Ray stood face-to-face with the towering overseer, who was grinning a lot. The other trainees trained tirelessly, their muscles straining with each movement, their faces tensed and wary of Ray's presence. Sweat trickled down their foreheads as they trained, and their breaths came out in sharp gasps, indicating the intensity of their workout. No one had bothered to call him to leave, and he couldn't sense even a hint of it.
"Why do I feel like he did this?" Ray thought as he looked at the big overseer, whose evil smile made him annoyed.
Ray felt a surge of anger as he looked at the big overseer, whose beady eyes were fixed on him. He wondered why the overseer had created such a scene,
"I need the Reager Stone dolls, if possible," Ray said, trying to remain respectful.
Despite being angry at the overseer for creating a scene, Ray realized that he just wanted Ray to come back and train.
"Even though he was being a little pushy with his intentions, I feel that this guy deserves respect because he just gave me a chance to prove myself," Ray thought.
"Good," the overseer said, pausing before adding,
"Be prepared to face the most difficult battle you will ever have. I've heard many things about you, and I expect a lot from you, twerp."
The overseer stood up from his chair, towering over everyone with his massive physique. Ray could feel the ground shaking under his feet as the overseer walked toward the center of the training area.
"EVERYONE, AT EASE!" the overseer barked, his voice booming and echoing throughout the training room.
At the overseer's command, the trainees halted their rigorous training and stood in a neat, orderly line. Allister watched from the sidelines, his eyes fixed on Ray. He looked perplexed, unsure of what was in store for him. The overseer was a man of honor, but he was also infamous for being ruthless in training. Ray observed the scene, trying to read the expression on the overseer's face. He could sense that he was not going to hold anything from his expression.
"Maybe someone here will be my 1v1 opponent?" Ray thought.
The overseer's booming voice broke Ray's chain of thought, "Get him a hard stone weapon. He will need it."
A trainee stepped forward and led Ray towards a dimly lit section of the building where all kinds of weapons were stored. The trainee wore a helmet, concealing her face from Ray, but her voice sounded familiar.
"Come with me, handsome," she said, her voice muffled by the helmet. Ray followed her, and as he entered the section, he was greeted by the smell of oiled metal and a lot of smells. His eyes widened in surprise as he scanned the array of weapons before him. Spears, swords, axes, and even what looked like guns were among the choices. There were many weird ones like strings and a glowing ball of sorts.
He instinctively reached for the firearm-looking thing but his hand was swiftly swatted away like a fly.
"No, little cutie. These rely on magical energy as well as ammo, so you won't be able to use them. We will be using hard stone weapons, so choose from these," she explained, pointing to a stash of weapons nearby. Ray looked at the hard stone weapons, which were made of a type of rock that was dense and sturdy, suitable for fighting. He carefully selected a Warhammer and tested its weight, feeling the solid, cold grip in his hand.
The woman presented Ray with a lot more array of weapons made entirely of a greyish stone, including Blunt staves, Spears, and Polearms with axe-like blades. and spears. Ray examined them with disinterest, recognizing their strengths but searching for something that could excel in both offense and defense.
As he perused the collection, his eyes caught a glimpse of the perfect weapon. It was reminiscent of a sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] or "coiling dragon staff," adorned with an intricate design and a bold red and black color scheme.
"This is perfect," Ray exclaimed in excitement.
The woman observed Ray with keen interest, surprised that he had chosen a weapon that required a great deal of skill to wield. She approached Ray and knelt down to match his height, despite being significantly taller than him. Her curvaceous figure was on full display as she did so.
"Are you certain? This weapon can be difficult to manage in close-quarter scenarios, and it requires significant skill to wield effectively," she said in a concerned voice.
Ray listened to her worries with a clear head and a smile on his face.
"Miss, watch this," he said confidently.
He started to swing the 3 sectioned staff with incredible precision and speed. From diagonal swings using his hips, Ray stood in the open spot, the Sanjiegun in hand. He began to move, the staff spinning and twirling in perfect unison with his body. As he moved, he demonstrated the versatility of the weapon, its three sections coiling and uncoiling with fluid grace.
Using his hips as the pivot point, he spun the staff in a wide arc, creating a centrifugal force that added to the power of the strike. He then transitioned into a series of quick strikes, each one delivered with precision and accuracy.
"Wow, where did you learn this? You look so cool" the woman asked in awe admiring him.
"I practice with a staff a lot, It's the only weapon I used since I was a child" Ray replied, his expression darkening slightly. He was fabricating stories and lying at every turn, but he made sure they were somewhat believable.
"Alright, let's go since you've chosen your weapon," she said, leading the way.
They returned to the open training area, where two dummies were lined up and the overseer was tinkering with them. The overseer's unsettling smile frightened the other trainees, but Ray remained solemn. The overseer finished his work and sat back on his massive, backward-facing chair, eyeing Ray, who had selected the coiling dragon staff.
This choice surprised the overseer; not many trainees opted for a sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote]
"I see you've made your selection. I've prepared some opponents for you," he said challengingly, pulling out a massive sandwich-like object that was over 7 feet long.
"All you have to do is last as long as it takes me to finish this sandwich. Don't worry, I'll eat quickly. If you can withstand these two dummies and complete the challenge, there's a reward waiting for you in addition to receiving your tools," he promised.
"That is if you can," he said coldly.
