Walking through a long corridor made of jagged rough stone that looked to be naturally carved out without any precision. Was a tall darkskin man wearing a silver and black colored suit with a shade of green around the cuffs. His dark green top hat was slightly tilted as he twirled a large black and green cane between his fingers.
Cutting through multiple sections, the area opened up more revealing multiple steel doors along both sides of the rigged walls. Each door had a number on it with a section of see through glass near the top. As he continued, eventually the sound of fighting and voices entered in his ears.
Coming to a different section that was domed shaped with a smooth dark marbled flooring. Multiple kids were seen sparring.
A slim, dark haired boy with red eyes shifted his feet as a stretching shadow grew over a large area taking away most of the light that was casted from the orbs on the walls. His obsidian black attire made it extremely difficult for others to see him as he moved in the darkness. The boy was Knox, he was older and had gotten taller, but was still very slim.
Mr. Grimm watched with careful eyes as Knox body dissapeared, dissolving in the shadows. The next moment two red, pink and blue flares lit up the shadows casting them away. The flares burned with a serious heat and moved in a controlled and beautiful manner.
"Beautiful flares." A feminine voice shouted.
The flares separated, covering three different sides diminishing more shadows as a beautiful porcelain white skin beauty with white wool hair stood in place with focus. Her blue and pink eyes shifted slightly, watching her surroundings. Her petite body looked athletic and strong. She wore all white armored clothing with subtle patterns of pink, red, blue and orange. A small shade of purple and yellow was also splattered on her apparel which was on the cloak part of her uniform.
Shadows surfed around the flares, battling the burning light, making them flicker as Knox focused on creating a dome of complete darkness around her.
"Why dont you fight, scared you'll lose without the covering of shadows?" Raya said, her voice no longer sounded like a child, but more mature like a young lady.
A pair of red eyes emerged from the corner of the darkness.
"Of course not, I've already beaten you in hand to hand combat without my shadow. You've yet to best me in a fight and never will. My shadows grow stronger and accelerates much faster than your flares. Allow me to demonstrate further." Knox said, his voice traveling through the mass of darkness and into the small area of burning, colorful light.
The shadows suddenly condensed, becoming thicker as it stretched further. Within a few seconds, the flares were snuffed out as his dome of shadows took over the space.
Looking from the outside, a large dome completely made by deep dark shadows covered a small portion of the huge training area.
Mr. Grimm smiled.
"That a boy Knox, it looks like you've finally perfected your new skill. Shadow cage!
Knox moved swiftly, seemingly appearing near Raya like a ghostly figure. His fist glided into Raya's side like a wisp and before she knew it, she had been hit several times. Igniting a flare, the darkness quickly snuffed it out once more.
"What is it with his power, its gotten even stronger. I had him on the ropes last time." She thought looking around in the darkness.
She could feel his presence just before he would strike, but Knox was too fast.
"If my beautiful flares won't do, then my cherry bomb palm strike should cast enough light to slow him down to get a clean shot." She thought.
The moment she felt his presence again. Her palms glowed a bright red, just before she pushed forward.
A loud bang erupted causing a small and powerful explosion that briefly shattered the surrounding shadows enough for Raya to turn the tides. She could track his movements much better.
Knox shifted his body to the right, but the latent impact of her strike caused him to rear his face back and grimace in discomfort.
"You've gotta be kidding me, i believed my impenetrable dome of shadows would fair well against that attack as well. Clearly I was wrong." He thought.
A brief memory of their fight in the forest where she first learned the Cherry bomb strike melted in his mind. He remembered the internal damage it caused him. Out of all Raya skills, her palm strikes filled with explosive power was the deadliest. Knox had battled her many times over the years and would get the best of her most times.
However, whenever Raya incorporated her palm strike, the task of winning their battle would decrease greatly, but he always managed. This particular time, he had thought he was finally going to make her strike obsolete, believing his shadow dome would interfere with her explosive palms, but he was wrong.
"Whats wrong, you're hesitant. Thats not a good sign squad leader." Raya spoke with a smile.
"Im no fool, i know how dangerous those attacks are, but like always. I'll get pass them."
Moving through his sea of shadows, Knox warped ahead. Covering his fists with a layer of shadows, he swung a definite strike that was met with an explosive palm that shattered the shadows around them and his fists.
In order to go hand to hand combat with Raya, covering himself in an aura of shadows was necessary. Although her palm strikes broke through every time. Knox was much faster than her and always evaded no more than a second after their strikes met. He could melt into the shadows fast enough to escape each blast, but it was very tiring and risky to do so.
On the outside of the shadow dome, flashes of bright red light and muffled explosions could be seen and heard on the inside, briefly showing two silhouettes going at it.
"Come on, fight like a real man. Show me something new." A young and very muscular tan boy with blood red hair shouted. It was Jasper, his bright red hair had became darker over the years, and his body was much more defined than before.
"A man, I am a young lady. Don't you dare spew out that man crap at me." A petite brown skin girl with pink hair and eyes responded with darkened brows.
Taking a step back, she spun a black and pink staff before taking a low stance. The lean muscles in her arms flexed slightly as the armored pink clothing she wore snugged every part of her small, but well built stature.
"Hmph, thats the exact reason you're going to lose. I will never be beaten by a woman." Jasper responded with glowing red fists.
The girl catapulted towards him, after using the staff to push off with power. Swinging the staff, the top of it suddenly opened up like a pocket knife revealing a scythe blade that snapped up with force.
Jasper smiled before the red energy began to swirl and compress around his fist.
"This is child's play." He mumbled.
