The training hall was more intense than usual. The large, open space was filled with the sounds of clashing swords and heavy breathing. The walls were lined with various weapons and training equipment, each meticulously maintained. The floor was made of polished wood, worn smooth by countless hours of practice. Everyone, including Lysandra, was serious and focused on our upcoming battles.
Their guardians must have told them. Our enemies are quite strong, and I am facing them after so many years of sleep. I need to get used to it again.
"You're out of practice. Come on, we've faced 15-16 wraiths till now," I replied.
They were all low level
" Even the leader we faced before?" I asked.
Yes, including him as well. Maybe he was a knight level, but what we are going to face is more dangerous than a knight. An army of knights or worse, a commander. There are 15 commanders in his army, each the head of a faction. That means there are 15 factions of wraiths. When a knight evolves, a commander is born, but not every knight can evolve. Only a few, and so far, only 15 of them were successful.
"So we need to be careful," I said.
"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to train as well?" Lisa, who was practicing on her own, called out to me. She stood near a rack of training swords, her eyes sharp and focused, a determined glint in her gaze. "Talking with your guardian is all you can do, or can you fight as well?"
"Oh, I can defend myself," I said.
"Then come, let's have a spar."
I picked up a training sword and accepted her challenge. The weight of the sword felt familiar in my hand, yet I could sense the tension in the room. Others were surprised. I could see that everyone was worried for me.
Are you sure about this? She is not like Lysandra; she will not hesitate. She fights with a ferocity that can break even the strongest of wills. This is not a game, Rudra. One misstep, and you could be seriously hurt.
That's what I need, an opponent like her. Shall we do it, partner?"
et's get it done with.
The training hall fell silent as Lisa and I faced each other, training swords in hand. The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel the eyes of my comrades on us. Lisa's stance was firm, her eyes locked onto mine with unwavering determination.
"Do you need that practice sword?" she asked, a hint of a smirk on her lips. Maybe she hinted that I couldn't manifest my own weapon at will yet, which was frustrating but true.
"Yes," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
She just stood at her position and said, "The first strike is yours." It was clear that she underestimated me, which was good as I would have the element of surprise.
I closed the gap and struck first, but out of nowhere, her bow appeared, and she blocked it effortlessly. The force of the impact sent a jolt up my arm. "So, was that it?" she said, her tone almost mocking.
I rolled back, thinking about my next move, but before I could act, I saw the manifested phoenix behind her, ready to shoot. I created a spirit barrier, but with one arrow, she destroyed it. The shockwave from the impact made me stagger.
"No way, it withstood Lysandra's attack before," I thought.
Fool, that was long ago. Clearly, she has improved. It's a great time to study an opponent who is more powerful than you. Now get up and run.
I ran around her, dodging her arrows. Then I noticed she wasn't aiming at me but at the ground. It was too late to realize; the arrows she shot earlier exploded, and I survived thanks to my barrier. She once again crushed my barrier, and I went flying into the wall. Pain shot through my body as I struggled to stand.
"Do I have a bond with these walls? If this was reality, I know I would have died long back," I thought.
Thanks to me, you won't die from this.
"Is this how you defeated the wraith that managed to defeat Lysandra? And you even managed to defeat the wraiths at the mall. Is that all you've got? You'll die even before the battle begins," she said.
She was right. Maybe I was here by mistake.
There are no mistakes, Rudra. Everything happens for a reason.
I was convinced that I couldn't win this fight, not without help. "Are you ready, partner?" I asked.
You don't need to ask me twice. Tell me what to do.
I rushed towards her. "Same trick, but it won't work either," she said. I gathered my energy around the sword and threw it at her. She shot it, and as the energies collided, a blast happened, filling the hall with smoke. I took advantage of it and attacked her. She was startled, and I managed to land a hit on her. She was shocked but then said, "Very well, now here we go, Rudra. Come at me with everything you've got." Her eyes were filled with determination, which scared me.
I ran and picked up my sword, but she dropped her bow and moved faster than I could react. I was punched hard, the force knocking the wind out of me. "You are not the only one who can do that," she said.
"Now she has done it. Fulminor, let's end it," I said.
i intended all my anger towards her, and she was like frozen there.
I rushed at her, and when my sword was about to hit her, Kairos, Caelum, Seri, and Lysandra blocked my sword. Angrily, I shouted and tried to attack again but was stopped by Yumiko's voice. I snapped back to normal and realized what I had done. I didn't know why I did that, but all of them were alert.
"Are you back to normal, Rudra?" Kairos asked.
"Yes, and I am sorry about that," I said.
"But what did you do?" Seri asked. "All of us sensed it was dangerous and instinctively moved to stop you."
"It was bloodlust," Yumiko said. "Bloodlust is a powerful and intense state where a person channels their energy and emotions into a fierce, almost primal desire to fight and dominate their opponent. It's not just about anger or aggression; it's a deeper, more consuming force that can enhance one's combat abilities but also poses significant risks."