Dawn was slowly breaking over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pale orange and dark purple. The previous evening, filled with laughter, video game competitions, and endless discussions under a starry sky, had ended late into the night. Suka, who had been sleeping lightly, opened his eyes at the first sign of light.
Slowly getting up, he stretched his arms with a yawn, his thoughts still a little fuzzy. The terrace was peaceful, the cool morning wind replacing the warm breeze of the day before. He turned his gaze to Yamero and Daru, still slumped on the lounge chairs, sleeping soundly as if they were part of the scenery.
"Come on, guys, it's dawn. Let's get moving before the sun rises completely," Suka murmured as he approached Yamero.
Without waiting for a response, he placed a hand on Yamero's shoulder and shook him lightly.
"Wake up, you lazy bum. You've been snoring like an engine all night."
Yamero groaned as he rolled over, his eyes still closed. "Five more minutes... Let me die in peace, Suka."
Daru, meanwhile, was still in a deep sleep. Suka, determined, crouched down next to him and patted his face gently. "Daru, get up. If you don't get up now, I'll throw a bucket of water on you."
Daru opened one eye, visibly exhausted, before muttering, "You're such a pain, Suka... Why are you doing this at dawn? We've barely slept."
Daru and Yamero, still numb from sleep, rubbed their eyes as they rode down the elevator. The silence reigned in the cabin, broken only by Yamero's loud yawns and Daru's occasional grunts. The events of the previous day still seemed to weigh heavily on their bodies.
"What's the idea of getting up so early..." Daru mumbled, arms crossed.
"I don't need to tell you," Yamero added, leaning against the elevator wall. "Suka is a real morning tyrant. But hey, at least we'll be able to wake up properly once we've eaten."
When the doors opened, they arrived in the spacious kitchen, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun that filtered through the large bay windows. Yamero immediately headed for the coffee maker, his mind still foggy.
"A strong coffee is all I need," he said as he expertly prepared the machine.
Daru, meanwhile, opened the fridge and surveyed the overflowing shelves.
"Well, might as well start the day with something simple," he said as he pulled out some eggs and bread to make toast.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Suka had made his way to the bathroom. The hot water from the shower ran gently, enveloping his tired body. Steam quickly filled the room, and he let himself sink under the stream of water, savoring the moment of tranquility.
"Those two must be grumbling downstairs already," he thought with a smile.
As Suka walked down the hallway, still fresh from his shower, he saw Miya and Maki coming the other way. Both seemed in excellent spirits, carrying small, carefully sealed bags.
Suka: "So? Were you able to find what you were looking for yesterday?"
He stopped, his hands in his pockets, watching them curiously.
Maki: "Of course!" she said with a satisfied smile. "And as a bonus, we even found a bunch of other beauty products!"
She did a little pirouette, proudly showing off her bag.
Miya: "It was risky, but it was worth it. We even discovered a stand that sells ultra-rare essential oils. It's going to transform our skincare routine!"
Suka nodded, half-amused, half-intrigued.
Suka: "Good thing you didn't run into any problems. Be careful next time, huh?"
Maki: "Don't worry, we'll handle it," she replied, patting Suka's shoulder lightly before walking away.
He let them pass and calmly resumed his walk towards the dining room, his hair still damp and his mind already turned towards the breakfast that awaited him.
Entering the dining room, Suka found Daru and Yamero already seated, quietly enjoying their breakfast. The aroma of coffee and toast filled the room, while a faint morning light streamed through the large windows.
Yamero: "So, is today the last training session before our missions?" he asked, his mouth half full of a mouthful of bread.
Suka calmly approached the table and sat down on a chair, grabbing an empty cup to pour himself some coffee.
Suka: "Exactly, today is the final session. Get your strength up, we'll need all our energy."
Daru: "Let's hope it won't be as intense as yesterday. My muscles still remind me of the session."
He stretched, grimacing slightly.
