Podbe was with Lidia and Rino when, suddenly, the leader of the cadets made his appearance. He was a tall, muscular man with a gaze that inspired fear. He stopped them and asked, in a stern tone, what they were doing with that animal. Rino, trembling, replied that the boss had put them in charge of the dog. "Nonsense, don't lie to me, recruit," the man snapped. "The boss doesn't seem like the kind of person who likes animals. Besides, you should have started your training this afternoon in class."
"But sir, it's true," interjected Lidia, trying to defend themselves. The man positioned himself behind them and, without another word, took them away, saying, "We'll see about that."
When they arrived, they entered a place that resembled a gym but was much more spacious. It had locker rooms, exercise machines, a swimming pool, a combat zone, and four lanes that surrounded the entire area where cadets ran with determination.
"Go change, put on your gym gear. That's an order. The dog stays here," the trainer commanded firmly. The two young people had nothing to object to and headed to their respective locker rooms. When they emerged, both were wearing white t-shirts, blue shorts, and black sneakers.
"Alright, go run," the trainer said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "But sir?" both youngsters protested almost in unison. "Oh no, you will do it. You'll run until the soles of your shoes are smooth. That's an order, cadets!" Sanders exclaimed, blowing his whistle sharply.
Quickly, Lidia and Rino began to run, and Podbe, loyal as ever, joined the exercise. Although the poor animal was a bit hungry, his energy didn't wane. "Hey, little one, you don't have to be here with us. You can go over there; there's food," Lidia said upon hearing the growl of the dog's stomach. "Don't tell him that. If Trainer Sanders finds out, he'll get upset," Rino warned as he kept pace with his running.
"What is that animal doing on the field?" Sanders exclaimed, furrowing his brow. Then he pointed at some recruits and ordered, "Get him out of there." But the dog, as agile as ever, dodged the cadets trying to catch him, evading them effortlessly.
"I know!" Sanders said with a sly smile. "Whoever catches that dog and brings him to me will get double rations of food!"
The cadets heard the offer and, motivated by the incentive, took off after Podbe. "Run, little one!" Lidia shouted as she watched the dog, still hungry, prove faster than all of them.
"Hey, you two! Why did you bring a dog onto the field? But if I catch him, I'll eat double today and also prove I'm the fastest," a cadet declared arrogantly.
The boy chased the dog with determination but couldn't catch him. Podbe, playful as ever, faked him out, and when the boy fell to the ground, the dog licked his face innocently.
"Better luck next time, super athlete," Rino joked with a laugh.
The boy, annoyed that everyone was laughing at him for thinking himself superior yet failing to catch a simple dog, called two of his friends to try and surround the canine. The three of them thought they finally had him, but Podbe used his hardness ability to protect himself. When the three lunged at him, they felt an immense pain, as if they had crashed into a metal plate.
The other cadets burst into even louder laughter.
"Foolish boys, you can't even handle a dog, and yet you want to be recruited into one of the units," Trainer Sanders commented with disdain.
"Oh, really? Why don't you catch him yourself?" the arrogant boy shot back, crossing his arms.
"Yes, that's right!" all the other recruits began to chant, joining in the provocation.
"Alright, I'll do it," said Trainer Sanders with determination as he began to chase the dog. "Oh, I don't think he'll manage it. But he's going to make a fool of himself," Rino remarked to Lidia with a mocking smile. "Well, he brought it on himself," she replied with a shrug.
The trainer was just about to catch the dog, but Podbe, with his characteristic cleverness, managed to escape. Finally, they reached the pool, where Sanders slipped and fell into the water. The other cadets erupted into laughter. "Not so tough now, are you, Trainer?" the three boys who had tried to catch the dog teased, while the others just kept laughing nonstop.
"That dog is fast, but something is protecting him. He must be a dog with powers. Maybe it has something to do with that inverted crescent moon on his forehead," Sanders muttered to himself as he climbed out of the pool, soaked. Then, looking directly at Lidia and Rino, he added, "Listen, you two. I see why the boss sent you here. I still don't believe it was him, but I'm starting to understand why that animal has powers."
