The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, orange hue across the training grounds. Hiro stood on one side of the field, stretching his arms and cracking his neck, mentally preparing himself for the battle ahead. Across from him, Ayla was doing the same, her fiery hair swaying slightly in the breeze as she focused her energy.
"I'm not going to make this easy for you, Ayla," Hiro called out, his tone playful but serious. "But I'll go easy on the shadows this time."
Ayla smirked. "Good. I don't want any excuses when I beat you."
With that, the two combatants entered their stances. Hiro's daggers glinted in the sunlight, while Ayla held her Tempest of Flames Staff, flames licking at its edges, ready to defend.
Hiro wasted no time. In a blur of light and electric energy, he shot forward at lightning speed, his feet barely touching the ground as he aimed to close the distance between him and Ayla in a flash. The speed of his light and electric powers gave him an edge, but he was careful to avoid using his shadow powers or the Sword of Eternal Shadows strapped to his back.
Ayla was prepared. As Hiro came within range, she spun her staff in a wide arc, releasing a defensive wall of fire. The flames roared up between them, forcing Hiro to halt his advance.
"Nice try!" Ayla grinned.
Undeterred, Hiro darted around the fire, trying to outmaneuver her. He was quick, but Ayla's defenses were strong, bolstered by both her fire and wind abilities. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned gusts of wind that carried embers toward him, trying to box him in.
Hiro dodged with fluid movements, slipping past each attack with ease. His speed was his greatest asset, but Ayla's strategy was clever. She wasn't trying to outmatch his agility—instead, she was creating a battlefield that slowly wore him down, keeping him at bay with fire and wind.
Hiro narrowed his eyes, realizing that Ayla's defenses weren't going to be easy to break through. He decided to switch tactics, using his electric powers to amplify his speed even more. In a flash, he zigzagged around Ayla, disorienting her as he feinted an attack from one side, then disappeared to the other.
Ayla reacted quickly, creating a fire shield around herself. But Hiro's quickness allowed him to slip past her defenses, launching a barrage of dagger strikes aimed at her sides. Ayla parried with her staff, sparks flying as the metal clashed with his blades.
Hiro's strikes were relentless, but Ayla's flames flared each time he made contact, protecting her from his blows. Her defenses were more than just physical—her fire burned with an intensity that made it difficult for Hiro to get too close without risking burns.
As the battle raged on, it became clear that Hiro's speed was matched perfectly by Ayla's defense. He darted around her, but each time he got close, her flames pushed him back. Ayla couldn't land a decisive blow either, as Hiro's lightning-fast reflexes kept him out of range of her fire attacks.
Finally, after several intense minutes, both fighters stopped, breathing heavily. Hiro stood a few feet away, wiping sweat from his brow, while Ayla's flames flickered low but steady, surrounding her protectively.
They exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They were evenly matched, each unable to fully overcome the other without resorting to their most powerful abilities.
"I guess... we're at a draw," Hiro said, smiling.
Ayla laughed softly, lowering her staff. "Yeah, looks like it. Not bad, though."
They both knew that if Hiro had used his shadow powers or the Sword of Eternal Shadows, the outcome might have been different. But in this training session, where the focus was on mastering their base abilities, they had proven to be equals.
As Hiro and Ayla caught their breath, they walked toward the edge of the training field, where Ronan and Aqua had been watching from a distance while honing their own speed and agility.
"You two looked like you were going all out," Ronan commented, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Not even close," Hiro replied with a grin. "But next time, no holding back."
Ayla chuckled, but there was a fire in her eyes. "Next time, I'll be ready."
As the team regrouped, they reflected on the progress they had made, both as individuals and as a unit. Each member had grown stronger, but there was still much to learn—and even more battles ahead.