The air was thick with the scent of fresh earth, and the soft murmur of flowing water could be heard in the distance as Benny and Frank stood on the edge of a massive training facility tucked away in the French countryside. The bright, open sky above them seemed like a world apart from the controlled environment of Highsmith Academy. Here, the challenge was real—there were no simulations, no controlled scenarios to protect them. Just raw, gritty training under some of the most powerful pro heroes the world had to offer.
"Ready for today?" Frank asked, cracking his neck and flexing his shoulders as he looked around the facility.
Benny, his expression unreadable, stared at the horizon for a moment before replying, "I've been ready. Just hoping I can keep up."
Frank chuckled. "With your progress? You're gonna blow these guys away."
Despite Frank's words of encouragement, Benny's doubt still lingered. Their time training here wasn't just about becoming stronger—it was about proving themselves. Proving that they could live up to the expectations not only set by the academy but by the entire hero community.
They were working under René Leclerc, a seasoned hero known for his versatility in combat and quick-thinking abilities, and Lucie Marceau, a prodigy in elemental manipulation, whose power could level entire city blocks. The two of them were a dynamic duo, but their training style was nothing short of brutal.
"Today, we focus on teamwork," René's gravelly voice echoed across the training grounds as he approached them. His towering figure cast a long shadow over Benny and Frank. "I'll be watching how you handle the fight when things don't go as planned."
Benny nodded, keeping his mind sharp as the familiar feeling of nerves settled in. It wasn't just a normal training session. Today, they'd be put through a series of tests involving real-time scenarios where one slip-up could be disastrous. The stakes were high, and the pressure weighed heavily on their shoulders.
"Today, you'll be dealing with multiple opponents, including me and Lucie. We'll start with small-time skirmishes and build up," René continued. "Remember, teamwork and strategy are more important than raw power. If you're thinking about showing off, forget it."
Benny could already feel his body tensing in preparation for what was to come. The pro heroes weren't here to coddle them. They expected results.
Frank gave him a reassuring grin. "We got this. Trust me."
A loud whistle broke through their conversation, and Lucie Marceau appeared at the other end of the field. Her silver hair fluttered in the breeze as she raised a hand, signaling the start of the first phase of training. "Alright, you two. Let's see if you've been paying attention to the basics."
René turned toward them. "You've got ten minutes to get into position. Then we go in full force. Don't hold back."
Benny took a moment to stretch, his body reacting instinctively to the quiet command. His previous training had always been intense, but here, there was a palpable difference. Every move had to be precise, controlled, and deliberate. If they couldn't handle this, they wouldn't be able to handle the real thing.
Benny and Frank exchanged a glance before taking their separate paths to the designated training zones. Benny's mind raced through the strategies they'd practiced in theory—separation, distractions, counterattacks. But even as he mentally prepared, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't going to be like anything he'd faced before.
The fight started immediately.
René dashed forward at an incredible speed, his body a blur as he closed the distance between them. Benny reacted fast, summoning his metal abilities to create barriers in front of him, but René was too quick. The barriers were shattered with a single punch, and Benny was forced to leap backward to avoid a devastating kick aimed at his chest.
Frank wasn't far behind, launching himself into the fray. His fists glowed with fiery energy as he barreled toward Lucie, who had begun to manipulate the wind around her, creating vicious gusts that tore at Frank's approach. The winds whipped through the air with dangerous speed, threatening to knock him off balance.
"Focus, Benny!" Frank shouted as he dodged another gust. "We need to work together!"
Benny nodded, quickly regrouping and pushing forward again. He had to get in sync with Frank, but there was something different about the way Lucie and René were fighting. Their coordination was seamless—every move felt like it was perfectly timed.
Lucie twisted her body, sending a burst of wind directly at Benny, who barely managed to dodge it by using a metal shield he conjured from the earth beneath his feet. It wasn't enough to stop the gust, but it gave him the second he needed to react.
"Remember," René's voice boomed as he took another swing at Benny, "anticipate, don't react. Control the fight."
Benny gritted his teeth. Anticipate. Control. He wasn't just facing off against opponents—he was facing an entire mindset. He needed to see things before they happened, to be one step ahead, not just in terms of power but in tactics.
With a burst of inspiration, Benny decided to switch things up. He grabbed a handful of nearby debris—large rocks, broken slabs of stone—and used his metal manipulation to bind them together into an improvised weapon: a massive mace-like structure. With a war cry, he swung it toward René, catching the hero off guard.
Lucie stepped in, creating a wind barrier to deflect Benny's attack, but the force was enough to make her stumble back, her concentration wavering. Benny didn't miss the opportunity, launching himself forward with a combination of agility and brute strength.
Frank's fiery punch connected with Lucie, forcing her to retreat as she tried to regain control of the winds. "Now, Benny!" Frank yelled, his fiery aura flaring.
Benny's mind was clearer now, his movements more fluid. He used his metal powers to reform his weapon into spikes that shot outward like a barrage, aiming for René's blind spots. René, ever the expert, dodged most of them but wasn't prepared for the sudden attack from two directions at once.
They were getting better—together.
After what felt like hours, Lucie and René finally called for the stop. Both heroes were breathing heavily, their usual calm demeanor replaced by exhaustion. They were still grinning, though.
"Not bad," René said, wiping sweat from his brow. "You two are picking up faster than I expected. But there's still more to learn."
Lucie flashed a smile at them. "That was much better. Keep this up, and you might just make it."
Benny and Frank exchanged a look. They were far from where they needed to be, but the fight was a step in the right direction. They'd been pushed to their limits and had made it through together. That was something to be proud of.