Ezra followed the guild master through a series of corridors, the walls adorned with weapons and old banners that seemed to whisper stories of the past. The guild master walked with an air of quiet authority, his large frame moving easily through the hallways.
They reached a large, open room at the back of the guild, a training arena. The sound of clashing weapons and grunting echoed from within, where a few adventurers were already sparring. The floor was made of well-worn stone, and several dummies were scattered across the area, along with weapons of all shapes and sizes.
"Here," the guild master said, turning to face Ezra. "This is where all the guild members train, but today, you will be training with me."
Ezra blinked in surprise. "With you?"
The guild master gave a rare, small smile. "Yes. I believe it is the best way for you to learn your true strength."
Ezra swallowed, his heart racing. This is it, he thought. If I'm going to get any answers, I need to prove myself.
The guild master's expression grew serious. "Let's begin."
*The receptionist started a video*
---
The Sparring Match
Ezra stepped back, taking a defensive stance. He hadn't fought anyone of the guild master's caliber before, but he had a feeling this would be no ordinary spar. The man's presence alone radiated strength, like a mountain that had weathered countless storms. Ezra didn't have Inspect yet, so he had to rely on his instincts to gauge his opponent's power.
The guild master lunged first, his massive sword cutting through the air with a fluidity that was almost unnatural for someone his size. Ezra barely managed to parry with his own sword, the force of the strike reverberating up his arms.
He's fast, Ezra thought, his heart pounding. And strong. But I can handle this.
Ezra quickly assessed his options, his mind running through the various skills he had recently merged. He had learned enough in the forest to know how to stack his abilities to his advantage. With a quick motion, he activated Voidbreaker Slash, followed by Radiant Pulse, focusing the power into a swift, light-infused blow.
The guild master blocked the first strike, but Ezra's Radiant Pulse followed immediately, forcing the guild master to stagger back slightly from the wave of light. The crowd of adventurers watching murmured in awe, seeing Ezra's precise control over his powers.
"You're good," the guild master said, his voice gruff but with a hint of approval. "But you're not yet at your full potential. This fight is far from over."
Ezra grinned through the sweat dripping down his face. If that's what he thinks... He quickly activated Aegis of Eternity, summoning a protective shield to absorb the guild master's next few strikes. The impact reverberated against the shield, but Ezra stood firm.
I need to end this quickly. Ezra's mind raced as he assessed the situation. He activated Celestial Leap, leaping high into the air and descending with a crushing attack. As he landed, he felt the power surge through his legs and delivered a heavy blow, forcing the guild master to stagger.
"Impressive," the guild master said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But you're not done yet."
Ezra activated Warden's Resolve, boosting his strength, speed, and endurance. His body surged with power, and he moved with even greater speed. The guild master swung his sword in retaliation, but Ezra dodged and countered, using his newfound strength to push through.
The guild master's sword clashed with Ezra's blade, and with a sudden surge of energy, Ezra activated Ethereal Bind. Glowing chains erupted from his hands, wrapping around the guild master's arms and legs, temporarily immobilizing him.
"Not bad," the guild master muttered, struggling against the chains. "But this fight is far from over."
Ezra pressed his advantage, his skills stacking perfectly as he hammered the guild master with relentless blows. He combined Voidbreaker Slash with Leap, his attacks fast and brutal. Each strike pushed the guild master back further, until he stumbled, finally disarmed.
The guild master fell to one knee, breathing heavily. "I've... never seen anyone fight like this," he said, gazing at Ezra with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "You've merged your skills in a way I haven't seen before."
Ezra stood over the fallen guild master, his breath heavy but controlled. This is it, he thought. This is what it means to be one of the Eternals.
In a final surge, Ezra called upon Radiant Pulse, sending out a wave of light that overwhelmed the guild master. The arena went silent as the guild master collapsed to the floor, defeated.
---
Victory and Revelation
Ezra stood over the fallen guild master, panting heavily. The arena fell silent, every eye on him. For a moment, there was only the sound of Ezra's breathing and the distant clatter of training weapons.
The guild master slowly stood, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand. His eyes were wide with disbelief. "I've... I've never seen anyone fight like that. That technique... merging skills like you did. You're..." His voice trailed off as he looked at Ezra with renewed awe.
Ezra exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of the fight settle in his bones. "I'm just trying to survive."
The guild master nodded slowly, his expression serious now. "No... you're far more than just a survivor. That was the strength of the Eternals. You're one of them, aren't you? If I was suspicious before now I'm certain."
Before Ezra could respond, the guild master staggered slightly, his hand clutching his chest. His breath became shallow, and his eyes widened in sudden panic.
"Wait... what...?" The guild master's words were cut off as he collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
Ezra rushed to his side, panic rising in his chest. "Guild master! Are you okay?"
But before the guild master could respond, he muttered one last thing, his voice strained.
"Your name... your name is... Ezra... not Kaelions "
Then, as if the very weight of the battle had been too much, the guild master's body went limp, and his eyes closed.
Ezra stood there, frozen. His heart hammered in his chest. What just happened? He looked around, and the spectators were equally shocked, staring at him in stunned silence. Some of the adventurers began to murmur to one another, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Did he just beat the guild master?" one adventurer whispered.
"This kid... he's a monster."
*The receptionist put on a shocked expression before he hit the send button.*
Ezra stepped back, trying to process what had just occurred. What did he mean by that? He glanced down at the guild master, who was now unconscious on the floor, and then back at the crowd.
As Ezra looked down at his hands, still trembling from the fight, he whispered to himself, "So... that's what's going on. I guess I really am one of the Eternals."