The planet of Universal Energy no longer felt beautiful.
Not to them.
Not anymore.
What once looked like a paradise of glowing skies, floating mountains, and rivers of light… had now become a battlefield of endurance, pain, and relentless growth. The air itself pressed against their bodies like an invisible weight, every breath reminding them that this place wasn't meant for comfort—
—it was meant to forge monsters.
Kael stood once again at the edge of the abyss.
But this time—
he didn't hesitate.
He didn't complain.
He didn't even sigh.
He simply looked down into the endless pit filled with beasts, flying predators, and chaos…
…and jumped.
Luka raised an eyebrow.
"…He didn't scream this time."
Aerito smirked.
"Growth."
Arna crossed her arms, her gaze calm but sharp.
"He accepted it."
Vicky stood silently, watching Kael disappear into the darkness.
But inside—
he was already measuring something else.
Will.
Down below—
Kael landed.
This time—
perfectly.
No stumble.
No panic.
A creature lunged at him instantly—
He moved.
Clean.
Efficient.
No wasted motion.
"Come on…!" Kael muttered under his breath.
A massive beast charged—
He dodged sideways, grabbed a jagged rock, and used its momentum to launch himself upward.
A flying creature swooped—
He ducked, rolled, and kicked off its body mid-air.
Another attacked from behind—
He didn't turn.
He already knew.
He jumped.
The attack missed.
At the top—
Vicky's eyes narrowed slightly.
Good.
Kael climbed faster than before.
Stronger.
Smarter.
Every movement had purpose now.
Every step carried intent.
Halfway up—
he slipped.
But this time—
he didn't fall.
He caught himself instantly.
Teeth clenched.
"…Not again."
He pulled himself back.
At the top—
Vicky spoke.
His voice calm.
Steady.
But powerful.
"Kael."
Kael froze for a second—
then continued climbing.
"You've already learned how to move."
Vicky's eyes remained fixed on him.
"But movement alone isn't enough."
Kael gritted his teeth, pushing upward.
"On the battlefield… your body will fail you."
A beast jumped toward him—
Kael dodged—
barely.
"Your strength will run out."
Another attack—
he blocked—
but it hurt.
"Your stamina will break."
He climbed.
Closer.
Closer.
"But if your will…"
His hand reached the final ledge—
"…doesn't break—"
He pulled himself up—
"You survive."
Kael stood at the top.
Breathing heavily.
But standing.
This time—
Vicky didn't push him.
Instead—
he turned away.
"…Again."
Kael looked at him.
For a second—
he wanted to complain.
To collapse.
To rest.
But instead—
he nodded.
"…Yeah."
And jumped again.
Luka smiled slightly.
"…He's changed."
Aerito nodded.
"Now he understands."
• Eren's Training
A different region.
A harsher one.
The gravity field had intensified.
What was once heavy—
was now crushing.
Eren stood in the center.
His body trembling under the pressure.
His muscles screaming.
But his eyes—
were calm.
"Move."
Vicky's voice echoed again.
Eren stepped forward.
CRACK.
The ground beneath him shattered.
His legs almost gave out.
But he didn't fall.
"Again."
Another step.
Then—
attacks.
Hundreds.
No—
thousands.
Energy constructs formed around him instantly.
Blades.
Spears.
Explosions.
All at once.
"Don't just react."
Vicky's voice was sharper now.
"Predict."
Eren's eyes shifted.
His breathing slowed.
The attacks came—
He moved before they reached him.
Dodged.
Turned.
Blocked.
Countered.
Not perfect.
Not yet.
But improving.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Hours passed.
Maybe days.
Time didn't matter anymore.
Eren fell.
Got up.
Fell again.
Got up again.
At one point—
he collapsed to one knee.
His body refused to move.
Sweat and blood mixed together.
"…I can't…"
he whispered.
Silence.
Then—
Vicky's voice.
Calm.
But heavy.
"If you stop here…"
Eren slowly looked up.
"You'll stay here forever."
Eren's fingers tightened.
"Strength isn't given."
He pushed himself up.
"It's taken."
Eren stood again.
His aura flared.
"…Then I'll take it."
And he moved again.
• Arelia's Training
Arelia stood in a sea of mirrors.
Endless reflections.
Endless illusions.
Arna walked slowly around her.
Graceful.
Calm.
Dangerous.
"You're strong."
Arna said softly.
"But strength alone is predictable."
Arelia didn't respond.
Her eyes scanned everything.
"Your enemy won't fight you directly."
A mirror shattered.
Another formed.
"Sometimes…"
Arna disappeared.
"…they'll confuse you."
Suddenly—
ten Arelia's appeared.
All identical.
All moving.
All attacking.
"Find yourself."
Arelia froze for a second.
Then—
closed her eyes.
She didn't look.
She felt.
Energy.
Presence.
Flow.
One.
Only one.
Her eyes snapped open.
She moved.
STRIKE.
Everything shattered.
The real Arelia stood alone.
Arna appeared behind her.
Smiling.
"…Good."
Arelia breathed heavily.
But didn't stop.
"Again."
And the training continued.
Harder.
Faster.
Deeper.
The sky shifted slightly.
The energy calmed for a brief moment.
Vicky stood alone.
Watching everything.
Then—
soft footsteps.
Arna approached.
She stopped beside him.
Close.
Very close.
"You're really pushing them."
she said softly.
Vicky didn't look at her.
"They need it."
Arna smiled slightly.
"And you?"
Vicky finally glanced at her.
"…What about me?"
She leaned a little closer.
Her voice playful.
Soft.
"Who pushes you?"
Silence.
For a moment—
Vicky didn't answer.
Arna tilted her head slightly.
Her eyes shining.
"If you fall…"
She stepped even closer.
"…who will catch you?"
Vicky looked at her.
Directly.
"…I don't fall."
Arna smiled.
A real one.
"That's what I like about you."
Then—
without warning—
she poked his cheek lightly.
"…But don't act too strong."
Vicky blinked.
Slightly confused.
She turned away.
Walking back.
"…Even gods need someone sometimes."
Luka, watching from a distance, whispered—
"…Did she just flirt in the middle of war training?"
Aerito nodded.
"…Respect."
Days passed.
Or maybe weeks.
Time had lost meaning.
All three—
Kael.
Eren.
Arelia.
Stood together.
Different.
Stronger.
Sharper.
Vicky stepped forward.
"Enough."
They looked at him.
"You've learned how to survive."
Silence.
"But survival…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…is only the beginning."
Aerito stepped beside him.
"If you want to stand with us…"
Flames ignited around him.
"You'll have to go beyond this."
Luka added calmly—
"Pain is temporary."
He looked at them.
"But power… stays."
Arna smiled softly—
"And if you fall…"
Her mirrors shimmered.
"…just stand up again."
Vicky finished—
"No matter what."
Silence.
Then—
Kael smiled.
"…Let's go again."
Eren nodded.
"I'm not done."
Arelia stepped forward.
"Neither am I."
The planet trembled slightly.
Because now—
they weren't just training anymore.
They were evolving.
Into something far greater.
And far more dangerous.