As the lesson dragged on, Leo's system chimed in again, interrupting his thoughts.
"Leo, since you're stuck in school and unable to fight high-level monsters to level up, I propose an alternative."
Leo perked up, intrigued. "I'm listening."
"I can grant you access to the Penalty Area," the system explained. "It's a separate space where you can face strong and dangerous monsters. If you succeed, you could absorb some of their skills and significantly increase your power. This will also give you more options to grow stronger outside the constraints of school life."
The idea sounded appealing to Leo, but he hesitated. "Wait, what's the catch? I know you, and there's always a catch."
"The Penalty Area operates with a balance system," the system said. "The monsters you face will be twice as strong as you. Additionally, they are not mindless—they're cunning and will adapt to your strategies. This makes it a real test of your abilities."
