Chapter 9: The Real Training
The battlefield remained silent long after the Commander erased the Four-Headed Arcane with a single attack.
Shen stared at the empty space where the monster had stood moments ago. His sword slowly lowered as reality settled in.
"So..."
He swallowed.
"We almost fought that thing to the death..."
Kenya folded her arms.
"And we would have lost."
Ruke forced a laugh.
"I was already planning my last words."
Eliz sighed.
"Good thing you never got to say them."
The Commander looked over the exhausted trainees.
"You've finally understood the difference between courage and recklessness."
No one argued.
For the first time, Shen had nothing clever to say.
The Commander turned toward headquarters.
"Return. Tomorrow, your real training begins."
---
The next morning...
The four trainees stood in the training arena before sunrise.
Shen yawned loudly.
"Why does training always start before breakfast?"
Kenya smirked.
"So you'll stop thinking with your stomach."
"My stomach has excellent ideas."
"It also has terrible timing."
Ruke chuckled while Eliz tried not to laugh.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the arena.
The Commander arrived.
His expression was as cold as ever.
"From today onward, you will forget everything you think you know."
Shen blinked.
"But we already completed our first mission."
"Exactly."
The Commander drew his sword.
"And you survived because luck was on your side."
Silence followed.
"Today, we begin again."
---
Without another word, the Commander vanished.
A gust of wind swept across the arena.
Shen barely had time to react before a wooden sword struck his shoulder.
Bang!
"Ow!"
"Too slow."
Another strike landed.
Bang!
Then another.
Bang!
Within seconds Shen was lying flat on the ground.
Kenya burst into laughter.
"You lasted... what... three seconds?"
"I was distracted!"
"By what?"
"The ground."
"The ground?"
"It looked suspicious."
Even the Commander sighed.
"Stand."
Shen climbed back to his feet.
Again.
Again he was defeated.
Again he stood.
Again he fell.
By sunset, every muscle in his body screamed in pain.
---
The following day wasn't any easier.
Swordsmanship.
Balance.
Speed.
Reflexes.
Endurance.
Every mistake earned another defeat.
Every victory was followed by an even harder challenge.
Weeks turned into months.
Little by little...
Their movements changed.
Their attacks became cleaner.
Their reactions became faster.
Their teamwork became natural.
They no longer fought like four individuals.
They fought like one unit.
---
One afternoon, the Commander called Shen into the center of the arena.
"Draw your sword."
Shen smiled confidently.
"I've been waiting for this."
Their blades collided.
Clang!
A shower of sparks scattered through the air.
Shen attacked relentlessly.
His sword danced through the air with precision he never possessed before.
The Commander blocked every strike effortlessly.
"Better."
Shen grinned.
"I'm getting close, aren't I?"
"You are."
A hopeful smile appeared on Shen's face.
Then the Commander disappeared.
"What—"
A powerful strike landed against Shen's back.
Boom!
He rolled across the arena before crashing into a wooden pillar.
"Ouch..."
The Commander lowered his sword.
"But not close enough."
Kenya watched from the sidelines.
"He's improved."
Ruke nodded.
"A lot."
Eliz smiled proudly.
"He doesn't charge blindly anymore."
Shen stood once more.
"I still have energy!"
The Commander raised one finger.
"Good."
A powerful wave of energy exploded outward.
The pressure alone forced Shen to his knees.
His sword slipped from his hand.
The duel was over.
"You lose."
Shen laughed weakly.
"I figured."
"Next."
Kenya stepped forward, flames flickering around her fists.
"I won't go down as easily."
The Commander simply nodded.
"Show me."
Her fire lit up the arena.
Explosions echoed across the training grounds.
Hours later...
Everyone collapsed onto the ground.
Shen stared at the sky.
"I think my bones have officially resigned."
Kenya laughed.
"I think mine disappeared."
Ruke groaned.
"I can't even feel my legs."
Eliz smiled softly.
"At least we're alive."
Shen looked toward the Commander.
"For now."
The Commander almost smiled.
Almost.
---
The training continued.
Day after day.
Week after week.
Month after month.
Six months passed.
The seasons changed.
The four trainees had changed with them.
Shen's sword strikes had become swift and precise.
Kenya's flames burned hotter than ever.
