[TRAINING FACILITY]
The Revolutionary Army's training hall buzzed with an electric energy as Najenda and Leo stepped into the arena.
Soldiers halted their sparring and drills to turn their attention to the two figures in the center of the room.
Najenda's commanding presence drew reverent gazes from every corner, her sharp movements exuding an authority born from years of leadership and battle experience.
She walked with the confidence of someone who had seen countless battles and emerged stronger each time.
Trailing behind her, Leo felt the weight of their attention. His concealed face gave nothing away, but inwardly, he couldn't help the flicker of annoyance at the crowd's intensity.
This was why he preferred his late-night training sessions, no distractions, no eyes on him.
When they reached the sparring area, the crowd grew larger, drawn by the rare opportunity to witness their leader in action.
---
Leo stepped over to the weapon racks, his eyes scanning the options before settling on a pair of metallic gauntlets.
He strapped them on with the practiced ease of someone accustomed to their weight and balance.
Najenda, watching from a short distance, noted his choice with mild curiosity. "I've read reports that you favour daggers. What's with the change of weapon?" she asked, her tone neutral but probing.
Leo adjusted the gauntlets on his arms, then turned to face her. "Not really a change. I've been using something like this for years."
He paused briefly before continuing. "Before I got my Teigu, my missions weren't just against normal humans. There were plenty of things out there that weren't exactly… natural. Even after you think you've put them down, they get back up. It forced me to adapt."
Najenda crossed her arms, intrigued. "Let me guess—you've run into some Imperial Fist Temple fighters, or maybe something else. Either way, sounds like you've seen the worst they've got."
Leo gave a slight nod, his gaze distant. "I've seen enough. I learned that sometimes,.... daggers don't cut it. You need something that lets you keep hitting until there's no chance they'll move again."
Her sharp eye caught the faint tension in his voice, but she didn't press further. Instead, she asked, "And the other reason?"
Leo settled into a fighting stance, his gauntleted hands at the ready. "Because my Teigu has its own version of these. Better to practice without it, just in case."
Najenda smiled faintly. "Smart. Just one thing before we start, I had surgery on my new mechanical arm yesterday, so this spar's capped at ten minutes. Don't get any ideas, I'll still test you hard enough to see if you're worth keeping."
Leo gave a short nod.
---
At Najenda's signal, the spar began.
Leo moved first, closing the distance between them with swift strides.
Najenda remained calm, her sword flashing as she countered his approach with a precise slash.
He twisted out of its path, narrowly avoiding the blade. Her strikes were controlled but relentless, each one forcing him to move faster and defend more carefully.
It was immediately clear to Leo that Najenda was unlike any opponent he had faced before.
Her mastery of combat wasn't just skill. It was an art honed through years of experience.
Every strike, feint, and movement flowed seamlessly, leaving no openings for him to exploit.
Leo dodged another swing and launched a counterattack, his gauntlets meeting her blade with a sharp clang that echoed through the hall.
Najenda smirked. "Not bad. You've got speed, but speed won't save you if you can't get past my reach."
She pressed forward, keeping Leo at bay with a combination of swift slashes and flawless footwork.
Her movements were almost impossible to predict, forcing him to rely on every ounce of his battle-hardened instincts.
The hall reverberated with the clash of metal on metal. The soldiers watching from the sidelines stood frozen, their eyes glued to the spectacle before them.
Even the new recruits, who usually whispered among themselves, were rendered speechless.
---
Leo gritted his teeth as Najenda's sword grazed his arm, leaving a shallow cut that stung but didn't slow him down. He pushed through the pain, using his regenerative ability to heal the wound within moments.
The faint sizzling sound of his recovery didn't escape Najenda's notice. "Fast healing," she muttered, her tone neutral. "Just like the reports said."
Leo didn't respond. He was focused on finding an opening, a way to close the distance between them and land a decisive blow.
But Najenda's defenses were impeccable. Every time he thought he had an opening, she adjusted, forcing him back into a defensive position.
---
"NAJENDA! NAJENDA!"
"IMMORTAL WRAITH! IMMORTAL WRAITH!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, the energy in the hall reaching a fever pitch.
Soldiers and staff alike shouted encouragement, their voices filling the space with deafening enthusiasm.
Leo's eyes flickered briefly toward the crowd, his thoughts laced with confusion.
'I can see why they're rooting for Najenda, but I don't understand why they're cheering for me.' Leo thought, his confusion growing in the uproar.
But Unbeknownst to Leo, his isolation had shielded him from the knowledge that he had garnered a lot of admirers within the Revolutionary army.
Immortal Wraith's stellar record in completing missions, coupled with her reputation as a beautiful yet deadly force, had garnered her a lot of admirers among the revolutionary army recruits and her mysterious masked persona only added to the intrigue surrounding her, further fueling the fascination of those who had come to admire her.
---
Despite the crowd's noise, Leo's focus snapped back to Najenda. He knew he couldn't rely on a straightforward approach against her.
He took a step back, creating space to recalibrate his strategy. His mind raced, analyzing her patterns, searching for the faintest hint of an opening.
Najenda, sensing his hesitation, smirked. "What's the matter? Running out of ideas?"
Leo didn't respond. Instead, he shifted his stance, his movements becoming sharper, more calculated.
If there was one thing he had learned from years of battle, it was that even the strongest opponents could falter under the right pressure.
I just need to find the right moment, he thought, tightening his grip on the gauntlets.