The training hall was silent, the weight of the stillness pressing down on everyone. Six months had passed since the fall of Earth, and the loss lingered in the air.
The trainees stood in formation, waiting. At the front of the room, the instructors stood in a quiet line, their expressions unreadable. They weren't here to oversee training today. They were here to prepare them.
Alaric stepped forward, his movement fluid, controlled. He sipped from a porcelain teacup, the only sound in the room the soft clink as he set it back onto the saucer. His presence demanded attention, yet his voice was calm, measured.
"Lionel has been making moves."
The room tensed.
"His forces have started attacking our orbital fleet. We've held our ground so far, but these aren't simple skirmishes."
Zara crossed her arms, stepping up beside him, her expression sharp.
"Mars has the best defenses, but we can't get comfortable. Lionel is watching, learning. He knows our weaknesses, while we still don't fully understand his strength."
Her eyes scanned the room, meeting each gaze with unwavering intensity.
"We may hold for now," she continued, "but we can't let our guard down. This fight will only get worse."
She exhaled sharply.
"We're not just fighting any enemy. We're up against an ancient foe, one who has seen more battles than we can comprehend. Lionel's patience and cunning have been honed over centuries. If we misstep, even once, we give him the advantage."
The weight of her words settled over the room. A cold, creeping realization.
"We can't afford recklessness. Every move must be calculated. Every action deliberate. This isn't just about strength—it's about surviving long enough to find a way to win."
The tension thickened.
Takashima adjusted his glasses, his voice calm but firm.
"We've lost too much already. We can't afford to take another hit."
Silence stretched, heavy and unrelenting.
Arnik exhaled through his nose, his hands clenching at his sides. He had trained for this moment. They all had. But the question gnawed at the edges of his mind, relentless.
Am I ready?
He had grown stronger. Faster. Sharper. But was it enough? Was anything ever enough against an enemy like Lionel?
Aika stood rigid, her fingers curled into the fabric of her sleeve. She swallowed hard, keeping her expression composed, but Arnik saw the way her shoulders tensed. He could almost hear the thought racing through her head.
This is real. This is happening.
Her breath hitched for just a moment before she steadied herself. No hesitation. No fear. Not here. Not now.
Alaric placed his cup down, breaking the silence.
"This is why we're cutting your training short."
A ripple of unease spread through the room.
"You will face each other in combat," he continued, his gaze sweeping over them, "so we can assess your strengths and weaknesses."
Before anyone could react, the doors to the training hall burst open.
A tall figure stepped through, his presence cutting through the tension like a blade. His movements were deliberate, slow but unshaken.
He was clad in a jet-black trench coat, its edges frayed from battle, the heavy fabric shifting with his steps. Beneath it, thick plated armor covered his chest and shoulders, worn but unyielding.
Weapons covered him.
A massive sword was strapped to his back, its blade nearly as tall as he was, the edges chipped from countless battles. Beside it, a sleek, high-caliber magic sniper rested, its intricate runes glowing faintly along the barrel. Ammunition lined his chest and waist—magazines, energy cartridges, grenades, all meticulously placed for easy access. He was a walking arsenal, a soldier built for war.
His mask concealed his face, but his presence alone was enough to freeze the room in place.
He reached up, gripping the edges of the mask, and slowly pulled it away.
Kai's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened, disbelieving.
"It can't be…"
Aika's hands flew to her mouth, her heart pounding against her ribs.
Rose blinked, then let out a low whistle. "Wow… he beefed up."
The figure was Markus. He stood before them, unshaken, unreadable. His once lean frame had hardened. His stance, heavier. His face, sharper. The wild energy he once carried was gone, replaced by something colder.
Something disciplined.
Kai hesitated before stepping forward. He adjusted his glasses, voice measured but cautious.
"Good to see you in one piece…"
He extended a hand for a handshake.
Markus moved without hesitation.
Instead of shaking his hand, he pulled Kai straight into a crushing hug.
CRUNCH.
Kai wheezed as the air was forced from his lungs, his glasses nearly knocked off his face.
Markus grinned, his grip tightening. "Good to see you, buddy!"
Kai barely managed a breath, voice strained. "You… too…"
Silence stretched.
