Edrik stepped up beside Kurogasa, atg Ats from a distance as he ran across the volic terrain. Though Ats stumbled a few times, he quickly picked himself up each time, pressing forward with determination.

  It was already the fourth day of this interaining, yet Ats still showed no signs of giving up.

  “Master Kurogasa…” Edrik sighed.

  Kurogasa gave a slight bow. “Mr. Edrik.”

  “You’re really pushing him to his limit, aren’t you?”

  “The Lord has remarkable resilience,” Kurogasa replied. “He stantly tries to break past his own limits. And, surprisingly, he succeeds.”

  “He’s still only in his twenties… but his mental strength is incredible. It almost doesn’t seem real. Just what has he gohrough to develop such resolve at his age?”

  “I think he simply loves what he does,” Kurogasa said thoughtfully. “He’s humble, even toward the troops. He treats them well, that’s incredibly rare in a Lord.”

  “Yes, his behavior puts me to shame,” Edrik admitted. “With this kind of nature and iy, he inspires people to follow him, to the point they’d willingly give their lives for him.”

  Kurogasa gave a slight bow. “Losing my st battle and being summoo serve him has been the greatest blessing, one I never imagined I’d have.”

  Edrik returhe bow. “I entrust the Lord to you, Master. I know you’ll bring out his best potential.”

  “No, not me,” Kurogasa replied, shaking his head. “I only guide him. He’s the one who will do it. Watg him transform… that will be a pleasure for us all.”

  “Yes,” Edrik agreed. “He’s truly inspiring.”

  [Your Iron Will talent has evolved to a new height: Unyielding Resolve, Rating A.]

  [Your mental fortitude has reached a level where fear and distras are signifitly reduced. Even under intense ditions, you remain calm and focused.]

  [Bes: Resistao mental attacks, enhanced focus during plex bat sarios, and increased endurance when under pressure.]

  A notification popped up before Ats, and—wait, what?! His talent had evolved? Unyielding Resolve? Even though it was still the same rating, it sounded powerful.

  He ughed, feeling a surge of energy as he picked up his pace, thrilled that his training was finally paying off.

  Let’s evolve and upgrade aale!

  The raining Ats had to face? Fighting a Level 50 Lava Hound—bare-chested, barefoot, and without any on.

  Damn it! How the hell am I supposed to kill this va-skinned beast without a on?

  The Lava Hound stood before him, snarling, its molten skin radiating intense heat. His mind raced.

  Kurogasa stood a few paces away, just watg… and smiling?! Did he want to see Ats buro a crisp?

  The Lava Hound lu him. Ats dodged, desperately searg for a way to kill the creature.

  Damn it, even its skin is on fire! His hands would be scorched if he tried to grab it.

  The beast charged again, its speed ferocious, and though Ats dodged, a spsh of va caught his arm.

  "Argh!" He cried out as searing pain shot through him.

  He ran in a panic, clutg his burned left arm. The skin was blistered, charred—Argh! This hurts, damn it! He winced, his breath ragged with pain.

  The Lava Hound attacked again, and this time, he took a direct hit, thrown back as va seared his chest.

  Arghhh! Damn, damn, damn! I’m gonna die!

  The Lava Hound tis brutal assault, f Ats to do nothing but run and dodge, desperately trying to stay ahead of it. His legs felt weak, nearly ready to give out uhe relentless pain.

  This is torture!

  He kept moving, too afraid to fight back. But then… he gnced down at his arm. The wounds were slowly healing.

  Was this his passive regeion at work? His Strength and stitution stats were clearly boosting his health recovery, but the pain was still overwhelming.

  Ats kept running, cirg.

  How was he supposed to fight this va-skinned creature?! Even against a regur dog, he’d be struggling with bites, and this beast was on a whole other level.

  Out of the er of his eye, he noticed Kurogasa drop into a martial arts stance, exeg a trolled sequenoves.

  What the hell is he doing? Was he… was Kurogasa demonstrating something?

  Did he expect Ats to mimioves against the fming va hound?

  Ats squirying to make sense of it. Kurogasa’s movements showed precise positioning, teiques for redireg an oppo’s weight, and targeting oints.

  Throwing teiques…? Seriously? Against a creature with molten skin? This was madness.

  But with no other options, Ats tried to focus, studying Kurogasa’s form. If he could somehow leverage the hound’s own momentum, he might have a bsp;

  Alright… let’s try not to get buro death!

