"What in the hell are you on about Lutens? I knew that you were crazy, but not this bad!" shouted Iruim in disbelief. "You really wish Atenyos to go up against two of your combatants? A ring bearer who received his ring less than a month ago? Is there something wrong with you?" He leaned forward, using rational words pleading to Lutens'.

Smirking as though nothing of what just happened with Iruim's outburst had actually happened, Lutens continued in a very measured tone, almost casual, "Ring? He didn't get just a ring. Rings, he got two: a white, pure ring and a pure black one. The only person in all the history of Orsus to be so gifted with such a combination.". "So don't talk to me as if I am the madman here, since I'm pushing limits that he might've not realized himself".

Taken aback, Iruim's eyes narrowed with doubt carved across his face. He then asked in disbelief: "Setis agreed to this madness?".

"Yes, Setis approved it," Lutens said. "And you know full well that this boy has more to him than the eye can see. You said so yourself: his fighting style, his stance-it is all oddly familiar, and strange. This is not a test of his strength, but one of comprehension-to understand who he is and what he is capable of.”

Iruim faltered, anger ebbing into his doubts. "You're serious about this? You really think this is the way to handle it?"

Lutens leaned forward, his voice falling and sharpening. "We won't let him get hurt. He is a part of your guild now, Iruim; his success reflects upon you. But we have to find out if he's one we can trust and whether investing in him will be worth our while. There will be no rules in this match, but that does not mean I will let things go too far. If his life is in danger, I'll stop it myself. Trust me on that.”

The weight of Lutens' words hung in the air, and a long silence passed while Iruim digested them. Finally, he let out his breath, some tension in his shoulders easing. "Fine. But if anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible. He's under my watch now, representing my guild. If you're wrong about this…." He trailed off, the threat unsaid.

Lutens nodded, the trace of a smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't ask for anything better. Kantara will be similarly briefed. Just watch-I have an idea this might prove to be a good more informative than either of us anticipate."

Iruim approved, though his eyes had not lost their doubt. With certainty that he did right, Lutens headed off to debrief Kantara. The air between the two leaders was thick, taut with tension. Disapproval was clear within Kantara, but with three emperors backing this, there was little authority with him to oppose it. Finally, he prepared for the first day of joint training; but unease settled on him like a storm across the horizon.

Together, the team headed towards the training grounds, their footsteps heavy with excitement and nervous anticipation. The air vibrated with tension as both teams stood under the open sky. Before them lay the vast, open training field, bordered by tall trees and strong wooden fences.

Kantara and Lutens were both standing in the middle, silencing the murmurs right away. Lutens stood forward, with the keen, sharp gaze of his eyes, and prepared to address the teams:.

"Today begins your joint training," Lutens announced, his voice ringing with authority. "This is not just an exercise but an opportunity to test your limits, to grow stronger, and to prove yourselves. But first, there are rules that you will follow strictly."

He raised a hand, and the atmosphere grew heavier. "These are the rules of engagement:

1. No one may strike an opponent who is on the ground and unable to defend themselves.

2. No one may use killing blows against an opponent.

3. A fight is over when an opponent surrenders or when either Kantara or I call it off.

4. If a fight does not end in surrender, the winner will be decided via vote by myself and Kantara.

5. Any interference from other team members will automatically result in the disqualification of the intruding party's representative."

He let the words sink in, his piercing gaze sweeping over both teams. "Honor and discipline must guide your actions. Break these rules, and there will be consequences."

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Kantara stepped forward to announce the pairings. His voice was full of authority as he called out the matchups:

Ipsum vs. Arkinos

Luterra vs. Savina

Cassian vs. Darius

Elvora vs. Lurianne

Luscian vs. Fantcus

Revoir vs. Ormany

Marcellus vs. Crphis

Atenyos vs. Mantrey and Klmatra

The silence was stunning, Atenyos blinked in disbelief, while murmurs erupted among both teams.

"What?" Mantrey's voice boomed as he stepped forward. His sharp features, his dark hair tied back neatly, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to burn with outrage. "Are you kidding me? You're pitting me and Klmatra against him?" He gestured at Atenyos with disdain. "This is a joke, right?"

Kantara said nothing. His face was impassive. Lutens stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative, cutting through the voices. "This was my decision, Mantrey. Not Kantara's. You will fight Atenyos together, and you will not hold back. Give him everything you've got."

Mantrey's jaw clenched. "I don't need Klmatra's help to take him down. Do you think I'm incapable?"

