The moment they stepped onto the planet—
everything changed.
The air itself felt heavier, richer—filled with raw, unfiltered universal energy that pressed against the skin like an invisible ocean. Every breath carried power. Every movement felt… meaningful.
But that beauty?
It was deceptive.
Because this planet wasn't peaceful.
It was merciless.
The group stood at the edge of a massive cliff.
Below them—
a bottomless-looking chasm stretched into darkness.
But it wasn't empty.
It was alive.
Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of creatures moved within it. Massive beasts crawled across jagged rocks. Winged predators circled in the air. Some creatures glowed with energy, others blended into shadows like living nightmares.
The sounds alone were terrifying—
roars, screeches, growls, wings cutting through air—
a constant chaos of survival.
Kael slowly leaned forward…
"…Nope."
He stepped back instantly.
"Nope. I'm not going down there. That's not training—that's a death wish."
Vicky glanced at him.
Calm.
Expressionless.
Then—
he grabbed Kael by the collar.
"Wait—WAIT—WAIT—"
And threw him.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Kael's scream echoed as he fell straight into the abyss.
BOOM.
He crashed into a rocky surface halfway down, barely managing to roll before a massive creature lunged at him.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
A six-legged beast with razor teeth charged.
Kael panicked and jumped back—
only to be hit from behind by a flying creature.
"—AGH!!"
He fell again.
At the top—
Luka watched.
"…That's brutal."
Aerito smirked slightly. "Effective."
Arna crossed her arms. "Necessary."
Down below—
Kael was running for his life.
"I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS—!!"
Another creature lunged.
He dodged—barely.
Then slipped.
Then got hit again.
Then fell.
Again.
First attempt: Failed.
Kael climbed back up—
barely.
Bruised.
Panting.
"I… hate… this…"
He reached the top—
A hand appeared.
Relief flooded his face.
"…Thank—"
It was Vicky.
And before Kael could finish—
Vicky pushed him again.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO—!!!"
Second attempt: Failed.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
Each time—
Kael tried.
Each time—
he got hit.
Clawed.
Thrown.
Crushed.
And fell again.
By the 10th attempt, his movements improved slightly.
By the 20th, he started dodging better.
By the 30th, he could predict some attacks.
By the 40th, he was surviving longer.
By the 50th attempt—
something changed.
Kael stood at the bottom again.
Breathing steady.
Eyes focused.
No panic.
Just… awareness.
He looked up.
"…One more time."
This time—
he moved differently.
Not faster.
But smarter.
He dodged before attacks even came.
Used creatures against each other.
Jumped between rocks.
Timed his movements perfectly.
A flying beast attacked—
he grabbed its wing and used it to propel himself upward.
Another came—
he ducked, letting it crash into another predator.
Step by step—
he climbed.
Higher.
Higher.
Without getting hit.
At the top—
his hand reached the final ledge.
"…I… did it…"
His fingers gripped the last rock.
He pulled himself up—
And saw a shadow above him.
Vicky.
For a moment—
they just looked at each other.
Kael's face slowly changed.
"…Don't."
Vicky didn't speak.
"…Don't you dare."
Silence.
"…I swear if you—"
Vicky kicked him.
"AAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
Kael fell again.
"…PHIR SE WAHI CHEEZ?!"
His scream echoed again through the abyss.
At the top—
Luka sighed.
"…That was cruel."
Aerito shrugged. "He was getting comfortable."
Arna nodded. "Comfort kills growth."
Down below—
Kael hit the ground again.
This time—
he didn't scream.
He didn't panic.
He just… lay there.
Breathing heavily.
"…Why… am I even doing this…"
Silence.
The beasts moved around him.
But he didn't move immediately.
For the first time—
he questioned it.
At the top—
Vicky stood silently.
But inside—
his thoughts moved.
On the battlefield…
You don't just need to attack.
You need to survive.
You need endurance.
You need will.
His gaze remained fixed downward.
Right now… he knows I'll push him again.
He knows he'll fall again.
And yet…
Kael slowly stood up again.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Shaking.
But standing.
"…Fine…"
He wiped blood from his lip.
"…One more time."
Vicky's eyes softened slightly.
That's it.
It's not about stamina.
It's not about strength.
It's about this.
The will to rise again.
Kael started climbing again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
No anger.
No panic.
Just… determination.
Even if you fall…
Even if you know you'll fall…
You climb again.
Vicky turned slightly.
"…Good."
On the battlefield…
No matter how big the problem is—
You never give up.
Today you fall…
Tomorrow… you rise.
The scene shifted.
Eren's Training
A completely different part of the planet.
No cliffs.
No beasts.
Just—
pressure.
Eren stood in an open field.
But the space around him was distorted.
Heavy.
Compressed.
Like gravity itself had been multiplied.
His body trembled slightly—
not from fear—
but from resistance.
"Move."
Vicky's voice echoed.
Eren took one step.
The ground cracked.
His muscles screamed.
But he didn't stop.
Each step felt like carrying mountains.
But he kept walking.
"Faster."
Eren clenched his fists.
His aura ignited.
And he pushed forward.
Then—
suddenly—
multiple energy constructs appeared around him.
Blades.
Spears.
Arrows.
All aimed at him.
"Dodge."
They attacked.
Eren moved.
Not perfectly.
Not cleanly.
But effectively.
He dodged one—
blocked another—
took a hit—
kept moving.
Again.
Again.
Again.
His body adapted.
His reactions sharpened.
His mind cleared.
"Again."
No break.
No rest.
Just repetition.
Sweat dripped.
Blood followed.
But his eyes—
never lost focus.
Arelia's Training
A distant region.
A place of illusions.
But not false ones—
controlled realities.
Arna stood in front of her.
"Attack me."
Arelia didn't hesitate.
She moved instantly—
fast.
Sharp.
Precise.
But—
she missed.
Because Arna wasn't there.
A mirror shattered.
Another appeared.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Each one reflected a different version of Arna.
"Find me."
Arelia narrowed her eyes.
Her aura expanded.
She attacked again—
wrong.
Again—
wrong.
Again—
wrong.
Frustration built.
But she didn't stop.
She slowed down.
Analyzed.
Watched.
Then—
she noticed it.
A slight delay.
A reflection that didn't match.
She moved.
Struck.
CRACK.
A mirror shattered.
Arna appeared behind her.
"…Better."
The training continued.
Harder.
Faster.
More complex.
Illusions within illusions.
Real attacks hidden inside fake ones.
Arelia adapted.
Learned.
Evolved.
Back to Kael
Attempt…
unknown.
He had lost count.
But this time—
he climbed again.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
And step by step—
he rose.
This time—
no beast touched him.
He reached the top.
Pulled himself up.
And stood.
Vicky didn't push him.
Silence.
Kael looked at him.
Breathing heavily.
"…Finally…"
Vicky nodded slightly.
"…Now you're ready to begin."
Kael froze.
"…That… was just warm-up?"
Luka laughed.
Aerito smirked.
Arna turned away, hiding a smile.
Kael fell to his knees.
"…I'm going to die…"
But even then—
he smiled slightly.
Because this time—
he didn't fall.
And far above—
the planet watched.
Silent.
Endless.
To be continued...