Nebraska Mountain, the highest mountain in Dramonia. No one knew the height of this mountain, and no human had reached a peak. Moreover, one could not see the whole mountains as a thick cloud always covered the peak.
Nebraska Temple's main temple also located on the foot of Nebraska Mountain. Actually, Nebraska Temple named after Nebraska Mountain. It was said there was a God who lived on the peak of Nebraska Mountain.
Though no one had confirmed this as everyone who tried to climb Nebraska Mountain never came back. It was said God was the one who killed this climber mountain as they dared to climb God's dwelling.
Various kinds of rumors spread, but no one could confirm the truth. Rumors were just a rumor, but most people believed the teach of Nebraska Temple.
Not only the main temple of Nebraska Temple located in the foot of Nebraska Mountain, but the capital city of the human nation also located in the foot of Nebraska Mountain.
This was the oldest human city. Not only the oldest but also the grandest and the most magnificent city. The city was circling the mountain and also the biggest city, Nebraska City.
After the incident of Xing Village, Master wanted to bring him to Nebraska City, which made him excited. When his Grandfather was telling about the tales of Heroes, his Grandfather never forgot to include Nebraska City. It could be said Nebraska City was the pride of the human race.
Yes, now Heero had officially become the Saint's disciple, but Heero still did not know his Master was a Saint. He was so excited when he heard his Master wanted to bring him to Nebraska City. Nebraska City had another name, City of Heroes.
This was where the Heroes gathered. However, as soon as they reached Nebraska City, his Master knocked him out. The last vision he saw was the giant wall of Nebraska City.
…
Heero did not know how long he had been unconscious when he opened his eyes, what he saw was a beautiful woman.
"Fairy!" Heero blurted out a word. Yes, Fairy was the right word to describe the beauty of this woman.
Hearing the voice, the woman startled and turned her head toward the boy. But recalling the boy's words, the woman let out a giggle.
"Be more respectful, she is your master's wife!" Suddenly a man's voice rang, rebuking Heero, who was in a daze.
Heero recognized the voice. It was his Master's voice. Heero jolted awake from the bed and walked toward the voice, "Master, have we arrived at Nebraska City?"
Master was standing beside the door. Heero did not wait for his Master reply, Heero flushed out from the room. Heero noticed there were another six women, but he ignored the women. He was searching for the entrance door when his eyes met the entrance door. Heero immediately rushed toward the door and flushed out. Nebraska City, the pride of human, he wanted to look what it looked like.
The first sight that came to his eyes was a well-decorated yard full of colorful flowers. The yard gave off a comfortable atmosphere which calmed his excited heart. But soon, Heero's face turned into a puzzled as further ahead the yard was a forest.
Heero looked at the surroundings and found he was in the middle of the forest. The bustling city, the grand building, and the crowd he expected to see was nowhere to be seen, he was in the middle of the forest.
"Hehe, are you disappointed, boy?"
A familiar chuckle resounded from his back. It was his Master's voice, Heero did not look back as he asked, "Master, where are we? Aren't we going to Nebraska City?"
Saint smirked, as a mischievous smile formed, "We are at Nebraska."
Heero turned back and asked in a puzzled tone, "Really?"
"Real. We are at Nebraska, Nebraska Mountain, the peak of Nebraska Mountain, Saint Dwelling!" Saint replied proudly.
Hearing the answer, Heero frowned as he did not believe his Master's words.
"Master, even though I come from a remote place, but I know the tale of Nebraska Mountain. You can't trick me with this." Heero shook his head as he did not believe his Master's words.
Saint shrugged as he did not care whether Heero believe him or not. It was just a matter of the time the boy would find this.
"Good, now you wake up. Let's start with the training!" Saint rubbed his hand with each other as he grinned at Heero.
When the word "Training" entered his ears, Heero immediately looked excited but also nervous. He was afraid, what if he did not have the talent to be a hero?
"Don't worry, boy, to be a Sai… Hero talent is not needed. Will, Perseverance, and strong determination are what you needed. As for the rest, Leave it to me, I will train you to be the strongest Hero."
It was as if Saint could read Heero's mind, Saint started the training with a speech. He also almost blurted out his status.
Meanwhile, Heero clenched his hand into a fist. Before he never thought to be a Heero, but now he had the chance. With a strong determination, Heero declared, "Let's start, Master!"
Saint smirked, "Good, I hope you can maintain your spirit until the end. Follow me!"
