Chương 17: Training And Trials

At Genova Academy, the sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the busy students.

Lisa hurried across the courtyard, her heart heavy with a feeling she couldn't quite name. She had felt this way more and more lately, a tight knot in her chest that wouldn't go away, but her friend's voice cut through the noise in her head.

"Lisa! Wait!"

Lisa's steps faltered, and she forced a thin smile as she turned. Clara, her closest friend, was hurrying toward her with a look of worry on her face.

"Clara, I'm really in a hurry..."

"We need to talk." Clara grabbed her arm gently. "It's important. It's about Kenny."

At the mention of his name, Lisa felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. She sighed, dropping her gaze to the ground.

"Clara, please. Not now."

"It has to be now," Clara insisted, her eyes soft with concern. "Kenny's been... well, he's been flirting with me. And it's not just me, Lisa. He's been like this with other girls too. It's getting worse."

Lisa closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her breath. She didn't want to have this conversation, didn't want to admit that she already knew. Of course, she knew. But what was she supposed to do?

"Kenny's always been... like that," she said softly, her voice becoming hard to hear. "I don't control him, Clara. He does what he wants."

Clara blinked in surprise, her worry deepening.

"But you're his girlfriend. Shouldn't you..."

"I don't care!" Lisa interrupted her voice sharper than she intended.

Around, some students looked at her, prompting her to glance away, her fingers twisting nervously.

"He's free to do whatever. I can't stop him, and... and I won't try."

Clara looked at her with a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Lisa, what are you saying? This isn't right, You shouldn't have to put up with this. Why do you stay with him if..."

"It's not like that," Lisa murmured, her voice softening. "The girls didn't mind before. They were all over him when he was winning, but after the last tournament, everything changed. They're only annoyed now because he lost."

Clara's eyes widened.

"Lisa what's wrong with..."

Lisa shook her head, cutting her off.

"It'll get better once he wins again. When he's back on top, everything will go back to how it was. It's just... a difficult moment. But I need to support him so he will win. That's all."

Clara's face softened, what she saw was a shell of the luminous girl Lisa used to be, but Lisa didn't want to hear that either. She forced a smile and started walking again.

"Just... don't worry about it, okay? Everything will be fine."

Clara hesitated, watching her for a moment before nodding reluctantly.

"If you say so..."

As Lisa walked away, her eyes caught on a couple training together in the distance. They moved with such ease, such perfect harmony. Her chest tightened painfully, and she quickly looked away, her heart sinking.

"It's normal," she whispered to herself, trying to push the feeling down. "This is normal, this is what I wanted."

On the training grounds, Crystal stood with her arms crossed, watching Kenny take on another group of students. It was the same old routine, Kenny's spirit and beast would demolish his opponents easily, and then complain that no one was a real challenge.

Today was no different. He had just beaten three more students in a 2v2 sparring match, but the usual excitement in his eyes had faded.

Crystal stood nearby, catching her breath after their sparring session. She wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"If you want a real challenge, why don't you fight the third-years? They're stronger and more experienced."

Kenny scoffed, shaking his head.

"The third-years have more elemental spirits than I do. It wouldn't be a fair fight."

Crystal crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"You keep saying these fights are too easy, but when an actual challenge comes up, you avoid it. Why?"

"I'm not avoiding anything, I just don't want to waste my energy on a fight I can't win fair and square. What's the point in that?"

Crystal stared at him for a moment, disappointment flickering in her eyes. But she knew better than to push him when he was like this.

Kenny always shut down when it came to facing real difficulties. For a moment, unwillingly, her mind remembered why he wasn't the top student in the first place. She glanced up at the sky, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.

"You haven't grown since..."

But Her voice didn't reach anyone.

Meanwhile, in the forest, Eratz stood in the clearing, surrounded by towering trees and the hum of nature.

From his shadow, the Thunder Lycaon appeared in a flash of shadow and lightning. The beast's electric gaze locked onto Eratz.

The bond between them had grown stronger since their first encounter, but today, Eratz wanted to take that bond to a new level.

He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on the Lycaon.

"If one beast alone can defeat my army, then I need to use this forest as my new farming ground, and I'll need you for this."

The Lycaon's glowing eyes watched him intently as if it understood. Since his battle with the beast, Eratz became obsessed with the power he had obtained while channeling the Vulpan's power.

He remembered in the library of Genova Academy the concept of Beastification, a state where the tamer fused with his beasts, and he was sure that it was what had happened.

