Chapter 125: Tempest
Scene: It has been a week since the group set sail in search of Zisteria. The sea has been calm, and their journey has been steady. The map they retrieved from the Hidden Library has guided them well, and they continue to follow it closely. Onboard, the group keeps themselves sharp, knowing the importance of maintaining their skills. Below deck, a spacious training area allows them to spar, practice their techniques, and prepare for whatever dangers may await.
Narrator: As the ship sails through the vast ocean, the group's focus shifts to training. Keeping their skills sharp is paramount—no one knows what lies ahead. Commander Elara, ever the leader, monitors their progress, ensuring that each hero pushes themselves to their limits. Sparring sessions become routine, a way to maintain strength and discipline.
The basement of the ship is well-equipped for training, with dummies, targets, and open space for sparring. The sound of clashing fists and surging mana fills the air as the group engages in combat practice.
Commander Elara stands at the edge of the training area, her arms crossed as she watches Eren and Zarek step forward for their sparring match. Both fighters are focused, their eyes locked on each other.
Commander Elara: (seriously) Remember, this is training. Push yourselves, but keep control. Begin.
Eren and Zarek immediately launch into a flurry of hand-to-hand combat. Their movements are fast, precise—each punch, each kick expertly timed. They trade blows, blocking and countering in perfect rhythm. Both warriors seem evenly matched, their combat skills honed to perfection.
Eren ducks under a punch and retaliates with a swift kick aimed at Zarek's side. Zarek catches it, throwing Eren off balance, but Eren quickly recovers, landing a punch to Zarek's shoulder. The sparring intensifies as they move faster, fists flying and bodies moving with incredible speed.
Eren: (grinning) You're not bad, Zarek.
Zarek: (focused) Neither are you.
As the fight escalates, they begin to channel their mana. Zarek unleashes a barrage of his White Divine Mana, firing blasts toward Eren. Eren counters by forming a red mana shield, blocking the incoming attacks before retaliating with a burst of his Red Mana. The two energies collide in midair, sending sparks of white and red flickering throughout the training room.
After several minutes of intense combat, they both land hard on the floor, breathing heavily. The match ends in a draw.
Commander Elara: (nodding) Well done. You both fought hard.
Narrator: The first match ends in a draw, but the energy in the room remains high. Next up are Rylan and Asher, both eager to test their abilities against one another.
Rylan and Asher step forward, determination in their eyes. The fight begins immediately, with Asher summoning his Liquid Mana to form extra arms around him. The shimmering blue mana extends from his body, giving him multiple arms to strike with. Meanwhile, Rylan's Mana Mist swirls around him, dark and ominous, ready to strike.
The two clash, Asher using his extra arms to deliver powerful blows while Rylan deftly dodges and counters with his mist, forming Mini Spears that zip through the air toward Asher. The two heroes fight fiercely, each showing off their unique abilities.
Asher swings his mana-formed arms, but Rylan is too quick. He leaps back, gathering his energy and releasing his Black Arrow, which pierces through Asher's defenses. Asher staggers back, unable to block the final attack. Rylan emerges victorious.
Rylan: (grinning) Got you that time.
Asher: (smiling, out of breath) You got lucky.
Narrator: The sparring continues, and now it's Aria's turn to face Commander Elara. The two stand across from each other, both poised and ready. Aria, known for her tactical mind, prepares herself for what will be a tough match.
Aria and Commander Elara stand ready, the atmosphere tense. Elara looks at Aria with a calm but firm expression.
Commander Elara: (seriously) Don't hold back, Aria. I won't.
Without hesitation, Aria begins the fight by launching one of her Mana Grenades toward Elara. The glowing ball of energy explodes as it hits, but Elara moves with incredible speed, dodging the brunt of the attack. She counters with a powerful kick, aiming at Aria's midsection.
Aria quickly summons her Liquid Mana, forming a clone of herself to assist in the fight. The two Arias move in sync, attacking Commander Elara from different angles. Elara remains calm, dodging and blocking each strike.
But soon, Commander Elara taps into her Beast Mana, and her movements become more feral and animalistic. Her speed and strength increase dramatically, and in an instant, she's behind Aria, knocking her to the ground with a powerful strike.
Commander Elara: (calmly) You fought well, but you'll need to improve your timing.
Aria, still catching her breath, nods in agreement.
Aria: (smiling) I'll work on that.
Narrator: The sparring matches are intense, but they serve their purpose well. The group is pushing themselves to their limits, learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses. But amidst the training, Rylan finds himself distracted—his eyes often lingering on Commander Elara.
As Commander Elara returns to her post, Rylan can't help but admire her skills and presence. There's something about her—her short dark hair, her intensity, her grace in battle—that captivates him. He tries to shake the feeling, focusing on his training, but he can't help but glance in her direction.
Elara, sharp as ever, notices Rylan's gaze but doesn't acknowledge it, keeping her focus on the group's training.
Narrator: As the day comes to an end, the group is tired but content with their training. Zarek, impressed by the heroes' abilities, watches with a newfound respect. Though he still feels like an outsider, the excitement of learning from them stirs something within him.
Zarek leans against the wall, arms crossed as he watches the others spar. His eyes linger on Eren, Rylan, Aria, and Asher, impressed by their mastery of mana.
Zarek: (to himself) They're strong… I still have a lot to learn.
He feels a spark of excitement, the desire to grow stronger igniting within him. For the first time in a long while, he's eager to train, eager to push his limits.
Narrator: But as night falls and the group retires to their rooms, the calm is shattered by a sudden, violent force. The ship begins to shake, jolting everyone awake. Outside, a massive tornado looms on the horizon, and before they can react, it slams into them with terrifying speed.
The ship lurches violently, sending everyone scrambling. Commander Elara rushes to the deck, shouting orders to the group as the storm rages around them.
Commander Elara: (shouting) Everyone, get to the deck! Now!
The ship's mana-infused protection begins to flicker, the force of the tornado overwhelming it. Waves crash against the ship as it rocks back and forth, and the winds howl with deadly force.
The group gathers on the deck, eyes wide with shock as they stare at the massive tornado swirling toward them. The protective runes on the ship start to dim, cracking under the strain.
Narrator: The group faces a new challenge—a deadly storm that threatens to destroy their ship and derail their mission. As the tornado barrels toward them, they must find a way to survive.
The chapter ends with the group bracing themselves against the fierce winds, the tornado closing in as the ship's protection fails. The battle against nature has begun.