The hole in Ethan’s dorm room wall, now the size of a basketball, had been hastily covered by a rather ridiculous poster of the God Janus, who was depicted in a dramatic pose with his two faces looking in opposite directions, one smiling serenely while the other frowned ominously. The poster didn’t quite align with the aesthetics of the room, but it was better than leaving the gaping hole open. Herbie had taped it up after muttering something about “divine irony” while glaring at Ethan.
Ethan stood by his desk, his training attire neatly laid out. The events of the previous day lingered in his mind, especially the accident with his newfound ability. Shaking his head, he grabbed his gear and headed out, the cool evening air greeting him as he stepped into the twilight. The field awaited him, bustling with recruits preparing for their weapon practice.
Recruits of all levels practiced their forms, sparred in designated rings, or meditated to enhance their control over prana. The faint hum of prana in the air mingled with the clang of weapons, creating a symphony of focus and determination.
Himmel stood at the edge of the field, his imposing figure silhouetted against the fading light. His sharp eyes scanned the recruits, his presence as commanding as ever. As Ethan approached, he noticed his teammates had already gathered, their weapons in hand.
Before the sparring began, Himmel raised a hand to gather everyone’s attention. His voice carried easily over the noise. “Listen up! Now that most of you have awakened, it’s time to discuss prana’s role in combat. Yes, prana allows you to unleash your skills, but that’s not all it’s good for. In physical combat, prana has two main uses: enhancing your body and enhancing your weapon. That’s it.”
He began pacing in front of them, gesturing with his hands. “Buffing yourself with prana improves your speed, strength, and endurance. You’ll move faster, hit harder, and last longer in a fight. Buffing your weapon, on the other hand, increases its durability and sharpens its effectiveness. Depending on your awakened abilities, the buff may carry some trace of your skill’s nature, but don’t expect it to work like magic.”
Himmel paused, letting his words sink in. “Mastering these fundamentals is crucial. A recruit who can wield prana properly in combat will always have the edge over someone who relies solely on flashy skills. Now, let’s see how you fare. Pair up and prepare to spar.”
Ethan joined his team, glancing around at their weapons. Yara checked the balance of her pistol and sword, their polished surfaces gleaming under the field lights. Elara twirled her dual daggers with practiced ease, their curved edges catching the light. Zane tested the draw of his crossbow, a dagger sheathed at his hip for close encounters. Yin Xue leaned against her polearm, its blade sharp and gleaming, while Iris adjusted the string on her bow with a focused expression. Herbie, meanwhile, hefted an enormous axe, his usual grin plastered across his face.
“Alright,” Yara said, cocking her pistol with a smirk. “Who’s ready to lose?”
Elara rolled her eyes. “Keep that confidence. I’ll enjoy cutting it down.”
Ethan chuckled, his polearm in one hand and his bow slung across his back. “Let’s see if all that talk holds up when the match starts.”
The first round of sparring began with Ethan paired against Iris. She nocked an arrow, her bow glowing faintly as prana flowed into it. Ethan took a defensive stance with his polearm, his grip firm as he channeled his prana into the weapon. A faint, cold aura surrounded the polearm, the air around it shimmering with metallic particles and crackling energy.
Iris loosed an arrow, its trajectory swift and precise. Ethan moved instinctively, spinning his polearm to deflect it. The collision of the prana-infused weapons sent a faint shockwave through the air. He lunged forward, closing the distance, but Iris was quick to retreat, firing another arrow mid-step.
“Nice shot,” Ethan said, sidestepping the arrow and closing in. He swept his polearm low, aiming to trip her, but she leaped gracefully over it, landing with the fluidity of a dancer.
“Thanks,” she replied, drawing back another arrow. “But you’re too predictable.”
Ethan grinned. “We’ll see about that.”
Their bout continued for several minutes, each testing the other’s reflexes and strategy. Eventually, Himmel called for them to switch partners.
Ethan’s next opponent was Zane. The match was far more chaotic, Zane alternating between firing bolts from his crossbow and darting in with his dagger. Ethan had to stay on his toes, using his polearm to deflect bolts and maintain distance.
“You’ve got good instincts,” Zane said, his crossbow glowing faintly as he loaded another bolt. “But can you handle this?”
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He fired a rapid volley of bolts, forcing Ethan to spin his polearm in a defensive arc. The weapon hummed with energy, the prana reinforcing its structure as it deflected each projectile. When Zane darted in with his dagger, Ethan switched to offense, sweeping his polearm in wide arcs to keep him at bay.
By the end of the session, Ethan’s muscles burned from exertion, but his mind buzzed with excitement. The addition of prana to their combat training had transformed the experience entirely. Every movement felt sharper, every clash more intense.
