Flare took a deep breath as her boots hit the ground again.
There was sweat clinging to her skin and her red hair was sticking to her cheek as she pushed herself forward.
'Why the hell would the Academy make it this tough?' she thought bitterly.
Every muscle in her body burned, her lungs ached, and her arms felt heavier with every step.
The sound of pounding footsteps filled the air around her.
She glanced at her watch.
It pulsed with a dim orange light… Lap 79.
And the worst part? With each lap completed, the watch automatically increased the weight on their bodies.
It wasn't a spell they could break or cheat; it was built into the Academy's mana system.
The higher the lap count, the heavier their limbs became, turning every step into agony.
The extra weight hit hard once they crossed the fiftieth lap. Even breathing felt like dragging iron through their chest.
Flare gritted her teeth and forced herself onward.
