Weeks passed.
Days blended into nights… and nights into early mornings.
There was no rest anymore.
The training ground echoed with the constant sound of weapons—
clashing, cutting, striking.
Sweat covered their bodies.
Their hands were bruised.
Their muscles burned with pain.
But no one stopped.
David stood in the center, breathing heavily.
"Again…" he muttered.
The four blades of Fang lifted into the air—
Faster.
Sharper.
More controlled than before.
They moved around him like loyal soldiers.
Mary stood at a distance.
Arrow after arrow flew from her bow.
Each one more precise than the last.
Her hesitation was gone.
Only focus remained.
Noah raised his sword.
A low rumble filled the air.
Small sparks of lightning formed around the blade.
Not perfect yet—
But real.
Lily spun her weapon again and again.
Her movements, once clumsy, were now smooth.
Controlled.
Deadly.
Zoya stood near water.
Her trident moved calmly.
The water around her responded—
Rising… shifting… obeying her command.
Lucy held her sword tightly.
A faint flame appeared on the edge of her blade—
Then disappeared.
Then returned again—
Stronger.
Felix swung his weapon with force.
Each strike made the ground tremble slightly.
Heavy.
Powerful.
Unstoppable.
And Daniel…
Daniel stood apart.
Thorn moved around him slowly.
Not resisting anymore.
Not fighting him.
It followed him.
Like it understood him.
Like it was a part of him.
One day, Charlie Stone stepped forward.
"Enough of practice," he said.
"Now… you will fight each other."
The atmosphere instantly
"David. Daniel."
The two stepped forward.
David smirked. "Let's see who's better now."
Daniel held Thorn tightly. "Let's try."
"Begin!"
David raised his hand—
The four blades of Fang shot forward at high speed.
Daniel reacted instantly.
Thorn moved like a whip—
Clang!
The blades were blocked.
David attacked again from multiple directions.
Daniel stepped back, dodging, countering, learning.
The speed increased.
The tension rose.
For a moment—
Neither could land a hit.
Charlie Stone watched carefully.
"…Good," he said.
"Mary. Zoya."
Mary took a deep breath.
Zoya stood calm.
"Begin."
Mary released an arrow.
Zoya moved slightly—
Her trident deflected it smoothly.
Another arrow came—
Faster.
Zoya used water to push it aside.
Mary's eyes sharpened.
Her next shot—
Closer.
Stronger.
Zoya smiled slightly.
"You're improving."
"Lucy. Lily."
Lucy stepped forward.
Lily spun her weapon.
"Start!"
Their weapons clashed instantly.
Clang! Clang!
Lily's spinning attacks forced Lucy back.
Lucy focused—
A small flame appeared on her blade.
She attacked again.
Stronger.
Faster.
Lily barely blocked it.
"Felix. Noah."
Felix lifted his heavy weapon.
Noah raised his sword.
"Begin!"
Felix attacked first—
A heavy strike.
Noah dodged and countered.
A spark of lightning followed his blade.
Felix blocked it.
The ground shook.
Both stepped back.
Smiling.
Excited.
The training ground was alive.
They were no longer beginners.
They were fighters.
Stronger.
Faster.
Better.
Daniel stood quietly.
Watching.
Learning.
Thorn moved beside him.
Calm.
But deep inside—
Something was growing.
Something powerful.
Something dangerous.
As the sun set, the training ground slowly became silent.
Charlie Stone looked at all of them.
His expression was serious.
"…You're ready."
The wind grew cold.
And somewhere far away—
Something dark was waiting.