Echo’s muscles were already beginning to burn from the previous day’s exercises, but nothing could have prepared him for what awaited him on Day 11.

“Get ready,” Sentinel’s voice rang out across the training yard, his presence steady and commanding. "Today, the difficulty doubles.”

Echo looked up at his mentor, heart racing. They had been pushing hard over the last ten days, but this—this was something different. The exercises had been grueling enough, but the idea of doubling the difficulty sent a chill down his spine. Rook stood beside him, just as tense, but grinning in that familiar cocky way.

Sentinel didn’t waste words. He gestured to a nearby crate, from which Gladiator emerged, carrying large metal bracelets. Four of them.

“These,” Gladiator explained, his voice calm yet tinged with a hint of anticipation, “are 30-kilogram weight bracelets for your arms and legs. You will wear them during every exercise from now on. Your movements will be restricted, your body will feel the weight, and every task you complete will challenge you like never before.”

Echo took the bracelet in his hands, feeling the solid weight. It was heavier than he expected, solid and unyielding. He glanced at Rook, who was already strapping his bracelets on, barely able to contain his excitement.

“This is going to suck,” Echo muttered under his breath, but he didn’t hesitate. He fastened the heavy bands around his arms and legs, wincing slightly as the weight settled in.

“We’re pushing you to the brink of what your body can handle,” Gladiator continued, looking at them both with an unreadable expression. “But remember this—you have a goal. The more weight you carry, the stronger you become. You’re training for the real trials ahead, and this is the crucible where you’ll be forged.”

Echo swallowed, trying to steady his breathing as he adjusted to the weight. His limbs felt sluggish, already heavier than they had ever been before. The bracelets were unyielding, a constant reminder of the challenge ahead.

Day 11

The first exercise was simple, or so Echo had thought at the beginning: running. Easy, right? But with the 30-kilogram bracelets strapped to his limbs, each step felt like dragging a boulder behind him. His legs screamed in protest with every stride, the added weight pushing his limits.

“Move faster!” Gladiator barked from the sidelines. “You’re not done yet, Rook!”

Echo glanced over to see Rook, who had already managed to match Gladiator’s pace, his face flushed but determined. It irritated Echo in a way, but it also drove him forward. He pushed harder, feeling his legs burn, the muscles straining against the burden. His arms swung mechanically with each stride, but he refused to stop.

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The seconds turned into minutes, and the minutes turned into an hour. By the end of the run, Echo’s lungs burned, his body on the verge of collapse, but the task wasn’t finished. They weren’t allowed to rest.

Next came the strength exercises: deadlifts and squats. Every rep was more grueling than the last, the extra weight on his arms and legs amplifying the strain. His joints groaned under the pressure, his body ached in places he didn’t know existed.

And still, Gladiator was relentless. “Again. And again. Push yourself!”

Day 12

The second day of training under the new regime was even worse. By now, Echo had grown accustomed to the weight, but that didn’t make it any easier. The soreness had settled into his muscles like a deep ache, and his body screamed at him to stop. He pushed on, through the exhaustion, through the pain, forcing himself to keep moving.

Today's training involved a series of agility exercises. The weight dragged him down, but he couldn't afford to let it slow him. Every jump, every pivot, felt like his limbs were being shackled by invisible chains. He could hear the pounding of his heart in his ears as he sprinted between cones, his movements slow and deliberate under the weight.

“Focus!” Sentinel called from the sidelines, watching him closely. “Your body is screaming for rest, but you can’t stop. This is where your mental strength will come into play.”

The drills were endless—jumps, climbs, and sprints, all with the same burden of the heavy bracelets. At some point, Echo stopped thinking about the pain. It became a background noise, just like the pounding of his heart. He moved, one step at a time, each stride feeling like a victory.

The day ended with a long endurance test: carrying weighted sandbags. After the last few hours, the additional weight felt like it might crush him. His legs trembled with every step, but there was no choice but to keep moving.

Day 13

By the third day, Echo felt like his body was coming apart at the seams. The physical stress of the bracelets combined with the relentless exercises had left him exhausted, both physically and mentally. His thoughts began to blur as the fatigue set in.

But then, Gladiator had a new challenge for them: combat drills. It was no longer about running, jumping, or carrying weight—it was about fighting under pressure, under the strain of the bracelets.

Echo and Rook were to fight each other, but this time, it wasn’t just about skill. It was about fighting while being weighed down, while under the crushing weight of their exhaustion.

“Ready, Echo?” Rook called out, his voice louder than usual, tinged with excitement. Despite his exhaustion, Rook seemed to thrive under pressure.

Echo gave him a tired smile. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The fight was intense from the start. Every movement was labored, and both of them stumbled under the weight of the 30-kilogram bracelets. Their attacks were slower, more deliberate, and each blow felt like a battle against their own bodies. But the challenge pushed them forward—both of them knew that this was part of the process. If they wanted to survive what was to come, they had to learn to fight while under pressure.

By the end of the day, both of them were bruised and bloodied, but the experience had brought something new: a stronger resolve. They were closer to breaking, but they had also come closer to mastering their limitations.

As they staggered to a stop, gasping for breath, Gladiator’s voice rang out once more, sounding almost approving.

“Not bad. But tomorrow, you do it again. And you do it better. No exceptions.”

Echo collapsed onto the ground, feeling every inch of the weight pressing down on him. Rook dropped next to him, groaning but laughing through the pain.

“You sure we’re not being punished?” Rook muttered, his voice dry.

Echo shot him a grin. “We are. But this is the only way we get stronger.”

And with that, they both sank into the dirt, breathing heavily, ready to face whatever came next.