"It could be," Lidia responded, trying to stay calm under the trainer's intense gaze.
"Sir, you were beaten by a dog. Just let him go," Rino suggested cautiously. However, Sanders, irritated by the implied challenge, pulled out a remote control and pressed a button. A metallic door burst open, and from it emerged several training robots.
"I'm going to test that dog. If he dies, well, it was my fault, and he's just a normal dog. But if not..." he trailed off, staring intently at the young people.
"But if not...?" Rino asked, intrigued.
"He'll let him stay here, and we won't have to keep running. Plus, he'll feed him whatever the dog wants," Lidia finished decisively, crossing her arms. Rino frantically gestured for her to stop talking, but he was too exhausted from running so many laps; he simply wasn't built for long-distance running.
"Alright, it's a deal," Sanders declared, extending his hand to Lidia to seal the agreement.
Suddenly, twenty combat robots emerged, ready to face the canine. "Wow, you really made that guy angry," Reia commented, appearing out of nowhere.
"Reia? What are you doing here?" Podbe asked, surprised. "Weren't you checking things in the system?" the dog continued through their mental link.
"Yes, but I'm done now. I'll explain later. I got curious and wanted to see it. Maybe I can help you level up as part of your training," she replied with a mischievous smile.
At that moment, a notification appeared on the system. Reia read it aloud to Podbe: "You are presented with an uncommon challenge like this one. Defeat the entire fleet of robots, and you will level up, as well as earn some extra rewards."
"Wow, if it wants to, this system is helpful," Podbe commented sarcastically. "But that means these opponents will be tough," Reia added, observing the robots closely.
The robots, designed as spheres with long limbs and a central red sphere that seemed to function as their eye, began to approach the canine, firing small energy blasts from their mechanical hands.
Quickly, the dog dodged every attack and leaped onto the robots, striking each one precisely on the red sphere, which Reia had identified as their weak point. With every accurate hit, the robots feel defeated thanks to Reia's precise guidance.
"Well, I've finished off all twenty, and I only used my strength and agility," the dog declared, somewhat disappointed by how easy it had been to defeat them.
"And well, your experience bar is almost halfway full," Reia informed him with a satisfied smile.
"Alright, in that case, I'll have to use a Steel Bite," announced the dog with determination. Immediately, he activated his special ability, grabbing onto the robots' mechanical arms to swing himself around, causing the robots to collide with each other. One by one, the robots fell until only one remained, which Podbe neutralized without difficulty.
"Wow, you've leveled up! You're now at level eight!" Reia exclaimed enthusiastically. "But I see the quest isn't over yet."
All the cadets stopped what they were doing to applaud and cheer for Podbe, who had become the center of attention. However, Trainer Sanders was furious. He couldn't allow himself to lose or be humiliated in front of his students by a mere dog. With a determined look, he adjusted the dial on the remote control, jumping directly from the advanced level to the expert level.
A warning appeared on the system: "To the aforementioned quest, a message has been added: Be careful, or you may succumb to the robots' rage. Try to survive for at least one minute, which is how long they remain in that state."
"This system never ceases to amaze me," Reia commented as she read the message aloud.
"I don't think they'll be that strong," Podbe declared confidently.
"Don't get cocky, Podbe," Reia warned him seriously.
Suddenly, the robots began to transform, merging with each other to form four humanoid opponents. Each wielded a different weapon: two carried dual sharp swords, while the other two wielded electric staffs topped with glowing spheres that crackled with energy. The four robots surrounded the dog, preparing to attack.
"I think this is going to get ugly," Reia murmured with concern.
"Well, I'll try to dodge everything," the dog replied as the first swords whizzed dangerously close to him.
"Hey! Slow down! Those things are sharp!" the dog exclaimed in his mind while trying to avoid the attacks.
