For hours and hours, Claire just can't win against Zahi. She can't even atleast put a small scratch on him. Then for the ninth time today, Zahi pinned Claire down on the ground again by stepping on her back. "So? You giving up yet?"
"Not a chance!!" Claire yelled, she's completely exhausted and tried to stand up again despite Zahi weighting her down with his foot. He rolls his eyes and hit her head, making Claire lose consciousness for the second time. "What a stubborn brat."
He sat down beside her and felt exhausted. Zahi is still annoyed that he was obligated by Wright to train this persistent brat. But there was a part of Claire that he have come to admire. If Zahi were to train a different person, it's possible for Zahi to get that person to quit with his sharp tongue and fierce style of training.
Most trainees that were assigned under Zahi are expected to become a part of the higher ranks within the Special Infantry Troop. If Claire happens to pass, she'd soon be ranked atleast in the 35th in a year or even in a few months which can be considered as a great feat. Though people who trained under Zahi barely passes. Perhaps in a few more days, he can get her to quit and join the regular training routine.
"Haa, I'm so sleepy." He lays down on the ground and took a short nap. After a while, he dragged Claire to bring her to the medical facilities, again.
On his way, Zahi coincidentally ran into a member of the elite unit of the Special Infantry Troop. "Captain Zahi!..." Raphael's eyes widens as he saw him dragging Claire on the floor.
"Oh, are you back from deployment?" Zahi casually asked.
Without missing a beat, Raphael scooped Claire up with ease and directed an icy glare up at Zahi. His expression and demeanor conveyed a sense of anger and defiance, and he seemed determined to have his say in the matter. "What did you do to her?!"
"Huh? We were training..." Raphael's attitude made Zahi quite confused. "...you know each other?"
Raphael didn't bother to answer him. "Allow me to carry her to the medics."
Feeling unbothered by the situation, Zahi yawns and walks pass them to head to the ammunition storage facility. "Suit yourself."
Once he got the permission, Raphael rushed Claire to the medics. He knows he doesn't have the authority to put to a stop to Claire's training, so he can't intervene. Raphael fears that Zahi might do more than just injuries to Claire because he knows what Zahi is capable of doing, since he also used to train under his supervision.
Zahi Nor used to be a part of the previous generation of the Special Infantry Troop, he ranked in the single digits as he possess great strength and speed. He was also known as the 'Black Reaper' as he often use the Shifter Scythe to bring down the enemies.
For some reason, Zahi requested to be reassigned to a different division and became a Captain from the 13th Airborne Division. Having himself removed from the special infantry troop, his shifter weapon was also taken away from him so it can be used by a soldier assigned to the special troop. Extraction of the shifter weapon can be life risking to any person that possess them, but Zahi miraculously survived the process, which shows that he's trully a person of very high calibre.
When Raphael made it to the medical facility, he immediately entrusted Claire to one of the doctors. Although he prefers to accompany her until she regain consciousness, Raphael have to go back to report to Captain Wright and receive further orders from the higher ups.
It didn't took long for Claire to wake up and recover, though she became upset finding herself laying on the bed at the medical facilities again. "Damn it." She felt frustrated that she can't beat Zahi. If she keeps losing against him, then there's a chance that the other trainees will catch up to her.
The last stage of training usually last about 2 to 3 months, and the expected outcomes from the last stage is the mastery of Shifter shapeshifting, combat quality performance, and winning against the instructor. Claire have already passed the first two phases, so all she have to do left is to win against Zahi.
After she fully recovered, Claire appeared infront of Zahi once again. He sighs as he saw her. "You never know when to give, don't you?"
"I'll do everything in my power to pass the last stage of training!" She declared.
They battled again when they arrived at the combat training grounds. For hours, Claire kept going and going even though Zahi got to pin her down several times already. Then hours turned into a few days, then a few days turned into a whole week.
Both were filled with stamina and determination to bring each other down again and again. Then for the 64th time, Zahi pinned her down on the ground. "Seriously, what a loser you are." He chuckled.
"I may be a loser, but I still won't give up!!" Claire yelled. This time, she was able to swiftly got away from him and attack once more. "Shifter Axe!!" Her right leg tranformed into an axe, directly swinging it to Zahi's back.
"Woah!" Luckily, he was able to avoid her. For the very first time, Claire was able to inflict a feeling of panic in Zahi's system. She almost killed me there, he thought. Zahi never expected that she's capable of doing something like that, and so he chuckles. "Is that all?!"
Claire dashes and tried to punch him in the face, Zahi wholeheartedly welcomed her fist only to close the distance between them and give her a critical punch on the stomach. "You punch like a woman!—oh wait, you 'are' one."
She crumpled like paper and suffered the excruciating pain Zahi gave to her. He looks over her with a smug look on his face. "What? Can't get up anymore? Just quit already."
Despite in great pain, she still managed to glare at him. "...n-never!"
"Yeah right." He rolls his eyes at Claire's stubborness. She later got knocked out, again.