Atlas immediately began running down the hillside, feeling the searing heat of the scorched earth beneath his bare feet. Even a moment's lapse in focus could send him stumbling dangerously close to the magma river below. A fall that would be disastrous.

[Name: Atlas Blackthorn]

[Level: 44]

[Strength: 170 | Agility: 74 | Intelligence: 59 | Constitution: 78 | Stamina: 75]

Atlas might have reached level 44, but his total stats were still relatively average. By comparison, he had 456 stat points in total, while Kurogasa, at level 55, boasted a staggering 788 stat points.

The difference was stark. Kurogasa’s stats rivaled those of someone at level 78, highlighting just how far apart they were in terms of raw power.

It was a clear reminder that level alone didn’t define a person’s combat potential. True strength came from the careful balance of stat allocation, unique skills, and personal talents.

But even with the ideal combination of stats, skills, and talents, that still wouldn’t be enough. One had to truly harness their potential, knowing precisely when to use each skill, when to advance, and when to retreat.

So many factors came into play. This wasn’t a journey with shortcuts, and with powerful figures surrounding him, Atlas was determined to absorb every ounce of their knowledge and experience to forge himself into something greater.

Imagine! Experience was invaluable. Someone like Kurogasa had faced countless high-grade beasts and endured battles that most couldn’t dream of. His mental fortitude and expertise already surpassed what most Atlas’ potential adversaries would bring to the battlefield. Levels and skills created limits, but with the right experience, those limits could be pushed far beyond what anyone would expect.

Just like what he was experiencing now. He ran barefoot over the searing hot terrain, the ground so blistering it felt like his skin was being scorched. His feet—probably bleeding by now—throbbed with stinging pain.

Each breath was heavy, his lungs burning, while sweat poured off him, as if his body were desperately trying to keep up with the brutal conditions. He had only been running for ten minutes, but it already felt like he might collapse. Yet, this was only the first task, the warm-up, and he had to endure this for a full four hours!

Kurogasa ran alongside Atlas, his expression calm and steady. Every so often, he glanced at Atlas with a look that could only be described as a smile.

Okay, Atlas couldn’t actually see this Ninja Rat’s smile—not exactly. It was hard to explain how someone with a rat’s face could smile, but the subtle movement of his mouth conveyed it all. Somehow, he just knew that Kurogasa was smiling, likely amused by Atlas’s struggle.

To make it worse, Kurogasa was running effortlessly, occasionally spinning around to jog backward without even glancing behind him. One misstep, and he’d be stumbling straight into magma—yet he moved with complete confidence.

Twenty minutes. Motherf—! His throat was parched, and his sweat had stopped flowing—he was probably out of bodily fluids at this point. Could he actually die of dehydration?

But Kurogasa didn’t offer any relief, just kept running alongside him, entirely relaxed. The damn rat was running with casual ease, even smiling at him! (Please, let’s not discuss again how a human-rat manages to smile.) It was as if watching his Lord struggle this much over a simple run was just proof of his weakness.

Yet Atlas knew that, realistically, his body could handle this. At level 44, he’d already surpassed the limits of an ordinary human—several times over, in fact. His real challenge here wasn’t his physical endurance; it was his mental fortitude.

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Imagine it like this: physical strength, flexibility, mana capacity—all of that could be enhanced magically with stat points. But mental fortitude? That couldn’t be hardened so easily. Even someone like Atlas, already at level 44, still needed to train his mental resilience to catch up to his level… or even surpass it.

Take Kurogasa, for example. At level 55 now, who knew how powerful he’d been before he was summoned? For him, running across blistering terrain like this was practically child’s play. His mental strength had been forged over years, decades—more than a hundred years. That kind of confidence and experience allowed him to maximize every aspect of his abilities.

Mental fortitude! Mental fortitude! Mental fortitude!

Push! Push! Push! Push!

Atlas forced himself onward, summoning every ounce of willpower to resist the urge to stop. He was stronger than this, damn it! He was level 44! This was just running—running across a rough patch of ground. Sure, the magma nearby was dangerous, but as long as he kept his footing on the scorched earth, he’d be fine.

Oh! Forty minutes! Motherf—! And he wasn’t even a quarter of the way through!

But no—he remembered Kurogasa had made it clear: if Atlas wanted a real challenge, this was it. Kurogasa was confident his physical capabilities could handle this training. Four hours of running in a place like this was still within his limits. He just needed to figure out how to push himself through it.

Push! Keep going! He was stronger than this! Run harder! Run faster!

Meanwhile, Kurogasa was running backward, casually leaping over streams of magma as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

Did rats have eyes in the backs of their heads or something?!

Sure, Kurogasa was barefoot too, but he had tough rat feet! Not thin, human skin like Atlas’s.

An hour and a half in, and he was still going. But he was a bit shocked—why hadn’t he passed out yet? Hadn’t he run out of bodily fluids at least an hour ago? How was he still managing to run?

His feet were undoubtedly injured, and he couldn’t even imagine what state the skin on his soles was in by now. Yet somehow, he found he could bear the pain. He kept running, each breath ragged, his lungs straining for air, and his heart pounding furiously… but he was still alive!

Maybe dying wasn’t as easy as he thought? Or perhaps this was normal for someone with 456 total stat points and a Strength stat of 170?

He kept pushing forward, running, feeling his skin toughen under the relentless heat, which no longer felt as intense as before. Astonishingly, he was enduring these brutal conditions, pressing himself harder than he thought possible.

His breathing grew more labored, each gasp sharper, his heartbeat thundering in his chest at an unimaginable pace. But he hadn’t passed out… or died! He kept going.

Two hours in, and he was still running. Kurogasa stayed right beside him, following at an effortless pace, still smiling. Damn it! Every time Kurogasa glanced his way, Atlas couldn’t shake the feeling that the Ninja Rat was smiling at him.

Three hours. Motherf—! Atlas felt like he was on the verge of collapsing, like his soul itself might slip out, but he kept going. He was still surviving. This was what magic could do.

Three hours and forty minutes. He was still alive?! His movements felt heavy, each step a struggle, his legs barely keeping him upright. But somehow, he hadn’t fallen yet, hadn’t failed. He was astounded by his own resilience.

Three hours and fifty minutes. Just ten more minutes? Seriously?! He suddenly realized he could probably go another hour if he had to. This strange rush of joy flooded him. He laughed, feeling a wild exhilaration, an unexpected euphoria as he ran, his mouth open with laughter and sheer relief.

Four hours.

When the time hit, Atlas finally slowed to a stop, his body feeling light, almost weightless—like even a breeze might lift him. But he stood there, steady, alive, and victorious.

He looked over at Kurogasa, who bowed with a proud smile. “You did it, My Lord.”

Atlas dropped to the ground, laughing breathlessly, half-gasping as he struggled to catch his breath. Kurogasa knelt beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

“You did it. That wasn’t ordinary endurance. You showed incredible mental fortitude today. You’ve proven to yourself that you’re a true lord. Be proud of yourself.”

Atlas laughed, lifting his face with a wide smile. “Thanks… I’m happy.”

Kurogasa nodded. “Ten-minute break, then we start the second training exercise.”

“Alright, Master!” he replied, ready for more.