Samael jolted up as his eyes wandered around, absorbing the surroundings only to be greeted by metal... and more metal.

The walls, the ceiling, and the floor were all made of steel; heck, even some of the furniture was made of iron. There was also that same heat present in the air.

Checking his body, Samael winced as he took off his clothes, revealing bandages wrapped around his entire torso and arms.

Remembering the events that occurred, Samael sighed. It seems he got burnt pretty badly, and he thought he had good heat resistance. It turns out heat resistance is different from fire resistance.

Nonetheless, he managed to win over the Mellagun Grandmaster, so his sacrifice paid off in the end.

On cue, the doors of his room opened as Icarius entered. "It seems you're already awake. How's your burns?" he asked.

"It stings, but I'll live," Samael said as he wore his clothes back. "How about my armour?"

"Well, that's gone now," Icarius said.

Samuel clicked his tongue. That was his last reserve of armor. He doesn't even have any money since he hasn't been doing any commissions.

"Don't worry about your gear; since that bastard accepted you as his disciple, there is no doubt he'll make a new one that suits you better," Icarius said as he sat down. "Fuck, this place is hot."

"Now what?" Samael asked.

"Now your training under his care begins," Icarius said.

"When?" Samael enquired.

"He didn't specify. I think he wants you to approach him first," Icarius mentioned.

"Then I guess now would be a good time," Samael muttered.

"You sure? You're all battered up," Icarius said.

"I'll be fine," Samuel said as he rose up and did a few stretches.

"If you say so," Icarius said as he rose up. "I'll be going for now; if you need me, you'll most likely find me in my quarters."

As he approached the door, he halted his steps. "Oh yeah, Ajax is currently in the modified training grounds."

Without another word, he left as Samael scratched his head. Modified training ground? Where even is that?

***

After leaving his room and wandering about with occasional questions to the locals, Samael eventually found the modified training grounds.

Upon arrival, he was left speechless at the sight of the place.

If it weren't for the design of the structures, he would have believed he was currently in the ruins of an old village. But how did they get these here?

"Oh? You must be Samael," a voice whispered.

Samael's eyes widened as he swiftly drew out Crimson Raven before swinging wide. However, he struck nothing but air.

What—

"You're quite feisty too," the voice said. "But I like that."

Shifting his gaze back and forth, Samael began to feel as though the place had become smaller and tighter. Even his Void compass could not detect where the Voice was coming from.

Scanning the ruins, Samael's eyes widened when a tendril of shadow lashed at him, blocking a wooden dagger that nearly struck him.

"Enough games," Ajax said as he strode towards the boy.

"What's happening?" Samael asked.

"That's Mendez," Ajax said. "He's crazy."

"No need to tell me twice," Samael said.

"Oh, come on, you're going to hurt my poor heart," Mendez said as he chuckled. "Let's see how far you'll go."

Samael tightened his grip as he heightened his senses, sharpening them as he expanded his Void compass.

"But first, you leave."

As his voice faded, the entire ruins began to shift as mechanical sounds echoed from beneath, revealing large machines connected to the buildings as they moved in unison, separating him from Ajax.

"Now then, let's do this again, shall we?"

Shifting his gaze around, Samael's eyes widened as he dove fast, another wooden dagger passing by his head as it struck the ground a few meters from him.

"You're fast, huh," Mendez said. "But are you this fast?"

Samael cussed under his breath as multiple daggers streaked towards him. Using his speed and with enhancements from Void flow, he weaved back and forth, pivoting and dashing all over the place as the wooden daggers came down like rain.

"Good! Now faster!"

Faster?! Samael's face paled.

Unable to react in time, a wooden dagger smashed against his shoulder, cracking his Void skin as he gritted his teeth.

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Pushing himself further, he doubled his speed as he avoided one dagger after the other.

Just how many daggers does he have?!

As the rain of daggers continued on, minutes passed by as Samuel dropped down to one knee, his breathing ragged.

Shifting his gaze ahead, a figure strode out from the darkness as he clapped and chuckled.

