The faint ripple from Rudra's departure lingered in the air for only a moment before the forest fell back into a hushed silence. Kael watched the spot where Rudra had stood, his brow furrowed. Jin leaned against a nearby tree, folding his arms behind his head, trying to look as nonchalant as ever.

"So, what now?" Jin's voice broke the silence, his tone casual but eyes flickering with interest.

Kael sighed, glancing at his hands as if expecting to see the new power coursing through his veins. "I'll try to get accustomed to this... whatever it is," he muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists. The energy was still foreign, pulsing beneath his skin, like something that didn't quite belong to him yet.

Tarek stood up slowly, brushing off the dirt from her cloak. "I'm going to my room. Not feeling well," she said softly, avoiding eye contact. Her face was pale, and her usual sharpness seemed dulled, like a shadow was hanging over her.

Darin, who had been quietly observing from the edge of the clearing, looked at Tarek with concern. His brow furrowed as he watched her walk away, then glanced back at Jin and Kael. "You guys continue. I'll see you tomorrow," he said quickly, his voice tense. Without waiting for a response, Darin darted after Tarek, his anxious expression barely hidden.

Jin watched them go, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on with her?" he asked, his casual demeanor faltering for the first time. "Something seemed off after her fight today."

Kael shook his head, his thoughts still spinning. "I don't know. She hasn't said much about it," he admitted. He'd noticed it too — the way Tarek had been acting ever since the battle, like something had changed in her. But he couldn't put his finger on what.

Jin stretched and shrugged. "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it'll come up eventually. Let's just go to your room for now. No point in standing out here."

As they made their way through the dimly lit hallways toward their room, the sound of distant voices caught their attention. They paused, straining to listen, and then came the unmistakable clash of metal — the sound of fighting.

Jin looked at Kael, his eyes narrowing. "You hear that?"

Kael and Jin exchanged a quick glance before their instincts kicked in. Without a word, they moved silently, following the sound of clashing metal and muffled grunts. The further they went, the louder the noise became, echoing down the empty hallways.

Kael and Jin moved through the dimly lit corridors, their steps almost silent as they navigated toward the source of the disturbance. The distant clashing of metal against metal, muffled grunts, and the occasional crackle of energy guided them forward. The further they advanced, the louder and more chaotic the sounds became, bouncing off the stone walls and echoing in the otherwise still night.

The dim lanterns flickered erratically, casting long, shifting shadows that made the corridors feel even narrower. The air was heavy with tension, and the deeper they ventured, the more Kael's pulse quickened.

Jin, normally nonchalant and easygoing, had shifted into a more focused state. His hand hovered near his blade, his sharp eyes darting around, picking up every small movement as they moved closer to the source. Neither spoke, as if some unspoken agreement told them that silence was their best ally for now.

They reached the end of the corridor, where the faintest sliver of light peeked through a partially opened door. The clashing sounds were clearer now—fierce, almost rhythmic in their intensity. Kael gestured to Jin, and the two of them carefully pressed themselves against the wall, inching toward the door. Kael's pulse pounded in his ears, every sense on high alert.

He pushed the door open slightly, just enough to see inside.

Four figures were engaged in a chaotic, fierce battle. The room, lit by faint blue-tinted lanterns, felt like an arena, and the space buzzed with energy. Kael's eyes quickly scanned the scene, trying to make sense of what was happening.

One of the fighters was particularly striking—a woman with a long, muscular tail extending from her lower back. The tail swung with each of her movements, as if it were an extension of her body, supporting her balance and adding a brutal force to her strikes. She wasn't wielding any weapons, but she didn't seem to need them. Her punches alone sent shockwaves through the room, and each one landed with a resounding crack. Her physical strength was almost palpable, and she seemed to rely purely on brute force, dodging and countering attacks with a savage grace.

Another combatant, a man holding a sword, moved with sharp precision. His weapon was unusual—longer than most blades Kael had seen. It gleamed under the lantern light, and the man wielded it effortlessly, his movements fluid but controlled, every swing measured. Despite its length, he managed to block and deflect blows with expert timing, always maintaining his distance.

But what caught Kael's attention most was the third fighter, whose weapon seemed impossible to describe. One moment it appeared to be a sword, then in the next instant, it morphed into a spear, then a whip. The weapon shifted between forms seamlessly, each transformation accompanied by a faint shimmer of light. The wielder manipulated it with startling proficiency, flowing through different fighting styles as the weapon morphed to meet their needs. The unpredictability of their attacks kept the others on edge, never knowing what form the weapon would take next.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The fourth figure was the fastest of them all. Dressed in tight, black armor with sleek glasses over his eyes, he darted across the room at speeds that left Kael's head spinning. His chakra seemed to boost his speed to superhuman levels, allowing him to dodge every attack that came his way. He was a blur of motion, never staying in one place long enough to be targeted, evading blows and launching rapid counterattacks with unnerving precision. Despite the speed of the battle, he moved with a confidence that suggested he had the upper hand in terms of agility.

The four of them weren't fighting together; it was as if they were locked in a free-for-all, each combatant pushing their limits in an attempt to overpower the others. The air crackled with energy, and Kael could feel the intensity of the battle even from the doorway. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, but he hesitated. Something about the fight felt too dangerous to intervene without knowing the full story.

Jin leaned in closer, whispering, "What the hell is this?"

