"Let's go," Sophia said after she got up from the floor.
She then approached Bibek, who quickly shifted his facial expression from concern to a smile. He didn't want her to realize what he was feeling—regret and frustration mixed into a bitter knot in his chest.
Together, they headed toward the training grounds. It was located in the building where the city guards operated, the very same guards who trained young hopefuls aspiring to join the 'Pis Aller' academy. Only after receiving the instructor's permission could anyone enter the academy. Without it, they couldn't even dream of traveling freely beyond the city's walls.
For Bibek and Sophia, this was the key to their future—a future where they could leave the walls of the city behind and search for Ravi.
The world outside was still dangerous, teeming with monsters. Only those who were part of the Pis Aller academy, or licensed veteran soldiers, could travel freely without being constantly at risk. For everyone else, it was safer to stay within the city's borders, but that came at a cost.
Soon, they arrived at the training field, an open area filled with sand and several dummies for target practice. The field was standard—a 200-meter stretch, perfect for stamina and strength training. Four other trainees were already running around the field, each carrying heavy bags, their bodies drenched in sweat, struggling with the weight.
Bibek and Sophia ignored the others, making their way to the instructor. The instructor stood in the center of the field, his eyes sharp and critical. He bellowed at the trainees, his voice echoing across the field.
"With these small bags, you're already out of breath? How the hell do you think you'll fight monsters if you can't even run a few meters without collapsing? Move, you worthless bunch!"
Bibek grimaced. "Well, looks like we're in for an earful," he muttered under his breath.
And as expected, the instructor's eyes zeroed in on them the moment they arrived.
"You've got guts showing up late on your first day of training, huh? You think you can slack off? Get in line, little cunts."
Bibek opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could, the instructor raised his hand, a mocking smile forming on his face.
"If you can stand for ten seconds under my pressure, I'll overlook this little mistake. But if you can't, get the hell out of my sight," he sneered.
The weight of the instructor's words hit Bibek immediately, but it wasn't just his words—there was a palpable pressure in the air, something heavier than a simple command. It felt like a crushing force was pressing down on them, and Bibek quickly realized it was the instructor's power, likely gravity manipulation.
At first, the pressure was manageable. It felt like a 40-kilogram weight added to his body, nothing too difficult to handle. But as time passed, the weight increased steadily—50 kilograms, 60, 70... By the time it hit 100 kilograms, Bibek's knees buckled, sweat pouring from his body. He couldn't breathe, every breath felt strained.
The instructor, with a cruel smile, taunted him further.
"Giving up already? You wanted to join Pis Aller, but you can't even handle this little bit of pressure? Go hide inside your house, you coward."
Bibek's blood boiled. His fists clenched, his veins popped out as the instructor's insults stung him deeply. "I'm not backing down," he growled, gritting his teeth and pushing through the overwhelming weight.
The pressure continued to rise—200 kilograms now—and the seconds dragged on like hours. Every part of his body screamed in agony, but Bibek refused to give up. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the pressure lifted. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, drenched in sweat.
It took a few moments for him to steady himself. The instructor, still grinning, waved his hand, and a ball of water appeared in the air. The water formed into a ball the size of a baseball, floating in front of Bibek.
"Drink," the instructor said curtly, and Bibek didn't hesitate. He gulped down the water, the cold liquid refreshing him momentarily. As he stood up, he glanced at Sophia.
To his surprise, she seemed unaffected by the pressure. There was no sweat on her body, no visible strain. She looked as cold and composed as always, her expression unchanged.
The instructor, equally surprised, turned to her. "Have you trained under someone before?" he asked, his tone softening. Sophia shook her head, and for the first time, the instructor smiled—a rare expression.
"Good. You're worth teaching," he said with a nod of approval.
Just as the instructor was about to begin their training, Bibek spoke up. "Instructor, earlier you used gravity power on us, but then you created water. Are you a dual power holder?"
The instructor shook his head. "No, I'm not a dual power holder. What you felt earlier was my aura, a unique ability separate from superpowers. It enhances the efficiency of my superpower, or can be used independently for defense, offense, and even pressure."
Both Bibek and Sophia were surprised, though Sophia kept her usual cold demeanor. It was a new piece of information that left them feeling both enlightened and intrigued.
The instructor, Brian, then outlined the rest of the day's training. They would build stamina by running laps with weighted backpacks. Five backpacks were given to each of them—two additional bags as punishment for being late.
Without a word of protest, both Bibek and Sophia began running their laps.
The weight of the backpacks wasn't too difficult at first, but Bibek could feel the strain on his body as he progressed. The superpowers they had acquired eight years ago granted them adaptability, making it easier to push their limits, but it still required effort.
After 10 laps, Bibek's breath began to shorten, and his legs grew heavier. But he pushed on, refusing to stop.
Forty laps in, and the weight was starting to feel unbearable. But Sophia? She was still running as effortlessly as before. There was no sweat on her brow, no signs of fatigue. It was like she wasn't even carrying any weight at all.
By the time Bibek reached his 60th lap, he had adapted fully to the weight. His speed increased, and he was running at 35 kilometers per hour. He was pleased with his progress, but when he glanced at Sophia, his amazement grew. She finished her 100 laps when he completed only 60, her pace never faltering.
She didn't stop at 100. Instead, she continued to run, finishing 250 laps—matching Bibek's 100 laps as if it were nothing.
When they finally stopped, Bibek was tired but not exhausted. His legs were sore, but he wasn't completely drained. Sophia, on the other hand, didn't show any signs of fatigue. Her expression remained as stoic as ever.
"Are you good?" Sophia asked, her voice breaking the silence for the first time that day.
Bibek nodded, though his curiosity was evident in his eyes. He wanted to ask her how she could still be so unaffected by the weight, but he didn't.
Sophia noticed his gaze and answered before he could ask. "Even I don't know how I'm doing it. It feels like nothing. I can keep going at this pace and even go faster."
While they spoke, Brian, along with the other four trainees, arrived. The four boys couldn't help but glance at Sophia. Her beauty was undeniable—her blue hair, her sapphire-like eyes, her graceful figure—all of it drew attention. Even her cold expression added to her mysterious, ethereal aura.
But their glances didn't go unnoticed. Two glares met their eyes, and they immediately stopped.
Brian, with a stern look, addressed the group. "Take a 15-minute break. After that, we double the weight and the laps. From tomorrow, we'll start training with your superpowers so you can better control them."
Five of the trainees, including Bibek and Sophia, were apprehensive at the thought of doubling their efforts. But it was clear that Sophia was unfazed.
Before anyone could move, Brian suddenly froze, his body stiffening. He wasn't the only one who felt it. A chill ran down everyone's spine, including Sophia's.
Brian turned toward the source of the disturbance, his eyes narrowing. He could sense the overwhelming aura—far stronger than his own. The source was coming from the entrance of the city. A man walked toward them, staggering, his steps erratic as if he were intoxicated.
He obliterated the city's barrier effortlessly. The guards on duty immediately sent out emergency signals.
Within moments, the entire base was in turmoil. Weapons were drawn, and the guards prepared for an attack. But one name escaped from Sophia's lips.
"R-Ravi?"
The pressure in the air intensified, as if the entire world were pressing down on them.
***
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