"Again." Came the hated word team five had been listening to for days. They were black and blue. Blood stains all over your clothes from split lips and clothing. The fight would begin, and they would go for a minute or two then all would be crushed by a single mistake made by one of them. One mistimed parry or dodge and a teammate was exposed and went to the dirt causing the rhythm to fall out of balance and they were still unable to adapt. They were going long and longer each fight, but it was by seconds only.
"Again." Sometimes the speed would be higher. Other times it would be greater strength. They had to learn on the fly using Sorin's higher defense ability to read the strikes overall weight. They were beginning to know each other's speed and movement's. where they would be and where they were going to strike It was slowly becoming second nature what the other would do and when they needed to fall back to press the attack.
"Again." Every day between the sprinting and the log carry drills as well as the strength training to body numbness followed by hours upon hours of abuse the team began to come together to lessen the overall suffering of each of them. Yet the beatings continued Sorin was able to keep up and block for his teammates and deflect shots away with his blades, he began learning how to lock weapons in place using both swords, but at the cost of leaving himself exposed which led to another defeat without his teammates taking advantage of it.
"Again." Sorin was beginning to go internal. The agony and exhaustion of every day sent him within his own mind allowing his body to go on autopilot especially with a tier 2 mind. He could keep track of his teammates and the opponent while trying to find some way around the issue of never having enough power or way to stop the hurting. It was like a constant acid drip everywhere on his skin...the burning all over from the exhaustion.
"Again." Sorin had enough he needed to find a way through his teammates were looking ravenous for a way through. Cain had made the jump to tier two and eased the burden, and they knew immediately when it happened the following day because he ran faster and had less trouble lifting and training. Even the battles lasted longer causing Varris to add more to the fights. Leading to harder strikes and more brutal defeats.
"Again." Sorin had enough. He began looking inside himself for anything that can help. He tried to infuse himself with more aether like he did before, but his body rejected it. He began looking desperately for anything. When he began noticing changes in his skin and muscles. Darker forms of aether. He pushed normal color aether to it and forced them to change places. These spots were everywhere. As the fights continued, and they went down again and again he noticed more of the dark motes would enter with every strike he took. He kept replacing the motes of aether moving faster and faster until it became automatic. It took his mind off the pain until they stopped. Came back to himself confused.
"What did you do?" Varris asked him with a sword pointed to him.
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Sorin looked around then down at himself and to his shock. He had next to not bruising. "I uh...I don't really know Corporal." He didn't technically lie because he had a hunch as to what he was doing but wasn't going to tell her that. "It would appear you have learned a regeneration ability. Check your HUD." she ordered
Congratulations
You have learned the Skill:
Aether revival(p/a) - A regeneration skill that restores the aether lost within your body. As cells become damaged, they lose energy. This skill replenishes that energy for AP. Can increase the rate of regeneration through increased aether flow.
Sorin was absolutely ecstatic he had figured out a way to increase his survivability. He closed his HUD and nodded a confirmation to the Corporal. She smirked. "We might have a winner with you Sorin. Not a common skill at all and will please your assignee when she finds out she has someone like you. She lucked out picking you. Now...where were we? She brought her swords up.
"Again." The strikes to Sorin were much much worse. Now that she knew he could heal she didn't hold back near as much as she did with the others on his team, but it made little difference. They felt every blow and then just kept coming. The bright side is now they were lasting minutes at a time per battle before defeat. Their teamwork and coordination were much smoother and their strikes precise. They were beginning to land superficial strikes to the Corporal but nothing but scratches.
"Again." Linx had finally succeeded in his tier up and it was apparent immediately like with Cain. The battles shifted and Varris was now putting more effort into her strikes. They were battered into the ground lasting five to six minutes per battle before they reset and did it again. Then it all came together. Sorin stepped further into her guard and locked both of her arms down causing Varris's eyes to go wide with surprise as Linx and Cain came in from her blind spots slashing high from Cain and low from Linx. The low shots to the back of her knees caused her legs to give out and the shot going to her neck was stopped by gain on impact to not attempt to kill their instructor.
"Finally...it would seem the pups have finally figured out how to walk. You are done for the day. Rest and be prepared for tomorrow as things only get harder from here. Dismissed."
- A little while later -
"What do you think Corporal? Does he fit the description given by your peer?" Sergeant Agron asked from his seat looking at the paused frame of Sorin stepping into her guard to the decisive move of the fight.
"He is definitely different from others I have seen. I don't think he is a genius, but he might be an elite of the class for sure, especially now that he has obtained a regeneration ability which is extremely uncommon for a fire path user." Varris said.
"I am pleased that this class has a few like him. The Werewolf Sheth has developed a mirror image ability to double himself for a moment to deliver an attack that is just as strong as the primary and the Elf Chorus as developed a teleportation ability. We stand to gain honors this year provided we do well in the exam." The Sergeant took on a more serious expression.
"I want you to keep an eye on that Sorin though. I feel there is something we are not seeing with him, and it makes me uneasy. I feel like he is concealing much." He said.
"Yes Sergeant. I will let you know if I see or hear anything." Came the expected reply of a subordinate.
"Thank you for the report, Corporal. Dismissed."