Training continued for the next two days,
and Wednesday was declared a free day
from school activities, but Drake,
however, didn't relax but continued to
train and hone his strength.
On the fourth day, Drake and his team
went to the physical and mental
evaluation building to train their
teamwork. The building is generally used
for students to develop experience
through simulated battles. It is
categorised depending on the level of
training the students wish to undertake.
There is teamwork and the individual
categories, each with three stages,
which are the first ring, the second ring,
the third ring and fourth ring, named after
the Mana rings.
Drake and his team entered the
building, the interior bathed in a blue
glow of illuminated crystals. As they
admired the impressive sight, a lady with
long white hair and piercing blue eyes, in
her late twenties, wearing a fitted black
and blue gawn approached them.
"I'm this building's third attendant.
How can I assist you?" She asked
politely, her lips graced with a smile.
"We're here to train as a team." Drake
replied. "Yes." Mark added.
The female attendant adjusted her
stance. "The building has seven rooms.
Four are for individual training, and three
are for team training. No team training
rooms are currently available. However,
a team is nearly at the end of their
session. You can wait if you would like."
She folded her hands in front of her chest
as her gaze met theirs.
"No problem, we can wait." Drake
replied. "Excellent. Please follow me to
the waiting area," she said, leading them
as she continues. "Each room has its
own instructor. They oversee your
training from their positions and will stop
the session if they deem you unable to
continue. So you don't need to worry
about your training." She turned to them.
"Please take a seat." Drake's team
seated.
"Thank you very much for your
service." They said unison, showing their
appreciation, and the lady walked away.
After 10 minutes of waiting, Ronan,
Griffin, and Veronica emerged from the
training room. Their eyes met Drake and
his team's in a clash of steel and a silent
exchange of unspoken threats.
Approaching Drake and his teammates,
Ronan imitates a hostile conversation.
"You never cease to amaze me, coming
here with your pathetic strength." A
venomous hiss hunts out of his voice.
"You really don't know your place." He
turned to Freya and sneered, like a knife
cutting through the air. "Even your third
partner is no less weak than you." He
glanced at Mark and nodded. "I pity you
for being on such a weak team."
His words dripped with temptation.
Mark raised up, enraged, and grabbed
Ronan's shirt. Griffin tried to intervene,
but Ronan stopped him with a wave of
his right hand. "Keep your mouth shut, or
I will make you regret those words."
Mark's eyes burnt with rage. The
crackled tension got broken by the arrival
of the attendant.
"Please come in; it's your turn."
Drake stood up and gently placed his
hand on Mark's shoulder. "Let go,he said
with a calm but firm voice. Mark
reluctantly released Ronan and walked
towards the attendant. Drake moved
close to Ronan. "Are you not ashamed of
yourself, acting like a sheep without a
shepherd?" He whispered in a growled
voice. His words pierced through
Ronan's pride like a dagger. "If you have
something against me, come at me
directly." Waving at Ronan, Drake walked
away, living him in a thunderstorm of
frustration, clenching his fists, and brow-
frowning. Freya bowed to him with a
fleeting gesture of politeness and left his
presence to join her teammates.
The female attendant opened the
door, allowing Drake and his companions
to enter. She closed it behind them.
They found themselves in a vast, open
space resembling a volleyball court,
enclosed by tempered glass strong
enough to withstand a force of 250
horsepower. To their left, behind the
glass, is a man standing near a
cylindrical stand. "Are you ready?" He
asked. Drake and his friends were
startled, as they hadn't noticed him. "
After a moment of searching for the
source of the voice, they all nodded. The
man clicked one of the four buttons on
the cylindrical stand. A blue crystal
humanoid golem, three times the size of
an average human, materialised before
them. Before the man could say start,
Mark leaped forward. "Torrential
Aura: Void Fist Technique, Wave Surge
(2 circle)."He channelled his aura
through his blood, drawing the aura
deeper from his bloodstream, and
infused his muscles with the energised
fluid. This enhanced the fluidity and
momentum of his strike.
He charged forward with his fist
surging with increasing power, mimicking
the force of unstoppable waves. He
slammed the golem's abdomen, sending
it flying, everyone was shocked to see
this including the inspector.
The inspector increased the golem's
tier three times, but the result remained
the same.
"Seems I don't need to hold back. He
pressed the highest tier on the
cylindrical stand, the fourth tier. The
humanoidgolem split into two, their
auras subtly different from the previous
one. Mark charged as usual, but the
golem reacted instantly, firing water
bullets with enough force to pierce
through human flesh.
Mark quickly crossed his arms across
his chest, enveloping them in an aura
shield himself. Drake also created a
water barrier using the 'Aqua shield
technique (1 circle)' to protect himself
and Freya from the flying bullets. One of
the golems leaped forward, aiming a
massive punch at Mark, who also
defended with the back of his arms
enhanced with aura, crossed in front of
him. The impact forced him to slide back.
Before he could gain balance, the
second golem, already in the midair, with
his clenched fist, prepared to smash
him.
"Draconic mana: Aqua Dragon Roar
(3 circle)." Drake shouted, unleashing a
pressurised water blast at the golem. It
doesn't stop the goblin entirely, but it
slows it down enough to allow Mark to
retreat.
"We should stop here for today." Mark
said, his voice rumbled in a low, tense
silence, waiting for Drake's reply as they
stood on guard. "We can't stop now. It'll
be our best to push this a bit forward."
Drake replied. Mark gave him a quick
glance. His brow furrowed like a storm
cloud gathered over the horizon. "Are
you insane?" He asked in disbelief. Can't
you see Freya is shivering?"
Drake took a deep breath. "Don't get me
wrong. I don't mean we need to take
them down. It's just too early for that, and
this is the best experience for her to
harden her heart. And also for us. Don't
forget, the inspector is here to stop the
training when things become dangerous"
They were still communicating when
the first golem lunged towards them.
Drake raised his hand. "Draconic mana:
Aqua shield." A water barrier
materialised around them but was
instantly shattered, with the force from
the collision sending them flipping
backward.
Drake instictivly noticed something
strange during the attack. He turned to
Mark, who is a bit far away from him.
"There is a way face them, but I'm not
sure if it will work. Regardless of it, we
need to take the chance. Are you in?"
They both lucked eyes.
Mark started to felt a strange sensation
throughout his body like a kid who got to
taste a new candy." Okay, I'm in." He
smiled back at Drake.