When they reached the training hall, Gustave headed straight for his personal section.

  He opened his training bag and began removing his equipment.

  That was when he noticed something… unusual.

  Gustave blinked.

  “How strange. There are always people flocking around me when I train. Where did my fans go?”

  His question echoed through the mostly empty area.

  Meanwhile—his “fans” were anything but missing.

  Across the gym, a dense crowd circled another training section. The air vibrated with excitement as people watched Roso move with unnerving precision. He wore heavy-duty equipment meant to slow even seasoned fighters, yet he flowed through his exercises with liquid dexterity.

  “Wow… impressive!” someone exclaimed.

  “How is he even doing that?” shouted another, unable to hide their awe.

  “This guy is the real deal,” a whisper ran through the crowd.

  A muscular man folded his arms. “What do you think about a competition between him and Gustave?”

  “Oh, I would love to see that,” someone murmured, eyes shining with anticipation.

  “What do you think the odds would be?” a blond woman asked.

  The chatter only grew louder.

  And that was when Gustave finally noticed the commotion.

  He stormed toward it.

  “What is going on here?” he demanded as the crowd parted to make way, recognizing his voice instantly.

  His eyes locked on Roso.

  “Who is this new guy?” Gustave snarled. “You dare steal my audience? Let’s see if you can even withstand one of my blows.”

  By that time Roso had already removed the heavy duty training equipment.

  And before anyone could react, Gustave lunged. His right fist shot forward, wrapped in a forceful surge of strength flow.

  Roso moved almost instinctively—vortex flow spiraled around his arm as he redirected the incoming attack.

  The energies clashed.

  A sharp whump filled the hall as the redirected force twisted into a new trajectory, creating a shock wave that launched both fighters backward.

  Doom!

  Gasps erupted.

  People started whispering wildly.

  Even Gustave’s entourage hesitated, unsure if they should intervene.

  Gustave crashed to a knees, teeth gritted. Slowly, he pushed himself back to his feet.

  “Where are my men? What are you even doing—standing there like statues instead of lifting me up?” he grumbled, dusting himself off. “Whatever. I didn’t know a shock wave like that could happen during a strength flow clash…”

  Across from him, Roso remained standing—though barely. He steadied his breathing.

  “I tried to alter the flow mid-technique,” Roso muttered to himself. “But it didn’t go the way I intended. I still can’t fully control this new power…”

  Gustave marched up to him again, this time with far more caution than bravado.

  “Kid—what move was that just now? That impact wasn’t from a normal strength flow collision.”

  Roso raised his head, eyes calm.

  “It’s the World of Vortex.”

  “The world of… what?” Gustave blinked, instantly losing interest in the explanation. “Forget it. Listen—make sure you take the Azurh Academy entrance exam. I’ll be waiting for you there. Don’t disappoint me.”

  He waved at his men.

  “Let’s leave. We’re done here for today.”

  _____

  The Azurh Academy entrance exam was approaching, and countless young fighters across the region pushed themselves to their limits.

  Among them was a thin, fair-skinned girl from the remote village of Ngock—Bissai Serene.

  A martial power practitioner, Bissai trained not through sparring partners but by hunting awakened beasts. She believed the fiercer the opponent, the sharper her mastery of strength flow would become.

  For weeks, she had been observing a particular awakened beast.

  A young leopard—fast, cunning, and ferociously territorial.

  Their power levels were equal, though the leopard held a natural advantage in physical durability.

  But that difference… was exactly what Bissai wanted.

  Only by pushing herself to the edge could she trigger a breakthrough.

  She tracked the leopard’s routines, studied its movements, noted its habits.

  All in preparation for today.

  The day her hunt would finally begin.

  Bissai tightened her gloves and grinned with a spark of excitement.

  “Today’s the day. According to my observations, it should leave its turf. I’d better head to my usual lookout spot.”

  She paused, then added to herself “I should also double-check the battleground. That’s where the fun begins.”

  With silent steps, she slipped into the forest, weaving through the trees until she reached the clearing she had chosen. After confirming the terrain, she moved toward the leopard’s territory.

  Her heart thumped with anticipation.

  And then—

  A rustle.

  The leopard stepped out, sleek muscles rippling beneath its fur.

  Bissai smirked. “There you are, kitty.”