Grinning slightly, Jasper barely pulled his fist back and swung forward. The scythe cut through the air, but once reaching the energy around Jasper, a strong force of rejection was clearly seen. High pressure blasted the girl back, making her skid across the floor.
Blood trickled from her hands and ran down the handle of the Scythe. Noticing her hands, which were busted up like they had been hit by a sludge hammer, she grimaced in pain before looking up at Jasper who stood in place with a bored expression.
Mr. Grimm watched them as well while twirling his cane every so often between his fingers.
" Jasper has grown exceptionally well, as far as real power and strength. He's by far the strongest we have. His ability to manipulate his energy into tremendous pressure that could either exit or enter his body is peak. The pressure he creates can strengthen his entire body, making it difficult to fight close up. The constant pressure around him can do serious damage even with the slightest movements. A true walking Tank." Mr. Grimm thought.
He then motioned three teen boys who were spectating from the sidelines to join in on the battle. The boys didn't hesitate after being commanded to fight.
One took of with great speed towards Jasper, another jumped high in the air as a blue energy gathered in his palms, while the third boy arms suddenly became like thick rocks as he pushed in.
"Oh come on, you think you three are going to change the outcome. You all lack the strength of a man." He shouted.
The boy with speed bounced around Jasper looking for an opening, in which Jasper just stood in place. The first to attack was the boy with arms made out of rock. Their fist collided creating a wave of energy. Swirling blood red energy dispersed forward as the boy gritted his teeth, trying to push Jasper's fist back.
With multiple kicks and speedy punches that landed on Jasper's body. The boy with speed thought he could get away with some easy attacks, but quickly found his hands and legs were being bruised. Jasper's power would recoil every strike that landed doubling the hit back to the boy.
"Ha, you'll have to hit me a 100 times harder than that to get pass my defensive recoil." He said to the darting boy, before focusing back on the larger boy with rock hands.
Their fists were still pushing back and forth until Jasper smiled. A sudden red wave pushed from his fist completely destroying the rocky matter covering the boy arms while knocking him back.
Jasper then stomped the ground, releasing more pressure that made the other speed drop. More red energy burst from Jasper's legs and the next second, he was holding the boy by the throat and slamming him to the ground.
"Trash." Jasper whispered before throwing the boy the side.
Looking up, a large blue energy beam that swirled with dazzling power descended upon him, engulfing him in a wave of destructive light. Jasper's entire body was pushed down, making him fall to one knee.
His own power erupted like wild flames that recoiled and pushed the powerful beam back towards the sender. He remained on one knee for a few seconds before staggering back to his feet. Veins bulged everywhere as he pushed his body.
Gritting his teeth after standing, he was in a squatting position gathering his thoughts.
"Now that packed a punch like a real man, sorry to say though.....your attack still wasn't manly enough."
More energy surrounded Jasper, but this time, a second color entered the frame. A silver colored aura leaked from his body, twisting and combining with his crimson energy.
"Allow me, to show you what a man power is truly liiiiiiiike....." he shouted with conviction. Jasper pushed up screaming to the top of his lungs creating a crimson wave of energy laced with silver streaks that snapped the winds obliterating the blue beam of light.
"What, how...with just his aura.... he's able to do such a thing." The boy whispered in disbelief as he curled up and focused on defense. His own attack and the explosive aura of Jasper was folding back towards him.
Mr. Grimm gently tapped the ground with his cane releasing a current of wind that shot through the air. A little time later, the boy slowly looked around checking over himself for wounds when he noticed a wind barrier covering him.
"Thank you Mr. Grimm, that would have been nasty " he thought with a light exhale.
Mr. Grimm then tapped his cane three times, creating a echo and surging winds that swept through the area. The shadow dome collapsed almost instantly and all the kids were lined up within seconds of the third tap.
It was obvious by their actions that Mr. Grimm had ways of speaking and getting their attention without saying a single word.
"Knox....Raya....Jasper....and Jacob...well done. Im extremely pleased with your growth over the years. However, Jacob....you should be more careful, If i wasn't present....the attack you attempted to block would have had you seriously injured. Jasper, try not to go all out. The last thing you need to be doing is actually hurting your comrades."
Jacob was the boy who casted the beam of blue energy... his blue hair and silver eyes were the most definite features he had that made him stand out. Other than that, his body build was normal, he was a bit overweight for his height, but his build looked rather healthy and strong. He was also more buffed than chiseled.
"Yes sir." They both responded.
"Kelp, Wendy and Nos, you three need to improve fast, or you will be replaced. This squad is to be the very best squad we have. That means, the strongest six students in our facility will be apart of it.
As you know, you six are planned to be the first who will bring fame, respect and fear to our new guild. We will broadcast to the world, a new form of power is on the rise. After being accepted by the capital, our guild only lacks a name. I would like you six to come up with one. We have eight months for the enrollment of guilds this year.
Our guild needs to be fully established with a name before then.
"Master Grimm, may I speak?"
"Of course, speak freely Knox."
"We will be sure to come up with a guild name before the time expires, I want you to know that. However, on another note, we have come up with a squadron name."
Mr. Grimm nodded slowly while suggesting him to continue.
"Slayers."
"That is our squadron name...of course with your permission." Knox spoke.
"Hmmmmm, I like it. Permission granted, it fits our main goal perfectly." He responded while tilting his top hat.
"That squadron name can and will bring fear to our enemies of all kinds, but you all have to live up to it. That means no mercy, no understanding, never show weakness, never back down. In every public battle, it is essential for you all to either kill, or bring your opponent to near death. Of course depending on the rules with certain events. Are my words clear?"
They all stood strong and spoke in unison.
"Yes Master Grimm."