The forest air was crisp that morning, cool mist lingering low across the ground as the sun crept above the treetops. Dew sparkled on the grass of the training ground, broken only by the faint impressions of countless footsteps. A month of weighted training had carved new lines into the earth, trenches from endless sprints, dents in logs from hammer strikes, and arrows scattered like fallen leaves.
Hunnt arrived first, fists wrapped in fresh linen, the black sheen of his gauntlets glinting faintly under the light. He stretched his shoulders, muscles firm and toned, no longer the wiry boy who had staggered under the crushing load on the first day. His breath was steady, his movements controlled.
The others soon followed. Corwin walked with a steady gait, hammer resting against his shoulder. The weights strapped to his arms and legs no longer made his stance stiff or awkward — instead, they seemed to flow with his body. Every step carried purpose, each shift of his shoulders calm and deliberate.
Elara adjusted her bow strap across her chest, testing the familiar drag of the string. A month ago, her arms had trembled from simply holding her bow at full draw with weights pulling at her shoulders. Now, though sweat already dotted her brow, she could maintain her form with surprising control.
Pyro bounded forward, chest plate and leg weights clinking faintly. He wobbled slightly as he landed but recovered instantly, tail twitching proudly. "Master! Master! Nyaah! I don't feel like I'm being squashed anymore!"
Hunnt smirked at the little Palico's enthusiasm. "That's because your body's adapting. The weights haven't gotten lighter, Pyro. You've gotten stronger."
The words lit a spark in everyone.
Hunnt raised his voice so they could all hear clearly. "One month ago, we could barely walk in these. Now? We're moving. Fighting. Breathing through it. That's progress — but it's only the foundation."
They nodded. Corwin gave a low grunt of agreement. Elara inhaled deeply, her expression hardening with quiet determination. Pyro purred softly, his tail flicking like a metronome to their shared rhythm.
"Alright," Hunnt barked. "Warm-ups first. Same routine. Don't slack."
They began moving. Arm rotations, lunges, and weighted squats. Corwin's hammer swings created gusts of air with every arc. Elara practiced bow draws, sweat dripping as she repeated each motion with precision, fighting the fatigue in her shoulders. Pyro darted between logs, twisting with Kami-e to simulate dodging invisible claws, his weights tugging with every motion.
Hunnt planted himself in front of a thick training log and punched. Each strike rattled the earth, thudding in a steady rhythm. His fists ached under the bandages, but the pain was dulled now — conditioned by weeks of repetition. "Form first," he reminded them, his voice steady despite the strain. "If you break form, the weight controls you. Stay in control."
After the initial warm-ups, Hunnt motioned for them to gather. "Today's focus is endurance. Stamina isn't just running longer or swinging harder. It's keeping your body and your technique stable even after your muscles scream. That's what will keep us alive in a hunt."
Corwin rolled his shoulders, nodding. "Endurance decides who falls first — us or the monster."
Hunnt gestured to the edge of the clearing. "We're running laps. Full perimeter. Keep pace, don't collapse, and don't break posture."
Groans rose, especially from Pyro, who flopped theatrically onto his back. "Nyaaaah! Master, you're cruel! You're going to turn me into a pancake!"
Elara smirked faintly despite her own dread. "At least you'll be a fast pancake."
Hunnt cracked a small grin but his tone stayed firm. "Move."
The first lap was brutal. Weighted arms pumped sluggishly, legs dragged across uneven ground, breaths came harsh and ragged. By the third lap, though, something shifted. Their strides synced, their breathing steadied, and despite the ache in their bodies, they moved together like a single formation.
Pyro's claws dug into the dirt as he pushed himself harder, panting but grinning. "Master… Nyaah… I'm keeping up this time!"
Elara, though flushed and dripping sweat, managed to nock an arrow mid-run and loose it into a target post. The shot struck close to the bullseye. She exhaled shakily, pride flickering across her face. "I… I can still shoot while moving."
Corwin didn't speak, but his hammer swings grew sharper, each arc whistling through the air with measured force even under strain.
Hunnt's chest heaved as he shouted encouragement. "That's it! You're moving like the weights don't exist! Don't stop until your body wants to — stop only when your mind says!"
An hour passed. By the time Hunnt called them to halt, they collapsed onto the grass in a heap of sweat and exhaustion.
Elara rolled onto her back, staring at the sky. "I can… feel it. My arms aren't trembling as much. My shots are steadier."
Corwin leaned against his hammer, nodding. "We're lasting longer. One month ago, we would've collapsed after the first lap."
Pyro flopped onto Hunnt's chest dramatically. "Nyaaaah… Master… I'm tired but I feel… good? Is that normal?!"
Hunnt chuckled weakly, ruffling Pyro's ears. "That's progress."
After a short break and water, Hunnt introduced a new drill: combat endurance. They spread out into sparring formations. Corwin swung his hammer in repeated arcs against weighted dummies, each strike testing his stamina. Elara sprinted between posts, drawing and loosing arrows while using Soru to reposition. Pyro leapt between logs, twisting mid-air with Kami-e to dodge Hunnt's thrown sticks. Hunnt himself slammed his fists into trees and stone targets, his black steel coating flickering briefly as he tested his new Haki's endurance.
The clearing rang with the sounds of effort — hammer blows cracking wood, arrows thudding into bark, Pyro's playful yet strained chirps, and Hunnt's fists pounding in steady rhythm.
As the sun climbed higher, the drills ended. All four collapsed once more, their bodies drained, but their spirits high.
Hunnt sat up first, flexing his fists. His smile was tired, but his eyes gleamed with pride. "Look at us. One month in, and we're moving like this. Stronger, sharper, faster. This is how we'll endure when Haki drains us."
Elara wiped her brow, nodding. "I'm not collapsing every few shots anymore. I can keep fighting longer."
Corwin exhaled slowly, gaze steady. "My hammer feels lighter. If a monster charges, I can keep holding my ground."
Pyro purred softly, curling beside Hunnt. "Nyaah… Master, I'll keep up with you… no matter how heavy it gets."
Hunnt looked at them all, pride swelling in his chest. "Good. Because this is just the beginning. By the time Haki comes into play, we'll have the stamina to wield it properly. And when monsters push us to our limits, we'll push back harder."
The sun dipped toward noon, casting long shadows across the training ground. Their bodies ached, their muscles burned, but their hearts brimmed with determination.
Hunnt clenched his fists, bandages damp with sweat but his will unshaken. "We're getting stronger. Every day. Every breath. And soon… no monster will be able to break us."
The forest around them rustled softly, as if in quiet approval. The party's training continued, one month in and still only scratching the surface of the strength they sought.