Then, someone muttered the question lingering in everyone's mind.
"Is that even still Markus?"
A pause.
Then, almost as one, the group mumbled—
"Yep… that's still Markus."
Takashima exhaled sharply, adjusting his glasses as he tried to regain control of the room.
"Wait, we aren't done yet—"
Alaric, ever composed, stepped forward and patted Takashima's back with a refined nod.
"Let them have their moment," he said smoothly. "It's elegant."
Rose crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she took in Markus' transformed form. Her lips curled into a smirk, though her eyes held something softer beneath the teasing.
"I was starting to think you weren't coming back at all, big guy," she said. Her grin twisted. "That would've been a real shame."
Markus met her gaze, silent for a moment. Whatever had changed in him, it wasn't just the muscle and the armor.
Crowne let out a sharp laugh, stepping forward with an almost manic energy.
"Yeah, yeah, heartwarming and all that. But are we gonna get this show on the road or what?"
Zara's arms tightened across her chest, her glare cutting through the room like a blade.
"You sure took your time," she said, her irritation barely restrained.
Crowne ignored her, his energy vibrating through the air.
"Let's get to the fun part already. I'm dying to see if all that new muscle is just for show."
Miu suddenly latched onto Takashima's back, nuzzling against him with a content sigh.
"Takaaaa~ so warm!" she giggled, squeezing him like a plush toy.
Takashima stiffened, his entire body locking up as his face burned red. "M-Miu! Not now!" He struggled to pry her off, but she clung tighter.
Zara let out an exasperated groan. "Can you be serious for five minutes?"
Miu only hummed happily, refusing to budge.
Alaric, watching the exchange with mild amusement, finally set his teacup down with a clink. He straightened his coat, his voice smooth and unwavering.
"We are starting."
The air in the room shifted, everyone snapping to attention.
"I will be deciding the matchups."
Alaric swept his hand through the air, and in an instant, armor sets materialized before each of them, custom-crafted for their strengths and abilities.
"For each of you," he said, "these will enhance your skills and bring out your full potential."
Arnik's armor pulsed faintly, designed to let his mutation flow freely while keeping it stable, helping him maintain control.
Rose's was sleek and light, built for speed, enhancing her agility without sacrificing protection.
Kai's was reinforced but flexible, the perfect balance between resilience and mobility, ideal for magic users like him.
Aika's shimmered with faint energy, woven with healing properties and support functions, tailored for her role in battle.
But Markus's…
His armor stood apart. There was something different about it. Unreadable. As if it held something yet to be understood.
Before he could reach for it—
"Keep your trash," Crowne barked, stepping forward with a crazed grin. "I gave my student my own brand of armor."
He yanked Markus's set away, tossing it aside like discarded scrap.
"Only the best for my boy."
A long silence followed before Alaric simply adjusted his cufflinks and exhaled through his nose, unbothered.
"Very well."
Alaric gave a slow nod. "Then we begin."
Alaric let the silence hang for a moment before he spoke again.
"The matchups are as follows." His voice carried a finality that left no room for question. "Markus versus Kai. Rose versus Aika. The winners of these matches will face each other. Then, the final victor will take on Arnik."
Kai adjusted his glasses, eyeing Markus carefully. The man before him was still Markus… but something about him had changed. That cold, unwavering gaze, the sheer presence he carried now—it wasn't the same Markus he once knew.
Markus cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "Sounds good to me."
Aika tensed, gripping the fabric of her sleeve. Facing Rose wasn't going to be easy. Rose was fast—too fast. But she couldn't afford hesitation.
Rose simply grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "This should be fun."
Crowne let out a sharp laugh. "Now we're talking! This is what I've been waiting for."
Alaric picked up his tea, taking a deliberate sip. "Then let's not waste any more time."
Takashima gestured toward the combat ring at the center of the training hall. "Markus. Kai. You're up first."
The tension in the room spiked as the two stepped forward.
Markus unfastened the trench coat draped over his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground with a heavy thud. The weight of his weapons, his armor—it all spoke volumes.
Kai, meanwhile, took a slow breath, flexing his fingers as magic energy began to hum beneath his skin.
The first match was about to begin.