As Kiro, Rin, and Akira caught their breath after completing the first part of the Physical Combat trial, they realized their ordeal was far from over. Captain Yuki approached them, her expression unreadable."Congratulations on clearing the first stage," she said. "But don't get too comfortable. The Physical Combat trial has three stages, each designed to test different aspects of your abilities as Soul Weavers."The team exchanged nervous glances. Kiro felt a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through him."What's next, Captain?" Rin asked, her voice steady despite her obvious fatigue.Captain Yuki gestured towards a new arena entrance. "Stage two will test your individual combat skills against increasingly powerful Hitos. You'll face them one-on-one, without the support of your teammates."Akira cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. "Bring it on!"As they entered the new arena, Kiro was struck by how different it was from the urban landscape they'd just navigated. This space was circular, with elevated platforms of varying heights scattered throughout. The ground seemed to shift and change, creating an ever-evolving battlefield."Candidates, take your positions," Gohan's voice boomed over the intercom. "You will each face a series of Hitos, increasing in difficulty with each round. Your performance will be evaluated based on technique, efficiency, and adaptability."Kiro took his place on one of the platforms, gripping his sword tightly. He could see Rin and Akira on platforms across the arena, each looking focused and determined.A buzzer sounded, and the first wave of Hitos appeared. Kiro found himself facing a Shade Hito, its shadowy form darting around him. Drawing on his training, he channeled his will into his blade, meeting the Hito's attacks with precision.As he dispatched the Shade, he caught glimpses of his teammates' battles. Rin moved with graceful efficiency, her strikes quick and decisive. Akira's style was more forceful, each blow packed with raw power.The rounds continued, and the Hitos grew stronger. Shadow Hitos gave way to Umbras, each more challenging than the last. Kiro felt his energy draining, but he pushed on, drawing deeper into his reserves of willpower.During a brief respite between rounds, Kiro locked eyes with Rin across the arena. She gave him a nod of encouragement, which he returned. They were in this together, even if they were fighting separately.The final round began, and Kiro found himself face-to-face with a Void Hito. Its dark form seemed to absorb the light around it, its red eyes gleaming with malevolence. This was by far the most powerful opponent he'd ever faced alone.Kiro took a deep breath, centering himself. He recalled Mako's training, focusing on channeling not just his physical strength, but his entire will into each movement. His sword began to glow with an intense blue light.The Void Hito attacked, its movements blindingly fast. Kiro parried and dodged, looking for an opening. The platform beneath him shifted suddenly, nearly throwing him off balance. He realized he needed to use the changing environment to his advantage.As the Hito lunged again, Kiro leapt to a higher platform. The creature followed, but Kiro was ready. He channeled all his remaining energy into one final strike, his blade cutting through the Void Hito's form like a bolt of lightning.For a moment, everything was still. Then, with a haunting shriek, the Hito dissolved into nothingness.Exhausted but triumphant, Kiro looked around the arena. Rin and Akira had also defeated their final opponents, though they looked as drained as he felt."Excellent work, candidates," Captain Yuki's voice rang out. "You've completed the second stage of the Physical Combat trial. Take a short rest, and then prepare yourselves for the final stage."As they were led to a recovery area, Kiro caught sight of Mako in the observation deck. She gave him a thumbs up, her proud smile giving him a renewed surge of energy."What do you think the final stage will be?" Akira asked as they caught their breath.Rin shook her head. "No idea, but after this, I feel like we can handle anything."Kiro nodded in agreement, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the toughest challenge was yet to come. As they rested and prepared for the final stage, he steeled himself for whatever lay ahead. The path to becoming a Soul Weaver was proving to be more demanding than he'd ever imagined, but he was determined to see it through to the end.