Proficient level move (Part 1)

Chapter 25: A Good Meal

"We'll start with a warm-up by running two laps," Riley continued.

Fire Dog adapted to the weight bearing ring fairly quickly after wearing it and basicly walking was no longer an issue. However, it didn't show any significant training effects from just walking with the added weight bearing ring.

"Bark."

Fire Dog nodded, having no objections to Riley's instructions.

This time, Riley decided to run with Fire Dog. Encouraged by Riley, Fire Dog completed two laps with great difficulty, then looked at Riley with a disheartened expression on its face.

Did you call that a warm-up?

Riley, panting heavily after the two laps, was feeling the strain on his own body.

It seems I need to work on my own fitness...

Once Riley had caught his breath, he took out his phone to check the time he had recorded during the run.

During the morning jog, Fire Dog took about 18 minutes to complete one lap on average.

Now, with the added weight bearing ring, the first lap took 29 minutes and 3 seconds, and the second lap took 38 minutes and 42 seconds.

Riley noted this down in his phone's memo app, planning to compare the running times later.

"Warm-up is over. Next, we're going to use Charge move at this tree ten times," Riley said as he and Fire Dog approached the parasol tree where he had been reading in the morning.

"Bark~"

Fire Dog heard this and weakly sat down on the ground, letting out a feeble bark.

"Don't you want to get stronger?" Riley asked.

Having spent the last few days with Fire Dog, he had come to understand its strong-willed and determined personality. Though they had only Battled with others four times, Fire Dog had fearlessly charged into the fray each time.

Get stronger?

Fire Dog slowly got back on its feet, its gaze turning resolute.

Wasn't it made the initial contract with its Beast Tamer to become stronger and find more opponents?

Riley was pleased with the change in Fire Dog's expression and remembered the first time he had encountered Fire Dog.

Back then, Fire Dog had used its small body to repeatedly slam itself at the tree trunk, just like the determined look in its eyes now.

Thinking about it again, it felt like a long time had passed.

"Maybe this training will help you develop the move you wanted to learn like the last time," Riley said with a smile.

"Bark?"

Fire Dog looked at its Beast Tamer with a puzzled expression.

"The move you wanted to learn the first time I saw you at the Spirit Beast Breeding Base," Riley explained.

"Bark?"

Fire Dog became even more bewildered.

When did it ever want to learn a move?

"Why were you slamming the tree if you didn't want to learn a move? Don't tell me you just practicing Charge move?" Riley was also puzzled.

It didn't make sense. Charge move required at least a five-meter run-up, but Fire Dog had been slamming the tree from less than a meter away the last time.

Fire Dog reminisced about its first meeting with its Beast Tamer.

What had it been doing back then?

It had been slamming itself at the tree to make the berrys on the tree fall from the branches.

"Bark bark bark bark bark."

"Bark bark."

Fire Dog tried to explain to Riley through gestures.

Riley: "..."

After a moment of silence, Riley changed the subject, "Let's start our training."

With the desire to get stronger in its heart, Fire Dog trained with extra determination. Charge move required storing energy in its limbs and unleashing a burst of power for a sudden impact.

However, with the weight bearing ring, its speed had noticeably decreased, and the resulting force wasn't powerful enough to be called a proper charge.

After six consecutive forceful hits, Fire Dog finally executed its first true charge of the day on the seventh attempt.

"Bark!"