Chapter 8: Training Begins

The Training Grounds – Battle Begins

The training area stretched wide before them, an open field encircled by towering stone walls. The faint glow of lanterns dotted the perimeter, emitting soft pools of light across the expansive arena. The evening air was cool, carrying a crispness that made the dampness of the ground beneath their feet feel even more pronounced. The earth still held the lingering freshness from an earlier drizzle, creating the perfect setting for combat.

The team stood at the center of the large stone platform, some stretching, others observing with a mix of wariness and anticipation. The hum of quiet conversations and the soft rustle of movements filled the air.

Kane, arms crossed and clearly not in the mood, groaned as he glanced over at Axel. “Do we really have to do this, Axel?”

Axel grinned widely, the glint of mischief in his eyes as he clapped a hand on Kane’s back, nudging him forward. “Think about it—what’s scarier? The Forest Demon… or Alt?”

Without missing a beat, Kane responded, his voice filled with a mix of fear and humor. “Alt! Of course!”

Axel chuckled, a lighthearted warmth to his voice. “Exactly! If you can beat her, you don’t have to fear any monsters!” He flashed a grin that carried an infectious confidence.

Kane let out an exaggerated groan, his shoulders slumping as the reality of the situation hit him. “Uggghhhh…”

Axel laughed, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. “Oh, I forgot something. I’ll be back!” Without waiting for Kane’s response, Axel flashed a quick smile and, in a blur of light, teleported away, leaving Kane standing there with a pout on his face, his arms still crossed in frustration.

The rest of the team watched the exchange in silence, some stifling smiles, others trying to maintain focus as they prepared for the battle ahead.

Ken vs. Alt – A Duel of Blades

Ken cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with a confident smirk on his face. He was eager to test his strength against Alt.

“Oy, Alt!” Ken exclaimed, trying to grab Alt’s attention.

Alt turned her head slightly, her piercing blue eyes locking onto him, her expression unreadable as she gauged his presence.

Ken’s smirk deepened as he took a step closer. “Let’s test each other out.”

Alt gave a simple nod, her calm demeanor unwavering, but her attention fully on him.

Ken’s grin widened, a mix of excitement and challenge in his voice. “We didn’t get to do this last time. I’m looking forward to seeing you lose.”

Alt nodded again, unfazed by his words, her focus already shifting to the upcoming battle.

Ken’s eyes flashed with determination as he lunged forward with a burst of speed, his greatsword swinging in a powerful arc aimed directly at Alt.

Alt didn’t flinch. She sidestepped effortlessly, her movements smooth and fluid, as if she had already predicted his every move. With a precise flick of her twin swords, she deflected the attack, sending Ken’s greatsword veering off course.

Ken’s eyes narrowed in frustration, his body already adjusting to the change in position. He spun quickly, unleashing another high-powered slash, but—

He kicked at nothing.

His foot met only air, as Alt had already moved out of his range, her agility leaving him struggling to keep up.

Ken barely had time to react before—

BAM.

A swift strike to his legs sent him toppling backward, his balance completely thrown off. The force of the blow left him scrambling to stay on his feet, but it was too late. He hit the ground with a thud, groaning as his body absorbed the impact.

Damon, watching from the sidelines, let out a low whistle. “Oooof… that’s gotta hurt.”

Ken groaned, rubbing his head as he pushed himself up, frustration evident on his face.

Alt stood over him, completely calm and composed, her stance unwavering as she regarded him.

“Too aggressive. You need to think before you swing your sword.”

Ken clicked his tongue in annoyance, avoiding her gaze as he looked away. “Hmph…”

Alt gave him a steady look, her voice still calm and measured. “Just keep that in mind.”

Madden’s Challenge – A True Combat Test

Madden, who had been silently observing the battles from the sidelines, finally stood up. His towering form cast a long shadow over the stone arena, his presence demanding attention. The quiet strength in his movements made it clear—he was serious.

His deep voice broke through the lingering tension. “…Alt. You’ve been in actual combat, haven’t you?”

Alt met his gaze, her piercing blue eyes unreadable. She didn’t need to answer with words.

She simply nodded once.

Madden acknowledged the response with a small nod of his own before rolling his shoulders. He flexed his hands, cracking his knuckles, the sound sharp in the silent night air.

“Fight me,” he said, his voice steady. “I want to see you fight for real. No weapons.”

The air in the arena grew thick with anticipation.

Kane, who had been watching nervously, peeked at Damon, his brows furrowed with concern. His voice came out in an uncertain whisper. “Umm… guys? Aren’t we supposed to be training, not killing each other?”

Damon, however, was grinning, his pink eyes gleaming with excitement. “Gah! Shut your mouth! I wanna see this.”

