Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the training floor, positioning himself alongside the other warriors. The bull master strode toward him, his hooves echoing with every step.
"Let's see what you're made of, newcomer," the bull said, cracking his knuckles. "You think you can survive here? Show me."
Maximilian nodded, his heartbeat quickening as he prepared himself. He wasn't sure what was coming next, but he knew one thing for certain—this was his first real test in this world. And he wasn't about to fail.
The bull master smirked, stepping back and gesturing toward a set of wooden training dummies lined up at the far end of the room. "Your first task is simple—break those dummies. Show me you have the strength of a warrior."
Maximilian frowned. That seemed… too easy. He clenched his fists, stepping forward. Without his Astral Sand, he had no choice but to rely on his raw strength and technique. Taking a deep breath, he launched his fist toward the nearest dummy.
The moment his knuckles made contact, pain shot up his arm like a lightning bolt. The dummy barely wobbled. Maximilian clenched his teeth, shaking his hand. It was much sturdier than he had expected.
The bull chuckled, crossing his arms. "Pathetic. If you want to train here, you'd better be ready to put in real effort. Now again!"
A deep frustration built inside Maximilian. He wasn't weak—he had been through battles, he had fought to survive. He just needed to adjust. He took another breath, steadied his stance, and punched again. This time, the dummy rocked slightly.
"Better," the bull admitted. "But still far from acceptable. If you can't even do this much, then you don't belong here."
Maximilian wiped sweat from his brow. He had to prove himself. He had to show them all that he belonged in this world. Even without his powers, he would make it work.
He pulled back his fist, focusing all his strength into the next strike. He wasn't just going to hit the dummy—he was going to shatter it.
His fist shot forward, and for a brief moment, something flickered inside him. A familiar sensation. A golden and black wisp of sand manifested around his knuckles just as his fist collided with the wood.
CRACK!
The dummy splintered, breaking cleanly in two.
The training hall fell silent. All eyes were on Maximilian, including the bull's, who stared at him with narrowed eyes.
Maximilian looked down at his hand, heart pounding. Had his power just responded? Even if only for a moment?
The bull master finally broke the silence. "Interesting… Perhaps you're not a lost cause after all." He turned away, folding his arms. "Training is over for today. Rest while you can—because tomorrow, we begin in earnest."
Maximilian exhaled deeply, his mind spinning with questions. His Astral Sand was still in him. He just needed to find a way to bring it back fully.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt something other than fear and confusion.
He felt hope.
The next morning arrived quicker than Maximilian had expected. The sun had barely risen when he was shaken awake by Po, who grinned down at him. "C'mon, dude, training starts now! You don't wanna keep Master Ox waiting."
Maximilian groaned, his muscles still sore from yesterday. But there was no time to rest. He forced himself up, following Po out to the training grounds, where the warriors had already begun their drills.
Master Ox stood in the center, his imposing form radiating authority. "Listen up! Today, we separate the weak from the strong! You'll undergo endurance training, strength conditioning, and combat sparring. If you can't handle it, leave now."
No one moved. Maximilian squared his shoulders. He wasn't going anywhere.
The morning began with brutal drills—push-ups, sprinting across the training yard, carrying heavy boulders, and enduring punishing stances. The sun climbed higher as sweat dripped from their brows. Maximilian gritted his teeth through the pain, refusing to falter.
"Faster! Stronger!" Master Ox barked. "A true warrior does not complain—he endures!"
Hours passed. The burning in his limbs became unbearable, but he pushed on. His muscles screamed for relief, but he refused to give in. He had come too far to stop now. Each drill felt more punishing than the last, but something inside him—something deep and primal—kept him moving forward.
By midday, they moved onto sparring. Maximilian was paired with Tigress, who stood before him with her arms crossed. "Let's see if you can keep up."
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