The decision was made in the relative stillness at the Shadow Banner's safehouse. Lanoir stood at the center of the main living area, her platinum hair catching the flickering firelight from the central hearth. The team sat around her, their faces set in lines of determination and exhaustion. Juniper sat at the edge of the circle, silently watching, the shadow snake coiled loosely around his shoulders like a living scarf.
Perhaps we should keep low for a spell," she said, her voice forceful yet considered. "Texxon Co. won't take kindly to our latest heist. No one leaves for a month. Meanwhile, we drill on Jun. He has potential; however, potential does not win battles."
Myrda nodded her head slowly, her stormy eyes flaring. "Agreed. He's strong; however, he's just not refined enough. Let's train that out.
Slythe grinned, his scaled face splitting into a toothy smile. "About time. Let's see what the kid's made of.
The next morning, the warehouse's open training arena buzzed with anticipation. Juniper stood at the center, his staff held tightly in hand. The shadow snake's dark form undulated around him, its iridescent scales shimmering faintly as it whispered inaudible advice into his mind. His opponents, the entire Shadow Banner squad, formed a loose semicircle, their beast companions by their sides.
Lanoir went first. She advanced, Wraith Raven, Muninn, on her shoulder, perched majestically. The ghostly feathers of the huge bird drank in the light; his glowing eyes settled on Jun with an almost predatory intensity.
"You will all have a turn," Lanoir said, calm but commanding. "No quarter asked. No quarter given. We don't mean to hurt you, but we won't give in, either.
Jun nodded, determination hardening his features. "Understood."
Lanoir didn't wait for a signal. With a sharp motion, she and Muninn moved as one, a blur of shadow and steel. Muninn launched into the air, its wings creating an unnatural silence that disoriented Jun. Lanoir closed the gap in a heartbeat, her blade slicing through the air. Jun barely managed to block with his staff, the impact jarring his arms.
Stay focused," the shadow snake hissed in his mind. "Use me."
Jun exhaled, calling on the void energy he had been practicing. The shadow snake's form elongated, wrapping around him like an armor of darkness. With a twist of his hand, he conjured a sphere of void energy, flinging it at Lanoir. She dodged effortlessly, but the attack disrupted her rhythm, giving Jun a moment to reposition.
Muninn, however, was relentless. The raven's talons raked through the air, sending waves of ethereal energy toward him. Jun redirected one with a pulse of void magic, but another struck his shoulder, the impact staggering him. Lanoir's voice cut through the chaos.
"Good," she said, retreating slightly. "You're learning. But you're still too reactive." And then She and Muninn went towards each other and formed a dual spell, [Whirlwind Dice] Jun's eyes gleamed in blue and a message box appeared. Realizing that identification came from everything he set his thoughts on, nodding approvingly towards the shadow snake.
Jun casted [Void step] and dodged the first barrage of [Whirlwind Dice], razor winds that sliced with tremendous strength. But just as he finished [Void step], he had to use it again immediately, Lanoir wasn't giving him breathing space.
At the end, Jun was puking from exhaustion, as this was his first formal fight which expended a lot of mana which he has never done so before.
After an hour of resting, next was Myrda, her Storm Toad, Stygs, loping beside her. The creature's bulbous form crackled with electricity, and its glowing eyes seemed to size up Jun with unsettling intelligence.
"Don't underestimate Stygs," Myrda warned, a playful smirk on her lips. "He's slow, but he hits like a thunderstorm.
And if that weren't enough to prove her point, Stygs let loose with a deafening croak[Strike], sending arcs of lightning screaming across the arena. Jun barely had time to raise a void shield in time; the energy crackled harmlessly against the shadow barrier. Myrda followed up with a series of precise strikes, her dagger flashing in the light.
Jun met the assault with a charge of nothingness, his body blurring as he closed the gap. The snake of darkness retracted its length, struck at Myrda, but she danced around those tendrils of darkness so easily that her movements flowed with an element of unpredictability. Stygs leaped into battle, its vast bulk driving Jun back.
"You are quick," Myrda admitted, her tone approving. "But velocity alone won't save you."
Jun grit his teeth, summoning a [void blade]. With a roar, he lunged at Stygs, aiming for its vulnerable underside. The blade connected, but the toad's tough hide absorbed most of the impact. A retaliatory shockwave sent Jun sprawling, the shadow snake's energy flaring protectively around him. Myrda won the match.
If Myrda was a tempest, Panois was an inferno. His Typhon Salamander, Lygs, emitted heat; the air around it seemed to shimmer with thermal energy. Jun felt the temperature climb as Panois stepped into the arena, his confident smirk tightening Jun's stomach.
"Let's see if you can handle the heat," Panois said, his voice teasing.
Lygs did not wait. The salamander unleashed a torrent of flame, the flames roaring towards Jun like a living beast. Jun dived to the side, void armor absorbing the edges of the blast. The shadow snake whispered its words in his ear, guiding him as he weaved through the inferno.
"Strike the source," it urged. "Disrupt their synergy."
Jun focused, channeling void energy into a pinpoint blast aimed at Lygs, [void missile]. The salamander roared as the attack struck its flank, momentarily breaking its connection with Panois. Seizing the opening, Jun rushed forward, his void blade clashing against Panois's flame-forged sword.
The duel was intense, with each strike and counterstrike a testament to Panois's experience. Jun found himself on the defensive, his strength sapped by the heat. Finally, a well-timed swipe from Lygs forced him to yield, the flames licking at his heels as he retreated.
By the end of the day, Jun was tired but exhilarated. Each battle had tested him to his limits, pushing him to adapt and grow. The shadow snake's guidance had been invaluable, with its void-based abilities complementing his developing combat skills.
That night, sitting alone in his room, Jun reflected on his progress. The shadow snake appeared beside him, its form coiling in the air like a living shadow.
You are beginning to understand," it said, its voice a soothing whisper. "But our journey is far from over. Embrace the void, and you will become unstoppable."
Jun nodded, determination lighting his eyes. "I'll get there. With you, I'll get there.
The weeks passed and with each session, Jun was sharpened more and his connection to the shadow snake deepened. By the end of the month, he was no longer that green newbie anymore. He was a warrior in the making, ready to stand beside the Shadow Banner in the battles to come.