Weeks blurred into one another, a whirlwind of intense training sessions and endless physical exertion. Bella's routine was harsh, but it paid off. One morning, after finishing her usual training, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and barely recognized the reflection staring back. Her body had transformed: lean, strong, and muscular, a far cry from the softer frame she had before. The bruises were still there, scattered across her skin, but now they were a badge of her hard-earned progress. In fact, she was inflicting more damage than receiving it during her training bouts.
She collapsed onto her bed, utterly exhausted from the day’s brutal regimen. Her muscles ached in a familiar way, the sort of pain that came from pushing herself beyond her limits day after day. Yet tonight
