"We have been patiently anticipating the arrival of this Ren or whatever for approximately five hours now. Additionally, it's surprising that a training arena can be so compact in size." Sherlin taunted. "This arena sure is compact. There has to be some kind of mechanism behind this." Morgen said. "Enough of this! I'm going to grab that Xerox and eat him alive!" Sherlin shouted. As she made her way towards the exit of the training arena, she was taken aback as the arena unexpectedly expanded to an immense size. "Test 1, you fail." A voice came from behind. As everyone turned around, they were met with the sight of an elderly man who appeared remarkably fit for his age.
"I tested your patience level in this test. Sherlin, it seems you lack patience. Is this how you plan to assist Ronin? Being patient is one of the biggest achievements a warrior can attain." He explained. "You're right, sir. I've seen how patient, calm and collective Ronin-sensei is during a battle, He can easily get on people's nerves, making them lose their confidence and patients." Morgen replied. "You must be Morgen, Zetten's son. A great man, he was, with remarkable patience, will power and strength. A expect a lot from you." The old man replied. "I'm Ahana, sir." Ahana said. "I recognize you, or rather, I recognize your aura. My name is Ren, and I happen to be one of Ronin's oldest acquaintances, with age surpassing his." Ren replied. "You mean, you're "THE REN-SAMA"? You had the same sensei as Ronin-sensei?" Morgen asked in excitement. "It appears "Sama" might be too grand a title. I am simply a fellow warrior who has known Ronin since the beginning of our journey." He replied. "We're not here for chitchat. Both of us have been assigned missions, and mine is to be your tutor. Rest assured, I won't take it lightly and will challenge you to improve. Trust in my guidance as we embark on this journey together, striving for growth and excellence." He added.
In a dark forest...
"Is it bad?" Janice asked. ", since the absorption, I have struggled to unleash my full potential. It seems that depravity has taken its toll on me, hindering my abilities." Ronin replied. "Should I operate? It's a 50-50 chance that I'll die but you'll survive, that's for sure." Janice explained. "Yeah, I'm not taking that chance. I've already lost enough people. I can't lose bear to lose you too." Ronin replied. "I know. I'm sorry. Shouldn't have asked." Janice replied with a smile on her face. He laid on the ground, exhausted and fell into a deep sleep, while Janice sat nearby, lost in her thoughts, reflecting on their shared past.
"Wake up, it's already morning." Janice said waking Ronin up. "Argh, how long did I sleep for?" He asked. "Sleep? You dozed off for twelve hours. I had to make sure you aren't dead." Janice replied. "I'm not dying anytime soon, don't worry." Ronin replied with a smile. "Yeah, I know that. We need to find a way to cure these wounds of yours. Where can we go to?" Janice asked showing concern for Ronin's wounds. "My healing abilities can only do so much right now. We have to go to a place, where I can actually find a cure." Ronin replied raising concern regarding his degrading abilities. "That's the question. We don't know where that place would be." Janice replied. "Jiro's cave would be a nice spot to start from." Someone suggested from behind. Ronin and Janice both turned their heads to find a hooded man standing on a rock behind them. "Now who might you be?" Janice asked him. "I'm no one but just a mere passerby." He stated and started walking away. "Passerby you say? How come you know about Jiro-san?" Janice interrogated. "He's famous, isn't he?" The man replied with a smirk. "Not by his name. Reveal your identity at once." Ronin said. The man started laughing. He was getting on Janice's nerves when he teleported in front of the guy with his blade and said, "Follow my instructions precisely, and don't take this lightly. Any defiance will result in severe consequences, and I won't hesitate to slice you down." Janice stated. "Step back at once, Janice." Ronin ordered her. "But he took his name! He must know something." Janice insisted. "You don't recognize him?" Ronin asked her. "Recognize?" Janice was confused.
"Your training will start now. We'll work on your main attributes. Morgen, you possess remarkable brute strength and a considerable amount of magic. Your aura also appears incredibly potent. However, you shouldn't focus on just one attribute. As an all-rounder, you must work on developing all these attributes equally." Ren explained. "Yes sir." Morgen replied.
