"Carnal—" Nein's expression turned bewildered, "Marathon?"
Fuyon gnashed his teeth in despair, "Yes!"
"Actually," He turned to face Nein, "Our batch was only introduced to the teachers and the subjects that we can take. But, we hadn't been attending them. We were told to get a hang of the military training first." He mumbled something before voicing aloud.
"But I think we were just being held back due to you guys." He glanced around, there were a lot of jaunty students around them, some whom he instantly recognised to be new due to their ebullient auras.
"Hmm. They wanted us to be a single batch."
Fuyon nodded to Nein, "But we will have an unfair advantage over you guys."
Nein's eyes flickered, 'Their crafts!'
"We have already adjusted to the hellish traning after two months, you guys will be in the shadows." Fuyon chuckled.
Nein's expression twisted, 'I thought we were getting to the good part.'
"Anyhow, so why is this Carnal Marathon... Carnal?" Nein imagined the prospect of monsters and enemies impeding their course and couldn't help but find it a overkill.
"There are over 200 different fields within the institution, that can be adjusted according to the needs. Every field has 100 students." Fuyon's expression turned pallid, "And you, alongside us, had the fortune of getting into the most deadliest one."
Nein's lips spasmed, "How so?"
"Our trainer is the very reason it was given the term 'Carnal'." Fuyon listlessly exclaimed, his eyes reminiscing cruel moments. With a playful smile, he urged Nein, "I will only you the luxury to unveil that mystery for yourself."
"Just my luck."
The trio proceeded to prattle on about usual things in the academy and in time that felt mere moments, they arrived in front of a open, large field.
From the stairs leading downwards, Nein could roughly guess it was the size of a football field. Excluding the areas housing the pool, the obstacles, the erected, alleviated grounds for rappelling and the equipment that seemed to be a baseball throwing machine.
"This is bullshit... no?" Nein tried to calm his nerves, but his brows still twerked uncontrollably.
"You will get used to it!" Boris smacked him heavily on the back and laughed heartily.
"Like hell he will," Fuyon snickered, "Everyday the arrangements are different and the bobby traps have their locations altered. We, after two months, haven't gotten used to it. How will he?"
Nein's lips spasmed, "Is this a marathon? Or a death sentence?"
"Good question." A snicker came from behind them. Inclining the trios heads toward it.
"Hoh, what wonders!" A group of odd three, in strange sync, chimed their beaks one after the other, "Are my eyes deceiving me or?"
"Or is the Tiny Giant actually standing next a real Titan?"
Nein's eyes glinted, his eyes drifting to the owner of the first voice, "Gimmy!"
"Please, only Gim." Gim rolled his eyes and receded to the back of the two next to him. Finally allowing Nein to honor their faces as well.
With their similar tanned skins, and mirrored hairstyles, the two held their chins high above with only their crossed arms to lift their bloated chest to the skies.
'Let me guess, they are twins.' Nein's face twisted, 'There's no shortage of variety here, eh?'
'The only difference would be,' He scrutinized their muscles, 'Their physiques. One is jammed while the other is lean.'
"How barbaric? You don't even know to introduce yourself to your seniors, huh? Titan?" The beefy twin with his hair to the left scorned before placing his humble hand on his chest will full exaggeration, "Well then, allow me, I am Punk. You should die in peace now, after meeting me."
Nein plaintively shook his head, "Sorry, I don't swing that way!"
"Tch! What would a barbarian know about beauty?" With his hair to the right, the twin scorned, and humbly placed his petite hand on his chest, "I am Junk! You should kowtow a hundred fold in thanks for having met me."
'Parrot noses speaking about beauty?' Nein's lips stretched to a snicker. 'And what the heck is wrong with that name?'
"Oh come on, Nein, these two are the twin clowns sent from their delusional lands to reality. You can ignore them all you want. Let's go." Fuyon rolled his eyes and motioned for them to leave.
"H-Hey! How dare you ignore us?" The twins stomped their feet and tailed behind.
Nein and the two joined with the rest of the students in lining in front of their teacher.
He was a brown man with an oval face. His bald head shone wondrously under the sun's glares.
Flashing a vile, broad grin, he shouted aloud, "Are you all ready??"
The students, trained through experience, replied with the same enthusiasm.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"The new kids, step forward!" He took a step closer and clasped his hands behind him. Eager to see the new kids.
Thirty something students stepped forward, their foreheads donned in sweat. And shaky hands clapped behind.
"Nice, nice!" Gast nodded in appreciation, "These are the faces I like to see. Full of youth and vigor." His eyes drifted to Nein. Standing out from the rest due to his height, he smiled and nodded at him before introducing himself, "I am Gast! Your physical training instructor. Also a teacher here. My goal is simple, shape you lots into the toughest steels around."
"I encourage you to do the best you can. Not only for me, but also for the monthly marathon competition."
The students intrigue spiked hearing his words, some loose-lipped spilled out, "What is the monthly marathon competition."
Gast ignored those voices and pulled forward his finger, "I will now state the rules of your daily marathon regime."
"There's only one rule," His eyes glinted, "The first one to complete the first round... gets to skip the second round."
The old students sitting behind trembled.
The new kids didn't know... but that was the biggest blessing Gast ever gave them.
All of them had a single thought, 'I will be the first!'