Morning came slowly, dragging a gray haze over the slums of Black Hollow. The damp chill in the air did little to ease the stiffness in his body. Every bruise from last night's fight ached like a fresh wound, but he forced himself up. Weakness wasn't an option.
Callen was already awake, leaning against the doorway with a piece of stale bread in his hand. He took one look at him and smirked. "Didn't sleep much, did you?"
He shook his head. "Didn't want to."
"Good," Mira's voice came from behind, stepping in with a practiced ease. "Because if you think yesterday was bad, today's worse."
Finn was still curled up by the embers, but the moment Mira spoke, he stirred, his eyes blinking groggily. "You're making him train already?" he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his face.
"You don't get stronger by resting," Mira shot back. "You get stronger by breaking and rebuilding."
He clenched his fists, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness. "Then let's start."
The training grounds, if they could even be called that, were nothing more than a stretch of uneven dirt behind their hideout. It was secluded enough to avoid unwanted attention but far from ideal. Broken crates, scattered stones, and the occasional pile of refuse lined the edges.
"First things first," Callen said, cracking his knuckles. "You need to learn how to move."
Mira took a step forward, gesturing at his stance. "Your footwork was garbage last night. If you don't control your movement, you'll get knocked flat before you even throw a punch."
He nodded, adjusting his posture. Mira circled him, eyes sharp. "You need to be lighter on your feet, anticipate movements before they happen. You rely too much on reacting. That's why you got hit."
She lunged without warning, aiming a sharp jab toward his ribs. He barely dodged in time, his balance faltering as he stepped back.
"Sloppy," she said. "Again."
He reset his stance. This time, when she moved, he tried to read her approach. The jab came fast, but he sidestepped—only to stumble when she swept his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, dirt kicking up around him.
[Adaptive Growth: Improved Evasion Acquired]
Mira sighed. "At least you're learning."
Callen chuckled, tossing him a waterskin. "She's harsh, but she's right. If you want to survive in the pit, you have to make them miss before you even think about striking back."
He took a deep breath, nodding. "Again."
Hours passed in a blur of movement and pain. Mira drilled him relentlessly—footwork, dodging, counterattacks. Every time he thought he was getting the hang of it, she would adjust, forcing him to adapt. Callen occasionally stepped in, teaching him how to land proper punches, how to use an opponent's weight against them.
By midday, his body was drenched in sweat, his muscles screaming for rest.
Finn, sitting nearby, tossed him a small bundle. "Eat."
He unwrapped it, revealing a piece of dried meat and a crust of bread. It wasn't much, but it would keep him going.
As he chewed, Callen sat beside him. "You're improving," he admitted. "Slowly, but you are."
Mira folded her arms. "Not fast enough. He doesn't have time to be slow."
He swallowed the last bite and looked up at her. "Then let's go again."
Mira raised an eyebrow before smirking. "That's the spirit."
[Quest Updated: Rise Through the Ranks – Training in Progress]
The sun was low by the time training ended. He could barely lift his arms, his legs felt like lead, but he had lasted. That was enough for now.
Callen stretched, letting out a yawn. "Tomorrow, we work on endurance. You need to take hits as well as you can avoid them."
He wasn't looking forward to that, but he only nodded.
As they returned to the hideout, Finn walked beside him. "You're really serious about this."
He glanced at the boy. "I don't have a choice."
Finn hesitated before nodding. "Just… don't die."
He gave a tired chuckle. "I'll do my best."
As he settled in for the night, exhaustion pulled at him, but for the first time, he felt something else, too.
Progress.