Only I Am A Reader

Fair and square?

Even as children, the seasoned orphans couldn't help but ridicule the words they just heard in their hearts. Had anything they experienced from the very moment they set foot in the Heavenly Furnace been fair?

'Do we have a choice anyway?'

'Two' didn't dare dilly-dally like his predecessor, running towards the instructor in full force and throwing a punch on his unguarded stomach.

Tuck.

The battle instructor lowered his arm, easily blocking the punch, but he still remained in position. Without his fists still free, the child chaotically threw two more, though their fate didn't differ much.

Quickly retreating, 'Two' crossed his arms in an attempt to cover some of his body. He had miraculously managed to finish the training list earlier, so he had the energy to move around.

Tuck! Tuck!

'Huh?'

The attacks that he had been waiting for didn't take long to reach him. However, unlike what the resigned child had expected, the fists didn't seem to carry much weight. His crossed arms had managed to disperse most of the force in them!

Was this the same instructor that turned 'One' into a rag just now? Did he really lower his strength so that it would equal his?

Tuck!

The battle instructor took his distraction as a chance, driving a punch to his face, but the child's swollen cheeks couldn't hide the budding smile on his face! This was really a 'fair' battle!

The superior battle experience was obviously displayed by the battle instructor, but the beating that 'Two' took was more like mercy. Although most of his body had turned green and blue, he felt like he had just survived certain death.

'...and here comes the spark.'

As the candles slowly melted down, the hundred or so children left quietly observed the battles. Let alone Leo, everyone could see the relief on the beaten faces. This effect was only possible thanks to the bloody start!

Taking the rest, the minimized strength, and the body's natural recovery into consideration, the battles of the children from the two 'factions' didn't seem that much different. Everyone was taking a beating, but that was just what could be observed on the surface.

Considering the exact time difference between a complete round and the next one, not everyone had to be here from the very start according to simple logic. Gaining battle experience by watching was a reason. However, the main reason remained to be for the sake of filtering gems!

There were only two possible ways for someone to come on top during the first phase of the training. The first was to have pure rough persistence, pushing forward regardless of the inhibiting surrounding, a characteristic that qualified someone to be part of the elite!

Even then, the second was still the most important. A group of children using their brains to analyze the battles to understand the advantages that a single 'meal' had brought seemed impossible, but what if someone actually did so?

Smart children weren't extinct, they were only rare. Naturally, the Heavenly Strength Society desired such people as seeds as well.

"Next."

Before they knew it, four rounds had already started and ended during the last hour. The candles were replaced as Leo mounted the second stage. It was finally his chance to display some of his capabilities.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Leo didn't take his chances either as he rushed at the calm battle instructor, not sparing his stamina as he threw three consecutive pouches at his opponent's right leg!

The battle instructor didn't make a sound nor did his standing falter, only his eyes twitched a bit before he threw his own punch at Leo who had yet to retreat.

'He is too much for the current me.'

Undeniably, the battle instructor's physique wasn't something Leo could contend with. He was abnormally strong due to a certain advantage he had, but Leo wasn't aiming to win, to begin with, this was a project that required proper time and preparation.

However, with the opponent being restricted to Leo's pace and strength, Leo was at least confident in ending up in a better state in comparison to his peers. It took some luck, but he managed to dodge the fist that was about to kiss his face.

Bang!

'Perfect!'

The instructor seemed like an indestructible battle puppet in Leo's eyes. He couldn't compete in physique, but he also had his own special advantage!

Leo's Close Quarter Combat was barely polished enough to react and exchange moves with the battle instructor, but that only served as the medium to his true 'hidden ability'... infinite stamina!

'Much better than training with my own imagination…'

Even as over a third of the candle melted away, Leo kept going all out as if fatigue was nothing but a lie to him. This was exactly the reason why he had conserved his strength during the last two hours!

Although it wasn't endless, the overflowing essence of the 'magical' meal that he had earlier remained within the confines of Leo's body. It lacked the ability to instantly repair his injuries, but he practically felt like he could never run out of energy!

This unrealistic impression would have naturally faded away if the battle continued. However, this was but a battle lasting a mere quarter of an hour. In this time frame, Leo had all the energy to spare, exerting his body's full capability without any issues!

As the first battle that Leo fought since he entered this new world, the opportunities that this battle presented was endless. Hadn't he been hoarding martial arts books for this exact reason?

'Natural battle instinct?'

Even the battle instructor couldn't help getting surprised at this point. These shouldn't be the moves that some at this age should have!

Leo tried his best so that his attacks would be less orderly to not arouse suspicion, but that was hard to achieve when these actions were already ingrained in your body and mind. Most importantly, none of that seemed to matter when the flood in his mind broke out…

[ Reading Attribute, 'Skill Reading', has been activated! ]