บท 20: Two Weeks Later
The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden rays upon the bustling streets of Sparta. Kit, Damon, and Theron strode through the vibrant city, the steady hum of life surrounding them. The streets were alive with merchants hawking their wares, customers bargaining for better prices, and soldiers patrolling the area.
Two weeks had passed since their grueling training started.
"Is it just me or there's just something missing today?" Damon asked the other two.
"Missing? I don't think there is?" Kit replied with a curious look on his face.
"I do feel that something is missing. It's as if my body is aching to do something." Theron replied.
"Yes, that's it. My body's feeling light today. Is it because training got cancelled?"
"I can't believe these two loves to suffer from trainings so much." Kit thought to himself as a weird look on his face appeared.
They walked on for a few more minutes until they reached Agis' house. His house was small, modest, and simple but was made with durable materials. As a spartan, function over form is what they believe in.
Upon entering his home, they were greeted by the sight of Damaris already present. His silhouette stood tall against a large window in which one can see dozens of Spartans training under the radiant sun. The Understone was present once again, directly in front of Damaris.
Agis went out of one of the rooms, his imposing figure casting a shadow on the ground. His stern gaze fell upon each of them, his eyes searching for signs of growth. With a measured nod and a smile on his face, he acknowledged their strength.
"Good, you've all arrived," Agis began, his voice commanding attention. "You have completed the first phase of your training."
Damon and Theron exchanged glances, a mixture of pride and satisfaction present in their eyes. They had learned how consistently use enhancements on their bodies.
"Damon, Theron, you two are growing and learning quickly but you still need to learn how to efficiently use your enhancements, especially you Theron."
"Thank you for your honest opinion." Theron said in a resolute voice. "I will overcome my weaknesses and become strong."
Agis gives a nod to Damon and Theron and casts his gaze upon Damaris.
"Damaris, you are undoubtedly a genius. I see great potential in you but right now you're still a dirty diamond that needs to be polished."
"I'll continue growing under your guidance." Damaris said sincerely.
For the final person, Damaris just walked towards Kit.
"You did good Kit." Damaris calmy said as he pats Kit's shoulder.
"Thank you." Kit simply replied while a gentle smile formed on his lips.
After talking to Kit, he pats the Understone gently, implying that the four shall repeat the test again.
The four had a fire in their eyes, determined and curious to know how stronger they have gotten in the past two weeks under the intense training of Agis.
Damon started first, he was calm and collected unlike the first time when he recklessly bashed his head on the stone. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, focusing the mana in his body to a single point, and pulls back his right arm while clenching his fist.
Seeing Damon's concentration, Kit and Theron was surprised since he was reckless and wild during the training, not showing any restraint. He's the type of person that would go into a fight without any regards to his safety.
Agis, on the other hand, was impressed but saw the hints of hesitation in his eyes and body.
"Is he nervous or afraid to fail?" Agis thought to himself.
Everyone in the room had their eyes wide opened, not processing what just Damon did. The Understone had a small dent after Damon's strike but that was not what surprised them. Damon bashed his head on to the Understone, without taking any serious damage.
"I'm sorry Agis, it doesn't feel right to punch the stone."
"Well, we all have our own way of fighting. You did great!" Agis said with a still confused look on his face.
"Damon, you have finally redeemed yourself!" Theron shouted with a proud look in his eyes. "Though, I would have knocked you down personally if you didn't use your head."
"Idiots." Damaris thought to himself.
Kit remained silent, but a subtle thumbs-up gesture directed at Damon conveyed his praise to him. The meaning of this unfamiliar gesture left Damon and the others confused.
It was now Theron's turn on the Understone test. Remembering the pain of his broken foot, he glared at the stone with such intensity that he looked like he was out for blood.
"I can't let myself be outdone by Damon, right?" Theron thought to himself. "I'll crack this stone no matter what."
As Theron stepped up to take his turn, the enhancements became even more evident. His stance was firm, his eyes locked onto the Understone with unwavering determination. His right leg lifted, toes pointed, and then came the swift motion of a roundhouse kick.
The impact of his kick was almost deafening, the sound of the strike echoing through the training area. Small cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the stone, radiating outwards from the point of contact. Theron's enhancements had allowed him to focus his strength with such precision that even the stone couldn't withstand the force.
