I. The Battlefield Moves – No Place for the Weak
Raj's boots crunched on the shattered stone as he moved through the ruined landscape, Bruno trailing close behind. The air hung heavy with the acrid tang of scorched earth, the distant echoes of battle reverberating across the Trial Grounds. The battlefield was shifting. The initial frenzy of the drop had subsided, and now the true survivors were emerging. No more reckless charges. No more desperate, uncoordinated skirmishes. Now, it was a hunt.
Bruno adjusted the Astra-infused wrappings on his hands, his eyes darting across the ruins. "We need to keep moving. The longer we stay put, the bigger the targets on our backs."
Raj didn't immediately respond, his mind already calculating the next steps. Survival isn't enough. I need to win fights, collect Astra Fragments. Alliances are temporary. Bruno's useful, but I don't trust him. Gry, Ron, and the others are out there, and they're not waiting for stragglers. He exhaled. "We need to find the right kind of fight."
Bruno raised an eyebrow. "Right kind? You're getting picky now?"
Raj met his gaze. "Exactly. I'm picking my battles."
Bruno smirked. "Alright, strategist. Lead the way."
And so, they moved.
II. The First Prey – A Calculated Ambush
They found their first targets less than ten minutes later. Two recruits, one wielding a low-tier Astra dagger, the other relying on an energy-reinforced gauntlet. They moved cautiously, but Raj could tell instantly—they weren't hunters. They were survivors. Scared. Unfocused. Weak.
Bruno cracked his knuckles. "This'll be quick."
Raj held up a hand. "We do this my way. No wasted movement. No unnecessary risks."
Bruno rolled his eyes but nodded.
Raj scanned the terrain. A crumbling archway overhead. Loose debris scattered nearby. A blind spot behind them. Perfect.
He and Bruno moved silently, positioning themselves just outside their targets' line of sight. Raj initiated the ambush. He nudged a loose rock with his foot, sending it tumbling. One of the recruits turned instinctively, startled. That split-second hesitation was all Bruno needed. The rogue warrior exploded forward, his Astra-infused fist connecting with the recruit's ribs before he could react. The impact sent the recruit sprawling, gasping for air.
The second recruit swung his dagger at Raj, but Raj was already inside his guard. A sharp parry, deflecting the blade. A strike to the elbow, forcing him to drop the weapon. A precise kick to the chest sent him crashing into the rubble.
It was over in seconds.
Raj crouched beside the downed recruit, his eyes cold. "Leave. Now. If we see you again, you won't get a second chance."
The recruits didn't argue. They scrambled to their feet and fled.
Raj stood, examining their spoils—two Astra Fragments. He tossed one to Bruno. "One each."
Bruno grinned, flipping the fragment between his fingers. "Fair enough. But let's go for bigger prey next time."
Raj smirked. "Agreed."
III. The Hunters Become the Hunted
Their brief respite was shattered. A chill permeated the battlefield. Raj's instincts screamed—something was wrong.
Bruno felt it too, his smirk vanishing. "You feel that?"
Raj nodded. Someone was watching them.
Then—movement. A blur of shadows. A whisper of shifting fabric.
Suddenly, they were surrounded. Five warriors materialized from the ruins, weapons drawn. At their center stood a figure Raj recognized instantly. Ron. The Techno-Elite swordsman. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his Astra blade, but his stance was anything but relaxed. His golden eyes locked onto Raj, unreadable. "You've done well so far." He unsheathed his sword—a gleaming construct of pure Astra energy. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Raj exhaled. A real fight had arrived. And this time? There was no avoiding it.
IV. The First True Battle – Raj vs. Ron
The moment Ron moved, Raj understood. Fast. Not just normal fast. Astra-enhanced speed.
Ron's sword flashed, a blur of energy slicing through the air. Raj barely dodged, twisting aside as the blade cleaved through stone like butter. If that had hit me… He didn't finish the thought. He didn't have time.
Ron was already attacking again. Raj did the only thing he could. He moved. Dodge. Weave. Counter. Ron was faster, but Raj was calculating. Every strike, every movement, he was reading, adapting.
Bruno clashed with one of Ron's allies, fists colliding with Astra-reinforced armor. Sparks flew as the battlefield erupted.
Raj focused. He couldn't overpower Ron. But he didn't need to. He needed to disrupt his rhythm.
V. The Unpredictable Move – Breaking the Flow
Ron struck downward, his blade whistling. Raj didn't dodge. Instead—he stepped in. Close combat. Too close for a sword.
Ron's blade missed by inches—and suddenly Raj was inside his guard. A sharp strike to the ribs. A quick sweep to unbalance him.
Ron's eyes widened slightly. For the first time—Raj had forced him onto the defensive.
But then, Ron smirked. "Not bad." He vanished. Reappeared behind Raj in an instant. Teleportation Astra? No—Speed Astra. Faster than I expected.
Raj turned—too late. The hilt of Ron's sword slammed into his side, sending him skidding across the ground. Pain flared, but Raj forced himself back up. He wiped blood from his lip, his eyes locked on Ron. This wasn't a fight he could win. Not yet.
He braced himself for the next attack. And then—a new voice rang out. "That's enough."
A third figure entered the battlefield. And suddenly—everything changed.
VI. The Unexpected Intervention – A New Threat Emerges
The warrior who stepped between them radiated pure authority. Tall, draped in a black combat cloak, his mere presence froze the battlefield.
Bruno tensed. Ron didn't lower his sword, but his expression hardened. Raj narrowed his eyes. This wasn't another competitor. This was someone beyond them.
And then—he spoke. "If you want to kill each other, do it after the Exam. For now, you'll need to focus on something far worse."
Raj exhaled, his heartbeat steadying. For now, the battle was over. But the real war? It was just beginning.
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