Training and Growth

Early the next morning, the sky was still dim.

Ron got up, and the children around him were still asleep.

Mary, who was busy with breakfast in the house, heard the noise, turned her head, and was surprised to see Ron: "Little Ron? Why are you up so early today?"

"I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. Good morning, Aunt Mary. Is there anything I can help with?" Ron asked.

"Thank you for the offer... but there's nothing much to help with right now."

"Okay, then I'll go for a walk."

"Don't go too far. If you miss breakfast, I won't make any extra for you."

"Got it."

Ron left the house.

The sky was faintly white.

The cool morning breeze carried a hint of the sea's salty smell, effectively dispelling his drowsiness.

Ron walked into the woods and did some warm-up exercises.

"Alright!"

After warming up, he started jogging through the forest trail.

Harris, carrying firewood back, saw him running and was a bit surprised. "Ron?"

"Good morning, Dad," Ron said as he ran past him.

Harris scratched his head, looking at Ron's back. "What's up with this kid?"

Ron ran ten laps in a row, jogging for about two hours before finally stopping, dripping with sweat, but his young face was full of joy.

"This strengthening of my physique has really improved my stamina. I probably couldn't have even run one lap before, and now I can run ten without stopping."

Clenching his fists, Ron thought to himself, "Even though my body is still that of an eight-year-old child, my stamina and strength are probably better than before I transmigrated..."

"System, show me my current attributes."

[Yes.]

A panel, visible only to Ron, appeared in front of his eyes.

[Host: Ron.

Age: 8 years.

Vitality Points: 18.

Mastery of Sun Breathing Technique: 0% (Unmastered)]

"Vitality Points of 18... System, what do these Vitality Points mean? What's the use? Does a higher Vitality Point value mean someone is stronger?" Ron asked curiously.

[Host, the Vitality Points only represent the strength of one's physique and vitality. Strength cannot be determined by Vitality Points alone.]

"Oh... I see, it's like a person's basic stats. Important, but not directly representing strength."

Ron immediately understood.

"So, with 18 Vitality Points, what level would that be in this world?"

[Host, a normal eight-year-old boy with adequate nutrition would have around 10 Vitality Points.

A normal adult male would have around 30 Vitality Points.

That strong man you encountered before had 50 Vitality Points.]

"Dad is indeed stronger than ordinary people," Ron nodded.

"By the way, you said before that my physique is weak and my Vitality is insufficient to use the Sun Breathing Technique. What level of Vitality Points do I need?"

[At least 30 Vitality Points are required.]

"30 points, huh..."

Ron nodded slightly, his goal now clear.

The first step to becoming stronger was to train his body and raise his Vitality Points to 30!

After training a bit longer, Ron's stomach started to rumble. Only then did he realize it was late and quickly ran back.

When he returned to the mountain hut, breakfast time was long over. As Mary said, she didn't save him any food.

"Sigh, food is also a problem," Ron said as he rubbed his belly and left the house.

"Ron."

Mars's voice made Ron look up.

"Where did you go this morning? I've been looking for you everywhere."

Mars asked, looking at him.

"I..."

Before Ron could answer, Mars pulled out half a piece of black bread and handed it to him.

"Here you go."

"Huh?" Ron was stunned.

"You haven't eaten, right? I saved it just for you. Eat it."

The freckle-faced, yellow-haired boy grinned at him, revealing a missing tooth: "Just remember to pay me back next time."

"Mars..." Ron was touched.

He took the bread and, without hesitation, devoured it in two or three bites.

Mars looked at him and asked, "Where are we going to play today? Are we going to the beach again?"

Ron shook his head.

"I'm going to train."

"Train?" Mars tilted his head.

"Yeah, do you want to join me?"

...

At noon, under the scorching sun.

In the forest.

"Seventy-three, seventy-four, seventy-five..." A black-haired boy was doing push-ups, sweating profusely.

The yellow-haired boy beside him was lying spread-eagle on the grass, his head drenched in sweat, too tired to even lift his hands.

"Ron, is this training? I'm exhausted. I feel like my throat is on fire," Mars gasped, his mouth wide open.

"Will this really make us as strong as Dad?"

"Seventy-nine, eighty, eighty-one..."

"Hey, Ron, are you even listening to me?"

"Eighty-five, eighty-six... ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred."

Ron's arms gave way, and he collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily.

After a long while, he rolled over and lay on his back, staring up.

Through the gaps in the leaves, sunlight flickered down. Ron softly said:

"Mars."

"Hmm."

Mars, his eyes closed, was already drifting to sleep from the exhaustion.

"What do you want to do in the future?"

"The future... I don't know, I've never thought about it."

"This island is small, but the sea is vast."

Ron raised his hand, as if trying to grasp the flickering sunlight through the leaves.

"I've already decided. I will become strong, leave this small island, and travel every corner of this vast ocean, taste all kinds of food, drink all kinds of wine, and see all the sights."

Beside him, Mars's soft snores indicated he had fallen asleep.

Ron glanced at him, then looked back up. A bright smile spread across his sweat-streaked face.

"I won't become a pirate, and I won't become a marine either.

I will become... a traveler of this world!"

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T/N:

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