  Ats mimicked Kurogasa’s movements, but as the Lava Hound approached, he hesitated. Damn it, he thought, g his fists. He sidestepped quickly and grabbed the creature’s body—ARGH! The heat seared his hands instantly, f him to let go and sprint away.

  My fingers! Damn it, this hurts! His fiips were scorched, and the pain was unbearable.

  This is torture. I’m gonna die out here.

  He kept running, trying to buy time for his hands to heal, while Kurogasa tinued demonstrating the martial arts moves.

  Does he even realize this Lava Hound has actual molten va on its skin?! Ats cursed internally. Damn you, Kurogasa!

  Ats kept running, miretg on as he sprinted with everything he had. Survival was his only thought. He couldn’t afford to stop, not with that freaking Lava Hound right on his heels.

  He tried to mimic Kurogasa’s moves over and over, only to fail each time as searing pain shot through him every time he made tabsp;

  Damn it! The agony was unreal.

  Finally, in a burst of desperation, Ats lunged, gripping the beast and screaming as his hands blistered on tact. Motherf—! Damn it, damn it! But he mao twist and sm the Lava Hound into the ground.

  Fueled by sheer rage, he unleashed a series of punches, fire spttering from the beast and burning his chest, arms—everywhere. I’m on fire! Damn, I’m burning!

  He broke away, stumbling as he ran again.

  "ARGHHH! I’m g, this is torture, pure torture!"

  He repeated the cycle over and over. Running to recover, then charging ba to attack when he was ready.

  From a distance, Lyrassa watched with tears in her eyes. “I would willingly bear that pain for my Lord,” she whispered.

  Beside her, Edrik sighed, his face troubled. “I hardly stand to watch this.”

  Manna, who had been silently , finally stood and walked away.

  Two hours passed. Ats was drenched i and burns, his hands raw and blistered as he struck the Lava Hound’s head again and agaiing the molten va spill over his skin as he punched, and punched! And punched!

  Damn, damn, damn, damn! Each strike was fueled by nothing but raw determination and fury.

  [You have killed Lava Hound Lv. 50]

  [You received 924 Exp]

  [Exp: 106,492/113,424]

  [You have unlocked a new Epic-grade Passive Skill: Inferno Fortitude]

  [Adapts to withstand intense heat, granting natural resilience against searing temperatures. When near volic areas or sources of intense heat, endurand stamina are signifitly boosted, allowing for increased effid resilien harsh, fiery enviros.]

  [Skill Effects:

  [Heat Resistance: Reduces all heat-based damage by 20% and increases resista effects.]

  [Volidurance: While in volic areas or near magma, stamina regeion increases by 15%, and overall stamina capacity is boosted by 10%.]

  [Lava Aura Adaptation: Movement speed is slightly more effit in high-temperature areas, redug stamina drain by 5% during physical exertion.]

  Ats dropped to the ground, ughing with exhaustion and satisfa.

  Kurogasa, Edrik, and Lyrassa rushed over to him, and Lyrassa immediately k by his side, eling her energy into the severe burns on his hands.

  “My Lord, you did it,” she said.

  Ats nodded, still catg his breath, and without warning, Lyrassa leaned in and hugged him. Ats ughed, ing his arms around her iurn, sav the euphoria of victory.

  Edrik also sat down beside him, g a hand on his shoulder.

  “You should’ve seen their faces. Everyog you take on that beast,” he said with a grin.

  Ats turned, only now notig that all the troops had been watg his battle against the Lava Hound, their expressions filled with awe and respect.

  They cheered in his dire, some shouting and celebrating his victory with raised fists aed voices. The air was filled with their admiration and energy, as they celebrated his success.

  [Your talent Reliable Aura has evolved to a new level: anding Presence, Rating S.]

  [Your aura now inspires those around you, signifitly boosting morale and focus among your allies. The effect bees especially powerful in high-stress situations, such as intetles or critical deaking.]

  [Be: Increased team effectiveness, faster respoimes from allies, and a moderate boost to allies' defensive abilities within cle.]

  ***

  (Author’s Note:)

  Hey everyone! I know the training ar feel a bit grueling (and holy, I’d love to jump straight to the big battles and epients), but bear with me! ?

  I really want to showcase the MC’s journey in a way that truly emphasizes his hard work aermination. This isn’t just about throwing power boosts at him—this is a story of resilience, grit, and earning the respect of every single person around him.

  Trust me, it’s all building up to something incredible. I’ll do my best to keep things tight and pelling, so you feel every step of Ats’s growth as he climbs to the top.

  Thanks so much for stig with Ats ahrough every burn, bruise, and victory! ??