"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck this shit!"

I growl, the words escaping through gritted teeth. My legs scream with every motion, my entire body trembling under the strain. The thick tree trunk balanced across my shoulders feels like it's trying to crush me into the dirt. Sweat pours down my face, stinging my eyes, but I don't stop. Not yet.

"Forty-nine… one more," I mutter, my voice strained and hoarse. Overdrive pulses through me, pushing my muscles to the brink, but damn if it doesn't feel like every fiber of my body is tearing itself apart.

The world narrows to the rhythm of the squat—down, up, down, up. My quads are on fire, my back feels like it's made of molten steel, and my lungs can barely keep up. "One… more… you bastard!" I hiss, powering through the final repetition, my legs wobbling like jelly. I straighten with a gasp, the tree groaning in protest as I hold it for a split second longer.

Then I let it go.

The trunk crashes to the ground with a deafening thud, dirt and leaves flying in every direction. I collapse next to it, my body hitting the ground with a thump, arms sprawled out like I've been flattened.

My chest heaves as I suck in air, each breath sharp and shallow. Every muscle in my body is shaking, and I can't tell if it's from exertion or the sheer absurdity of what I've just done.

"Fucking hell," I mutter, my head rolling back to rest against the ground. My vision swims for a moment, and I let out a weak, breathless laugh. "Fifty squats with a goddamn tree. Who the hell comes up with this shit?"

I stare at Houston's program displayed in my mind, the neat, brutal schedule taunting me as I lower Overdrive and let my body take a breather.

Morning Session (Raw Strength Focus):

Boulder Deadlifts – Lifting large, uneven boulders for core and back strength (10 reps x 5 sets).

Log Presses – Clean and press using a 100 kg log for explosive power (12 reps x 4 sets).

Weighted Pull-ups – Using smaller logs attached to the feet while hanging from a cliff (10 reps x 4 sets).

Midday Session (Flexibility and Agility):

Cliff Climbs – Scaling rocky surfaces without equipment, focusing on precision and balance.

Waterfall Dives – Controlled dives into shallow water for body coordination.

Tree Limb Stretches – Hanging stretches using high tree branches for flexibility and grip strength.

Balance Drills – Traversing fallen logs over water while maintaining speed.

Afternoon Session (Endurance and Core):

Log Carries – Running uphill with a heavy log on one shoulder (5 km circuits).

River Resistance Sprints – Running against the current in waist-high water.

Stone Throws – Hurling large stones to build explosive power in the upper body.

Plank Holds – Planking with a rock on the back, holding for 3 minutes x 5 rounds.

Evening Session (Strength and Precision):

Shadow Combat – Practicing movements and reactions without an opponent.

Meditation Under Overdrive – Mental focus while maintaining Overdrive targeting wave precision.

Tree Squats – Thick trunks balanced on the shoulders for 50 reps x 3 rounds.

Night Session (Recovery):

Stretching Routine – Using EM waves to identify and relax strained muscles.

Breathing Exercises – Controlled deep breathing to optimize oxygen flow and calm the nervous system.

Wave Sync Practice – Gentle alignment of EM waves to improve body-mind integration.

Targeted exercises, my ass! This is literal torture. I'd probably end up in better shape after another fight with a king crab!

I stare up at the sky, the sun dipping closer to the horizon, casting the world in warm hues. Finally, a break.

I stay on the ground for a couple of minutes, letting my muscles rest. Then, with a controlled motion, I use a kip-up to push myself off the ground, landing on my feet.

As I stand, I pull up the status screen, my eyes scanning the numbers. Physical Condition: 1.623 → 1.625. The difference is small—minuscule, really—but it's there. Progress.

If Houston isn't fudging the numbers to push me harder, then maybe all this torture is worth it… maybe.

I roll my shoulders, shaking off the lingering soreness, and start heading toward the cave. The thought of the hot spring sends a wave of relief through me, like a promise of salvation after the hell I've put myself through today. My mind paints the picture: steam rising, the bubbling water soothing every muscle, the view through those carved-out windows. Perfection.

"Now this," I mutter with a smirk, quickening my pace, "is what I call recovery."

The anticipation propels me forward, my feet finding a natural rhythm as I navigate the uneven terrain. But as I get closer, something feels… off.

I pause mid-step, my instincts flaring like a siren. My EM waves sweep outward, scanning the area, and then it hits me. The rock. It's not blocking the entrance!

What the hell?

A creature? A Climber?

The nerve!!!

I pull into full Overdrive, my body surging forward with explosive speed. My thoughts blur, replaced by a single, obsessive drive: Nobody—absolutely nobody—touches my—

But then…

I skid to a halt, my boots scraping against the rocky ground, sending a scattering of loose pebbles into the silence. The world lurches, slowing in a way that feels unbearably vivid.

My chest tightens as my breath catches. My heart pounds, each beat a thunderclap in my ears. Not from the run. Not from exertion. From her.

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Ayu.

She stands there, her back straight, every inch of her illuminated in the waning golden light spilling through the cave's carved windows. Her gauntlets on her arms, but the rest… it's all her.

Her skin glistens faintly, the remnants of the hot spring's steam rising in soft wisps around her. Each curve, each sinew of muscle, is an exquisite balance of raw strength and delicate femininity. Her silhouette is sculpted, flawless in a way that stops time itself.

The water clings to her, tracing rivulets down her arms, her legs—God, even the way the droplets gather and fall seems to mock me with their perfection.

My gaze flits, unbidden, drawn to the subtle rise and fall of her chest, the rhythm of her breath betraying her own stunned stillness. Every muscle in her body seems frozen in perfect tension, poised yet unyielding, her form a harmonious contradiction: brutal power wrapped in effortless elegance.

