The young boy nodded, his excitement tempered by the seriousness of the moment. As they moved further along the platform, Minho spoke in a low voice, "Your training will be different, Si-Woo. While Ha-Yoon's path is cloudy, yours is shrouded in absolute mystery. Your path will be hard and more grueling than the rest."

Minho paused, his gaze intense. "Now, let's begin with your 'Deific Eye of the Storm' formation," he said, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "I want to see how much you've improved."

Si-Woo took a deep breath, his eyes focusing as he centered himself. He pulled out Eternity and placed the hilt between his teeth to help him focus. He felt the serein within him respond, swirling around his core like a tempest. He expanded it outward, creating a 360-degree, meter-wide, translucent sensory forcefield that shimmered like the surface of a calm lake before a storm. The energy was potent, and it thrummed with power. His heart raced with excitement, his mind focused on the task at hand.

Minho observed him with a critical eye, his arms folded across his chest. "Good," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Now, maintain that while I test your reflexes." He pulled out a small dagger and sent it flying towards Si-Woo, its trajectory unpredictable.

Si-Woo's eyes never left the knife as he focused his serein, the forcefield pulsing with energy. His instincts took over, and his body moved almost of its own accord, his arm shooting out to catch the weapon in midair. The blade sliced through the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down around him. Time was a river, and he was the rock in its path, unyielding and swift.

Minho's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes held a spark of something like pride. "Good," he said, his voice a low murmur. "Now, let's see if you can do it under pressure."

With a flick of his wrist, Minho sent a barrage of small projectiles toward Si-Woo, each one moving at a different speed and trajectory. The boy's heart pounded in his chest as he focused, his forcefield pulsing with the rhythm of his breath. Each object was a puzzle piece that he had to solve in an instant, predicting its path and determining the best way to protect himself without losing concentration on the others.

The forcefield around him grew more opaque as the projectiles drew closer, a sign of his increasing mastery. He felt the serein within him pulsing in time with the forcefield, a symphony of power and precision. His mind raced through the possible outcomes, calculating the speed and force needed to repel each incoming object.

As the first projectile reached the edge of the forcefield, Si-Woo's hand shot out, the serein within him responding to his will. A gust of wind, a mere thought made manifest, pushed the object aside. The second and third followed each one met with a different method of deflection. The knife was caught with a flick of his wrist, the serein acting as an extension of his body. The fourth and fifth, a pair of throwing stars, were knocked away with a burst of kinetic energy from the palms of his hands.

With each successful defense, Si-Woo's confidence grew. He could feel the forcefield tightening around him, the serein's energy pulsing in time with his heartbeat. It was a dance, a symphony of anticipation and action, as he moved in harmony with the chaos Minho threw his way. The world outside the forcefield was a blur of motion, but within it, everything was crystal clear.

Minho watched his student with a critical eye, his heart swelling with pride at the young serein's rapid progress. He knew the importance of pushing Si-Woo to his limits; the fate of the realms could very well rest on his student's shoulders. With a nod, he stepped up the intensity of the attack.

"Good," he said, his voice a low rumble of approval. "But let's not forget, a shield is only as strong as the warrior behind it." He sprinted towards Si-Woo, his movements a blur of speed and power.

Si-Woo's eyes narrowed, his jaws tightening on Eternity. He had to be swift, precise, and unpredictable. The air around him grew heavy as the storm within his sensory forcefield grew more intense. He could feel the serein pulsating, hungry for a challenge, and an affirming smile formed on his face.

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Minho charged like a bolt of lightning, his serein-infused fists aiming for the weak spots he'd observed in Si-Woo's forcefield. The young serein felt the wind from his master's approach, the vibrations of the ground beneath his feet, and the subtle changes in the air pressure. His senses were heightened, every detail a potential clue to Minho's next move.

As the first fist went through Si-Woos forcefield, the young man's eyes widened. He felt the serein absorb the impact, but the force was greater than he'd expected. His mind raced, calculating the speed and power behind Minho's attack, adjusting the forcefield's density and the way it absorbed and dispersed the energy. He had to be quick, or he'd be overwhelmed.