Now, he wanted to do the same, but this time with the Lycaon.

"I want to channel your power into my body, like I did with the Vulpan. But this time, I need to hold onto it longer. Let's go, partner."

The Lycaon gave him a slight nod, and then, Eratz stretched out his hand, feeling the familiar surge of lightning as it flowed from the Lycaon toward him.

The power hit him like a wave, his body immediately stiffening from the intensity. It was overwhelming, stronger than what he was used to.

Clenching his jaw, he focused, trying to steady his breathing. The lightning crackled around him, and for a moment, his arms glowed with electric energy. But just as quickly, it faded, leaving him panting and on his knees.

"Still too much," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

But he didn't give up. After a short break, Eratz stood again, determined to achieve this. He had to master this before the selection, and he absolutely wanted a better roster to engage in the arena.

His presence here was for the sole purpose of getting stronger and hunting stronger monsters, but He needed to push himself beyond his limits, to get used to the dual energy of the Lycaon's power.

"I need to keep trying," he said to the beast. "I'm going to channel your power, and then... I want you to run. I'll chase you, and when I catch up, we'll fight. I need to sharpen my senses, get faster, and make this power feel natural."

The Lycaon let out a low growl, remembering how their last battle went.

Without waiting for another word, the beast darted into the trees, its body a blur of shadow and lightning.

Eratz grinned, his pulse quickening. This was it. He summoned the Lycaon's power again, and this time, when the lightning surged through him, he held it longer. His muscles tensed, his body buzzing with energy, but he pushed through the pain.

His feet moved faster than ever as he darted after the Lycaon, weaving through the thick trees while leaving a lightning trail behind him.

Every time he caught up, they clashed in a whirlwind of lightning and shadows. The fight was intense, faster, sharper, and more brutal than before.

After ten minutes of back-and-forth strikes, the Lycaon would break free, and the chase would begin again.

Hours passed, but Eratz didn't stop. The forest became their battlefield, their playground, and with each round, he felt himself getting stronger. His body still ached, the lightning still burned, but he was learning to control it.

By the time the first rays of dawn broke through the trees, Eratz dropped one knee on the ground, in pain, but triumphant.

His arms still hummed with the faint crackle of electricity, his body light and charged with power. He had done it.

One thing he noticed after this training was that his stamina had deeply increased, the pain was the only barrier he met, but his body was roaring for another round.

****

Back at his former home, Eratz's parents sat at the dinner table, talking quietly while his younger siblings, Kian and Lila were chatting excitedly about their upcoming class trip to the training arena.

"The lessons at school are way too easy," Kian said with a smug smile. "I can't wait to show off at the arena tomorrow."

Lila nodded enthusiastically.

"The teachers said we'd get to see real fighters in action! Maybe they'll even notice us."

Their father smiled.

"You two are doing well, but don't get cocky. Make sure you give it your best tomorrow. You want to be noticed for the right reasons."

Their mother nodded.

"Show them what your name means, you have a lot to do to clean our honor."

Kian and Lila exchanged determined looks, their confidence only growing.

In the meantime In a gym far from the forest, Ryder groaned in frustration, wiping sweat from his forehead as he glanced at Zara.

He had been pushing through a grueling workout, and every muscle in his body felt like it was on fire.

"Why are you making me do all this?" he panted, his legs wobbling beneath him.

Zara, ever composed, leaned against the wall, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I'm helping you prepare. After the selection, things will get even more intense. You have to be ready."

Ryder huffed, crossing his arms.

"So suddenly? You're easy to read, it's because you're thinking of training Eratz too, right?"

Zara's smile widened.

"Break's over. Get back to it. You'll thank me later."

As the night settled in, each of them continued to chase their goals.

Eratz pushed his body and mind to their limits in the forest, the Thunder Lycaon by his side, sharpening his senses and mastering the power of lightning and darkness simultaneously.

Ryder, exhausted from his intense workout with Zara, pushed himself to finish another set, his thoughts lingering on Eratz. Although exhausted, he focused on Zara's training, He wanted a good rival and he didn't want to be a third wheel.

At Genova Academy, Kenny studied with Rowan. He studied the places where he could find the strongest monsters, as quickly as possible before the tournament. Crystal watched him from the sidelines, her face calm but her eyes worried.

She wanted to believe in him, but something told her that if he lost again, the tournament would be his breaking point.

All around, their paths were set, their goals clear. Each of them was fighting for something. Only time would tell who would come out on top.

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