The cold morning air brushed against Ryan's face as he struggled to hold his stance.
"Oya… Oya… Can't you even do this?" said Marcus, smirking with a hand covering his face.
Hearing this, Ryan gritted his teeth. His arms trembled, but he still held on.
"Listen, Ryan," Marcus said calmly. "Your body is your foundation. Without it, forget about engaging in battles—you won't even be able to stand in the arena. Polish your body while you are still young, or else forget about becoming a Beast Master."
Ryan said nothing.
His vision blurred, his small body screaming in pain.
Again…
A small thought appeared in his mind.
His arms trembled harder—on the verge of collapse.
Yet… they didn't fall.
A faint smile, almost unnoticed, appeared on his face. Not of joy, but something deeper. As if the training had triggered something within him.
His mind became clearer as pain spread through his body, and he instinctively started correcting his posture.
Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly.
He said nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on Ryan.
The longer he watched, the more intrigued he became.
This… was not something that should appear in a child.
After observing for some time, Marcus said, "Enough."
Hearing this, Ryan's body gave out.
He fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Rest for 30 minutes, then we will proceed with the next training," Marcus said while massaging his legs.
Thirty minutes later,
Ryan stood up, still feeling faint soreness in his legs.
Marcus did not make him continue physical training.
Instead, he brought two small beasts with him.
"Use your system," he said. "Figure out their details."
Ryan focused his eyes, and a faint interface appeared in front of him.
[Beast: Iron Fur Rabbit]Current Power Level: Unranked
Potential: None
Skills:
Dig
Scratch
Slap
Taunt
Smoke Screen
Lines of information appeared one after another.
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly as he read through them.
"These are the lowest-ranked beasts. They have little combat power, but they can still kill a normal person without a beast."
"Now, you and I will fight a simulated battle with these beasts."
"Go and pick one," Marcus said calmly, maintaining the demeanor of a big shot, but secretly filled with joy.
Finally… I can beat this brat fair and square without Cynthia interfering.
Ryan didn't move immediately.
His gaze flickered between the two rabbits.
He noticed something off.
One of them was lively and cheerful, while the other was calm and composed.
He observed for a few more minutes, then stepped toward the second one.
Marcus's eyes flickered slightly.
He noticed it?
Ryan appeared in front of the rabbit and asked with a smile, "Will you fight with me?"
The rabbit looked Ryan up and down and, after a moment, nodded.
"Good," said Marcus, observing from the side.
"When choosing a beast, potential isn't everything. Personality and nature also play a big role.
An arrogant beast won't listen easily, and a mild-tempered one won't be able to unleash its full potential."
"Now, you have 15 minutes. Try to bond with it and develop a strategy to defeat me."
Ryan nodded, and his brain started working at high speed.
Instead of focusing on skills, he started with the basics.
He began teaching the rabbit simple directions and commands.
As the rabbit started responding, a plan quietly formed in his mind.
But a plan alone was not enough.
It needed execution and control.
Fifteen minutes passed quickly.
"Ready?" Marcus asked.
Ryan didn't speak—he just gave a small nod.
His eyes shifted to the rabbit.
"Stay low," he murmured.
Marcus observed with a faint trace of approval in his eyes.
Good control…
The next moment—
"Move."
Ryan's rabbit darted forward.
Marcus's expression remained calm.
"Zigzag. Close in. Scratch."
His rabbit burst forward in a sharp, unpredictable pattern.
Ryan's eyes sharpened.
Fast… but predictable.
"Left."
His rabbit shifted instantly, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Marcus's eyes flickered slightly.
He read the movement?
Ryan didn't chase.
He stepped back instead—creating distance, forcing Marcus's rabbit to commit.
"Wait…"
The rabbit held position.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
He's baiting it?
"Now."
Ryan's rabbit lunged sideways—aiming not at the front, but at the blind spot.
Marcus's eyes gleamed.
"Dig," he replied.
The rabbit narrowly avoided the attack.
Ryan clicked his tongue in displeasure.
"Look around," Ryan said.
"Now… slap."
A rabbit suddenly appeared behind Ryan's rabbit and struck it.
This is bad! Ryan thought as he watched his rabbit fly three meters into the air.
Now the situation was tough, but he had to stay composed.
Ryan's brain worked at high speed. Instead of panicking, his mind became even clearer.
He began analyzing all possible attack routes.
"Now… Smoke Screen."
While still in the air, the rabbit opened its mouth, releasing black smoke that covered the area.
Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly.
Using the environment…
"Don't stop," Ryan said softly after the rabbit landed.
Hidden within the smoke, the rabbit moved—not forward, but sideways.
"Forward… Scratch."
Marcus's rabbit lunged forward, striking empty space.
Ryan's eyes sharpened.
"Now."
Ryan's rabbit lunged toward the blind spot.
Marcus's expression changed slightly.
He used the same blind spot—but this time, even better.
A loud impact echoed as the attack landed.
Ryan's lips curved slightly.
"I won."
He kept a close eye on the battlefield.
"No," Marcus replied.
"You lost."
Ryan's expression changed.
When…?
A faint chill ran down his spine—but it was already too late.