The air was heavy with anticipation as the two squared off in an open clearing. Artreus took a deep breath, his resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming odds.

Aidan, standing with a relaxed confidence, tilted his head. "Come on, try your best. It'll be fun watching you fail."

Artreus charged, his fists clenched. He threw a punch, but Aidan dodged effortlessly, sidestepping and smirking.

"Oh, please," Aidan mocked, catching Artreus's fist mid-swing. "You must be joking."

With a swift motion, Aidan twisted Artreus's arm, pulling him forward and delivering a solid punch to his face. Stumbling back, Artreus barely had time to recover before Aidan followed up with a knee to his stomach, sending him sprawling.

"Is that it?" Aidan taunted. "Pathetic."

Artreus pushed himself up, wiping blood from his lip. "You're fast… but I'm not done yet!"

From a distance, another figure approached, a large bundle slung over his shoulder. Mikael, another of Samson's disciples, dropped his load near the fire.

"Master, I'm back. I brought fish for dinner," Mikael called out.

Samson glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."

Mikael noticed the commotion and frowned. "What's going on?"

Samson gestured lazily toward the fight. "That's Artreus. Arthur's brother. He's trying to land a hit on Aidan to become my disciple."

Mikael blinked in surprise. "Arthur's brother? Why is he getting clobbered by Aidan?"

Samson chuckled. "Because I gave him a trial. If he can't land a hit, he's not ready."

Mikael shook his head, muttering to himself. "You never gave me a trial match…"

Samson turned, his tone matter-of-fact. "Yours was different. He's rude and selfish. I want to give him a proper taste of humility through Aidan."

Mikael watched the fight unfold, bemused. "That's it? So cruel…"

Back in the clearing, Artreus lunged again, his movements fueled by raw determination. But Aidan was quicker, dodging with ease and delivering a swift kick that sent Artreus crashing into the dirt.

Struggling to his feet, Artreus clenched his fists, a fiery resolve burning in his eyes. "I'm not done yet!" he shouted, preparing for another round.

The trial was far from over, and Samson watched intently, curious to see if this brash, determined boy could rise to the challenge.

Artreus stood bloodied and bruised, swaying slightly but refusing to fall. The relentless assault from Aidan had left him battered, yet his fiery determination refused to dim. Across from him, Aidan strolled forward with an air of superiority, his smirk as sharp as the blows he'd been delivering.

He's fast, Artreus thought, his mind racing as he struggled to steady his breathing. I underestimated him. I haven't landed a single hit. Damn it, I'm getting tired.

His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms as his frustration grew. But I can't stop now. I have to hit him at least once—to prove I'm worthy, to become Samson's disciple. If I can't do that… how will I ever defeat that monster?

A flicker of his brother's face crossed his mind, and with it, the overwhelming memory of his mother's screams. He grit his teeth, forcing the fire in his chest to ignite.

I have to get stronger. Stronger than anyone!

With a roar, he surged forward, adrenaline pushing him past his limits. He charged at Aidan, his movements fueled by desperation and raw resolve.

Aidan's sharp eyes tracked the incoming attack with ease. "Heh," he scoffed. "Pathetic."

In one fluid motion, Aidan sidestepped and countered with a brutal punch, his fist connecting squarely with Artreus's jaw. The force sent him sprawling to the ground, dust rising around him as he landed with a heavy thud.

Aidan stood over him, shaking his head. "You're all talk. Look at you now, lying in the dirt like a worm." His tone turned colder as he sneered, "You think you can beat me just because you're the brother of Arthur Reigns? You don't deserve that name."

Turning his back, Aidan began to walk away. "Get out of my sight, you piece of shit."

Samson, seated on a nearby rock with his arms crossed, sighed. "Well, I suppose that brings this to a conclu—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he noticed movement.

Artreus, with trembling arms, pushed himself off the ground. His legs wobbled as he stood, but his gaze burned with an intensity that hadn't been there before.

