The training grounds were alive with energy as Katsuo found himself surrounded by vanguards of all ranks, sparring, practicing weapon techniques, and honing their combat skills. The air was filled with the clanging of metal, the grunt of exertion, and the occasional cheer as someone landed a well-executed move. Everywhere he looked, there was movement—warriors testing their limits against each other.

Katsuo stood at the edge of the bustling grounds, taking it all in. His eyes were drawn to a pair of vanguards nearby, one wielding a spear with sharp, fluid movements, and the other dual-wielding swords with a style that was both fast and precise. Katsuo, always curious about new techniques, couldn’t resist approaching them.

"Hey, that’s some interesting weaponry you guys are working with," Katsuo said, walking over with a grin.

The two vanguards paused mid-spar and turned to face him. The man with the spear, a tall figure with short-cropped black hair, smiled and offered his hand. "I’m Yuu," he said, shaking Katsuo’s hand firmly.

The man with the dual swords, shorter and stockier but no less skilled, gave a nod. "And I’m Dachi."

Katsuo nodded back. "Katsuo. Nice to meet you both."

Before long, they were deep in conversation, discussing different combat techniques. Yuu and Dachi were more than happy to share tips, explaining how they had developed their respective fighting styles over time. Katsuo, eager to learn, found himself testing his own skills against theirs in a friendly sparring match, each blow exchanged helping him understand more about their unique approaches to combat.

The next day, Katsuo is now eager to train and eager to keep making more and more connections in his time here.

Today, however, wasn’t about fighting a monstrous enemy or dealing with deadly dungeons. It was simply about training and growing stronger.

Katsuo’s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice behind him.

"Ready for another round, Katsuo?" It was Yuu, standing with his spear in hand, his expression one of eager excitement. Beside him was Dachi, the dual-wielder who had been Katsuo’s sparring partner for the last few days.

Katsuo grinned, turning to face them. "You bet. Let’s see if I’ve improved at all since yesterday."

The three of them had spent the past few days training together, and Katsuo had quickly come to respect Yuu and Dachi for their unique fighting styles. Yuu’s spear gave him incredible range, and his attacks were sharp and precise, while Dachi’s dual blades allowed him to switch between offensive and defensive stances with ease, making him an unpredictable opponent.

As they moved to an open space on the training field, Yuu spun his spear around, its tip gleaming in the sunlight. "We’ll start light—no need to wear ourselves out too quickly."

"Don’t go too easy on me," Katsuo shot back, drawing his odachi and stepping into his stance. "I’m here to learn."

Dachi chuckled as he unsheathed his swords. "Don’t worry, Katsuo. By the end of the day, you’ll feel like you’ve been run over by a pack of wild boars."

"Great," Katsuo muttered, but there was a smile on his face.

The sparring began with Yuu taking the lead, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. Katsuo dodged the first strike, stepping forward to close the distance, but Yuu’s reach allowed him to counter with a quick jab that Katsuo had to block with his sword. Katsuo could feel the force behind Yuu’s blows—it wasn’t overwhelming, but it was precise, calculated.

"Nice block!" Yuu called out, his tone friendly but focused. "But don’t get comfortable!"

Katsuo grinned and shifted into the 1st Form, The Way of the Blade, his odachi moving swiftly to parry the next attack. The clash of metal rang out as Yuu and Katsuo exchanged blows, their movements quick and controlled. Katsuo’s arms burned from the effort, but he was determined to keep up with Yuu’s relentless strikes.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Suddenly, Dachi entered the fray, his dual swords flashing in the sunlight as he launched a flurry of attacks. Katsuo found himself caught between Yuu’s spear and Dachi’s swift strikes, forcing him to move quickly and switch between offense and defense.

"Hey, two against one? That’s not fair!" Katsuo protested, barely managing to block an incoming strike from Dachi.

"You said not to go easy on you!" Dachi laughed, his blades dancing around Katsuo’s guard.