"No fair, you hit it exactly on the dent I've made." Damon shouted.
"Isn't it common sense to hit the enemy at their weak points?" Theron rebutted.
The two continued to banter until Damaris stood up and walked towards the stone. He had such an intimidating presence that the two were left speechless mid conversation and sat down.
Even Agis couldn't help but feel a chill crawl down his spine at Damaris's presence. A tingle of excitement prickled over his skin, stirred by the realization that this young Spartan had the remarkable ability to command such attention.
As Damaris reaches the stone, he pulls back his entire body and right arm and clenches his fist so tightly that veins appeared. He strikes down the stone with such force that it was violently split in half.
Everyone couldn't believe what they saw, they knew Damaris was usually graceful and finesse person when fighting, but what they saw was his sheer brute strength falling down upon the once whole rock.
"I've always thought that you were a graceful guy. Glad to know that you aren't." Damon said.
"You looked like Damon for a second there." Theron said as he laughed.
"What did you say?" Damaris said with hints of anger in his voice.
Damaris walked towards Theron with a hostile presence, his eyes locked as if Theron was prey.
"I said, you looked like Damon." Theron stood up and met his eyes. "Got any problem with that?"
Damaris suddenly punched Theron straight in the face knocking him down. Kit who saw this tried to intervene, but Agis stopped him.
"Shouldn't we stop their fight." Kit said.
"Let them fight it out a bit. I'll stop them when things get dangerous."
Feeling Damaris' punch, Theron found it difficult to stand up as he took such damage. Seeing Damaris' feet come close and closer, Theron felt a sense of panic. It was like waiting for a large wave to come down crashing on your ship.
Damaris was about to kick Theron at the stomach when he felt a rushing force on his side causing him to fall down. It was Damon, he tackled Damaris and had him pinned down.
"How dare you insult me!" Damon said in anger as he punches the pinned down Damaris on his body.
Damaris could only cross his arms to guard from the punches as he assesses the situation. He saw that Kit and Agis were only watching, implying that they would let this play out. But before he could assess Damon, he felt a strong force opening up his crossed arms. It was Damon's hands forcefully opening his guard.
Damaris was now in a cross position with Damon holding down both his hands. Everyone in the room knew what was about to happen, with all his might and power, Damon imperfectly enhances and headbutts Damaris.
Before the headbutt hit, Damaris, on the last second also enhanced his forehead to reduce the damage he'll take. After the headbutt, Damon loosened up for a moment which Damaris took advantage of and broke free from him.
"You're not strong enough to beat me." Damaris said as he holds his forehead.
"Yeah, but you can't win against the both of us." Theron said as he now has fully recovered from the punch.
Seeing the odds, Damaris turned serious. His eyes were filled with coldness as if he was one of the Damned.
"I have no time for this." Damaris said in a cold tone.
Focusing his mana with unwavering determination, Damaris enhanced all of his limbs and casted upon an intimidating presence. Damon and Theron subconsciously stepped back as they looked and nodded at each other.
Damaris took a running stance, his body diagonal. He charged both of his legs and prepares to rush the two. Theron and Damaris took on defensive positions bracing for the impact.
As Damaris explosively rushed the two, Kit who had felt Damaris' intense presence quickly acted. He took the full force of Damaris blocking him from his sworn brothers. This only angered Damaris more and quickly used his right knee to hit Kit's body.
Kit who was a bit off guard thinking Damaris would stop, still blocked the oncoming knee towards his side.
"Can you stop now?" Kit said as he looked directly at Damaris eyes.
Damaris didn't speak as he felt threatened from Kit's gaze. His mind would have refused that he did, but his body couldn't. His anger was only fueled by what he felt and tries to punch Kit on the face.
Kit thought of the same and winds up a punch towards Damaris' face. As if everything was in slow motion, everyone in the room saw what those enhanced punches were capable of.
As the punches were about to hit each other's faces, they felt a leg sweeping them both down.
"You should save that energy for your enemies tomorrow." Agis said in a serious tone.
"Enemies? Will we be fighting the Damned?" Damon asked in an excited tone.
"Even better, you'll be fighting the magic obsessed Athenians." Agis said with a smile on his face.
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