"You did well, very well for a first-timer," Mendez said, revealing a man with black hair, black eyes, and tanned skin wearing a leather tunic. He didn't even break a sweat.

"Well, I guess that's to be expected if you survived Ishkar," Mendez said. "But he and I are different. He trains you to fight, and I train you to kill."

"What's the difference?" Samuel asked as he wiped the droplets of sweat from his chin.

A smirk formed in the man's lips. "Fighting is the tool; killing is the objective."

On cue, the metal ruins began to shift once more, revealing Ajax on the other side, surrounded by multiple... Mendez's?

Mendez laughed violently as he smacked his thighs. "Oh man, that confused face really is the best."

Samael sighed. Great, he's also insane.

"That's my ability, Mirror," Mendez said as he snapped his fingers. As he did, the other clones were swiftly liquefied as they returned to his shadow.

"You also utilise shadows?" Samael asked.

"Pretty much, but also no," Mendez said. "I'm a dual wielder, or what is commonly referred to as a dualist," Mendez said.

"What's your other element?" Samael asked.

"Darkness," Mendez said as he stepped back, disappearing before Samael's eyes as his brows furrowed. His darkness wasn't something he could see through.

"Since I answered you, how about you tell me yours?" he asked.

"I can't," Samael said.

"Why not?" Mendez asked. "Ain't fair, don't you think?"

"I can't tell you, but I can show you," Samael proposed.

"Well, that'll do," Mendez said.

Raising his hand, Samuel spoke.

"Void Augmentation."

Torrents of pitch-black matter surged out of thin air as it began to seep in his flesh, warping his skin black and hardening it.

"Interesting," Mendez said as he appeared before Samael, grabbing his arm as he swiftly retracted, his eyes shifting to the small burn in his palm. "Very interesting."

"Are you also a dualist? Perhaps flame and darkness? No, I should have been able to see through the darkness you made since I'm stronger... not to mention, this isn't a burn but corrosion," Mendez said. "You really aren't going to tell me?"

"No," Samael refused as he deactivated the ability.

"Ohh, I like that; you're quite the tease," Mendez said as he grinned, causing Samael to shiver.

"Enough with the chitchat. He's here, so explain how you'll train us," Ajax cut in.

"Psh! You're no fun," Mendez said.

"Explain. Now," Ajax repeated once more.

"Fine!" Mendez said. "It's really simple; since I've already seen your elements, I've made a rough plan in my head."

"And what's that?" Samuel asked.

"First, are these?" Mendez said as he pointed at his eyes.

"Eyes?" Samael asked.

"Well, vision, to be precise," Mendez said. "Do you know why some strong people and assassins are so good at their jobs?"

"Because they're strong," Samael asked.

"No, strength is also but a tool. The reason is because of their vision," Mendez said as he swept his gaze all over Samael. "Right now, I can see about a dozen critical points in your body, and each and every one of them is but a breath's distance from me."

Critical points? Is he able to see weaknesses in our bodies? Samael wondered.

"Bingo!" Mendez said as he pointed at Samael. "It is precisely what you're thinking. Weaknesses!"

"Anything else?" Ajax asked.

Mendez held his chest once more. "Ouch! Your tongue is sharp! Do you know how long I rehearsed that?!"

"I don't care," Ajax swatted down.

Mendez let out a deep breath as his shoulders slumped. "Fine, fine."

"The second thing is lethality," Mendez said.

"Lethality?" Samael asked.

"That's it! That's supposed to be your attitude!" Mendez scowled at Ajax, but the man was like a steel wall.

"Lethality is the utilisation of your bloodlust. Most commonly, awakened people often disregard their bloodlust when they acquire astral pressure since they believe it's superior, but no!"

"Are you saying astral pressure is weaker than bloodlust?" Ajax asked.

"No, I'm not saying either one is stronger or weaker. What I'm saying is that both have their own uses and, when used properly, can bring great results!" Mendez said.

