Sosa clapped her hands as the training session ended. "You did well today, but don't let that fool you. Tomorrow will be harder," she warned, her sharp gaze sweeping over the group.
Before anyone could respond, a loud crash echoed through the training grounds. Everyone froze as part of the wall crumbled, debris scattering across the field. Dust filled the air, and a low growl reverberated through the space.
From the smoke emerged a small demon. Its twisted, clawed form was hunched over, its red eyes gleaming with malice. Though smaller than a full-grown warrior demon, it was still intimidating, with sharp fangs and a sinewy body covered in dark scales.
The heroes instinctively stepped back, their training weapons trembling in their hands.
Sosa didn't flinch. Her eyes narrowed, and she barked out a command. "Heroes! This is your chance to prove yourselves. Show me what you've learned today—take it down!"
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence from earlier now replaced with hesitation.
"Go!" Sosa snapped.
Tai was the first to react. "Let's do this!" he shouted, summoning flames to his hands. He charged forward, throwing a ball of fire at the demon, but it sidestepped with surprising agility.
"Careful, Tai!" Ono called out, summoning a barrier of wind to protect himself and Yuuki.
"Don't just stand there, help me!" Tai yelled, frustration in his voice.
Sen tried to support him, conjuring flames of her own to corner the demon. But the creature was fast, darting around their attacks with ease. Yuuki hesitated, unsure whether to use her sealing magic or stay behind the barrier Ono had created.
"This isn't working!" Ono shouted, his voice laced with urgency.
The battle quickly devolved into chaos. Each of the heroes acted on their own instincts, but their attacks lacked coordination.
Tai's aggressive fire strikes were powerful but imprecise, scorching the ground more than the demon. Ono's defensive barriers kept breaking as he struggled to maintain them without any offensive support. Sen's healing magic was unused, as no one trusted her to step into the fray. Yuuki, overwhelmed by the noise and confusion, froze, unable to decide when or how to act.
The demon, sensing their disarray, lunged at Tai, swiping at him with its claws. Tai barely dodged, stumbling backward.
"Watch out!" Ono shouted, throwing up another barrier just in time to block the demon's next attack.
Sen tried to blast the demon with fire, but her aim was off, and the flames nearly hit Ono.
"Careful!" Ono snapped.
"I'm trying!" Sen retorted.
Meanwhile, Yuuki finally stepped forward, her hands glowing with sealing magic. But before she could activate it, the demon leaped out of her range, forcing her to retreat.
The battle dragged on for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Tai managed to land a solid fireball on the demon, scorching its side. Ono followed up with a sharp gust of wind, pushing the creature off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Yuuki activated her sealing magic, binding the demon in glowing threads of energy.
With the demon immobilized, Sen summoned a burst of flames, delivering the final blow. The creature let out a shriek before disintegrating into ash.
The group stood in silence, panting from exertion.
Sosa approached them, her expression unreadable. She surveyed the wreckage of the training ground and the exhausted heroes before speaking.
"That took far too long," she said bluntly.
The group flinched, expecting praise but receiving none.
"Do you know why it was so difficult for you to defeat a single, low-level demon?" she asked, her tone cold.
Tai, still catching his breath, muttered, "Because it was fast?"
"No," Sosa replied sharply. "Because you lack battle experience. You acted like individuals instead of a team. There was no strategy, no coordination, and no trust. Each of you fought your own battle, and that almost cost you the fight."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy weight.
"Tai, you're reckless. You charge in without thinking about your teammates. Ono, you're too focused on defense and don't support your team offensively. Sen, you hesitated and didn't use your healing when it was needed. And Yuuki…"
Yuuki looked down, her face red with embarrassment.
"You froze. Your hesitation could have gotten you—or your teammates—killed," Sosa finished.
The group said nothing, their earlier confidence completely shattered.
"You have power," Sosa continued, "but power means nothing without control, trust, and strategy. Tomorrow, we'll begin fixing these flaws. Until then, think about what went wrong today and how you can do better.
As the group walked back to the castle, none of them spoke. Each was lost in their own thoughts, replaying the chaotic battle and Sosa's harsh critique.
For the first time since their summoning, they realized the gravity of their mission. Being a hero wasn't just about having magic—it was about learning to wield it together.