Suka: "That'll depend on you. If you're efficient, it could be quick. But if you drag your feet..." He left his sentence hanging, a smirk on his face.
Yamero: "Challenge accepted," he said with a spark of determination in his eyes, before plunging his spoon into his bowl of cereal.
All three continued their breakfast in a light but focused atmosphere, aware that this day would mark a key step before their next missions.
After finishing their breakfast, the team had gathered outside their hideout. A cool morning breeze was blowing, but the atmosphere was heavy, charged with tension and anticipation. Everyone seemed ready, if slightly worried.
Suka, standing in front of the group, fixed each of them with a serious look before speaking.
Suka: "Today's training we're about to begin is much harder than any of the previous sessions. This one carries a very high risk."
A murmur of uncertainty ran through the group, until Maki raised her hand and asked:
Maki: "What is this about?"
Suka took a deep breath, her eyes betraying a serious glint.
Suka: "I had kept two Apocalypse Stones. They contain monsters captured during the bloody war that ravaged the world. These creatures, once free, have caused unimaginable destruction. Today, our training will consist of facing them."
A dead silence fell over the team, quickly broken by Daru, visibly alarmed.
Daru: "But are you completely crazy? These monsters annihilated overpowered fighters as if it were nothing! We don't stand a chance against them!"
Miya, arms crossed, retorted calmly but firmly:
Miya: "Hence the expression 'very high risk'. Yes, we could lose our skin, but think about it. If we overcome this training, then we will be able to protect this world, no matter the threats."
Yamero clenched his fist with determination, his eyes fixed on Suka. Yamero: "If this is the price to pay for being ready, then let's go."
The group exchanged glances, each weighing the danger and importance of their mission. Finally, one by one, they nodded, ready to follow Suka in this challenge that would push their limits beyond imagination.
Suka, satisfied with their determination, concluded:
Suka: "Then prepare yourselves. Once the stones are activated, there will be no turning back."
Silence fell again, but this time, it was charged with palpable energy. The final training was about to begin.
Daru nodded at Suka's request with a confident smile.
Daru: "Easy. Hold on tight, let's go."
With a simple snap of his fingers, the air around them vibrated. In an instant, the entire team was teleported to an entirely different dimension. A vast, endless space stretched out before them, with a sky of bright, changing colors, where floating islands levitated gently above a pristine plain.
Suka: "This is perfect, Daru. The perfect place to avoid endangering the outside world. Now, let's begin."
He pulled out two stones from his pocket, one glowing red, the other so pitch black that it seemed to absorb the light around it. Suka threw the two stones in front of him, raising his hand to release a powerful beam of energy. The stones exploded on impact, releasing a wave of raw magic that shook the entire dimension.
An entire army of monsters burst forth from the fragments. These creatures, misshapen and menacing, stretched as far as the eye could see, howling gutturally and filling the air with a suffocating aura. But that wasn't all. Two titanic figures rose above the army, dominating the battlefield with their size and terrifying presence.
The first creature, a colossal amphibian beast, had a body covered in shimmering scales and slimy appendages that seemed to move independently. It possessed three glowing eyes on each side of its head, each emitting a sinister light.
The second creature was equally imposing, but more strange in appearance. Its body was long and thin, moving like a giant snake. Its cubic head seemed artificial, with light patterns that pulsed like a beating heart.
Maki: "Suka, are you kidding us? These things are monstrous, literally."
Suka: "And that's exactly why we're here. If we can stand up to these abominations, we can take on anything in the real world."
Miya: "It seems like you want to kill us to make us stronger, but whatever, I'm ready."
Yamero: (clenching her fist and smiling) "It's now or never. We're going to show these beasts who the real monsters are here."
Daru: "Well, then. Who's taking care of who? I'll take the one with the cube head."
Suka: "Stay focused, Daru. They're more powerful than they look. Maki and Miya, take the flying creatures. Yamero, you support me with the amphibian beast."