"Hey, demon prick!" he shouted, his voice raw but defiant. "Where do you think you're going?"

Aidan froze, then turned slowly, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

"Huh?"

Artreus stood tall, despite his battered frame. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away with the back of his hand. His lips curled into a defiant grin.

"It's not over yet," he said, his voice shout firm. "Not as long as I'm still f**king standing!"

The fire in his eyes was unmistakable, and for the first time, Aidan hesitated.

From the sidelines, Samson leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Well, this is getting interesting."

Mikael, who had been lounging nearby, straightened up. His earlier amusement faded into quiet respect. "He's got guts. I'll give him that."

Artreus's body ached, but his spirit burned brighter with every moment he spent on his feet. He could feel his brother's legacy in the back of his mind, urging him forward.

Aidan, now visibly irritated, dodged another charge with ease. He sneered, his frustration spilling into taunts.

"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" he spat, his voice laced with mockery.

"Quit?" Artreus shot back, his eyes blazing. "It's not in my vocabulary. My brother always said, 'Fight till I die.'"

With a battle cry, Artreus lunged forward again, putting all his weight into the attack.

Aidan smirked, his stance shifting as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow. "Then die!"

But just as Aidan swung, Artreus stumbled—feigned, calculated. In one fluid motion, he scooped a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it into Aidan's eyes.

The dirt hit its mark. Aidan reeled, momentarily blinded. "What the—?!" he snarled, wiping at his face.

Seizing the moment, Artreus closed the gap and delivered a fierce punch directly to Aidan's jaw. The sound of the impact echoed across the grounds.

From the sidelines, Samson leaned back, the faintest trace of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hmm…" he murmured approvingly.

Artreus didn't let up. Fueled by adrenaline and sheer determination, he knocked Aidan to the ground and pinned him, one knee pressing down on Aidan's arms. With unrelenting force, Artreus unleashed a flurry of punches to Aidan's face.

"What did you say to me?!" Artreus shouted, his voice ringing with fury. "You disgust me. Now look at you!"

He leaned in, his face inches from Aidan's, his eyes burning with righteous anger. "It's my turn to look down on you!"

Aidan's Retaliation

Furious and humiliated, Aidan roared, his body erupting with fiery energy. A shockwave of heat blasted outward, forcing Artreus back.

The impact sent Artreus stumbling, but he managed to stay upright, his resolve unshaken.

On the sidelines, Mikael winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh boy… this isn't going to end well."

Aidan rose slowly, flames licking at his skin, his face contorted with rage. "You're dead!" he bellowed, charging at Artreus like a wild beast.

Aidan's fiery charge was seconds away from striking Artreus when a thunderous crack split the air. In an instant, Samson appeared between them, his movements faster than the eye could follow. With a single, precise strike to Aidan's midsection, the young fighter crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The sheer force of Samson's intervention caused the earth beneath them to fracture, cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.

Samson sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced down at Aidan. "How many times have I told you not to kill? I don't want blood on the floor."

He turned toward Mikael, who had been watching with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Mikael. Get Aidan to his room. And clean up after him."

Mikael groaned, shaking his head. "Argh… Come on, Master. Can't you give me a break? You're always giving me the dirty work."

Ignoring the protest, Samson gestured toward Aidan's limp form. Mikael muttered under his breath as he hoisted Aidan onto his back, his steps heavy as he carried him toward the barracks.

With Mikael and Aidan gone, Samson shifted his attention to Artreus. The boy stood swaying on his feet, his body covered in bruises, his breathing ragged. Yet, even in his exhausted state, his spirit remained unbroken.

"Welp," Samson said, his tone light despite the intensity of the moment. "Looks like you've won the match. I'm true to my words. You've now officially become my disciple."

Artreus's lips twitched into a tired smile, his chest heaving as he forced out a single word.

"Huff… Great…"

With that, his body gave out. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious from the strain of the fight.

Samson stood over him, his expression unreadable. After a moment, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Not bad, kid," he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of approval.