The sound of steel clashing echoed through the underground chamber, sharp and continuous, bouncing off the stone walls like a rhythm that refused to die down.
Marie moved first.
Her grip tightened around the black blade as she stepped in, her body flowing naturally into the strike. The sword cut through the air with full intent, aimed straight at Zil's shoulder.
Zil didn't retreat.
Instead, he planted his foot and brought his greatsword up, meeting her attack head-on.
CLANG—
The impact pushed both of them back, their feet skidding slightly across the ground. Sparks flickered briefly between their blades before fading into the dim light.
Zil smirked.
"Getting faster."
Marie didn't respond.
She moved again.
Before the sound of the clash had even settled, she shifted her footing and closed the distance, her movements light but precise.
Zil's eyes narrowed.
Then suddenly—
He vanished.
Not completely, but fast enough that his figure blurred.
Marie reacted instantly, her body moving before her thoughts could catch up.
She sidestepped.
Zil's greatsword came crashing down where she had been standing, the force of the strike cracking the stone beneath.
Without hesitation, Marie spun around, her blade cutting low and fast toward his side.
Zil barely managed to leap back in time, the edge grazing past him.
"…Close," he muttered.
Marie didn't chase wildly this time.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Calm.
Measured.
Zil watched her closely now.
She raised her sword—
And stopped just before his neck.
"Guess that's another win for me," she said, smiling as she lowered her weapon.
Zil exhaled, resting the greatsword on his shoulder.
"…Yeah. You got me."
Marie turned, clearly pleased.
"Brother, how many wins does that make?"
Across the room, Gray sat quietly, sharpening a weapon like none of this concerned him.
"Five wins and ten losses," he said.
Marie pouted slightly.
"I'm getting better."
"You are," Gray replied simply.
Zil stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders.
Then he glanced at Gray.
"Hey… wanna have a match?"
He picked up the greatsword properly this time and started walking toward him.
Marie frowned immediately.
"Hey, that's not fair. You said if I win I get to fight brother."
Gray sighed.
He stood up slowly, grabbing a spear with one hand and a longsword with the other.
"…Fine," he said. "I'll fight both of you."
He rested the spear over his shoulder.
"But don't joke around."
Zil grinned as he stepped beside Marie.
"Don't worry. We won't disappoint."
Marie nodded, taking her stance.
"Yeah… we won't disappoint."
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then Gray stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
Zil frowned slightly.
"…He's doing it again."
Before Marie could ask what he meant—
Gray disappeared.
He didn't run.
He just… closed the distance.
His shoulder slammed into Zil before he could fully react, forcing him back a step.
At the same time, Gray's longsword came down with force.
Zil barely raised his weapon in time to block.
CLANG—
The impact travelled through his arms.
"Damn—"
Before he could recover—
A spear shot toward Marie.
Fast.
Direct.
She parried it, but the force pushed her back, separating her from Zil.
"…He split us already," she muttered.
Zil steadied himself.
"Stay close."
This time, they moved together.
Zil stepped forward first, his greatsword cutting wide arcs to keep Gray occupied.
Marie followed just behind him, slipping in and out of his range, looking for openings.
Their movements weren't perfect—
But they were connected.
Gray blocked Zil's strike.
Turned.
Deflected Marie's attack.
Shifted again.
Everything he did felt… natural.
Too natural.
Zil noticed it.
"…He's reading us."
Gray didn't respond.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
Then suddenly—
Gray stepped back.
And drove his sword into the ground.
Dust exploded upward, filling the space between them.
"Careful," Zil said immediately.
Marie moved closer to him.
"He's going to—"
A spear shot through the smoke.
Zil tilted his head just enough to avoid it.
"…That was close."
Before they could react again—
Gray burst out of the smoke.
Mid-air.
Spinning.
Both weapons extended.
The circular slash forced them apart instantly.
Zil moved left.
Marie moved right.
"…Damn it," Zil muttered.
Gray didn't hesitate.
He threw the spear.
It struck Marie's clothing, pinning her to the wall.
"Marie—!"
Zil turned—
Too late.
Gray was already behind him.
A blade rested lightly against his back.
Silence filled the room.
"…Guess I win again," Gray said.
Zil exhaled.
"…Man, I can't believe you beat both of us."
Marie pulled herself free, throwing the spear back.
"Well you guys were freaking amazing," Gray said, catching it.
"How did you learn to coordinate like that?"
"It took some time," Zil said, giving Marie a thumbs up.
"But we made it work."
Marie smiled.
Then suddenly—
The air shifted.
That familiar feeling.
Crimson mist spread across the room.
"You guys sure are fast learners."
Blood stepped out from it like he had always been there.
None of them reacted anymore.
They were used to it.
"So we did good?" Zil asked.
Blood looked at them silently for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
"You did great," he said.
"…But you're lacking."
The mood dropped instantly.
Gray frowned.
"What do you mean we're lacking?"
Blood stepped forward slowly.
"Zilders."
Zil straightened.
"You're a genius in close combat," Blood said. "But you still move like you're fighting with your hands, not a weapon."
Zil lowered his head slightly.
"And when things go your way… you relax too much."
"…Yes sir," Zil said.
"Marie."
She looked up.
"You're fast. Agile. And you understand positioning."
She smiled slightly—
"But you're too dependent on that."
Her smile faded.
"If you can't fight alone… you won't survive alone."
"…Yes sir."
Then—
"Gray."
Gray didn't look away.
"Your movements flow naturally," Blood said.
"It's like you already know what to do."
A pause.
"But that's also your weakness."
Gray's grip tightened slightly.
"The more you rely on instinct… the more predictable you become."
Silence.
"And remember this," Blood added.
"You don't start a fight."
A beat.
"You end it."
"…Yes sir."
Blood turned away.
"You're ready for the next training."
Zil groaned.
"We've been training for a month…"
"And you'll train more," Blood replied calmly.
Gray stepped forward.
"What kind of training?"
Blood sat down, motioning for them to do the same.
Then he looked at Gray.
"How's the pain in your chest?"
Gray froze.
"…How do you know about that?"
"I felt it," Blood said.
"There's something inside you… that doesn't belong to your Core."
The room went quiet.
"The creature you killed… gave you something."
Gray leaned forward slightly.
"…So what does that have to do with this training?"
Blood closed his eyes.
"You'll see soon enough."