The sun was setting over Red Hollow, and the dense night mist was beginning to spread over the battlefield beyond the magical barriers of the base. The air carried the tallic scent of blood mixed with damp earth, and the deep voices of soldiers blended with the heavy sound of boots against the ground.
Lian walked through the courtyard, feeling the accumulated fatigue of the past few days’ training weigh on his shoulders. His body was still covered in bruises and cuts from the intense training with Viktor, but he had no ti to rest. With each passing day, he felt his body growing stronger, his endurance increasing, yet his spirit remained heavy.
Then he saw it.
The large entrance to the base swung open with a bang, revealing a group of soldiers returning from patrol.
Lian felt a chill run down his spine when he saw their condition.
So staggered, their faces covered in deep cuts and their eyes glazed over. Others had to be carried, supported by the shoulders of their comrades. There was blood—so much blood. Red stains soaked their uniforms, forming trails on the ground as they passed.
He noticed a body covered by a sheet, carried by two soldiers.
"Dead..." Lian thought, feeling his stomach churn. "In these regions, most monsters are rank B or higher. This place is too dangerous."
Patrols weren’t just reconnaissance missions; they were a daily fight for survival.
The silence was broken when a younger soldier fell to his knees, gasping, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"They... they were waiting for us... They knew we were coming..." he murmured, trembling.
Another soldier, a veteran, looked at him with a grim expression.
"We were lucky to make it back alive," he said, emotionless, before walking away.
Lian remained still, feeling a tightness in his chest. He already knew this place was a real battlefield, but seeing those soldiers’ faces, seeing death up close, was different from any training he had ever done.
This was the reality of Red Hollow. This was war.
A familiar voice cut through the silence behind him.
"Enjoying the view, kid?"
Lian slowly turned. Viktor was leaning against one of the base pillars, arms crossed, an impassive look on his face. He showed no reaction to the scene before him. To him, this was routine.
"This is war," Viktor continued, his voice harsh. "If you don’t want to end up like them, stop playing warrior."
Lian clenched his fists.
"I already understand that," he replied, his voice lower than he intended.
"No, you don’t." Viktor pushed off the pillar and started walking. "But I’ll teach you."
Lian hesitated for a mont before following him.
They walked through the base corridors until they reached the training area—an open space surrounded by barricades and ground worn down from constant use. There, so soldiers practiced hand-to-hand combat while others tested weapons.
Viktor walked to a rack where several wooden swords were displayed. He picked one up and tossed another to Lian, who caught it in the air.
"You really want to fight, don’t you?"
Lian lifted his head and stared directly at Viktor.
"Yes."
Viktor spun the wooden sword casually.
"Then prove it to . Prove that I’m wrong."
The air around them seed to grow heavier.
"If you can show you’re worth it, I’ll let you take part in Red Hollow’s real war. But if you fail..." Viktor smirked. "You go back to basic training."
Lian tightened his grip on the sword. He couldn’t lose this chance.
"Alright."
Viktor raised his sword into a combat stance. His gaze, previously disinterested, was now as sharp as a blade.
"Attack first."
Lian didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, the wooden sword cutting through the air as he aid for Viktor’s shoulder.
But before the strike landed, Viktor disappeared from his sight.
In an instant, Lian felt a brutal impact against his stomach. The blow ca fast, sinking into his flesh as if a sledgehamr had hit him. He was sent flying backward, hitting the stone ground hard.
Lian gasped, his vision blurry for a mont.
"Slow," Viktor comnted, spinning the sword in his fingers. "If this were a real battle, you’d already be dead."
Lian forced himself to his feet, panting. He couldn’t lose.
He moved again, this ti trying a different approach. He feigned an attack from the left, but at the last second, he spun and struck from the right.
The attack almost landed.
But sohow, Viktor predicted the move, blocking it with ease and pushing Lian back.
"Better, but predictable."
Lian gritted his teeth and advanced again. This ti, he wouldn’t back down.
He launched a series of fast, aggressive strikes, forcing Viktor to step back slightly. The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the training field, drawing the attention of so soldiers who stopped to watch.
Lian put all his strength into a downward slash, aiming for Viktor’s shoulder.
But at the last second, Viktor dodged with a minimal movent and slid to Lian’s side.
Before Lian could react, he felt a devastating impact on the side of his face.
Viktor had struck him with the hilt of his sword.
Lian fell to his knees, blood trickling from his mouth.
He tried to get up, but Viktor pressed the sword against his chest, stopping him.
Silence hung in the air for a few monts.
Lian clenched his fists against the ground, frustrated. He had lost.
"You still have a lot to learn," Viktor said, pulling his sword away and stepping back. "But that wasn’t completely useless."
Lian lifted his head, looking at Viktor with a mix of anger and determination.
"So that ans..."
Viktor sighed, crossing his arms.
"I acknowledge your potential. You can start participating in so patrols in the less dangerous areas."
Lian’s heart pounded faster.
"But..." Viktor continued, locking eyes with him. "If you lose control like you did at the academy, I’ll deal with you myself."
Lian swallowed hard. He knew it wasn’t an empty threat. Even with the pain in his body, he felt sothing stir inside him.
It was small, almost imperceptible...
But it was hope.
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