Leo opened his eyes, and the ceiling came into view.
The familiar Airship cabin, the familiar white lights, and the familiar smell of disinfectant.
He moved his fingers, sensing the condition of his body.
Every muscle in his body was incredibly sore, as if every fiber had been torn apart and then sewn back together.
But compared to his state before passing out yesterday, he had mostly recovered—this was the terrifying recovery power brought by "Proof of Humanity."
He turned his head to look at the sky outside the window—the early morning sunlight spilled in through the glass, casting warm patches of light on the floor.
"It's the morning of the second day..."
Leo whispered to himself, images of yesterday's battle flashing through his mind.
The glittering gold Hyakushiki Kannon, the airtight shadows of fists and palms, and that ten-meter distance he could never break through.
"Hyakushiki Kannon... as expected, it's troublesome."
He clenched his fists, feeling the Nen surging within him. After a night of recovery, his physical condition had returned to about seventy percent.
'I still need to keep increasing my Rank.'
At Rank 65, he was still not enough when facing a serious Netero.
"Gurgle—"
A loud stomach growl interrupted his thoughts.
Leo rubbed his stomach and gave a bitter smile.
The battle with Netero had been too draining; right now, he was hungry enough to eat a whole cow.
He rolled out of bed, stretched his aching limbs, pushed open the cabin door, and headed toward the dining hall.
In the dining hall, Menchi and Buhara were sitting by the window with a lavish breakfast spread before them.
Menchi held a steaming bowl of Miso Soup in her hands, while Buhara was buried in a mountain of bacon and fried eggs.
Hearing footsteps, both of them looked up simultaneously.
"Ah!"
Menchi's eyes widened, and the soup bowl in her hand nearly spilled.
"Y-You're awake?! You were so badly injured, and you recovered in just one night?"
Buhara also stopped chewing, looking at Leo with a face full of shock.
Yesterday, when they carried Leo back, the guy was covered in blood, his breath so weak it seemed like he could stop breathing at any moment.
But standing before them now, aside from a slightly stiff gait, how did he look like a seriously injured person?
Leo smiled and sat down at the dining table.
"My Physique is a bit special, so I recover a bit faster, that's all."
"A bit faster?"
Menchi rolled her eyes.
"You call this 'a bit faster'? This isn't even at the level of a normal human!"
Leo smiled without a word and beckoned a waiter over.
"Two of every main course on the menu. And a large pitcher of milk."
The waiter froze.
"E-Every main course?"
"Yes. Go quickly."
The waiter swallowed hard and turned to run off.
Menchi and Buhara exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
Two hours later.
The empty plates on the table were stacked as high as a small mountain.
Leo put down the last empty bowl and let out a satisfied burp.
Food meant for six people had been swept away by him like a whirlwind.
Menchi's mouth twitched as she looked at the pile of plates.
"Are you the reincarnation of a starving ghost..."
Buhara rubbed his own stomach, feeling a rare sense of pressure—in the realm of eating, he had met his match.
Leo leaned back against the chair, feeling the food being rapidly digested in his stomach, transforming into energy that flowed through his entire body.
His physical and mental state had already recovered to ninety percent.
He stood up, his gaze firm.
"I'm going to challenge the Chairman again."
The chopsticks in Menchi's hand fell onto the table with a "clack."
"Are you crazy?!"
She exclaimed.
"You were beaten so badly yesterday, and you're going again today?"
Buhara also nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah, rest for a few days before..."
"The fourth phase of the test will last for ten days."
Leo interrupted him.
"I want to take this opportunity to constantly challenge the Chairman. An opponent of this caliber isn't someone you can encounter anytime."
He grinned, his eyes burning with a fierce Battle Intent.
"Ten days is enough for me to improve a lot."
Menchi opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately just sighed.
"Fine, fine, your way of thinking is something we can't understand."
Buhara scratched his head.
"Do you need me to go inform the Chairman for you?"
"No need."
Leo turned and walked toward the cabin door, "I'll go myself."
On the grassland.
Netero was sitting on a large rock, leisurely basking in the sun.
Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes and saw Leo walking toward him, an interested smile appearing on his face.
"Oh? Back again?"
Leo stopped ten meters in front of him and gave a slight bow.
"Chairman, please instruct me once more."
Netero stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.
He sized Leo up, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes—to be able to recover to this extent in one night, this young man's recovery power was indeed astonishing.
"Alright."
He nodded.
"Anyway, this old man is bored to death, so I'll play with you."
He paused and said with a smile.
"But this time, you'd better be even more prepared."
Leo grinned, and his Nen erupted violently!
Black striped patterns once again crawled all over his body—"Shivering Soul," activated!
"Come on!"
On the grassland, the sound of booming continued incessantly.
A figure was repeatedly sent flying; it was none other than Leo.
Same location, same group of spectators, and the familiar process of being beaten.
Menchi, Buhara, and Satz stood on the high ground in the distance, watching that figure rush toward Netero time and again, being knocked back by Hyakushiki Kannon time and again, and climbing back up to continue the charge time and again.
"Is this guy... really human?"
Buhara murmured.
Satz spoke with a tone of admiration.
"His rate of improvement is simply astounding."
Menchi didn't speak; she just stared intently at the battlefield.
On the battlefield, Leo had just bounced up from the ground, turning into a golden stream of light as he rushed toward Netero ten meters away once more!
The golden palm shadows of Hyakushiki Kannon descended again!
Leo sidestepped, dodging the first strike!
He ducked, dodging the second strike!
He rolled, dodging the third strike!
He dodged four consecutive attacks!
And then—
"Bang!"
The fifth palm landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying once more.
Leo flipped his body in mid-air, stumbling a few steps as he landed, but quickly stabilized himself. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the light in his eyes growing even brighter.
Netero watched this scene, a hint of genuine surprise flashing in his eyes.
How long has it been?
This young man was already able to dodge four consecutive attacks.
During the first challenge, he could only hold out for three minutes before collapsing.
But now—
"Four minutes."
Netero calculated silently in his heart.
"One minute longer than yesterday."
Leo charged again.
This time, he held out for four minutes and fifteen seconds.
Then he collapsed.
Satz and Buhara had long since grown accustomed to this routine.
The moment Leo fell, the two of them had already rushed out, supporting him from both sides and heading toward the Airship in a practiced manner.
Netero followed behind them, humming a little tune in high spirits.
It had been a long, long time since anyone could fight with him like this.
The third day.
On the grassland, the golden light of Hyakushiki Kannon bloomed once more.
Leo's figure darted through the dense palm shadows, dodging, parrying, and counterattacking.
His movements were even more fluid than yesterday, and his anticipation of the attacks was more precise.
Five minutes.
He only collapsed after a full five minutes.
Menchi stood in the distance, having long forgotten to put the snacks in her hand into her mouth.
She stared blankly at the young man who was covered in blood but still smiling, complex emotions surging in her heart.
"This guy... is really too much!"
Buhara had given up on thinking, just mechanically gnawing on dried meat, numbly watching that figure that was constantly being knocked away and constantly climbing back up.
Satz sipped his coffee and said softly.
"Leo's daily progress is visible to the naked eye."
The fourth day.
Leo held out for six minutes.
Not only that, but he also advanced forward by two meters.
Eight meters.
He was already able to get within eight meters of Netero.
The surprise in Netero's eyes grew stronger and stronger.
This young man's learning and adaptation abilities far exceeded his expectations.
Every time he was knocked down, he was absorbing experience; every time he climbed back up, he was becoming stronger.
'Interesting.'
Netero thought to himself.
'This kid is also making me rediscover that sense of excitement.'
The fifth day.
Leo successfully approached within seven meters.
But today, Netero began to get serious.
The frequency of attacks suddenly quickened, and the power behind them increased significantly.
Leo, who could originally hold out for six minutes, only lasted three minutes today before lying down.
Satz and Buhara exchanged a look and sighed helplessly.
The familiar scene again.
They rushed forward, supported Leo, and headed toward the Airship.