章 24: After 2 years

The sounds of wooden swords clashing echoed around the training ground as Atticus and Sirius engaged in an intense sparring session. Atticus was nimble, moving with precision and speed. Every movement calculated and strategic.

He flowed seamlessly between offensive strikes and defensive maneuvers, his body fueled by the mana he had mastered over the past two years.

His body worked like a well-oiled machine as he manipulated mana around his body parts. He switched between augmenting his leg with mana for a burst of speed to his arms for a powerful strike. Their swords danced in a deadly rhythm, a symphony of wood meeting wood.

Atticus' transformation over the past two years was nothing short of astounding. His once untrained body had grown into a formidable weapon, honed by relentless training. Atticus mana control of the past and now are like heaven and earth.

As the battle raged on, Atticus' mind wandered. He recalled the days of grueling drills. He had pushed himself to the limits and beyond, driven by his desire to become stronger and survive.

A lot had happened in two years. Ember had strived to get stronger, driven by the loss of Ariel. She awakened a few months after Ariel's death. She too had been training with a personal trainer in the Ravenstein advance training facilities.

Caldor joined her so she won't feel alone, but left a year ago to the Ravenstein's camp. When a Ravenstein reaches ten, they get sent to the camp for a period of three years, where they meet other Ravenstein children, learn to survive and prepare for the academy at the age of 15.

After the declaration of war against the Obsidian Order, a lot had happened. The Ravenstein were relentless in their pursuit of revenge. Bases in sector 4 were reduced to ruins, with lots of collateral damage. The very ground seemed to tremble under the weight of their fury.

After witnessing the magnitude of the Ravensteins' swift and powerful response, the Alverian family that controlled sector 4 attempted to exert pressure on them to curb their actions.

However, their efforts took a terrible turn when the Ravensteins' response escalated to a point of madness, even resorting to veiled threats of war.

The display of a furious Magnus, accompanied by an army of lightning-laden clouds, proved to be a formidable deterrent, effectively silencing any further attempts at negotiation.

Although the Alverian family members also had a Paragon rank, his expertise does not lay in fighting.

Back to the present, Atticus moved with agility, his body synchronized with the flow of mana coursing through his veins. Enhanced legs carried him swiftly towards Sirius, who stood unwavering with his wooden sword.

In a seamless motion, Atticus dodged a powerful overhead strike aimed at him, his instincts and mana-fueled reflexes guiding his every move.

With a calculated swing, Atticus unleashed a strike toward Sirius's throat, his arms empowered by the very essence that coursed within him.

Sirius smiled and in a blink of an eye, he vanished from Atticus' field of vision, only to reappear behind him in a flash. The impact of the wooden sword against the back of Atticus' head was swift and jarring.

A triumphant smile adorned Sirius' face as he scolded, "Are you trying to kill me, you brat?"

Atticus's retort was swift, his frustration evident, "You clearly cheated! You said you were going to power down to my level."

With a playful sigh, Sirius conceded, "Alright, alright, fair enough. You win this round. You can use the advanced training room now."

Atticus's eyes lit up, a victorious grin spreading across his face. "Finally!"

"Okay kid, calm down" Sirius replied smiling.

"Listen Atticus, I'm leaving the estate soon. I've got somethings to take care of. This might be our last lesson" Sirius added.

"Oh. How long will you be gone? " Atticus asked.

"Haha. I'll be back before you know it. Get ready for another intense training session soon!" Sirius said with a chuckle.

"I see. Thank you for teaching me" Atticus mouth twitched before dashing out of the training ground "Take your time old man!"

Sirius muttered under his breath, "Annoying little kid," but a hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his lips. He watched Atticus's energetic departure, a mixture of fondness and exasperation evident in his gaze.

As Atticus vanished from his sight, Sirius's thoughts took a more contemplative turn.

'He's a monster,' Sirius thought to himself, his mind racing back to the day he had taken Atticus under his wing. The decision had been a whim, an idle notion to pass the time.

Never had he anticipated that Atticus would be an individual of such extraordinary potential. Even after he found out he was awakened at 5, he attributed that to his high talent.

Sirius had witnessed Atticus's rapid growth firsthand, his progress exceeding all expectations. He couldn't help but marvel at the raw power that lay dormant within the young boy, waiting to be unleashed. The realization that Atticus was a true prodigy, filled Sirius with a sense of anticipation.

As he gazed at the training ground, his thoughts lingered on the future. He found himself eagerly awaiting the day when Atticus potential would fully bloom.

***

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