As the blazing afternoon sun dipped lower, the soldiers barely had time to catch their breath before Ember called them back to attention. The small break Dr. Lewis had allowed did little to ease their exhaustion; even the Aurum-ranked soldiers, known for their resilience, looked visibly worn out. Team Unknown stood around them, their expressions a mix of calm professionalism and thinly-veiled amusement.

Ember gave a wicked grin, clapping his hands together as he addressed the soldiers. "Alright, rest time's over! I hope you all enjoyed that little sprint session because what comes next will make it look like a vacation."

A collective groan rose from the soldiers, some muttering curses under their breath, though none dared to look directly at Ember.

Dr. Lewis glanced at Ember with an amused warning in his eyes. "Remember what we discussed, Ember—light demonstration. We want to push them, but I expect them all in one piece by the end of this."

Ember shrugged, smirking. "I haven't broken anyone yet, Doc." He turned to the soldiers, his tone dropping to a level that was half-encouraging, half-threatening. "The goal here is to make you tougher. I know some of you might be regretting signing up for this, but remember: the enemy won't go easy on you, so why should I?"

Val, standing off to the side, crossed his arms, his own face concealed behind his mask. "He's right," Val said calmly. "Consider this a chance to see how you fare against Clareo's finest."

The soldiers gave each other uneasy looks, their expressions filled with dread. Bo, watching them, stifled a laugh and muttered to Riggs, "I think Ember's speech just terrified them even more."

Riggs snickered. "As it should. This isn't a tea party."

"Enough talk," Ember called out. He walked over to a training dummy, gesturing for the soldiers to gather around. "Let's see how you handle yourselves under pressure. First up: close-quarters combat. And if I see any hesitation, you're running laps until sunrise."

One of the Rubra-ranked soldiers raised a shaky hand. "So, uh… we just—"

"Move!" Ember cut him off, his voice a sudden, commanding shout. The soldier practically jumped, scrambling toward the dummy and landing a tentative punch.

Ember shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Pathetic. If that's the best you've got, you'd be dead in seconds." He motioned for Val. "Umbra, show them how it's done."

Val stepped forward, his eyes focused as he took a ready stance. Without hesitation, he launched a series of quick, powerful strikes that hit the dummy with enough force to send shockwaves through the material. The soldiers watched in awe as Val's precision and strength left the dummy in tatters, pieces of fabric and padding littering the ground.

"Now that," Ember said, turning back to the soldiers, "is what you should be aiming for. Not whatever weak little love tap you just gave."

The soldiers glanced nervously at each other, clearly feeling the pressure. They stepped up one by one, trying their best to replicate Val's moves, though none came close to the same level of intensity. Ember paced behind them, occasionally correcting their form with an almost brutal frankness.

"Hit harder," he barked at one soldier. "You call that a punch? My grandmother could do better."

Another soldier hesitated before his strike, and Ember's voice dropped, icy and unimpressed. "If you hesitate, you're as good as dead. Move like you mean it!"

Bo and Riggs exchanged amused glances as they watched the soldiers falter under Ember's relentless critique. The soldiers' faces grew paler with every round, beads of sweat dotting their foreheads as they pushed through the drill, each struggling to keep up with Ember's impossibly high standards.

"Alright, enough with the love taps," Ember growled after watching another weak attempt. He turned to one of the more exhausted Aurum soldiers, pointing a gloved finger directly at him. "You. Show me what you've got."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The soldier swallowed hard, nodding as he stepped forward. His muscles tensed, and with a determined look, he landed a solid punch on the dummy, his knuckles connecting with a resounding thud.

Ember tilted his head, clearly unimpressed. "Not bad," he said with an exaggerated yawn, "for a beginner."

The soldier let out an irritated huff, his pride visibly wounded. But instead of arguing, he simply reset his stance and launched another round of hits, his movements sharper, fueled by Ember's mocking tone. A few of the other soldiers snickered under their breath, while Dr. Lewis shook his head, hiding a faint smile.

Val, crossing his arms as he observed, couldn't resist a remark. "See? Ember has a way of bringing out the best in people."

"Or the worst," Riggs muttered, smirking.

