The air was thick with excitement as Sergeant Zeke turned to leave the training hall, his booming announcement about the Primordial Zone exploration still reverberating in the youths' minds.
But just as he reached the door, a loud voice pierced through the room.
"Sergeant Zeke! I have something to say!"
The sergeant paused, turning back with an arched brow. The other 11 youths also turned to look, their excitement giving way to confusion.
Standing tall and proud was Jackson, the muscular youth with a fiery disposition who had volunteered to go first during the Zenith Tower challenge, only to be overshadowed by Ares.
Zeke's eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it, Jackson?"
Jackson squared his shoulders, his eyes blazing with determination. "I want to challenge Ares for the position of Squad Leader again!"
Gasps and whispers filled the hall. The other ten youths stared at Jackson in disbelief, their faces a mixture of surprise and exasperation.
"Again?" one of them muttered. "What's his deal?"
"Why's he so obsessed with being the leader?" another whispered.
"Doesn't he know Ares isn't someone he can beat?"
"But… we're all at the fifth milestone now," one youth pointed out hesitantly. "Maybe he thinks he has a chance this time?"
Jackson turned, scowling at them. "Mind your own business!" he barked, his voice sharp. "Ares was stronger before because he was ahead of us in milestones. But now, we're all at the fifth milestone. The gap isn't as wide as it used to be. If I fight him now, I can win!"
The scepticism didn't fade, but a few murmurs rippled through the group. Maybe he wasn't entirely wrong.
After all, milestones brought significant power boosts, and Jackson's Bloodline Beast wasn't something to scoff at.
All eyes turned to Ares, waiting for his reaction. But he didn't move. His face was calm, his eyes steady, his posture relaxed.
His piercing eyes fixed on Jackson for a brief moment before he sighed softly and began walking toward the centre of the arena. His movements were unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.
When he reached the middle of the sparring platform, he stopped and turned to face Jackson. His voice was low and cool, but it carried across the hall like a ripple on still water.
"If you're that desperate to lose," Ares said, "then let's not waste any more time."
The hall went silent. The quiet confidence in his tone was almost suffocating, and Jackson's expression twisted into a mix of anger and determination.
Jackson climbed onto the platform, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall.
Jackson climbed onto the platform, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall. He made his way to the weapon rack and grabbed a massive hammer. Turning back to Ares, he smirked. "You'd better pick a weapon, Ares."
Ares didn't even glance at the weapon rack. He stood motionless, his hands hanging loosely at his sides.
The other youths couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Not even going to bother with a weapon? That's cold."
"Jackson's about to get embarrassed again."
Jackson's face darkened. "Laugh all you want. I'll wipe that smug look off all your faces!"
Ares remained unmoved, his expression calm and unreadable. In fact, he actually couldn't care less who was the squad leader, the only reason why he was doing it was for the resources.
To him, someone like Jackson who wanted the position for the fame and authority simply had misplaced pride.
If he was to lead Squad Four into the Primordial Zone, he needed to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was far beyond their reach—even if they were all at the same milestone.
Sergeant Zeke watched the scene with a smirk, his sharp eyes gleaming with interest. "Let's see how far you've come, Ares," he muttered. Then, louder, he said, "Enough talk. Fight!"
Jackson wasted no time. As soon as Zeke's words left his mouth, green flames erupted around Jackson, wrapping his entire body in a fiery aura.
His muscles bulged, and his Bloodline Beast appeared beside him—a massive tiger wreathed in the same green flames, its glowing eyes locked on Ares.
The tiger let out a thunderous roar, shaking the very air in the hall. The sheer intensity of its presence sent a wave of awe rippling through the onlookers.
This was his counter to Ares' sick Bloodline ability. With his Bloodline beast by his side, if Ares pulled that disappearing stunt again and sneak attacked him, he would be in proximity to his tiger which would definitely go for the attack.
"That's his Bloodline Beast?" one youth whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"It's huge! And its aura… it's terrifying!"
Jackson's smirk widened as he basked in their awe. "Let's see how your little tricks hold up now, Ares!"
Ares' gaze was steady, his calm demeanor unchanged. He raised a hand, and a dark blue glow began to materialise beside him.
From the light emerged a small, dark blue puppy barely a foot tall. It tilted its head innocently, looking more like a lost pet than a Bloodline Beast.
The hall fell silent, stunned into disbelief.
"That… that's his Bloodline Beast?"
"Is this a joke?"
Even Jackson couldn't help but sneer. "You've got to be kidding me. That's your Bloodline Beast?"
The tiger lunged first, its flaming body a blur of green light as it charged at Ares. Jackson followed closely, his hammer raised and ready to strike.
Ares remained still, his eyes locked on the approaching threat. "Mink," he said softly.
What happened next was too fast for most of them to comprehend.
A dark blue blur shot across the arena, colliding with the tiger mid-air.
Crack!
There was a deafening crack as the massive beast was flung backward, its flaming body slamming into the wall with enough force to leave cracks in the stone.
The tiger collapsed in a heap, its legs twisted at unnatural angles.
Gasps filled the hall as the youths stared, wide-eyed.
"What… what just happened?"
"Mink," Ares called again, and the tiny puppy turned her attention to Jackson.
Before he could react, the blur shot toward him. Jackson's hammer never made it to Ares.
Thud!
A second later, he was lying flat on the ground, unconscious, his weapon clattering beside him.
The room was silent, the air thick with disbelief. None of them had even seen Mink move.
"That tiny puppy… did all that?" one youth whispered, his voice trembling.
"How is that even possible?"
Ares knelt and patted Mink's head, his expression calm. "Good girl," he said, his voice soft.
Then, without sparing Jackson or the others another glance, he unsummoned Mink and walked off the platform.
The stunned silence persisted until Sergeant Zeke's booming laugh filled the hall. "Well, that settles it. Squad Four has a leader."
The youths could only gape as Ares left the arena, his calm and quiet dominance leaving an indelible mark on everyone present.
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.