The desert stretched endlessly—a sun-scorched expanse where the sands whispered secrets of forgotten civilizations. The air hung heavy with heat, distorting the horizon into a wavering mirage. Tonny stood at the heart of this desolation, his boots sinking into the fine grains as if the earth itself resisted his presence.
The sun blazed overhead, casting long shadows from the dunes. The sky, an unyielding azure, offered no respite. Tonny's eyes squinted against the glare, scanning the battlefield. Here, the sands bore witness to ancient conflicts—the footprints of warriors long gone, swallowed by time. And now, new adversaries emerged.
Tonny unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the battlefield, signaling the start of the battle. The velocitors closed in, their movements defying the very fabric of reality. These were no ordinary foes; they were humans—speedsters who blurred the line between flesh and wind. Their eyes glinted with hunger, and Tonny's heart pounded in response. Before he could even swing his sword or utter a word,a fist connected with Tonny's head, sending him sprawling across the scarred earth. Pain exploded behind his eyes, and he tasted blood. But weakness was a luxury he couldn't afford. With the sword as his anchor, he staggered to his feet. Damn they were fast.
The two velocitors charged again, their forms blurs of motion. Tonny's mind raced. He had to time it just right—within the five-meter radius but not too close. He began to count: 1, 2…
[Decelerate]
And then it happened. Energy surged from his core, radiating outward like a celestial torpedo. The world froze—the velocitors suspended mid-leap, debris hanging in midair, sand frozen like a veil. Ten seconds stretched before him, a pocket of stillness in the tempest of battle. He had just narrowly escaped a brutal attack. The blows lurking close to his head and jaw were a stark reminder of the danger he faced.
"That was close," Tonny exclaimed, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The countdown resumed. Tonny realizing it was the countdown, acted swiftly. He gripped his sword his sword with both hands and thrust it into one of the velocitor, then kicked him in the chest to free the blade. Turning to the velocitor on his right,he aimed a slicing blow towards his neck, intending to decapitate him. With ever muscle straining, he drove the sword deeper into his neck. Feeling resistance like trying to push through thick mud.
Knowing time was running out, Tonny released the sword, swiftly drew his short gun and fired.
Turning, reeling in his joy, he saw an arrow looming wide in his eyes, and before he could evade, it struck his shoulders, forcefully pushing him down to his knees. "Of course," Tonny chuckled. Their comrades were not going to stand idle either. The mind reader was an archer.
Tonny's breath came in ragged bursts as he faced the mind reader—a formidable adversary who could pluck thoughts from the air like ripe fruit. The battlefield crackled with tension, the air thick with anticipation. Quickly pulling out the arrow, he aimed with the shotgun. A searing, ringing pain echoed in his head. The titan had begun running toward him; the ground quaked with every step it took. His shotgun trembled in his grip, its cold metal a stark contrast to the heat of battle. Then he fired at the looming Titan. Pang!. The titan, wounded but undeterred, lumbered toward him. Each step sent shockwaves through the earth, rattling Tonny's bones. The archer, her eyes narrowed, drew another arrow. Her gaze bore into him, dissecting his intentions. But Tonny had a secret weapon—an ability that defied time itself.
[Accelerate]. The world blurred. Bullets erupted from his shotgun, a symphony of death. Pang, Pang. The titan staggered, yet still it came. Tonny's heart raced; he was dancing on the edge of oblivion. But, everyone had a weakness. Tonny fired seven more rounds till the titan dropped dead.
Just then, the mind reader's arrow whistled past, grazing his cheek. She was fast, too fast. But he had one more trick up his sleeve.
[Decelerate]. The arrow hung in midair, suspended by sheer will. Tonny snatched it, feeling its ancient wood hum with power. He adjusted its trajectory, a delicate nudge that defied physics. The timer counted down—zero. The mind reader, outside the radius, parried the arrow with her sword. But she hadn't accounted for the gunshot that followed. Pang.
She crumpled, her mind silenced forever. Tonny stood amidst the fallen, bloodied but victorious. The battlefield held its breath, as if waiting for fate to catch up. He wiped sweat from his brow, the taste of victory bittersweet.
His vision blurred as he staggered out of the VR pod, disoriented and breathless. The simulated world clung to him like a fading dream, its echoes still resonating in his mind. Determination burned within him—a fire that would propel him forward. Tonny wiped sweat from his brow, the taste of victory bittersweet. The Training Grounds had tested him, pushed him to his limits. But he wasn't done. Not by a long shot. He stumbled across the room, the real world reasserting itself. The sterile walls, the hum of machinery—it all felt dull compared to the vibrant landscapes he'd just inhabited.
"Every day," he whispered, his voice raw. "I'll be back every day."
His muscles ached, but he ignored the fatigue. The test day loomed—the day when his abilities would be scrutinized, when his fate would be decided. Tonny glanced back at the VR pod. Its sleek surface beckoned, promising challenges and growth. He'd hone his reflexes, sharpen his mind, and face every obstacle head-on.