The morning sun cast a soft glow over their makeshift camp, the warmth of a new day filling the air with promise. Azad stretched his sore muscles, still feeling the effects of yesterday's intense training, but as he turned toward Ellie, he noticed her standing with her arms crossed and an amused smirk on her face.
"I've decided it's time to test you," Ellie said, her voice calm but with a hint of challenge. "You've been training for months now, and it's time to see if you've actually improved."
Azad raised an eyebrow. "Test me? What kind of test?"
Ellie's smirk widened. "Three tasks. You need to complete them to prove your strength. The first task is simple—hit me once. It doesn't matter what weapon you use or how long it takes, but you have to land one clean hit."
Azad's eyes widened in surprise. "Hit you? Seriously? You know I can barely keep up with you in training! And what's the second task?"
Ellie's expression turned serious. "The second task is survival. You'll have to survive three nights outside, alone, without my help."
Azad's jaw dropped. "What do you mean, 'outside'? At night? I'm not going out there! Have you seen what comes out after dark?"
Ellie crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "Shut up and do what you're told if you want to get stronger. This task will teach you how to survive on your own, without relying on me to save you every time something goes wrong."
Azad groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay… got it. But what's the third task?"
A mischievous glint flashed in Ellie's eyes. "The third task is a secret. I'll only tell you if you complete the first two."
Azad's frustration was palpable. "Hey! That's totally unfair!"
Ellie raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "If you think it's unfair, then complete the first two tasks. Besides, you've got enough to worry about with today's challenge."
Azad sighed in defeat. "Fine… So, what's the plan for the first task?"
Ellie took a step back and adopted a ready stance, her body relaxed but her eyes sharp. "Today, your first task is to hit me once. You can use any weapon, there's no time limit, and you can try as many times as you want. All you need to do is land one solid hit. Ready for your first real fight?"
"Absolutely," he replied with a wooden sword in his right hand and a shield in his left, trying to match her confidence. He noticed her stance shift slightly, a subtle sign that she was preparing for action.
"Let's see what you've got," she said, drawing her wooden sword. "Remember, it's not just about strength."
With that, she lunged forward, and Azad barely had time to react. He stepped back, raising his sword to block her strike. The impact reverberated through his arms, but he quickly regained his balance, countering with a swing aimed at her side.
Ellie sidestepped effortlessly, a playful smile on her face. "You'll have to do better than that!"
Azad gritted his teeth, focusing on her movements. She was fast—faster than he had anticipated. He recalled her lessons about observing his opponent, about anticipating their next move. He feinted left, then swung right, but she was already gone, dancing out of reach.
"Come on, Azad, is that all you've got?" Ellie taunted, circling him. "I've seen zombies put up a better fight than this!"
Azad's face flushed with frustration. He knew she was baiting him, but it was working. "You want better?" he growled, gripping his sword tighter. "I'll show you better!"
Azad tried a few more swings, each one growing more desperate and more clumsy as his frustration built. Every time he thought he had her, she'd slip away, as though anticipating his every move.
Ellie was barely breaking a sweat. "Is that all you've got, hero? I expected more from someone trying to save the world," she teased, her eyes gleaming.
Azad felt the sting of her words, but it also fueled his determination. He was getting tired of her smirks, and her casual dismissals. He had to find a way to break through her defenses.
"I'm just warming up!" he shot back, trying to hide his growing exhaustion. His breath came in short gasps, but he forced himself to think clearly. He had to surprise her.
Ellie laughed, her eyes never leaving his. "Warming up? You look like you're dying! Maybe I should stop before you embarrass yourself."
Azad grits his teeth. He was going to wipe that grin off her face. He feigned exhaustion, dropping his guard slightly, hoping she'd take the bait. But Ellie didn't take the bait.
Azad huffed, wiping sweat from his brow. He had to change tactics. Charging in headfirst wasn't going to work. He needed to outsmart her, not overpower her. He quickly glanced at his surroundings, thinking of how to use the terrain to his advantage. An idea sparked in his mind.
He feigned another charge, swinging his sword again. As expected, Ellie dodged with ease, but this time Azad dropped to the ground mid-swing, rolling to the side and grabbing a handful of dirt. In one swift motion, he threw the dirt directly at Ellie's face.
Ellie yelped in surprise, her vision momentarily blurred by the dust, and Azad seized the opportunity. He lunged forward with his shield, slamming it into her arm, just enough to knock her off balance. Using the momentum, he swung his sword, landing a light but clean hit on her side.
In one fluid motion, he brought her sword down and managed to tap her shoulder with the blunt edge of his blade. "Got you!" he said, panting, but filled with a sense of triumph.
Ellie blinked in shock, brushing the dirt from her eyes. She stood still for a moment, processing what had just happened. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. "Well… I didn't expect you to play dirty like that." She laughed, shaking her head. "But I guess I never said you couldn't."
They stepped back, both breathing heavily. Azad collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. "You said any weapon, and dirt counts, right?" a grin spreading across his face.
Azad laughed weakly, ruffling Choco's fur. "Yeah, yeah, I did it, boy. I finally hit her."
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the camp, the trio sat down to eat. Azad, Ellie, and Choco shared their meal around a small fire, the warmth of the flames a welcome comfort after the day's intense challenge.
"Not bad," Ellie admitted as she took a bite of her food. "But don't get too cocky. You've got two more tasks to complete."
Azad groaned, feeling the weight of the second task already looming over him. "Right, three nights outside. I'm going to hate this, aren't I?"
Ellie grinned, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Maybe. But remember, it's for your own good. You've got to learn to survive out there on your own, without anyone to rely on."
Azad sighed but nodded. "Okay, okay. Let's see if I survive the next few nights."
As the fire crackled and the stars began to fill the sky, they settled down for the night, with Choco snuggled up between them. The air was calm, but both Azad and Ellie knew that the real tests were only beginning.