[A/N: I recently watched a movie and discovered the sweetness of southern language, so I thought since Levi is currently in the southern domain, the language should resonate. So I decided to add southern elements]

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"Now!! Onward to the field, y'all!". Robert declared, his voice carrying the distinct, slow drawl of the South.

He led the way, opening a door at the side of the hall that led out to an open space. It was a wide, green field dotted with sparse trees, with a few houses visible far in the distance. Everyone stepped out, following Robert obediently— everyone except Judith.

Chloe, noticing Judith lingering, asked curiously. "Ma'am, aren't you comin' with us?".

Judith gave a small, polite smile. "Bless your heart, sugar, but I already done opened my third node." As the most senior recruit, she had already progressed and was actively trying to open her fourth.

Chloe offered a small nod of understanding, then quickly caught up with the group.

They soon arrived a bit away from the main building where Robert began to explain the details of the day's exercise.

"Alright now, listen up". Robert said, pushing his hands onto his hips. "Ain't no point in beatin' around the bush. Today's trainin' consists of runnin' laps".

Levi followed the rest of the group, nodding half-heartedly. He knew this sequence well from the novel.

"Y'all gonna run thirty laps around this whole field, and you gonna push your bodies to the limit, hear? After that, you condense your second node, and then you can stop at four o'clock to socialize."

Chloe raised her hand, and Robert nodded to her.

"Sir". Chloe asked, her voice tinged with Southern politeness. "Are we to take on this exercise in our clothes?"

"That's right". Robert replied. "We got held up a bit. The official sweatpants won't be ready until tomorrow."

"Then why don't we just skip today's trainin'?". Chloe asked, insisting on the delay.

Levi could see exactly why she was pressing the issue. Unlike Levi, who already knew what was next from the novel, simply wore black pants and a black shirt with white stripes.

Or Jillian, who wore a blue sweater and black cargo pants, Chloe wore black pants and a white crop top with a denim jacket. Running thirty strenuous laps in that outfit was not appealing.

Levi momentarily entered a daze, his gaze roaming her figure. 'Even if she doesn't have much of a backside, I'm sure her front side would be a feast for the eyes'.

He mused inwardly, analyzing the situation with the detached curiosity of a student studying anatomy.

Chloe instantly caught sight of Levi's extended gaze lingering on her figure. Her face flushed furiously, especially as his eyes seemed to settle on her backside, or the lack of it— a point she was quite sensitive about.

Robert shook his head, his voice firm. "What if those sweat suits ain't ready by tomorrow? Are you gonna push off yer progress 'til the next day? What if they still ain't ready? Are you content with bein' surpassed?".

Chloe entered her thoughts for a moment, weighing her modesty against her ambition. She then turned her furious attention to Levi.

"Don't even think about anything perverted, hear?". She snapped, abandoning her Southern gentility.

Levi blinked, snapped out of his daze by her sudden anger.

'What did I do?'. He wondered, truly confused by her outburst.

Robert ignored the tense exchange between Chloe and Levi. He simply smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye, and raised his hand to gesture at the sparse line of trees up ahead, marking the edge of the field.

"Now listen up real close, y'all". Robert drawled, his voice serious again. "You'll be runnin' to those trees. But those trees ain't just for decoration. They're covered with a mighty fine protection seal."

He paused for effect, letting the warning sink in. "That seal is there to keep the chaos out, but it'll also keep you in. So, when y'all reach that line of trees, you best be turnin' around, or you gonna slam headfirst right into that energy barrier."

He tapped the ground with his foot. "It won't kill ya, but it'll definitely leave you with a real bad headache and a sore attitude. Y'all got that? Don't crash into the fence!".

With that final instruction, Robert clapped his hands together once, signaling the start of the conditioning run.

The run began. The recruits, including Levi, started with a moderate pace around the large, grassy field.

At first, the strain wasn't much. Levi's recently activated Life Star provided a huge boost, allowing his body to push far beyond his normal limits.

He felt strong, the energy clean and vibrant. But as they completed more laps, the subtle strain began to intensify. It rose gradually, an insistent ache in his lungs and limbs.

The heat built steadily in his muscles, going from a tolerable warmth to a noticeable burn.

Levi's focus narrowed. His body felt heavier and heavier, turning into a crushing weight, like lead. Every step became a battle against gravity and mounting fatigue.

He lost all awareness of his surroundings— the trees, Robert, and the other recruits vanished from his perception. His only goal was to keep his exhausted body moving.

He tried to draw on his inner resolve, but the physical demands were absolute. Finally, with a gasping cough, Levi's legs buckled. He pitched forward, collapsing onto the cool, damp grass, wheezing desperately for air. He was completely spent.

Levi lay sprawled out, his chest heaving. Moments later, the sounds of Chloe and *

Jillian also hitting the ground with heavy thuds reached his ears.

They were all in the same state: utterly exhausted, every muscle screaming in protest.

A moment later, Robert strode over to the collapsed recruits, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"See, y'all?". Robert's voice was surprisingly soft, filled with satisfaction. "That burn you feel in your muscles, that burn in your gut? That's what we need. You pushed past your body's limits."

He paused, letting them catch their breath. "The Pulse node defenses could be dulled with a pill, but the Breath Node is stubborn. It ain't gonna open until the lungs itself is forced to scream out in pain"

"Now, rest up. Y'all got some time before we go again."

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