Kael didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the battle, trying to figure out why these four were locked in such a fierce struggle. The room was filled with a dangerous mix of chakra and raw power.

The intensity of the fight escalated as the man wielding the sword made his move. His long blade gleamed in the low light as he swung it toward the fighter with the shape-shifting weapon. With remarkable speed, the weapon in the shapeshifter's hands morphed into a large, glowing shield, catching the sword’s edge just in time. The sound of metal clashing against the barrier reverberated through the room, sending sparks flying into the air.

For a moment, they were locked in place, the sword pressing against the shield, each fighter pushing their limits. But then, just as quickly as the weapon had transformed into a shield, it shifted again. The gleaming surface rippled, shrinking and reshaping itself into a pair of heavy gauntlets that wrapped around the shapeshifter’s fists. With surprising speed, he retaliated, launching a fierce punch aimed straight at the sword-wielder’s chest.

The sword-wielder barely had time to react before another figure entered the fray. The girl with the tail, moving with deadly agility, charged from behind the shapeshifter. She swung her tail like a whip, aiming to strike him down while his focus was on the sword-wielder. Her powerful tail cut through the air, moving with a force that could easily shatter bones.

Sensing the danger from behind, the shapeshifter twisted his body just in time to avoid a direct hit, but the tail grazed his side, forcing him off-balance. He staggered for a moment, the impact sending him crashing toward the wall, but before either fighter could follow up on their attacks, the speedster appeared.

A blur of motion, the fourth fighter, darted between them. With a sudden burst of chakra-enhanced speed, he struck. His fist flew toward the sword-wielder in a flash, his blow aimed with pinpoint accuracy. However, the sword-wielder reacted just as quickly. He raised his weapon and blocked the punch with the flat of his blade, the impact sending shockwaves through his arm.

The speedster grinned, clearly impressed by his opponent’s reflexes, but he didn’t give him a chance to recover. He launched another rapid punch, but this time the sword-wielder was ready. His sword swung up, deflecting the punch, and then came crashing down in a swift counterattack, aiming to slice through the speedster’s defenses.

But before the strike could land, the shapeshifter, having recovered, dashed forward with his gauntlets raised, ready to deliver a punishing blow of his own. The room erupted into chaos once again as the fighters clashed in a whirlwind of weapons, fists, and chakra. Kael and Jin watched from the shadows, eyes wide as the battle raged on.

As Kael and Jin watched the chaotic fight unfold before them, their eyes tracking the flurry of movements, punches, and strikes, a sudden voice came from between them, making their hearts skip a beat.

“They’re quite good, aren’t they?” The voice was calm, almost conversational. “So, who are you two? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Kael’s eyes widened in shock, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his weapon. Jin, on the other hand, spun around swiftly, his usual nonchalant expression replaced with a mix of surprise and suspicion. Both of them took a step back, weapons at the ready, as they faced the stranger who had somehow appeared without either of them noticing.

The man stood between them, his presence so subtle that it was as if he had materialized out of thin air. He was tall, his eyes gleaming with amusement, his stance relaxed. He wasn’t holding any weapon, but there was something about him that set off alarm bells in Kael’s mind.

"When did he get here?" Kael thought, his heart racing as he gripped his sword tighter. "I didn’t even sense him."

Jin, still slightly behind Kael, narrowed his eyes, reading the situation but keeping his tone calm. "I don’t recall inviting you to join us," Jin remarked, though there was a clear tension in his voice.

The stranger smiled, unfazed by the clear defensive posture both boys had taken. "No need to be on edge," he said, casually looking past them toward the ongoing battle. "I’m just curious. So who are you two?"

Kael and Jin exchanged a quick glance, both unsure of what to make of this man who could move so quietly that even their senses failed to pick him up.

The stranger chuckled, noticing their wary expressions. "I should introduce myself," he said, his tone lightening. "I’m a teacher here. Those are my students." With that, he clapped his hands together, and immediately, the chaos of combat halted.

The fighters turned their attention to him, the tension in the air dissipating as they gathered around, curiosity replacing their earlier aggression. Each student wore a mixture of confusion and respect, their eyes darting between their teacher and the two newcomers. Kael and Jin exchanged glances, still on guard but intrigued by this sudden shift in dynamics.

The teacher smiled, gesturing toward each of the students in turn. “Let me introduce you properly. This is Eden,” he said, pointing to the sword wielder, who stood tall with a confident stance. Eden nodded, his grip on the sword steady as he assessed Kael and Jin with a curious glance.

“In the middle here, we have Daroii,” the teacher continued, motioning to the girl with the striking tail, whose fierce demeanor had been evident during the fight. Daroii crossed her arms, a smirk on her face, clearly pleased with the attention.

“Next, we have Kaito,” he said, pointing to the student wielding the shifting weapon. Kaoru’s weapon shimmered in the light as it transformed between forms, a testament to his unique fighting style. He offered a quick nod, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“And finally, there’s Shun,” the teacher introduced, gesturing to the speedster who had been dodging attacks with incredible agility. Ren stood with an energetic bounce, a wide grin stretching across his face as he waved enthusiastically at Kael and Jin.

“I am their lovely teacher, Ryuunosuke,” he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Now, would you two be kind enough to introduce yourselves?”

Kael hesitated for a moment, the weight of the situation settling in. “I’m Kael,” he said finally, his voice steady. Jin followed suit, grinning slightly as he added, “And I’m Jin.”