thrown that punch, her joints cracking sharply.

"Say something like that again, and I won't hold back anymore."

Her voice had become much deeper, carrying an undisguised threat.

"I hate how I originally look—too tall, too bulky, ugly as hell. You think so too, don't you? Hmm?"

She drew out that final "hmm" as her fist slowly clenched.

Leo's Adam's apple bobbed. These five months of special training had taught him one thing very clearly.

In front of Biscuit, honesty was sometimes less important than survival.

"You're right."

His expression was utterly serious.

"Women are obviously cutest when they're small and delicate. Master, your usual appearance is wonderful—absolutely perfect."

Biscuit stared at him for two seconds, then gave a snort as aura began to flow around her.

Her tall, muscular body slowly shrank like a deflating balloon. Her muscle definition softened, and her height diminished—seconds later, the little blonde girl with twin ponytails was standing on the plains again.

She dusted off nonexistent grime from her clothes, her expression returning to its usual ease.

Leo secretly let out a breath of relief.

For these five months, every day had been about pushing past his limits.

Mornings were for systematic training—building up the aura reserves of Enhancement, changing the properties of Transmutation, and long-range emission through Emission.

Biscuit's instruction was strict to the point of harshness. Every detail had to be refined over and over until it became muscle memory.

The afternoons were for sparring.

At first, Biscuit had sparred with him in her little girl form, but as Leo grew at an astonishing pace, that level of pressure was no longer enough.

A month ago, Biscuit had returned to her original form for the first time.

In that battle, Leo had lasted only thirty seconds.

The true strength of a two-star Hunter had overwhelmed him completely like a collapsing mountain and a roaring tsunami.

Strength, speed, experience, application of aura—he had been crushed in every aspect.

But it was precisely that overwhelming defeat that let Leo glimpse a higher horizon, and after every time he was knocked down, he could find a new direction for breakthrough.

The rest of the afternoon was hunting time.

All kinds of powerful creatures lived deep within Moonlight Tundra: spiny-backed boars with hide as hard as iron, silver-glow panthers as swift as lightning, packs of swamp giant lizards that could spit acid... Every fight was a struggle for life and death.

The tattoo on the back of his hand continued to burn as life energy constantly flowed into him.

[Level: 29→31→34→37→39→41]

Twelve levels in five months.

The physical enhancement brought by every level-up was clearly palpable.

His muscle density increased, his bones became tougher, his neural response speed improved, and his five senses grew sharper.

Nourished by aura, this body was evolving toward an inhuman realm.

But the cost was equally severe.

The intense training kept his body constantly on the brink of collapse.

Torn muscles, microfractures in his bones, trauma to his internal organs...

If Biscuit had not used Magical Esthetician Cookie every night for deep massages and recovery, together with Leo's own powerful healing ability, he never would have endured this hellish special training.

At that moment, Biscuit walked up to Leo and looked up at him—even in her little girl form, her eyes still carried the pressure of a strong person.

"I've taught you everything I can, without holding anything back."

Her voice calmed, revealing a rare hint of gentleness.

"The rest is up to you—to put it into practice, comprehend it, and break through. I originally planned to stay for only three months... I didn't expect it to be the end of the year in the blink of an eye."

Leo fell silent for several seconds, then gave her a deep bow.

He did so with extreme solemnity, bending at a full ninety degrees and remaining there for three seconds before straightening.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, Master Biscuit."

His voice was earnest.

"I'll remember these five months of instruction for the rest of my life. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word. I'll do it."

This was not mere politeness.

Biscuit's wholehearted instruction over the past five months had already gone beyond the scope of an ordinary commission.

She had not only taught him Nen abilities, but also combat wisdom, wilderness survival, and even certain hidden knowledge known only to Hunters.

Leo kept this debt of gratitude in his heart.

Biscuit waved a hand, and that carefree smile returned to her face.

"Mhm, mhm. I've seen how hard you've worked. All right, the special training ends here. We'll set off tomorrow morning."

She paused, as though suddenly recalling something.

"Oh, right. You're not a Hunter yet, are you? It's December now... I suggest you go get a Hunter license. The Hunter Exam is next January."

Leo nodded.

"That's right. I was planning to register in a few days."

"Good."

Biscuit clasped her hands behind her back and paced two steps.

"Also, our school is called the Heart Source School. That old man Netero, the chairman of the Hunter Association, is the founder of the Heart Source School. Work hard..."

She turned to look at Leo, a glimmer of anticipation flashing through her eyes.

"I hope that one day, you can become stronger than that old geezer. I have high hopes for you."

Leo awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"I will."

He did not say it loudly, but Biscuit heard the weight behind those words.

On their final night in Moonlight Tundra, neither of them trained.

In a rare occurrence, Biscuit cooked in person, using ingredients they had gathered during this time to prepare a lavish dinner.

The glowing moss served as natural lighting, bathing the camp in a dreamlike glow.

There was not much conversation over the meal, but the atmosphere was relaxed.

After five months of living together day and night, master and disciple had formed an understanding that needed no words.

The following morning, they packed their belongings and left the glowing forest where they had lived for five months.

After half a day of travel, they arrived at the nearest city to Moonlight Tundra—Yutop City.

It was the outpost for entering the tundra, and quite a few well-equipped explorers could be seen on its streets.

The airport was located in the eastern outskirts of the city.

Compared to the bustling metropolis where Heaven's Arena stood, this airport was much smaller, with most of its flights being short-range airships.

In the waiting hall, Biscuit patted Leo on the arm.

"We'll part ways here."

She withdrew her hand, took out a card, and handed it to Leo.

"This is my contact information. If you run into trouble you can't handle, you can find me—though don't bother me with trivial things."

Leo accepted the card and carefully put it away.

"After you return to Heaven's Arena, remember to help me check on that brat Wing's training progress."

Biscuit's expression turned dangerous.

"If he's slacking off, being lazy, or training halfheartedly... teach him a proper lesson for me! Don't hold back. If he gets hurt, he deserves it."

Leo could not help laughing.

"No problem, Master Biscuit. I will."

He paused, looking at the figure before him—seemingly petite, yet in truth as immense as mountain and sea—and spoke solemnly once more.

"Thank you for your guidance and companionship during this time."

Biscuit impatiently waved him off.

"All right, all right, that's disgustingly mushy! Hurry up, the airship's about to take off!"

Leo smiled and said no more.

He shouldered his pack and turned toward the boarding passage.

The small airship slowly rose into the air, tracing an arc over Yutop City as it flew toward Heaven's Arena.

Biscuit stood at the edge of the tarmac, looking up at the gradually shrinking airship until it became a black dot on the horizon and finally vanished from sight.

She let out a soft sigh, a complicated expression appearing on her face.

There was relief, anticipation, and a faint trace of concern.

"I hope I made the right decision..."

Biscuit murmured softly, her voice scattering in the wind.

"Old man Netero, I think I may have... let an extraordinary beast out of its cage."

She shook her head, casting aside the thought, then turned and headed down another passage.

Inside the airship cabin, Leo leaned against the window and watched the mountains and rivers rushing past below.

Seven months of special training had sharpened this rough gem into a blade.

And now, it was time to test just how sharp that blade was.

The Hunter Exam... battles above the 200th floor of Heaven's Arena... and the countless secrets of this vast world waiting to be explored.

Leo closed his eyes and began planning his next steps.

First, he would return to Heaven's Arena and check Sophia and Wing's training progress. Then, he would register for next year's Hunter Exam.