One of the robots swung its electric staff and electrocuted Podbe, sending him flying toward a nearby mat where he landed with a dull thud. A pile of Pilates balls rolled over him, cushioning his fall.
"Wow, good thing that softened my landing!" Podbe remarked sarcastically as he shook himself off.
"Professor, this can't go on like this! Those robots are dangerous! They could kill the dog!" Lidia shouted, alarmed.
Professor Sanders, however, dismissed the concern. "Nonsense, look at him. That dog is dodging them like it's nothing."
"Hand me that remote," Rino demanded, stepping toward the instructor with determination.
"What? Are you trying to hit an instructor? You'll be expelled," Sanders threatened, glaring at the young man.
"Please, Instructor, turn it off. You've already won," Lidia pleaded desperately.
The professor was about to comply when, suddenly, he paled. "Oh no!"
"What did you mean by 'oh no,' sir?" Rino asked, frowning.
"The control is locked. I can't turn it off or lower the intensity," Sanders admitted, trying to mask his nervousness with sarcasm. "It's my fault. The poor animal is doomed."
"Not just him," Lidia interjected as she saw one of the robots attack the students and another head toward them.
"They're out of control!" the instructor exclaimed, immediately regretting his decision. "Quick, everyone get out of the sports campus!"
But it was already too late. One of the sword-wielding robots blocked the main exit, while the other three-cornered the students, trapping them near the pool. The tension in the air was palpable, and fear began to grip everyone.
"What do you plan to do?" Rino asked urgently as he watched the robots advance toward them.
"Isn't it obvious? They want to throw us into the pool and electrocute us with those staff," Lidia responded, pointing at the crackling weapons of the robots.
"Come on, Podbe! You have to get up! The kids are in trouble," Reia urged the dog, who was still recovering from the previous impact.
"Alright, there's no other choice. I'll use Firehead against them," the dog announced with determination. He sprang to his feet and ran toward one of the robots, charging with all his might. However, the attack had no effect. The robot quickly turned and, with its electric staff, sent a shockwave that knocked Podbe down again.
"Ow, Reia! I don't know what to do. My best attack didn't work," the dog lamented as he shook himself to recover.
"Maybe you need more power. Why don't you use Golden Claw Slash ?" Reia suggested quickly, trying to offer a solution.
"Alright," Podbe agreed. He skillfully dodged the robot's next attack and launched his golden claw, but it only managed to leave a small scratch on the opponent's chest.
"It didn't do anything," the dog muttered, frustrated.
"Podbe, a minute has passed. The system just sent me a notification," Reia informed him as she checked the message. "It says: 'You have survived for one minute. As a reward, you receive a skill upgrade.'"
"How about we improve the Firehead ability?" the dog suggested while dodging another attack from the robot.
"Alright, here we go. Upgrading ability," Reia announced enthusiastically. "Firehead is now level two. With this upgrade, it can incinerate whatever is in front of you with a blazing blue flame. It reduces mana by forty points per use."
"Alright, let's try again," Podbe said with renewed confidence. "Alright, robot, this is round two," the dog declared as he prepared to attack.
"Well, Podbe, technically it would be round three," Reia corrected him with a smile.
"Whatever," he replied, focusing on his target. "Firehead !" he shouted as he charged at the robot. A burst of blue flames engulfed the opponent, burning through its internal circuits until it was completely deactivated.
"Excellent, Podbe!" Reia exclaimed joyfully. "Your experience bar is now halfway full."
"That means if we destroy the remaining three, I'll reach level ten," the dog said excitedly, wagging his tail energetically.
"Possibly," Reia confirmed.
"Alright, let's do it," the dog declared with determination, ready to face the next enemy.
But before they could continue, the system sent another notification.
"Wait, there's one more," Reia said as she quickly read the message. "It says we must protect the students and eliminate these robots."
"I like those quests," the dog commented with a mischievous smile. "Now there will be three bonuses."