The ground shook beneath their feet as the monsters began to advance. The fight was going to be intense, but each of them was determined to surpass their limits.
The atmosphere became electric as each of them released their aura, revealing an overwhelming power that made the weaker monsters retreat. Miya and Maki immediately headed towards the flying creatures, as expected.
Miya, unsheathed her saber, a blade of a blue glow vibrating with energy. She leapt into the air with impressive agility, slicing through the flying creatures with surgical precision. With each blow, bolts of energy exploded, reducing her enemies to fragments that scattered in the air.
Miya: (chaining her movements) "You thought you could dominate us by numbers? Wrong calculation."
For her part, Maki calmly raised her hands to the sky. Her eyes sparkled with a yellow glow as her Thundra power activated. The sky suddenly darkened, laden with black clouds. Lightning danced through them, creating a palpable tension.
Maki: (calmly) "Let me show you what the wrath of the storm means."
With a precise gesture, she summoned massive lightning spears that shot out from the clouds, piercing through the flying creatures in an instant. Each impact caused a deafening explosion, disintegrating several monsters at once.
Miya: (glaring at Maki) "Try not to take them all for yourself, I need them to warm up."
Maki: (smiling) "If you can keep up with me, I'll leave a few for you."
The remaining creatures attempted to group together to attack, but the two women were not the type to leave such an opening. They literally danced amidst the chaos, each using their unique skills to annihilate the enemies.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Suka, Yamero, and Daru prepared to face the earthly monsters and the two gigantic abominations. The fight had only just begun, but Miya and Maki were already giving a taste of their team's determination.
Yamero focused his energy into each of his hands, creating two shimmering orbs, pulsing with overwhelming power. With a fluid motion, he threw them straight at the giant amphibian creature. The orbs sliced through the air at lightning speed, exploding against the target with a deafening roar, raising a thick cloud of smoke and throwing debris all around.
Yamero stood still, carefully observing the thick fog that enveloped the creature's location. However, when the smoke cleared, he frowned in frustration. The amphibian creature was still standing, perfectly intact. Not a single scratch was visible on its massive body, as if the attack had never happened. Its six bulging eyes glowed with an ominous glow, and a deep growl echoed in its throat, like a warning.
Yamero clenched his fists, a mixture of surprise and annoyance in his voice.
Yamero: "What? Not a single scratch? This thing is a lot tougher than I thought."
The creature, seemingly mocking its assailant, slowly advanced, each of its steps making the ground shake.
his entire body.
Yamero, struggling to get up, groaned while holding his side:
"Tch... This thing is much stronger than I had imagined."
The ground beneath him shook slightly from the remains of the impact. He looked up at the amphibian creature, still motionless but giving off an aura of overwhelming superiority. Yamero clenched his fists, his gaze now filled with determination despite the pain.
"Alright, big thing, if you want to play like that..." he muttered, a defiant smile stretching his lips. An intense glow began to form around him as he focused his energy again, ready to strike back with even more power.
Suka, in a firm but calm voice:
"No, stop Yamero, don't let your anger guide you. Focus, we'll get it together!"
Yamero, his fists clenched, replied with determination:
"I'm going to try to engage the creature directly with my power. You, at the same time, launch your offensive attacks. We're going to confuse it and find a flaw!"
Without wasting a moment, Yamero rushed at lightning speed, heading straight for the gigantic amphibian creature. The latter, perceiving the threat, opened its immense jaws, projecting a burst of blazing and overpowering energy in his direction.
Yamero, focused, channeled his energy into his fist. As the attack reached its point of impact, he violently struck the burst of flame, creating a deafening shockwave. The attack was deflected and sent back with increased force towards the creature itself.
The detonation of the explosion shook the ground beneath their feet, and the creature staggered back slightly from the impact, its massive silhouette obscured by the smoke and flames it had generated itself. Yamero, panting but determined, positioned himself again, ready for the next step.