Kapitel 18: Trial By Combat.

The consorts, now dressed in silver armor and armed with their chosen weapons, stood before the wooden statues. Commander Aethera, also clad in silver armor, stood before them, her expression stern as she addressed the group.

"Those weapons you're holding contain magical powers," she declared.

The consorts raised their eyebrows, confusion mixed with curiosity.

"Yes!" Commander Aethera continued, her voice firm. "You consorts may not have magical powers, but your weapons do. The weapon you chose will be the one you use in every battle. It has become your personal property. These magical weapons can sense your bravery as well as your weaknesses. If you're determined to kill someone, your weapon will sense it, and it will glow with magical light, striking your target in a single blow. But if you lack the resolve to defeat your enemy, your weapon will sense that too, and you'll be defeated."

Tharros murmured under his breath, rolling his eyes, "Who wouldn't want to kill their enemies?"

Commander Aethera ignored him and gestured toward the statues. "The statues before you also contain magical powers and possess great martial skills. Though they hold wooden weapons, while you have real ones, striking them down is no easy task. Until you defeat these statues, you cannot move to the next stage."

"Yes!" the consorts chorused in unison.

"Let's begin the training," Commander Aethera commanded, her gaze sweeping across the consorts. "Your first task is to defeat the wooden statues before you. Remember, your weapons sense your determination and bravery. If you're not fully committed to defeating your enemy, you'll fail."

The consorts nodded, tightening their grips on their weapons. With deep breaths, they charged at the wooden statues, their weapons flashing in the light.

Kae was the first to engage, his sword slashing through the air with a determined arc. The blade emitted a soft blue glow as it connected with the statue's wooden arm. The force of the blow was enough to make Kae wince from the reverberation, but the statue barely budged, its wooden surface showing no sign of damage.

Tharros approached his statue with caution, his dagger held low. He aimed for the chest, hoping to disable the statue with a precise strike. His weapon flashed with a greenish hue as it made contact, but the statue responded with a swift, unexpected parry, its wooden sword colliding with Tharros' dagger, pushing him back with a jolt.

The other consorts also joined the fray, their weapons gleaming as they struck. Each blow seemed powerful, yet the statues remained unyielding, their wooden swords moving with the precision and speed of seasoned warriors. The clash of weapons echoed through the training ground, the consorts' faces tense with concentration.

Kae gritted his teeth and launched a series of quick strikes, trying to find a weak point. His sword glowed brighter with each hit, but the statue countered every move with a defensive block. Kae's frustration grew as his efforts seemed in vain. Suddenly, the statue retaliated with a powerful swing, its wooden blade connecting with Kae's side, knocking the wind out of him. He staggered back, clutching his ribs.

"Keep going! They're just warming up. You'd better try harder, or when they start using full force, you might lose your lives to these statues!" Commander Aethera shouted, her voice full of urgency.

"They're tougher than they look," Tharros muttered, dodging a blow from his statue. He tried to maneuver around the statue, seeking an opening, but the statue moved with unnatural speed, matching his every step.

With a frustrated growl, Tharros feigned a high strike, then quickly dropped low, aiming for the statue's legs. But the statue anticipated his move, bringing its wooden sword down in a powerful arc that forced Tharros to roll out of the way, barely avoiding a crushing blow.

Kae, recovering from his earlier hit, decided to try a different approach. He circled his statue, waiting for the right moment. When the statue lunged at him, he sidestepped and slashed at its back with all his might. The impact made his sword hum with energy, but the statue quickly turned, swinging its wooden sword with brutal force. The blade struck Kae squarely in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground. He gasped in pain, clutching his abdomen as the statue loomed over him.

The other consorts were faring no better. They were being driven back, their weapons barely making a dent in the enchanted statues. Every time they struck, the statues retaliated with twice the force, their wooden weapons cracking against armor and flesh alike.

"How are they so powerful? How are we supposed to defeat them?" Kae murmured in frustration as he struggled to stand.

*Ding!*

{Did you not hear when the commander said the statues are enchanted with magical powers? They fight like martial arts masters.}

"I know! But how do I defeat it?" Kae asked desperately.

{Keep fighting until you defeat it. Treat it as an exercise to strengthen your muscles.}

"What the heck? It's hitting me badly here!" Kae yelled, but the system offered no response. "Damn you, system!" he cursed under his breath.

Commander Aethera placed her hand on her forehead in frustration as she watched the consorts being beaten by the wooden statues. Injured and bleeding from the relentless attacks, the consorts struggled to keep up.

Kae fought back but was repeatedly struck by the statue. Finally, a powerful blow to his stomach forced him to cough up a mouthful of blood.

"Kae!" Tharros shouted, his face stricken with worry as he ran to his fallen comrade. The statue attacked Tharros as well, striking him hard on the back as he shielded Kae.

The other consorts had also tumbled to the ground, wincing in pain as the statues continued their relentless assault.

"Are you just going to watch us die?!" Tharros yelled in anger, glaring at Commander Aethera.

Commander Aethera's frustration turned to concern as she saw the consorts struggling. She hadn't expected them to be defeated so easily.

"Enough!" she shouted, raising her hand to halt the training.

The wooden statues froze, their swords suspended mid-swing. The consorts stumbled back, panting and injured, their weapons slipping from their hands.

Kae fell to his knees, clutching his stomach, his face pale. Tharros helped him up, his own dagger dropping from his grasp.

"This is ridiculous," Tharros muttered, glaring at Commander Aethera. "We can't even defeat wooden statues. How are we supposed to win wars?"

Commander Aethera's expression hardened. "You're not taking this training seriously. You're not using your weapons effectively."

"Those statues are enchanted with magic!" another consort protested, holding his bleeding head. "We're just humans without magical powers."

"What about your weapons?" Commander Aethera snapped, her face contorted with anger. "Your weapons are infused with magic. How can you be so useless? Some of you can't even hold your weapons properly. What did you learn before coming to the imperial palace?"

The consorts hung their heads in shame, their faces pale and battered. Kae, still clutching his stomach, looked up at Commander Aethera with a mix of anger and frustration.

"We're not useless," Kae said, his voice firm. "We're just... untrained. We didn't know what to expect from these statues."

Commander Aethera's expression softened slightly, but her tone remained stern. "Untrained? You're consorts of the imperial palace. You're supposed to be the best of the best. But what I see before me is a group of amateurs."

Tharros stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "That's not fair, Commander. We're trying our best. But these statues... they're not normal. They're enchanted with magic."

Commander Aethera's gaze turned cold. "I know that. And I expect you to adapt. You're not just fighting with your weapons; you're fighting with your wits. Use your surroundings, use teamwork, and use your weapons effectively."

"Let's try again," Commander Aethera declared. "And this time, I expect to see improvement."

"Try again?" Tharros shouted in disbelief. "We're all injured and bleeding, and you still expect us to keep fighting?"

"You'll be treated when you finish training," Commander Aethera replied, her tone unyielding. "You have one hour left. Get to it!"

With that, she raised her hand, and the statues began to move once more.