"Ahana, you are a newcomer to this magical world, and Ela's powers have elevated you to a remarkably high level already. Even without magical abilities, your intelligence is extraordinary. Ela, being a divine being, had sacred powers, making her a formidable mage. To reach your full potential and handle Ela's powers, you must focus on developing and perfecting your magical output. With dedication and practice, you can harness this skill to its fullest." Ren explained. "Affirmative sir." Ahana replied.
"Finally, Sherlin, you are also a newcomer to the world of magical powers. While you possess excellent survival instincts, it's evident that you lack patience and untapped potential. We need to start from the basics and work our way up to a certain level before deciding on your attribute. It's essential to focus on increasing your physical strength to better equip you for your journey ahead. With perseverance and training, you can unlock your true potential.." Ren explained. "Got it. I'll work on it." She replied.
"Now that everyone is aware of their areas for improvement, let's commence with the basic training focused on physical fitness. All three of you, Morgen, Ahana, and Sherlin, are to run around the arena without utilizing your powers. The goal is to see how long you can endure without stopping. Remember, any attempt to use magic, particularly from you, Morgen, will result in immediate consequences without hesitation. AM I CLEAR?" Ren asked. "Yes sir." The three replied slowly. "I COULDN'T HEAR YOU, AM I CLEAR?!" Ren shouted. "YES SIR!" They replied. He sent the three to the starting line. "GO!" Xerox shouted. With determination in their eyes, they began running at their full speed, pushing themselves to their limits during the training session. Each of them focused on improving their physical endurance and stamina, striving to go as far as possible without using their magical powers. They ran with the same goal in mind, saving the world from Zugardio's bad deeds.
The mysterious man finally removed his hood, exposing his face. "I knew it was you." Ronin said with a smile on his face. "Sam!?" Janice was shocked. In the human world, Sam held a special position as Ronin's first human friend. Together with Ela, they played a vital role in Ronin's growth and were instrumental in defeating Neu and Nue, marking significant milestones in his journey. "How the heck are you alive? Shouldn't you have died many centuries ago?" Janice asked in shock. "About that. In the final battle with Neu and Nue, I was gravely injured. My heart was punctured by Nue. If not for Ren, I would've died that day. With astonishing precision, he extracted his heart without severing any nerves, then proceeded to slice it in half. Utilizing his immortality powers, he swiftly regenerated both halves before delicately transplanting my heart with his. His magic surged through my veins, infusing me with immortality as well. After extensive research, I tried to replicate the process, but my attempts consistently yielded negative results. Even Ren, despite his best efforts, couldn't replicate the feat when he attempted it again. This could be called a once in a life time miracle." Sam explained. "What the heck is happening?" Janice exclaimed. "So, do you possess Ren's magic and physical strength too?" Ronin asked. "While I don't possess the two entirely, I do have some part of it within me. Over the years, I have gained enormous physical strength through rigorous training. Additionally, my magical abilities have grown significantly stronger than before." Sam explained. Ronin appeared in front of him in an instant, using his teleportation ability, and embraced him tightly in a warm hug. "I'm happy to see you alive. Ela must be really proud of you." He said. "She must be proud of you too." Sam replied. "Regarding my father's cave, do you believe that it could hold the solution to my predicament?" Ronin asked. "Maybe. Decades ago, I embarked on a journey that led me to discover this cave. The immense aura emanating from it stirred something deep within me, awakening my inner child. However, as I attempted to enter the cave, I sensed a malevolence within, as if dark magic was restrained by an incredibly powerful force. Despite my efforts, I couldn't gain access to the cave, but perhaps you possess the ability to do so." Sam explained. "With the information provided, I feel confident in starting our exploration at the cave. There's a chance we may discover something significant there. Where will you go now, Sam?" Ronin asked. "I don't actually know. My primary goal was to find you and inform you about this, but beyond that, I haven't made any concrete plans yet." Sam replied. "Join us then." Janice suggested. Ronin nodded and asked, "Allow the brothers to unite their strengths and combat the evil once more? After a brief moment of contemplation, Sam nodded and responded, "I'm prepared. Let's do it."