For the next hour, Ember drilled them with increasingly complex maneuvers. The sun dipped lower in the sky, but the intensity only seemed to grow. The soldiers pushed through every blow, every block, every evasion, their bodies aching but their pride keeping them upright.

By the time Ember finally called a break, the soldiers looked like they were one round away from collapsing. One soldier staggered over to his friend, wheezing, "Who the hell trained these guys? Demons?"

Another soldier, his face red and drenched in sweat, gave a weak laugh. "Wouldn't be surprised if they're not even human. They don't even break a sweat!"

Just then, Dr. Lewis stepped up, glancing at the soldiers' exhausted forms. "Alright, enough. Take ten. But remember, the day's not over yet."

A chorus of low groans filled the air as the soldiers slumped to the ground, grateful for the break. A few leaned against each other, their eyes heavy with exhaustion as they watched Team Unknown, all standing with unsettling ease, barely winded.

Bo chuckled, nudging Riggs. "Think we've officially scared them off?"

Riggs grinned. "If not, Ember will finish the job by sunset."

Ember glanced at Dr. Lewis, who gave him a look that was both a reminder and a silent approval. "Just a taste, Ember. Don't break anyone," he muttered quietly.

Ember flashed him a devilish grin. "I make no promises."

When the break ended, Ember clapped his hands again, his voice booming over the field. "Alright, up! I want everyone back in formation. You think you've got it bad now? The worst is yet to come."

The soldiers rose slowly, some barely hiding their groans of pain. They shuffled back into place, steeling themselves for what they knew was going to be another grueling round. Ember took his time pacing in front of them, letting the anticipation build, before he signaled Bo and Riggs forward.

"For this drill, you'll be working in pairs," Ember instructed. "Frost and Aura will show you what I expect. Everyone else, watch closely."

Bo and Riggs stepped up, both grinning at each other as they readied themselves. With a quick nod, they launched into a series of coordinated attacks, each one seamlessly countering the other's moves. Punches, kicks, and blocks flew at lightning speed, each hit controlled yet precise, their movements fluid like a deadly dance.

The soldiers watched, wide-eyed, as Bo and Riggs demonstrated the level of skill required, each attack blending into the next with brutal efficiency. The air was filled with the sharp sounds of impact, and by the time they finished, Bo and Riggs were barely winded.

"Got that?" Ember asked, his tone mocking as he glanced at the soldiers' stunned faces. "No? Then try harder."

The soldiers exchanged nervous glances, muttering under their breath as they paired up. Ember gave them no time to waste, barking at them to begin as he paced through their ranks, correcting their stances and calling out their weaknesses with ruthless honesty.

"Keep your guard up! I shouldn't have to tell you twice," he shouted at one soldier who was clearly lagging.

Val, watching the drill from a distance, smirked as he noticed the soldiers' expressions turning from exhaustion to quiet determination. Despite Ember's brutal approach, he could see they were beginning to dig deeper, pushing past their limits. One by one, they adjusted their forms, each becoming sharper, faster, stronger.

As the final round ended, the soldiers stood, panting and exhausted but visibly more disciplined. Ember surveyed them, nodding with satisfaction as he finally called it. "Alright. Take five. But don't get too comfortable. We're ending today's session with a final endurance drill."

The soldiers dropped to the ground in relief, their bodies screaming for rest, but there was a newfound glint in their eyes—a determination born of Ember's relentless training.

Dr. Lewis walked over to Ember, his tone quietly approving. "Seems like they're actually rising to the occasion. Maybe your approach isn't so bad after all."

Ember grinned, crossing his arms as he watched the soldiers catch their breath. "Told you. Push hard enough, and they'll either break or come out stronger."

Dr. Lewis gave a small nod. "Let's make sure it's the latter."

As the soldiers stood, gathering their energy for the final round, they glanced at each other, a silent understanding

passing between them. They were bruised, sore, and completely exhausted, but as they lined up one last time, each of them knew they were stronger than they had been that morning.

The sun cast a fading glow across the training field, and Ember raised a hand, signaling for the final drill. With a grin that promised no mercy, he prepared them for one last, brutal round to close out the day.