As the session wound down, Himmel gathered them once more. “Good work today. Remember, it’s not about who wins or loses these matches. It’s about understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Keep pushing yourselves, and you’ll be ready for anything.”
Ethan nodded, his mind replaying the battles as he returned to his dorm. His body ached, but it was a satisfying ache—the kind that came from knowing he was improving. After a quick shower, he collapsed onto his bed, finally dozing off.
Ethan found himself once again in the crimson land, the familiar yet unnerving realm that seemed to exist just for him. The sky was an endless shade of deep scarlet, a swirling sea of crimson clouds blotting out any hint of a sun or stars. The two-story house-sized spherical substance floated ominously in the distance, its ashen white surface cracked cleanly down the middle. The sight of it sent a shiver through Ethan’s core.
He floated closer, his movements no longer hindered by the strange paralysis that had plagued him on his previous visits. This time, he could move freely, and that alone filled him with a sense of control he hadn’t felt before.
“So this is it,” he muttered, his voice echoing eerily in the stillness. The massive sphere radiated a quiet energy, as though it were alive but dormant, waiting.
Iris’s words from the weapon training field came back to him: *"An extremely hot aura came from you." *
Was this sphere connected to his first skill? The thought gnawed at him as he approached the cracks, his hand instinctively reaching out. The jagged lines snaked across the surface like lightning frozen in time. Gently, he stroked the cracks, feeling a strange warmth seep into his fingertips. For a moment, the warmth intensified, spreading through his body as though something inside the sphere was awakening in response to his touch.
Suddenly, the crimson world began to collapse around him. The sphere vibrated violently, its cracks glowing with a searing white light. Just as something seemed poised to emerge, a powerful force yanked him backward, tearing him from the dreamlike realm.
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Ethan jolted awake, his heart pounding as sunlight streamed into his dorm room. Morning had come far too quickly, and his brief time in the crimson land left him more questions than answers. He groaned, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. There was no time to dwell on it; his schedule was packed, and the recruit ranking exchange loomed less than three weeks away.
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The days blurred together as the recruits dove headfirst into their rigorous training. Ethan’s team—now recognized as the first batch of second awakeners—quickly became known for their exceptional progress. With their newfound abilities, they advanced through the early stages of prana-based cultivation at a startling pace. Himmel’s grueling drills pushed them to their limits, honing their physical combat skills and mastery of prana. Each of them had begun to stand out in their own way.
By the second week, they had earned the title of pseudo rank-one soldiers. The rank came with respect and high expectations, as well as the promise of greater challenges. Their next milestone was clear: attaining the rank of Sigil. The Sigil rank was symbolic, representing their mastery over prana and their status as true soldiers of magical power.
Ethan’s daily routine became a whirlwind of weapon practice, sparring, meditation, and studying the guide on awakenings. The guide proved invaluable, shedding light on the intricacies of prana control and offering glimpses into the possibilities of multi-awakened skills. Ethan’s teammates showed remarkable growth as well. Yara’s precision with her pistol and sword grew sharper by the day, while Elara’s dual daggers became a blur of lethal efficiency. Zane’s crossbow and dagger combination proved versatile in both close and ranged combat, and Yin Xue’s polearm mastery gave her an almost ethereal presence on the field. Iris’s skill with the bow and her tactical mind made her a formidable force, and even Herbie’s clumsy yet powerful axe swings began to show improvement.
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Three weeks passed in the blink of an eye. The recruits had transformed, their growth evident not only in their combat abilities but also in their confidence and camaraderie. The training camp buzzed with anticipation as the recruit ranking exchange drew nearer.
On the morning three days before the exchange, the recruits gathered in the central courtyard. Gabriel stood before them, his commanding presence silencing the murmurs of excitement. Behind him, Himmel watched silently, his arms crossed.
Gabriel’s voice carried across the courtyard. “Today, we celebrate the final batch of second awakeners who have joined your ranks. Their awakening marks the completion of this training camp’s most critical phase.”
The recruits erupted into applause as a small group of individuals stepped forward, their expressions a mix of pride and nervousness. Gabriel raised a hand to quiet the crowd before continuing.
“Each of you has undergone incredible trials to reach this point. You’ve discovered abilities that set you apart, abilities that make you dangerous and valuable. But awakening is only the beginning. Your true journey lies ahead, and it will be far more demanding than anything you’ve faced here.”
He gestured toward the recruits, his gaze sharp. “To those of you who have already begun your path toward the Sigil rank, know that this is not just a title. It’s a symbol of your mastery over prana and your readiness to step onto the battlefield of the gods. Use these next three days wisely. Train, strategize, and prepare yourselves. Because once the ranking exchange begins, there will be no room for hesitation.”
Gabriel’s words hung heavy in the air, the weight of their meaning sinking into each recruit. He offered a rare smile. “Congratulations to all of you. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed.”