Caius's muscles burned as exhaustion gripped his body. Each swing of the twin cutlasses felt heavier, his movements growing sluggish with every passing second. Sweat dripped down his face, and his breathing came in labored gasps. But still, he kept moving, refusing to give in.

Reynar stood as calm as ever, his hands still resting in his pockets, his body fluidly shifting with each of Caius's attacks. His dodges were effortless, almost casual, as if the fight was a warm-up.

"Is this really all you've got?" Reynar asked, his voice steady. "You're slowing down, Caius."

Caius grunted in frustration, launching another flurry of strikes. He swung his blades quickly, trying to catch Reynar off guard. Still, the old warrior stepped aside, avoiding each blow with minimal effort.

"Come on, Caius!" Jory called out from the sidelines, his voice filled with excitement. "You've got to land something! I mean, this view would look perfect with your victory!"

Caius quickly glared at him, but Reynar's amused chuckle filled the air.

"Victory?" Reynar said, sidestepping another wild slash. "The boy can't even land a hit."

Caius felt a surge of determination, tightening his grip on the cutlasses. But just as he prepared to launch another attack, something strange happened.

Deep inside his chest, a pulse of energy surged through him. It wasn't his heartbeat, but something else—something primal, powerful.

Reynar noticed the change immediately. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as a faint smile curled on his lips. "There it is," he muttered under his breath.

Caius felt it, too. His exhaustion seemed to fade, replaced by a strange energy that thrummed through his body. His breathing steadied, and it was as if the world around him had sharpened for a moment. The weight of the cutlasses in his hands lightened, his movements growing smoother and faster.

"What... what's happening?" Caius whispered to himself, trying to make sense of the surge inside him.

Jory, standing a few feet away, watched in awe. "What the…? How is he doing that?"

Reynar grinned, his eyes never leaving Caius. 'You're tapping into something new, Caius. Something powerful. Let's see how far you can take it.'

Caius blinked, trying to focus through the rush of energy coursing through him. He took a deep breath and lunged forward again, moving with renewed speed and precision. The twin cutlasses whirled in his hands as he aimed for Reynar, determined to land at least one hit.

Reynar dodged this time with more effort, stepping back as Caius's blades sliced through the air, closer than before.

"Better," Reynar said, nodding. "But not good enough."

Caius pushed harder, his strikes growing more aggressive as he pressed forward. His body moved almost instinctually, driven by the strange power inside him. He spun, leaped, and slashed with a fury he hadn't felt before.

"Caius, you're doing it!" Jory shouted, his eyes wide with amazement. "I've never seen you fight like this!"

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Caius didn't respond, too focused on Reynar's every move. But even with this newfound strength, Reynar remained untouchable. He slipped through every attack, his movements still fluid and effortless.

Reynar's voice cut through the intensity of the fight. "You're improving, Caius, but you still lack control. You're relying too much on raw power."

Caius growled in frustration. "I don't need control—I need to land a hit!"

Reynar laughed, sidestepping another strike. "Is that what you think? Power without control is like a ship without a captain—it'll only lead you into a storm."

Caius gritted his teeth, the power inside him surging stronger, more insistent. He could feel it pushing him, driving him forward. Caius had to land a hit—just one. But Reynar was already a step ahead each time he closed in, dodging with maddening ease.

Jory, still watching, felt a mixture of excitement and awe. "Man, Caius, I didn't know you had this in you! How are you even keeping up?" He laughed, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel a small pang of envy. Caius was always the faster learner, always the one who seemed to push past limits that Jory himself struggled to reach.

Jory's smile faded slightly as he reflected. "I wish I could fight like that...but I'm not ready. Not like Caius is." He crossed his arms, watching as his friend pressed harder, knowing he still had a long way to go before standing at Caius's level.

Meanwhile, Caius's body felt lighter, his strikes faster, but no matter how much energy he put into the fight, Reynar seemed to be toying with him.

"You're almost there, Caius," Reynar said, a glint of approval in his eyes. "But you're still thinking too much. Let the power guide you—don't force it."

Caius, now breathing hard but feeling the pulse of energy push him further, gritted his teeth. He could feel close, but Reynar's words gnawed at him. How was he supposed to let go when he was so close? The frustration built, and with one final push, Caius charged, his blades a blur as they aimed for Reynar's chest.

But, as before, Reynar slipped aside, his movements still too smooth to predict.

The old warrior smiled knowingly. "You're getting there. But not yet."

Caius collapsed to his knees, his body finally giving out after the relentless barrage of attacks. He gasped for air, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like a heavy anchor.

His muscles burned, his vision blurred, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't muster the strength to continue. The twin cutlasses fell from his hands, clattering to the sand beneath him.

With his eyes shut tight, frustration surged through him. He had given everything and pushed himself to the limit, yet none of his attacks had landed on Reynar. Not a single one. How was he supposed to be ready for the adventure ahead if he couldn't even pass this test?

Jory rushed to his side, kneeling beside his friend. "Caius!" he called out, concern clear in his voice. "Are you alright? You pushed yourself too hard." But Jory's words felt hollow to him, like a distant echo. He wanted to comfort Caius, but he didn't know how. How could he, when his friend had fallen after giving it his all?

Caius's eyes remained shut, his fists clenched in the sand. "I'm not ready," he whispered, more to himself than to Jory. "I'm not ready for this."

A soft chuckle broke through the tension. Reynar, standing with his hands still calmly in his pockets, approached the two boys, his smile widening. "You passed, Caius."

Caius's eyes shot open in shock. He stared up at Reynar, barely comprehending the words he had just heard. "What...?" His voice was hoarse, disbelief clear in every syllable. "I passed?"

Jory, equally stunned, glanced between Caius and Reynar. "Wait...what? You're saying he passed?"

Despite his exhaustion, Caius quickly sat up, his eyes narrowing at Reynar. "Are you mocking me, Reynar?" he demanded. "I didn't land a single hit! How could I have passed?"

Reynar's grin widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked down at them both. "Do you really think either of you stood a chance of landing a hit on me? Even at less than one percent of my strength?"

Caius and Jory fell silent, the weight of Reynar's words sinking in. Of course, they knew deep down that Reynar's power was beyond anything they could handle, but hearing it so plainly left them stunned.

Reynar folded his arms, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "The point of this test was never about landing a hit, Caius. If you managed it, that would've been a bonus. But that wasn't the true test."

Caius blinked, his mind reeling. "Then what was the test?"