The sun shone brightly over the training clearing, surrounded by tall trees that formed a natural circle. Towan and Elliot stretched as Kade and Rhys adjusted the wraps on their wrists. It was the first time the four of them trained together, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

"Ready, boys?" Rhys asked with a confident smile.

"More than ready!" Towan replied, bouncing on his feet. Elliot, on the other hand, remained silent, focusing his gaze on the ground.

Kade observed the two brothers with a thoughtful expression. "Let’s try something. Rhys and I will stay on defense, and you two will try to bring us down. Your goal is to take us down at least once."

Towan raised an eyebrow. "That’s it? Sounds easy."

Rhys chuckled lightly. "Oh, it won’t be as easy as you think. You’ve got one hour. Ready? Go!"

Towan didn’t wait another second. His body glowed faintly as he channeled essentia to boost his speed, launching a flurry of quick strikes at Kade. However, Kade moved fluidly, blocking each blow with precision.

"You’ve got strength, but speed alone isn’t enough. Where’s your strategy?" Kade said, redirecting Towan’s final strike with a smooth motion.

Meanwhile, Elliot observed carefully, calculating. Then, he charged toward Rhys, but unlike his brother, his movements were more measured. He aimed a direct punch at Rhys’s torso, but Rhys barely moved, catching Elliot’s fist with ease.

"Nice try, but you’ll need to surprise me."

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Minutes passed, and Towan and Elliot tried everything: combinations of attacks, feints, even distraction attempts. However, Rhys and Kade demonstrated impeccable synchronization, as if they could predict every move.

Towan panted, hands on his knees. "This is impossible! It’s like they’re reading our minds!"

Elliot looked at his brother, thinking. "It’s not mind reading, Towan. Watch how they move. It’s like... they anticipate what we’ll do before we do it."

Rhys nodded from across the clearing. "That’s right. In combat, it’s not just about strength or speed. You have to read your opponent, understand their patterns."

"How are we supposed to do that if we can’t even touch you?" Towan protested.

Kade, who had remained calm, interjected. "Think as a team. You’ve been training together all this time. You have something we don’t: a unique connection. Use it."

Elliot nodded slowly. "He’s right, Towan. We’re brothers. We know how to complement each other."

Towan grinned. "You thinking what I’m thinking?"

"Of course."

Both assumed defensive stances but didn’t attack immediately. Instead, they began moving in sync, alternating directions, as if trying to confuse Rhys and Kade.

"Interesting..." Kade murmured, raising his guard.

Towan rushed at Kade again, but at the last second, shifted direction toward Rhys, throwing a punch that, while blocked, forced Rhys to step back. In that instant, Elliot appeared behind his brother, using the created opening to attempt a sweeping kick at Rhys’s legs.

"Close one!" Rhys exclaimed, jumping just in time to avoid the combined attack.

For the first time, Kade and Rhys showed a hint of unease. The brothers’ strategy was starting to pay off. However, time ran out before they could achieve their goal.

Rhys and Kade relaxed, taking deep breaths. "You’ve got potential. If you master that connection, you’ll be an unstoppable force."

Towan collapsed to the ground, exhausted. "I thought we were going to get crushed, but... I feel like we learned a lot."

Elliot, still standing, looked at Rhys. "Thanks for the lesson. We know what to improve."

Kade gave a faint smile. "This is just the beginning. If we keep training together, you might surpass us one day. But for now..."

"For now, keep working hard," Rhys concluded.

The sun began to set, bathing the clearing in orange hues. The four remained silent for a moment, enjoying the shared exhaustion and the newfound camaraderie.