Ares' entire world had narrowed down to one thing: surviving Commander Selene's relentless attacks.
His vision was a blur of movement, his body locked into a state of pure concentration.
His body was battered and bruised from head to toe, his arms and legs ached and his face was bruised beyond recognition—but he barely noticed.
Every inch of his focus was honed on Commander Selene, whose sabre danced around him with relentless precision.
Five hours. That's how long they had been at it, sparring in the training room beneath the executive block. Five hours since he first picked up the spear and faced off against her.
Back then, he'd been slapped on the cheek with nearly every move, her strikes finding his weaknesses over and over.
But as the hours wore on, Ares adapted. He learned. Instead of getting slapped every time, it was once every three moves now.
It was a small victory, but to Ares, it felt monumental. Especially in such a short period of time.
Selene's expression was cool, yet a slight smirk played at the corner of her lips. She was pushing him to his limits, testing his endurance, but also seeing the growth in him with each clash.
Ares didn't speak. He didn't dare let his concentration waver. His usual block-and-counter style was barely keeping him afloat, and every time he tried to anticipate her moves, she'd throw something new at him.
His mind raced, analysing her patterns, searching for any gaps in her form.
But Selene was relentless. Her attacks were as fierce as a raging storm, making Ares feel like he was sparring against someone who'd perfected combat to an art.
Then, as they locked into another intense exchange, her sabre blurred with sudden speed, slipping past his guard and landing a final, thunderous slap against his cheek.
Pow!
The impact left a ringing in his ears and a fresh sting across his already bruised face.
But this time, Ares just stood there, panting but refusing to flinch. His spear was still raised and his eyes never left hers.
"That's enough for today," Selene said, lowering her sabre and taking a step back. She looked him over, assessing the damage with a glint of approval. "I'll give your fighting skills a three out of ten."
Ares blinked, processing her words as he rubbed his aching cheek, a trace of disbelief mixed with stubborn resolve. "Three out of ten?" he repeated, his tone half-exasperated, half-amused.
He'd barely survived five hours with her, thinking he'd made some progress. But three?
Selene simply raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile on her lips. "Consider it generous. You've improved, but you've got a long way to go."
Swallowing his pride, Ares tried to shake it off, though a burning question formed in his mind. "So… what's the rating of the person you want me to beat?"
Her expression turned serious, and she met his gaze squarely. "Eight out of ten."
The number struck him like a punch. Eight out of ten. If he was struggling at a three against her while she held back, how could he possibly match someone ranked at eight? "Who… who is this person?"
Selene turned, walking across the training room towards a small fridge nestled in the corner. She pulled out two sleek silver cans, handing one to Ares.
The drink was clearly high-quality energy drinks meant for warriors like her. Ares accepted it, nodding in thanks as he opened it, the cold drink refreshing his parched throat.
"Her name is Olivia. She's from Camp 30," Selene said, taking a sip and watching him closely.
Ares lowered his drink, surprise flashing across his face. "Do you know anything about her bloodline? Or her abilities?"
Selene's gaze shifted slightly, a thoughtful look crossing her face before she answered, "I know everything about her."
Ares blinked, caught off guard by her words. He'd expected a bit of intel, but not this. "Why… why do you know everything?"
With a soft sigh, Selene locked eyes with him. "Because Olivia is my younger sister."
Ares nearly choked on his drink. "You're… you're kidding, right?" He'd seen her battle-hardened side, her ruthless teaching methods, but he hadn't expected her to have a sister—especially one he was supposed to defeat.
Why would she even make a deal with someone to beat her sister?
Selene's expression softened slightly. "Not at all. Olivia is… talented. More than you're ready for, right now. When you reach a certain level, I'll tell you more about her abilities."
Ares's surprise shifted to determination. He was starting to understand the mountain he needed to climb, but he wasn't about to back down.
"Alright," he said, his voice filled with renewed resolve. "What do I need to do?"
Her eyes gleamed with approval. "First, you'll report to me daily. We'll spar for five hours each session. Consider it part of your training regimen."
Ares's face twisted slightly as he remembered the last five hours—five hours of brutal combat where he'd taken hits like a punching bag.
His cheeks still throbbed from the beating, and he could already feel a headache coming on just thinking about the days ahead.
Rubbing his cheek in half-hearted trauma, he sighed. "Guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Not if you want to survive your encounter with Olivia," she replied, taking another sip of her drink.
Ares nodded, the fire of determination sparking within him. "Alright, Commander. I'll be here."
Selene simply smirked. "Good. Now go get some rest."
Ares made his way back to the elite dorms, his entire body aching but his spirit buzzing with purpose.
He passed through the elite dorm's main hall, noticing other young warriors gathering, probably squad leaders from other teams who had earned their spot here. But he was too exhausted to think much about it.
Entering his room, he dropped his spear onto the bed and headed straight for the small adjoining bathroom.
He let the cold water wash over him, the sting of his bruises reminding him of each lesson Selene had drilled into him.
After changing, he wolfed down a quick meal, trying to recover some of the energy he'd lost in the sparring match.
Finally, he settled onto the floor, closing his eyes and letting himself enter a deep, meditative state.
He focused on his breathing, steadying it, then turned his mind inward, feeling the quiet pulse of his bloodline.
He'd pushed himself today, but it wasn't enough—not by a long shot. He needed to get stronger, not just for himself, but to be ready for Olivia and the countless threats he'd yet to face.
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Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.