And then, the scent hits me. Soft, clean, with a hint of warmth from the spring. It's faint, subtle, but so real that it almost pulls me forward.

My throat dries. My palms sweat. My vision sharpens so much that it feels like my mind can't keep up. My heart races so fast it's almost painful, thundering against my ribs. Blood rushes hot, far too hot, leaving me lightheaded and dazed.

I try to breathe, but all I can do is stand there, frozen, unable to look away. Every inch of her is a masterpiece etched into my brain, seared with merciless precision.

And then—her scream shatters the stillness like a blade slicing through glass.

Before I can react, her fist swings toward my face. I could dodge. I really could. But… damn it. Why did she have to be so—

CRACK.

Her punch lands square on my face, shattering the front of my mask. I stagger back, blood streaming from my crushed nose as pain shoots through my skull. I clutch my face, blinking rapidly.

"Shit, that hurts!" I mutter, my voice muffled by the broken cartilage.

She's still shouting. I can't quite catch the foreign words through the ringing in my ears, but the tone is unmistakable—she's pissed, and I definitely deserve it.

Still, I… I can't stop myself from looking at her eyes. They're slightly red, with tears glistening at the edges. Shit.

Her hands dart to cover herself as she spins around, her movements sharp and frantic. She rushes back to the cave, grabs the massive rock, and slams it into place with a force that reverberates through the ground, sealing herself inside.

I'm left standing there, clutching my nose, my enhanced memory replaying the scene on an endless loop. I lower Overdrive as much as I can, even pushing into negative values, but it doesn't help. My heart pounds like it's trying to break free from my chest. The memory burns too vividly—too detailed.

Her silhouette, dripping water, the curve of her back, her thin waist. The way the soft light caught her skin, glistening with droplets that traced trails down every perfect line and dip.

And her… damn, her chest, perfectly sculpted. The way her skin flushed from the heat, the subtle rise and fall with each breath, and those small, hardened nipples—standing out against her smooth skin, impossible to forget.

I swallow hard, my throat dry despite the humid air. Every detail is burned into my brain. Every. Single. Detail.

Guilt tugs at me, sure, but… come on. What was I supposed to do? This is my home, my cave! And now Ayu—Ayu, the girl who's been haunting my every waking thought—just appears out of nowhere, practically glowing like she stepped out of some ancient myth.

Damn. I'm a man!

I shake my head, groaning as I let my hands drop to my sides. Even as my senses dull, I can't stop the heat coursing through me.

I stare up at the sky. What now?

Well, I certainly need to explain to Ayu that she was trespassing on my place, but… how the hell do I even say that? No matter how I put it, I'll come out looking like the bad guy here.

She slapped me, barred me from my own damn cave, and I can't even complain? Wait a second… why not?

I get up, wiping the blood still trickling from my nose, and stare at the rock blocking the entrance. Fine. Let's make things clear.

But then, I glance down at my pants, a grimace tugging at my face. Fantastic.

Shit, I can't defend myself like this. Come on, think of something ugly. Uh… rotting fish? Nope. Ok, um… the giant crab's guts? Ew. Nope, not helping.

I groan, clutching my head. Oh, come on…

"Hey Houston, start talking about some deep science hypothesis. It's an emergency."

Silence.

"Houston?"

Nothing.

The fucker. He's probably laughing his ass off right now, having the time of his life.

Suddenly, a wave comes my way. Ayu's?

It shows… okay… yeah… well…

That wasn't very nice, eh.

I shake my head and, after a couple of seconds, send one back.

Basically: me building the hot spring and the cave setup, picturing a house and me, and then me coming back from training. I reckon the meaning is obvious.

I wait for a moment. Another wave hits me.

This one… ok, it's better. Just her, kicking me out of the cave, claiming it's hers, and then slamming my head with a boulder. Once. Twice. A couple dozen times.

Alright. We're getting somewhere.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep it cool, and send another wave. This time, it's me—returning to my cave after training, sweat dripping, exhausted, ready to relax. The door? Open. Me? Walking in with a satisfied smile. Simple, clear, and polite.

Her reply? Not so much.

It's the hot spring—her lounging in it, arms spread wide, completely relaxed. A stick figure of me kneels in front of her, bowing repeatedly in apology, while she lazily waves a hand, motioning for me to leave.

My teeth clench slightly. Okay, no more Mister Nice Guy.

I send her an image—me, standing tall with a countdown ticking above my head. Ten. Nine. Eight. When it hits zero, I kick the boulder aside, stride into the cave, and reclaim what's rightfully mine, planting a flag for good measure.

Let's see what you have to say. I grin.

For a moment, there's silence. Then, the boulder moves.

Ayu steps out, now fully dressed—unfortunately. I mean, yeah, appropriately, with her armor, mask, and everything in place.

Damn, I can't even see her face. Will she be cute when she's mad?

All I catch are her eyes, sharp and piercing, practically hurling daggers my way, and her wet hair clinging to her neck. Even with everything hidden behind her gear and mask… the temptation is just…

But then suddenly, she looks down at… well…

Shit.

Her seething rage is palpable, and without a word, she hurls her sword, sending it flying in my direction.

I barely have time to react. Overdrive kicks in, and I dodge, the blade whistling past where my neck was a millisecond earlier. The hell?!

She points sharply at the cave, shouting something I don't understand—Chinese? Thai? It doesn't matter. The tone is universal: Fuck your cave!

Without giving me another look, she storms off.

For a moment, I just stand there, feeling stupid and pathetic. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let out a long, frustrated sigh. So much for my relaxing bath after a grueling workout.

I shake my head, muttering under my breath. I remove my broken mask and, without giving myself time to think twice, I turn and sprint after her, grabbing the sword she threw at me along the way.

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