With a roar, Si-Woo's own serein responded, the forcefield growing darker and more turbulent around him. It was like a storm had taken root in the very air, swirling with power and potential. His thoughts moved at the speed of light, each one a command to the serein, a precise instruction on how to defend against the onslaught.

Si-Woo twits his body at the last minute while grabbing Minho's arm and throws him out of the perimeter of the forcefield.

Minho's eyes widened in surprise as he soared through the air, The force of Si-Woo's throw was unexpected, and he found himself momentarily disoriented as the world spun around him.

Landing with a thud, Minho rolled to his feet, his eyes alight with excitement. "Excellent!" he exclaimed, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. "You've made progress, Si-Woo!" But really Minho thought "I've got to create a name for these two monster twins. How did their species ever go close to extinction if they were like this?"

With a sigh, Minho says "Now," his smile turning mischievous, "let's see if you can keep it up for a few hours." With that, he summoned a swarm of serein-infused shurikens that shot towards Si-Woo.

...

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a warm, fiery glow, Minho called out, "Training is over!" Si-Woo's legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the cool, hard platform, his chest heaving as if he had just run a marathon. Sweat and blood soaked his clothes, and his muscles screamed in protest. He felt as if he had been wrung out like a wet towel.

Minho strode over to him, a look of satisfaction etched on his face. With a flick of his wrist, the serein master sent a gentle pulse of energy, lifting Si-Woo into the air. His eyes searched the the rest of the platform searching for Ren and Ha-Yoon, finally resting on Ha-Yoon, who was also gasping for air, her spade wolves lying at her side, panting heavily. Their fur was matted with dirt, their spirits were clearly drained from the intense training.

"Sergeant Ren," Minho called out, his voice carrying over the now quiet training ground. "How did she fare?"

Ren, still maintaining his stoic demeanor, nodded slightly. "Her progress is... notable," he said, his eyes flickering over to Ha-Yoon, who was now sitting up, her spade wolves nuzzling against her wearily. "Her bond with the spirits is strong, and her body formation and control over them is improving."

Minho nodded thoughtfully before turning to the siblings with a twinkle in his eye. Minho dismisses Sergeant Ren and gazes at the children in awe. He pulled out a small, leather pouch from his robes and tied it around Si-Woos ankle. "These," he announced, "are first-degree cultivation pills. You both may be low in serein mastery, but with the latest alchemical advancements from the Knowledge family's alchemy branch, your growth rate will soar," Minho murmurs, almost to himself, "Not that you need it, though." "Take one each night before you sleep and make sure to meditate and refurbish your meridian tree, and you will notice a significant difference in your abilities."

Ha-Yoon's curiosity piqued, she sat up straight despite her exhaustion. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for answers. "I've been curious, what degree of serein mastery do the other five great headmasters of Ondur possess?"

Minho's smile grew wider. "Ah, the headmasters," he said, his eyes glinting. "They are indeed a formidable group. All of them are eleventh-degree serein masters, with the exception of Mutstushiro."

At the mention of the name, a sudden hush fell over the training ground. It was as if the very air held its breath in anticipation of what Minho would say next. "Mutstushiro," he continued, "is something of an enigma. A thirteenth-degree serein master, his power is said to be almost unmatched in our realm. He is the oldest and most revered of us all, and his knowledge of the serein is so deep. The only one he fears is the king, who is a fourteenth-degree serein master."

Si-Woo's eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching in his throat. He had always thought Minho was the pinnacle of strength and power, but to think there was someone who could overshadow even him was almost incomprehensible.

But enough about that," Minho said, waving his hand dismissively. "You have a long way to go before you even think of challenging the likes of us. For now, focus on your training, and remember, the pills will aid you, but they are not a shortcut. Your dedication and discipline will be the true keys to unlocking your full potential. Now, let me take you home."