The low growls of the eight wolves were all the countdown Leo received. The jungle air, moments ago thick with the scent of tropical flowers, now reeked of wet fur and aggression.
Forget the Katana. Forget the summons. If I die here, none of that matters, Leo thought, gripping the Kukri knife so hard his knuckles turned white. I need to be stronger before I risk my life on a summon. First, survival. I will find that katana later. My priority is surviving Rayleigh's hellish training.
He studied the pack. They were fast, but they were animals, relying on instinct and overwhelming numbers. His military mind took over, finding the tactical weakness in the rock-strewn ravine.
Leo executed a textbook combat roll, avoiding the first two lunging wolves, which crashed into each other. Before they could recover, he surged up, driving the Kukri deep into the ribs of the third wolf. The animal shrieked, falling instantly.
SLASH!
XP Gained: 10
The remaining seven wolves learned quickly. They spread out, communicating their movements with low clicks and snarls, circling him in a predatory ballet. Leo tried to anticipate their moves, relying purely on instinct since his Observation Haki was nonexistent.
He spent the next few minutes in pure, desperate defense, using the short Kukri knife to parry snapping jaws. He managed to down another wolf by feinting left and plunging the blade right into its eye.
WHUMP!
XP Gained: 10
Suddenly, the planned fight dissolved into chaos. Leo, focused on the front two wolves, failed to notice the flanking maneuver. A heavy, grey blur hit him from the side. The impact sent a jolt of white-hot pain through his shoulder, slamming him into the ravine wall.
SNARL!
The wolf was on him, its teeth tearing at his exposed forearm.
Health: 85/100
"Get off!" Leo roared, twisting violently. He felt the terrifying sting of its bite, but a stronger sense of failure washed over him. I need Haki! I need the black armor!
In a desperate, instinctive movement, Leo slammed his free fist—the one not holding the knife—against the wolf's temple, pouring every ounce of will and anger into the blow. He willed his arm to turn black, to become hard, just like Rayleigh's.
HAKI! HAKI! WORK, DAMN IT!
Nothing happened. His fist remained soft skin and bone. He landed a simple, messy punch, but it stunned the wolf just long enough for Leo to rip his arm free and plunge the Kukri into its side. The wolf collapsed, finally defeated.
Leo fell back against the rock, his arm pouring blood, adrenaline making his entire body shake. He looked at his unarmored fist, anger boiling over.
This isn't a game where you unlock powers by pressing a button! This is sheer, brutal will!
He managed to take down the final four wolves through a mix of desperation, painful lunges, and the use of the ravine's choke points. He fought like a panicked, cornered animal, not a disciplined soldier.
Finally, with a final, messy strike, the eighth and last wolf fell silent.
Leo collapsed onto the blood-soaked earth, his chest heaving, his entire body screaming in protest.
DING!
The System message was almost an afterthought compared to the pain.
Objective Complete: Defeat Grey Scrapper Pack (8/8)
XP GAINED: 80 Level Up! Host Level 3!
Leo managed a weak, coughing laugh. "Whoa... I almost died. Level 3. Worth it."
Just as Leo managed to sit up, a shadow fell over him.
"Took you long enough," a voice said smoothly.
Leo looked up to see Rayleigh standing there, entirely clean, his arms crossed. His eyes immediately went to the blood-soaked Leo's shirt.
"Enough," Rayleigh said, his gaze sweeping over the defeated pack. "You survived. That is the first lesson.
Use this. It's the highest grade of Amazon Lily healing salve. Rub it on the worst wounds."
Leo caught the bottle, relief washing over him. "Thanks, Rayleigh. The wolves were... tougher than they looked." He immediately uncorked the bottle and applied the stinging, dark paste to the deep bites.
"For a beginner, satisfactory," Rayleigh said, giving a curt nod to the Kukri. "Did you use your shield?"
Leo quickly shook his head. "I wish I could! No, sir. Just me and this little knife."
"Hm. Good," Rayleigh said, his expression unreadable. "Now, come. Let's see how our true brawler is managing his 'training.'"
Leo followed Rayleigh, putting the System and the Katana requirement out of his mind. The minute they reached the central clearing, Leo stopped dead in his tracks. The medicine was already working, rapidly closing the wounds, and his stamina was slowly returning.
"Holy..."
Luffy was being chased, his rubber body bouncing wildly between trees, by three massive creatures: a gigantic, tusked Wild boar, a thick-scaled Gator-Dragon, and the Giant lion. He was surrounded and utterly outmatched.
"Help! Rayleigh! They keep attacking me!" Luffy yelled, stretching his arms to swing away from a giant tail.
Leo stared, mouth open. "And I thought I was struggling. Compared to me, Luffy is in hell! That's not training; that's torture!"
Rayleigh chuckled softly. "He needs that kind of pressure to unlock his true power. He needs to face death constantly until his spirit takes control."
Just then, the three beasts cornered Luffy, and the Gorilla raised its massive fist to deliver a crushing blow.
Rayleigh lowered his bottle. He didn't move or shout. He simply released a silent wave of pure, condensed will—Conqueror's Haki.
FWOOOM!
The air itself seemed to shudder. The Wild, the Gator-Dragon, and the Rock Gorilla all froze mid-attack. Their eyes glazed over, and then, without a single sound, all three fell unconscious, collapsing in a heap.
Luffy sprang out of the tangle. "WHOA! You did it again, Rayleigh! You're the best! Thanks!"
Leo just sighed, looking from the unconscious beasts to the casually drinking Rayleigh. And here I am, Level 3, nearly dying to a pack of overgrown chickens.
Luffy turned to Leo, his eyes bright. "Hey, Leo! How was your training? You look like you were also fighting big monsters! You have blood all over your pants!"
Leo managed a strained smile. "Yeah, ". Compared to you, I was fighting... chickens."(inner thoughts)
Luffy grinned, slapping Leo on the back. "Awesome! I'm starving! Let's eat!"
As the sun dipped below the jungle canopy, bathing the terrifying island in an orange glow, the two pupils sat with their mentor, sharing fire-roasted meat. After the medicine and hours of rest, Leo felt fully restored.
Rayleigh looked at them both, his eyes serious. "These two years will be hell for both of you. You will be broken, pushed past your limits, and you will hate me. But you will emerge stronger than you can imagine."
Leo nodded, the taste of the tough meat grounding him. "Yeah, I know. I need to survive this world."
Luffy grinned fiercely, with a determined look in his eye. "I will become strong and protect my friends!"
Rayleigh smiled faintly. "Good. The first day is over."
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