Katsuo gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate their next moves. He couldn’t rely on brute strength alone—he needed to outthink them. Shifting into the 4th Form, The Iron Mountain, Katsuo focused on defense, letting his body become a fortress as he withstood the onslaught of strikes. Yuu’s spear jabbed at him from one side while Dachi’s blades cut at him from the other, but Katsuo stood firm, deflecting each blow.

Then, with a quick shift back to the 1st Form, Katsuo saw an opening. He parried Yuu’s spear to the side and stepped forward, aiming a strike at Dachi. But before his blade could connect, Dachi dodged with a swift roll, coming up behind him.

"You’re getting faster," Yuu remarked, backing up slightly to assess Katsuo’s movements. "But you need to watch your blind spots."

"Noted," Katsuo replied, his breath coming in short bursts. Despite the intensity of the spar, he couldn’t help but enjoy the challenge. This was different from fighting enemies in a dungeon or on the battlefield—this was about improving.

After a few more minutes of exchanging blows, the three of them finally stepped back, breathing heavily. The match had ended in a stalemate, but Katsuo felt like he had learned more in these few minutes than he had in weeks of regular training.

Yuu leaned on his spear, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You’ve got a lot of potential, Katsuo. You adapt quickly, and that’s what makes a good fighter."

Dachi sheathed his swords, giving Katsuo a playful nudge. "Not bad for a guy who’s only been here a few days."

Katsuo laughed, wiping sweat from his face. "Thanks. You guys are tough—no wonder everyone respects you around here."

The three of them made their way to a nearby bench, where they sat down to catch their breath. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Katsuo leaned back, enjoying the moment of rest.

"Do you guys train like this every day?" Katsuo asked, still winded from the sparring.

"Pretty much," Yuu said with a grin. "If you’re not training, you’re falling behind."

Dachi nodded in agreement. "But it’s not all about fighting. It’s about forming bonds with your comrades. You can’t survive as a vanguard if you’re always going solo."

Katsuo looked between the two of them, realizing that this was what he had been missing—friendship. Sure, he had his mission, and he had his allies back in Rokatheryl, but there was something different about the way Yuu and Dachi approached training. It wasn’t just about getting stronger; it was about getting stronger together.

"I think I’m starting to get it," Katsuo said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Training with you guys has been a lot of fun."

Yuu slapped him on the back. "That’s what it’s all about, man! And don’t worry—next time, you’ll probably beat us both."

Katsuo raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "I’m not sure about that, but I’ll try."

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of sparring, friendly banter, and laughter. The three of them grew closer with each passing moment, their bond strengthening through every blow exchanged, every laugh shared. By the time the sun began to set, Katsuo felt a sense of belonging that he hadn’t experienced before.

As they headed toward the dining hall for dinner, Yuu glanced at Katsuo. "You’ve been quiet about your own past. What made you want to become a vanguard?"

Katsuo hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "I’ve been through a lot, but I guess… I just want to protect the people who can’t protect themselves."

Dachi gave him a knowing look. "Sounds like you’ve got a pretty strong reason to keep fighting."

"Yeah," Katsuo said quietly. "I do."

They reached the dining hall, where the smell of food and the sound of laughter filled the air. Yuu and Dachi waved over some of the other vanguards they had trained with, and soon, the table was full of food, stories, and laughter. Katsuo felt at home here, among his new friends, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to simply enjoy the moment.

As the night wore on, they headed back to their quarters, exhausted but content.

"Good spar today," Yuu said as they parted ways.

Katsuo nodded. "Yeah. I’m looking forward to the next one."

Dachi grinned. "Don’t get too confident. We’ll make sure to knock you down a peg tomorrow."

Katsuo laughed. "I’ll be ready."

As he lay in bed that night, Katsuo couldn’t help but feel grateful. This was the kind of experience he had been longing for—a chance to grow stronger, not just in body but in spirit, alongside people who understood the weight of the path they walked.

Tomorrow would bring more challenges, but tonight, Katsuo could rest knowing that he wasn’t walking this path alone.