Saint walked to the right and stopped right before a road with 2 meters width. He turned back as he pointed his fingers toward the road and said, "Go run!"
Heero stunned as he heard this. He was not expecting this would come. He heard from his Grandfather that the first training to be Hero started from the Ki Comprehension. If one could master Ki Comprehension, then one could be a Heero.
Nevertheless, Heero did not question his Master as he remembered his Master's words, "Will, Perseverance, and Determination.". He immediately ran, following the 2 meters width road.
"Maybe Master is testing me!?" Heero thought.
"You have to come back before night. If you don't come back, you will not get dinner!" Saint shouted.
Heero only smiled at his Master's remark. Even though he did not specially train his body, but running for 25 miles was not hard for him. He ran at a steady pace, not too slow, not too fast. In the first fifteen minutes, Heero, his breath was still stable.
Thirty minutes later, sweat flooded his face, and his back was also soaked with sweat. An hour passed, Heero began panting. He did not know how far he had run, but he still did not reach his Master's home.
He kept running, but in the three hours mark, he collapsed as he felt dizzy. Heero could not run anymore, he reached his limit.
"Am I going to fail?" Thought Heero as his eyes became blurred. His vision was not clear, but then a picture of his Grandfather smiling to him appeared.
"No! I can't give up here! I will become a great hero! I will kill Specter!"
Heero got up and began running once again. Though his body was swaying to the right and left as if he would fall anytime. Heero kept running as he mumbled, "Will, Perseverance, Determination… Will…"
Heero mumbled incoherently as he kept running. Heero's vision was blurred, but it was not a problem as he only needed to follow the road.
"Will… Perseverance… Determination…"
Did not know how many times Heero repeated those three words as he kept running. Eventually, he saw his destination. He also saw there were seven women there. Though he did not recognize the seven women, Heero recognized the house behind them, it was his Master's house.
Heero picked up his speed. As soon as he reached the yard, Heero dropped his body as he faced the sky and said, "Grandfather, I finished my first training… Don't worry, I will…" Become a great hero.
However, Heero could not finish his words as his vision darkened, he passes.
The seven women approached Heero and checked Heero's condition. They let out a sigh relief as nothing serious happened to Heero.
One woman looked up to the forest and complained, "Isn't this too much for the first time?"
Slowly, there was a figure coming out of the forest. That figure was Saint, he was following Heero from the dark.
"But he succeeded, right!? It seems I brought the right person!" Saint replied as a satisfied smile hung on his face. He satisfied not because Heero managed to reach the target, but Heero's willpower.
"Moreover, with the medicine bath, he will recover and become stronger. There's no need to worry at all." Saint added and asked, "Have you prepared the medicine bath?"
"It's ready, but it's better if he gets a rest for a moment!"
"Good, good. It seems you girls will spoil him too much. This is not good!" Saint complained. Not even a day, however, Heero had won his wives' affection.
Yes, the seven ladies were Saint's wives. Though he complained, he did not stop his wives either.
One hour passed
"Boy, wake up! The training is not over." Saint shook Heero's body.
Heero opened his eyes, but his vision was still blurred. Actually, he wanted to rest more, but after hearing the words "The training is not over", he forced to open his eyes and got up with his exhausted body. He did not protest but followed his Master to a room.
There was a barrel inside the room. The barrel height reached his chest, and hot steam came out from the barrel.
"Get in!" Saint pointed to the barrel.
Heero walked to the barrel as his body was swaying. Soon, he felt a hand holding his neck up, and he felt his body was floating in the air. Heero knew it was his Master did. He did not struggle.
Saint dropped Heero inside the barrel. Heero let out a comfortable sigh as soon as his body fell into the hot water. He just ran, and his body was exhausted badly, soaking in hot water was the best way to reduce his exhaustion.
However, that good thing only lasted for three seconds. After 3 seconds passed, Heero's drowsy eyes opened wide, and his body jolted up. He wanted to come out from the barrel as soon as possible, accompanied by his scream.
"UWAAAGGHHHHH!" A pained scream resounded.
Before Heero could come out from the barrel, a hand pressed his body back to the barrel. Saint would not let Heero coming out from the barrel.
"MASTER! YOU ARE MURDERING YOUR DISCIPLE! MASTER…" Heero was pleading to his Master, but it was not working.
"LADIES OUTSIDE, HELP ME! HELP…"
With this, the hell training for Heero officially started.