Ruke's lightning moved faster than the eye could follow.
Eliz's control over her magic became nearly flawless.
Even the veteran Arcane Drifters began noticing their growth.
"They're becoming monsters."
"No."
"They're becoming Drifters."
---
One morning...
The Commander never arrived.
Everyone waited.
An hour passed.
Then two.
Finally, Captain Luez entered the arena.
"The Commander has been called away."
Shen frowned.
"Where?"
"Perth."
The Captain's expression grew serious.
"An Arcane outbreak."
"When will he return?"
"I don't know."
---
Days passed.
Then another week.
Still no Commander.
Rumors spread throughout headquarters.
Some whispered that an entire city had fallen.
Others claimed hundreds of Arcanes had appeared at once.
One evening, the four friends sat quietly in the dining hall.
Nobody touched their food.
Shen finally broke the silence.
"Has anyone heard anything?"
Kenya slowly shook her head.
"No."
Ruke looked uneasy.
"The veterans keep avoiding the question."
Eliz lowered her voice.
"I overheard two officers."
Everyone looked at her.
"They said the Commander is still fighting."
"Still?"
"They also mentioned... Arcane Knights."
The table fell silent.
Shen clenched his fist.
"If he's still fighting after all this time..."
Kenya immediately understood.
"No."
Shen stood.
"I'm going."
Ruke nearly dropped his spoon.
"To Perth?"
"Yes."
"That's suicide."
"So was fighting the Four-Headed Arcane."
"And look how that ended!"
"We survived."
"Barely!"
Eliz sighed.
"I don't think this is a good idea."
Shen smiled.
"Maybe not."
"But I'm still going."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
"If you're sneaking out..."
Captain Luez leaned against the doorway with folded arms.
"...at least do it properly."
The group froze.
Shen scratched his head.
"You heard everything?"
"Every word."
Kenya looked embarrassed.
"Are you going to stop us?"
Captain Luez smiled.
"No."
The four stared.
"I'll come with you."
---
Near midnight, the group quietly slipped out of headquarters.
Captain Luez led them toward the vehicle depot.
Rows of armored transport vehicles rested inside.
One sleek machine caught Shen's attention.
"What is that?"
"A Revilsor."
"It looks fast."
"It is."
Shen grinned.
"Great."
Captain Luez tossed him the keys.
"You drive."
Shen's smile vanished.
"I've never driven one."
Kenya raised her hand.
"Neither have I."
Eliz shook her head.
"No."
Captain Luez sighed.
"...Neither have I."
Everyone slowly turned toward Ruke.
He blinked.
"What?"
"You know how?"
"My uncle used to let me practice."
Shen threw both hands into the air.
"Ruke!"
"You beautiful genius!"
Ruke laughed awkwardly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Moments later, the Revilsor roared to life.
The massive vehicle sped through the empty wasteland beneath the moonlight.
Everything remained peaceful.
For exactly five minutes.
The earth suddenly exploded.
A gigantic Arcane burst from beneath the road.
"Incoming!" Ruke shouted.
The Revilsor swerved violently.
Kenya grabbed the nearest handle.
"I hate traveling!"
Shen jumped onto the roof.
"I'll deal with it!"
His sword flashed beneath the moon.
Months of training revealed themselves in a single movement.
Slash!
The Arcane's body split apart before it could even attack.
Its remains dissolved into black mist.
Ruke stared through the mirror.
"...That was one attack."
Kenya smiled proudly.
"Six months of training."
Shen landed back inside the vehicle.
"See? Easy."
Captain Luez looked ahead.
"No."
His voice became serious.
"That wasn't the problem."
Everyone followed his gaze.
Far across the wasteland...
Dozens of armored figures stood beneath the crimson sky.
Arcane Knights.
Each carried enormous weapons glowing with dark energy.
At the center of the battlefield...
One familiar warrior cut through them without slowing down.
The Commander.
His golden aura illuminated the devastated land.
Yet even he had stopped advancing.
Standing opposite him was a towering figure wrapped in black armor.
Its crimson eyes burned like twin suns.
The Arcane General had arrived.
Shen tightened his grip on his sword.
"...We've come at the worst possible time."
The Arcane General slowly raised its massive blade.
The Commander answered by lifting his own.
The battle that would decide Perth's fate was about to begin.