"Elaborate," Ajax said.

"Fine," Mendez said as he approached Ajax.

As his foot landed, a bloodcurdling atmosphere struck Samael and Ajax straight in the face, as though making one mistake was all it takes to kill them.

"So this is bloodlust in use?" Samael muttered.

"Correct," Mendez said as he swiftly retracted his killing intent. "Let's move on to the last part."

"That's...?" Samael asked.

"Kill path," Mendez said. "The final lesson is called kill path."

"What's that?" Samael asked.

"Like the name suggests, it is a path," Mendez said as he unsheathed his dagger, revealing the fine engravings on its surface. "Learning how to view weaknesses and utilise bloodlust is all for naught if you are unable to master the kill path. It is the culmination of both the first teachings as it will serve as the foundation of the road towards your target."

Without warning, Mendez's figure blurred as he appeared inches before Samael, the tip of his dagger centimetres from Samael's pupils.

"This is kill path," Mendez said as he retracted his blade. "For now, that's all you need to know. Our training formally begins tommorow."

Not giving the two a chance to respond, he left in a hurry.

It was going to be another eventful month.

***

Olaf slammed his steel hammer down against a glowing red metal in front of him, shaping it with great care and mastery as it took its first steps into becoming a weapon of destruction.

Channelling his flames, Olaf delicately controlled the temperature, allowing the weapon to harden beyond it's normal capacity. When it had cooled, he dropped it; it was finished.

Within the steel confines of his forge, a knock echoed throughout the walls as Olaf shifted his gaze back.

"So you've finally come," Olaf said. "I'm guessing you are ready?"

"As ready as I'll be," Samael said.

Shifting his attention back to the forge, Olaf took out another piece of metal rod. "In return for destroying your armour, I'll craft you a new one. It was of bad quality in the first place."

Samuel nodded as he smiled wryly. That armour had helped him numerous times, and to him it was trash?

"I'll also craft you a new weapon," Olaf said. "What do you want?"

"I don't want any other weapons," Samael said as Olaf halted his arm.

"Do you think I'm unworthy of crafting you a blade? Or do you deem your needs too high for my expertise?" Olaf asked as he looked at Samael.

"No, I simply possess something of great value that no other weapon can surpass," Samael said.

"Oh? Show me then," Olaf said.

"This," Samael said as he reached out ahead, unsheathing his axe.

As the blade met the light of the forge, Olaf felt chills travel through his spine as he watched the shine bounce off the onyx black surface of the weapon.

Without knowing it, he reached out to the blade when Samael pulled back.

"This weapon... isn't too fond of contact," Samael said.

"Most weapons with will aren't," Olaf said as Samael's brows rose.

"How do you know it has a will?" he asked.

"I have my ways," Olaf said. "But yours is different. It not only holds a will, but it is sentient... it is vengeful."

"Yes," Samael muttered as he reminisced about the first time handling the blade.

"But give me permission, and it will not retaliate," Olaf said.

Samael, hesitant at first, reluctantly handed the blade to the man.

Without fear, Olaf took the blade as his eyes shone. "Beautiful," he muttered.

Coming closer to the light of the forge, he raised the blade as he thoroughly examined every engraving and design it had. "Where did you get such a fine weapon?"

"Aphemis allowed me to enter her vault. I found it when I had an epiphany," Samael said.

"Epiphany? You're one lucky sod. Many won't even have the chance for such an event," Olaf said.

"What of it?" Samael asked. "I'm sure many of your weapons far surpass it."

"Oh, but that's where you're mistaken," Olaf said. "Among all my creations and masterpieces, not one of them is better than this blade."

Samuel's brows rose. "How...?"

"Simple," Olaf said. "Most master blacksmiths ambition is to make a blade that is durable and able to cut anything, but a grandmaster blacksmith is way past that. What we seek is to create a soul for a blade, allowing it to achieve the one thing all other blades fail at."

"And that's...?" Samael asked.

Olaf caressed the surface of the weapon.

"A true purpose."