"This isn't about capability," Lutens replied sharply. "This is about pushing limits. You and Klmatra will fight, and the rules will not apply to this match. This has been agreed upon with Iruim."

There was no room for arguing after the weight of Lutens' words. Mantrey gritted his teeth, turning his glare toward Atenyos. "Fine," he growled. "But don't think for a second I'll go easy on you.

Klmatra said nothing. His face was impassive, but the vines that wrapped his feet quivered. Atenyos locked eyes with them both, a thrill sparking in his chest. A faint smile tugged at his lips, his excitement impossible to conceal.

"Do your best," Atenyos said, his tone mocking. The air seemed heavier as Mantrey scowled, Klmatra's usually calm face darkening.

Lurianne, observing from the side, gave Atenyos a faint smile, her eyes narrowing as though she was sizing him up. Mantrey scoffed. “You’re a madman,” he muttered.

With the tension still thick in the air, Lutens nodded toward Kantara to begin the first fight.

Ipsum vs. Arkinos

With every confident step into the middle of the field, there came a corresponding smirk in Ipsum's eyes. Uncared-for, tangerine-orange hair set red-eyed intensity loose as a hunter, like him, sought his prey. Approaching as well, Arkinos was big, powerful. His brown skin shimmered in the sun while ripples beneath his muscles made their own displays at each motion. His rough, angular hair and piercing gray eyes gave the impression that he was a hard bit of stone already.

"Ready?" Kantara's voice sliced through the silence.

Both fighters nodded and the match began.

Arkinos hunched forward, slapping his palm upon the ground. In an instant, his skin turned into living stone, with its texture like granite mixed with tempered steel. Every step he took shook the ground, it seemed.

Ipsum wasted no time. Charging forward, his fists were heated so intensely that the air around them shimmered. He swung, and the blow landed perfectly against Arkinos's stone-covered arm.

"Boom!"

The ground beneath them cracked from the force of the impact, but Arkinos didn't flinch. Instead, he retaliated with a powerful punch that Ipsum barely dodged.

"You hit like a house," Ipsum said, shaking his slightly bruised hand.

"And we're just starting," Arkinos retorted, swinging. This time he made contact and sent Ipsum skating backward.

But Ipsum wasn't one to stay down. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the grin never leaving his face. His hand heated up once more, the air rippling with the sheer intensity of it. When he struck again, the heat melted part of the stone on Arkinos's arm.

Arkinos grunted loudly but reached his hand to the ground, healing the scarred stone. Instantly, he reached for the blade at his side, his body folding into shining metal.

Each of these blows shook the ground. The continuous punches of Arkinos, the heat-based attack by Ipsum-scarred through, seared the field and created cut wounds on his arms while its scorching heat had partially melted sections of Arkinos's armored body-but neither showed any signs of yielding.

Finally, Ipsum took advantage of a small opening. With a heated punch, he melted part of Arkinos's chest, and as Arkinos stepped back to regenerate, Ipsum froze his leg with a swift kick. The ice climbed up Arkinos's thigh, temporarily immobilizing him.

Arkinos touched his blade again, but the weapon's diminished size showed it couldn't sustain much more regeneration. Ipsum seized the moment, delivering a final blow that knocked Arkinos to the ground.

"Enough!" Kantara's voice rang out, halting Ipsum mid-swing. The heat from his hand dissipated as he stepped back and his ice-cold breath let out a tiny hint of freezing water vapor as he was breathing heavily.

Ipsum extended a hand to Arkinos, who accepted it after a moment of hesitation. “You’re strong,” Arkinos admitted, his voice grudging but genuine.

“So are you,” Ipsum replied, smirking. “Good fight.”

The teams applauded as the two fighters returned to their respective sides. Kantara’s team congratulated Ipsum, and Lutens approached Arkinos with a nod. “You fought well,” he said. “Rest and prepare for tomorrow.”

Back in the briefing room, it was light-hearted. Kantara's team congratulated Ipsum, spirits high at this start. Cassian even offered his nod of approval, not the man to give out compliments so readily. Well done," said Kantara, speaking to Ipsum now. "You proved strong and strategic on that course. Impressive." The grin on Ipsum was quite wide. "Just doing my job, boss.”

The tone of Kantara changed, and he faced Atenyos. "Now, Atenyos, I have to have a word with you."

Ipsum gave a slight nod to Atenyos, and a pat on his shoulder and as puzzled as the team was, but without a word of protest, Ipsum and the others slowly filed out of the room and left Atenyos to Kantara.

At the soft click of the door, Atenyos turned to meet Kantara's eyes, his mind racing with what would happen next.