Training, Training, Training

The noonday sun was still high in the sky, and from around, one could hear crickets singing songs, to ease the heat that scorched their bodies.

Sweat dripping down his forehead, he looked up to see the red giant that was looking like it was ready to shallow them whole, when suddenly a black paw blocked the view and came crushing down on his head.

He used his right hand to intercept, and used his shoulder to throw the owner of the paw, off balance. The black creature stumbled and the small goblin delivered a roundhouse kick right in the jaw.

Its brain shook, and it fell on its back. The goblin followed suit and fell on he's back to stare at the clouds completing the sky's canvas.

"Ballu that's enough! I don't think I have to remind you that I'm still four! ", Iono yelled frustrated.

"Again!", said the Black Panther of Nundram, while getting back on his feet.

It had been four hours since the first battle and the pair was still going strong. In the beginning Ballu was doing it out of annoyance, due to the fact that a 4 year old child, send him packing. But after all this time, he came to like the little runt, and was trying to push him to his limits.

Little did he know, this was actually no runt, but a millennia old monster, and had the exact same idea as him, only he knew where his limits where, and he already exceeded them by a lot. He was running on burned fuel, but the Panther didn't know.

He thought that it was the rumbling of child, not the indisputable truth. At some point down the line he forgot that he was fighting a child, not a seasoned warrior and, although Iono had a ton of experience, his body was still immature. Most four year olds, would barely run for ten meters before slumping down from exhaustion. But Iono had been fighting with Ballu, The Black Panther of Nundram, a being that many trembled even at the sound of his name, and they have been at it for four hours, with Ballu barely holding back.

It seems that Iono's training did give results. If at 4 years of age he can barely content with the Black Panther of Nundram, then who can tell what he would achieve later in life. After another quick exchange, they both fell on the

floor exhausted. But in the next minute they were both on their feet, once again delivering blows to one another.

Iono seemed to be getting better and better with every exchange. His young body was like a sponge, absorbing something after every blow dealt. His instincts and physical capabilities were getting stronger by the second, while his stamina was running dryer than a desert.

After two more hours of intense exchanges, they both slumped backwards and were unable to move a finger. The sun was now setting, illuminating the whole forest with bright orange, and making the valley look like a majestic awakening of some sorts.

"How is it you little runt? Did you hit your limit?", Ballu asked with something between a smug grin, and a gleaming smile.

"I did like six hours ago, I've been running on an empty tank since then. Believe me, I think I lost enough weight for me to need a lifetime of food to make up for it. There is basically no more energy left in my body. You damn housecat and your damn ideas! ", Iono reproached, while trying to get up and punch the perpetrator, but being unable to lift a finger.

"Hehe you little sh*t, you aren't even close to reaching my level! ", Ballu yelled, while staggering up, and demonstrating his ability to move with a smile filled with arrogance.

"HEY! Not fair! That's just cheating at this point.", Iono said looking sad. But suddenly an evil grin replaced the sad look.

He then opened his mouth to suck a breath of cold air, and he kept going until his lungs filled to the brim, and his chest was fully elevated.

He then opened his mouth and loudly yelled,

"DAAAAD! I WANNA GO HOME NOW!! "

This scared the puma to death, and made Iono even more tired. A few minutes later a figure appeared from the bushes, holding a sword.

"What did you guys do!? Ballu what the hell happened?", a masculine voice resounded.

Yusef appeared, while the sun hid behind the tall mountains that resided in the horizon. It appears Iono's dad always had his senses focused on the forest Iono was training, to be able to know about any unexpected scenarios that could threaten his son. Iono was, of course, aware of that, and so he yelled loud enough for Yusef to hear it as a whisper back at the village.

He rushed here, only to see both of them slumped on the floor exhausted, and Iono looking like a dried up corpse. His cheeks were caved in and his body looked withered. He had a severe lack of nutrients and was pushed to his absolute limits.

"Everything is fine Yusef, Iono asked me to join in his training, and as you can see we were both pushed to our limits. Your son is a monster!", Ballu said feeling confident Yusef would even praise him.

Yusef kneeled to check on Iono, and bit his lower lip in frustration, after hearing Ballu's words. He made sure that Iono fell asleep and looked at Ballu with eyes that made the puma's heart almost stop.

"You f"cking moron. You absolute, pathetic excuse for a damn adult!", he started speaking in a low register, and gradually increased it, to match his boiling anger.

"HE IS FOUR, YOU GOD FORSAKEN HOUSECAT! YOU ARE 40 TIMES HIS AGE, AND YOU THINK YOUR BODIES HAVE THE SAME LIMITS, YOU DUMBASS!? Give me one good reason I shouldn't kick your ass to the moon, and then have your head decorate my fireplace! ", Yusef's eyes had turned into slits and purple mana was engulfing them. His aura was also purple and it surrounding his muscular body, making him look like a demon king.

Ballu was trembling, his rationality was out the window, and he thought to himself, " Why does everybody keep calling me a housecat!?".