Kane huffed but didn’t argue. “Okay, okay!” He hesitated before covering his face with both hands—only to peek through his fingers immediately after.

The two fighters stepped onto the battlefield, facing each other. Their expressions were composed, their body language measured. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to.

The air grew still.

Madden lowered his stance, his broad frame coiled with raw power. His muscles tensed, ready to strike, every movement controlled and calculated. His fists clenched at his sides, steady as a mountain.

Alt, by contrast, remained loose, light on her feet. Her posture was unreadable—neither offensive nor defensive. She simply existed in the space before him, her body poised for anything.

For a moment—nothing.

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Then—

Madden charged.

Madden’s massive punch cut through the air with terrifying force. The sheer power behind it sent out a shockwave, the ground beneath his fist cracking open before it even made contact.

BOOM!

The impact left a gaping crater in the battlefield, the earth splintering and crumbling under the weight of his strength.

Kane, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but shout in terror. “Eeeek! Such brute strength…!”

But when the dust settled, Alt wasn’t where Madden had aimed.

She had dodged in the blink of an eye, her movements so fluid and precise that it almost seemed like she had never been there to begin with.

Madden’s eyes narrowed in frustration, his muscles tensing for another strike. He swung again—this time faster, with even more intensity.

But Alt wasn’t there either.

She ducked low, weaving through his powerful attacks with the grace of a shadow, her breath steady and calm as she danced around him. Every move seemed like an effortless reply to his brute force.

Then, in a sudden shift, Alt moved in. She closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, her body a blur of motion.

CRACK!

A powerful uppercut slammed into Madden’s jaw, the impact sending him stumbling backward. The sound of the blow echoed through the arena, and Madden’s jaw clenched as he fought to regain his balance.

Madden growled under his breath, shaking off the impact, his pride bruised but not broken. Using his massive strength, he dug his fingers into the cracked ground, halting his backward momentum with raw force.

Without hesitation, he charged again, this time with more precision. But he had a new tactic in mind.

He lowered his stance, his legs rippling with muscle as he swept his leg out, aiming to trip her and knock her off her feet.

Alt anticipated his move before it even happened.

She leapt high, twisting in mid-air like a phantom. Madden’s eyes widened as he watched her twist above him, her movements almost ethereal.

In one fluid motion, Alt landed on his shoulder, her legs wrapping around his neck, locking him in place.

Madden’s eyes widened in shock. His massive frame tipped backward as Alt used his own momentum against him. He tried to brace himself, but it was too late.

With a swift motion, Alt arched her body—

SLAM!

The force of the impact was like a thunderclap. Madden’s massive frame collided with the ground, dust and debris exploding into the air in a cloud of chaos. The arena shook with the force of the fall.

Alt flipped off him effortlessly, landing smoothly on her feet with the poise of a dancer. She stood over him, calm and unfazed by the ferocity of the battle.

A single lock of silver hair fell over her eye, and she casually tucked it back behind her ear, her expression still unreadable but steady.

The Aftermath

The arena fell into a heavy silence. The air seemed thick with the energy of the battle that had just unfolded, as if the dust still lingered in the wake of Madden’s defeat.

Kane, his eyes wide in disbelief, whispered in awe, his voice barely audible. “Holy crap…”

Damon, on the other hand, let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by the display of skill. “Damn. That was beautiful.”

Madden lay there for a moment, breathing deeply as he processed the fight. His pride had taken a blow, but it was clear from the way he sat up that he was not defeated in spirit. He exhaled deeply before slowly getting to his feet, dusting himself off with a casual motion.

Madden’s voice was gruff but respectful as he spoke. “I see… This isn’t your first rodeo.”

Alt, as calm as ever, acknowledged the compliment without breaking her poised stance.

Madden rolled his shoulders with a small smirk forming on his lips, the edges of his usual bravado slipping back into place. “I need to polish my skills more.”

Alt remained silent for a moment, her piercing eyes assessing him, before nodding approvingly.

Madden’s grin widened slightly, his admiration for Alt clear. “That was fun.”

Damon, leaning against the side of the arena, raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement. “‘Fun’ is an understatement, big guy.”

Kane, still in shock from the display, barely managed to process everything. “She suplexed him… like it was nothing.”

Damon, seeing Kane’s stunned expression, slapped him gently on the shoulder, his grin widening. “You’re right to fear her.”

Kane nodded, his eyes still wide. “...I know.”

Alt stood silently for a moment, the quiet only adding to her presence. She then turned to face the rest of the team, her voice calm and collected, as if nothing extraordinary had just happened.

“...Who’s next?”

Everyone in the group couldn’t help but sweatdrop at the nonchalant challenge, the intensity of the battle still hanging in the air. The silence that followed spoke volumes—no one seemed eager to volunteer.