Ray smiled confidently and assumed a stance, swinging the 3 joints of Sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] furiously and catching the joint with his right hand and the other with his feet, striking a pose showcasing his mastery of the weapon. The Sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] was one of Ray's favorite weapons, and it held fond memories for him. During the training program, there was one instructor who treated him kindly, teaching him a lot of things without abuse or harm.
Ray's instructor had gifted him a Sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] when he was still a slave to commands in the super soldier program. At that time, Ray couldn't express his gratitude or feelings. Later, he had to kill his beloved instructor when he was ordered to do so. The instructor smiled at Ray during his final moments, with his final words hoping for a better life for him in the afterlife if there was one. The memory of his instructor's kindness and tragic end fueled Ray's anger, which he channeled into his fight.
"Bring it on," he said confidently with a stern voice.
The Overseer chuckled, amused by Ray's bravado. "I like your guts, kid. Just attack the dolls over there, and they'll activate. Show me what you can do."
Allister, Ray's closest friend looked visibly worried from what he had just seen.
Meanwhile, the other five trainees sat far away from the battlegrounds, watching the scene unfold. One of them spoke up, his tone laced with disgust.
"He looks pissed. Did you bother the kid, Zula? You know he's only twelve, right? You're despicable." He scoffed
Zula scoffed at the accusation. "What do you take me for? I'm not a child predator. I'll wait until he's twenty-three to claim him."
"By the Lunar, you're a vile woman. Mind the age, you're thirty-six. Just ten years shy of adulthood," the guy retorted, face-palming in frustration.
"Mind your own business. Also, want to bet on the stakes?" Zula replied, unfazed by the criticism.
The trainees exchanged glances before another one spoke up, eager to get in on the action.
"Ten Lunar Stones says he won't survive the first minute."
"Deal," Zula said, rubbing her hands together with a grin.
"You'll be disappointed when he wins," she added confidently.
"As if. Did you see what this geezer did? He won't even last 15 seconds maybe"
With all eyes now fixed on him, Ray approached the center of the battlegrounds, the Sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] in hand. He had transformed the weapon into its staff form, using the lock joint to screw it in place. As he examined the intricate design, made entirely of stone, he couldn't help but feel impressed.
The dolls stood still, their smooth bodies crafted from what appeared to be either wood or wax, adorned with pulsing stones that emitted a They had a pulsing stone engraved into them. It was like a bass of sorts that one could feel but there was no sound. Despite their humanoid form and human-like hands and legs, their demonic faces featured horns and hollow, black eyes that conveyed an unsettling stillness.
One of the dolls held a blunt stone sword, while the other remained unarmed. Ray approached them cautiously, his staff spinning at a rapid pace as he prepared for an attack. He launched a strike with his staff, but the doll with the stick swiftly blocked it with one hand, creating a metallic clang that filled the air.
"SHING< CLANK"
Ray stepped back, holding his staff at the ready. Suddenly, without being able to react a punch struck his gut, causing him to stumble several feet backwards in the air. He managed to maintain his grip on his staff, and he used it as a support by planting it firmly on the ground. Using the force generated by the staff, he launched himself even higher into the air to gain some distance between himself and the dolls. From his new vantage point, he could better assess what had just happened.
What the fuck was that. It was too fast. That weaponless doll is dangerous Ray thought as still several feet in the air. The weaponless doll moved too quickly, and it was obvious that it was dangerous. Before he could regain his bearings in the air, one of the dolls with the stone sword jumped very high with its blunt sword, aiming for his head. Ray acted quickly, using his staff to deflect the sword, and received a small cut on his cheek in the process. He disarmed the doll by completely twisting the hand of the doll in a spiral motion with brute strength and then letting go of his staff. With a grin,
"Got ya bitch"
He grabbed the doll in a choke and kneeled on it as it struggled to escape. He grabbed its head and ruthlessly head-butted it a few times before finally kicking it with full force to the ground below.
"BOOM"
The impact was so intense that it left a small crater. Ray had unleashed his full strength; he wanted to gauge how powerful he was. After completing a flip, he landed on his feet, and the staff landed perfectly in his hand He held his right hand in the air.
Ray took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings, noticing the scent of burning wood in the air. The dolls were getting more aggressive by the minute, and he knew that he had to be more vigilant. He clutched his staff tightly, ready for the next attack.
With fierce determination, Ray spun the Sanjiegun[modern_footnote] three-section staff[/modern_footnote] with a flourish, unlocking its three segments ready to take on the next doll. He didn't want to make the same mistake twice, and the memory of the weaponless doll's attack still sent shivers down his spine. Its attacks were too fast to even be able to react. He scanned the battlefield, his eyes stern and focused, searching for any sign of movement.
With a sudden hunch, from his battle instinct, Ray shifted his footwork to the right, just in time to dodge a punch aimed at his left side. He had no time to react, but he had anticipated the movement. As he spun the Sanjiegun, one of the staff's joints hit the doll's hand, causing it to veer off course before hitting him. Ray's weapon struck the doll that had previously caught him off guard, and he avoided its attack with a confident grin on his face.
His red crimson eyes locked onto the doll, and he sneered, "You're like an open book. I'm going to tear you to shreds. Just try me." He said as he made a battle stance spinning the Sanjiegun
The doll stood still, staring at its fists in confusion. Everyone around them was watching in awe, their jaws hanging open as they couldn't tear their eyes away from the intense battle. Ray's senses were heightened with his heart beating faster than ever before. He knew that the battle just started.