Echo’s muscles ached as he and Rook stood at the edge of the grand arena, feeling the weight of what was to come. Today marked the beginning of Stage 1 in the Supreme Combat Exercise—a trial that would push their limits like never before. The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows across the battleground. The arena was enormous, its expanse sprawling out like a desert of cracked earth, the distant walls etched with symbols of power and ancient history.
Echo’s heart pounded as his fingers twitched, itching for a weapon. The feeling was strange—he was used to facing obstacles, but this was different. Today, the true test would begin. The Veilmark had already been discussed, but Echo knew, deep down, that activating it wasn’t something to take lightly. Not yet, anyway.
Beside him, Rook was stretching, his usual confident demeanor tempered with a mix of nervousness and excitement. “I guess this is it,” he said, trying to mask the unease in his voice with a grin. “Stage 1. We’ll be pushing through this together, right?”
Echo nodded, his jaw tightening. “Yeah, together.”
The mentors stood at the edge of the arena, watching them closely. Sentinel’s expression was stoic, while Gladiator’s usual arrogance was replaced with a rare, solemn intensity. They had both seen countless trainees go through the Supreme Combat Exercise, but something about Echo and Rook had made them choose to guide them personally. This would be different.
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The Rules of Stage 1: Bone (Foundation)
Gladiator’s voice boomed, amplified by a holographic system that ensured every word reached the two trainees. “Today begins your journey. Stage 1: Bone. The foundation of everything. You’ll endure trials designed to strengthen your skeleton and increase your durability. This stage is about resistance—resistance to impact, to pressure, to stress. You will be weighed down, literally. The goal is simple: survive and adapt.”
Echo’s gaze flicked to Rook, who cracked his knuckles. The air felt thick with anticipation. “Are we ready?” Rook muttered under his breath.
“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Echo replied, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s get this over with.”
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The First Test
A deep rumbling echoed across the arena as a large mechanical structure rose from the ground—a massive weight tower with metal chains and an array of weighted discs. The air seemed to shimmer with a strange energy as the first challenge was revealed.
“Pick your weight,” Gladiator commanded, his voice cutting through the tension. “You’ll carry this on your back while performing a series of exercises to test your endurance. The weight is designed to simulate the pressure you’ll face in the coming stages. Begin.”
The two young warriors stepped forward, facing the challenge. A large metal plate hovered before them, each one adjustable in weight. Echo’s mind raced as he assessed the options. The heaviest weight seemed daunting, but he wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge.
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“Let’s see if we can do this without killing ourselves,” Rook joked, though there was a nervous edge to his voice.
Echo chose the heaviest weight—a 100kg plate that would press down on him from all sides, simulating the strain of carrying an impossible burden. The weight locked into place, the heavy clank of metal reverberating through the air. It felt almost suffocating, as though the weight of the world was now on his shoulders.
Rook, not one to back down, followed suit, though his plate was slightly smaller at 85kg.
Gladiator gave them a sharp nod. “Now, begin the circuit. You will run, crawl, climb, and leap. Every movement counts.”
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The Circuit
With a signal from their mentors, Echo and Rook were off. The circuit was grueling. They ran through the sand-swept arena, every step a battle against the weight. Their legs burned, and their muscles screamed, but they kept moving, pushing forward despite the crushing fatigue.
The first section of the circuit was a simple sprint. Echo’s body strained against the 100kg weight. Each step felt like his bones might snap, his muscles shaking with the effort. But he kept going, determined not to let this weight defeat him.
Behind him, Rook was doing the same, though Echo could hear the grunts of his friend as they pushed through the grueling course. The weight plates on their backs threatened to drag them down with each stride, but they didn’t stop.
The next part of the test required crawling under low-hanging metal beams, each one barely high enough to fit their bodies. The sand scraped at their skin as they slithered through, dragging their massive weights with them. Sweat dripped down their faces, blurring their vision, but still, they pressed on.
After that, it was a climbing challenge. Echo gritted his teeth as he scaled a steep wall, every muscle in his body screaming. The weight on his back shifted, threatening to topple him, but he gritted his teeth and continued to climb. Each movement was a battle—each inch gained felt like a victory.
Rook was just behind him, pushing forward with equal determination. Echo could hear his friend’s strained breaths, but they were in sync—both of them driving toward the end.
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The Finish Line
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the final challenge came: a leap across a wide gap. Echo’s legs felt like lead, his vision blurry from exhaustion, but he gathered all the strength he had left, then propelled himself forward. The world seemed to slow as he sailed through the air, landing heavily on the other side.
He collapsed, panting, the weight still strapped to his back. Rook was just a few seconds behind him, also making the leap and landing in a heap beside him.
“We did it,” Rook wheezed, gasping for air. “That was... insane.”
Echo didn’t respond immediately. His chest was heaving, his breath ragged. He could feel the weight of the exercise pressing into every fiber of his being. His bones felt sore, his body drained, but the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. This was only the beginning.
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The Results
The mentors were watching silently, their expressions unreadable. Finally, Gladiator spoke. “You’ve both made it through the first trial. Barely. But that’s good. Stage 1 is about foundation, about building strength. But understand this: you’ve only scratched the surface. The next stages will be harder. Much harder.”
Sentinel’s voice followed, softer but no less stern. “Your bones are stronger now. Your endurance is better. But that’s just the first step. There is much more to come.”
As Echo and Rook sat on the ground, sweat dripping from their faces, they realized that this was just the beginning. The Supreme Combat Exercise had started, and there would be no turning back.