Virgil stood at the head of the war table, exhaling a thin stream of smoke before sliding thick dossiers across the polished surface. The dim lighting cast long shadows over the group—Sosuke, Ren, Arthur, Lyra, Reid, Ryoma, and Milo—each flipping through pages detailing their new enemy.
"Lance Sterling," Virgil began, his tone sharp. "Commander-in-Chief of Astoria's Crimson Guard. The man is infamous, not just for his victories, but for how he achieves them. His soldiers? Ruthless. Efficient. Merciless. All because of their commander."
Sosuke skimmed through the pages before looking up. "What's in the file?"
"Everything we know," Virgil said. "His abilities, combat style, tactics—Sterling's been a dominant force for almost a hundred years."
"A hundred?" Ryoma scoffed. "He doesn't look a day over twenty."
"That's because he's not human," Virgil replied, pacing slowly. "Age: 94. Appearance: short blond hair, blue eyes, burn scar over his left eye. And his most dangerous asset? Cloning. Each clone retains roughly 70% of his original strength, allowing him to overwhelm enemies through sheer numbers. Based on past engagements, we estimate he can maintain five clones at a time… but that's just what we know."
Virgil crushed his cigarette into the ashtray and leaned forward. "Assume he's capable of more."
Arthur muttered under his breath, staring at the file. "Dark magic… what the hell."
Sosuke frowned. "What's so bad about that?"
"Dark magic is forbidden across all nations," Virgil explained. "Too unstable. Too destructive. But Astoria doesn't care about the rules. After their humiliating loss to Virenia, the President appointed Sterling as Commander. Under his lead? They turned the war around and wiped Virenia off the map."
Ryoma swallowed. "So… we're up against a guy who single-handedly changed the course of a war?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Virgil sat back in his chair. "Your training in the Blight Dimension was just the beginning. You've gotten stronger—but not strong enough. You'll be meeting someone soon. Someone who'll push you beyond your limits."
Sosuke exhaled sharply. "And if I refuse?"
Virgil narrowed his eyes. "Refuse?"
"I don't want to be used as just another weapon for this war," Sosuke said flatly.
A tense silence filled the room. Virgil's expression darkened. "Do I need to remind you what you agreed to the day you came here, Estrella?"
Sosuke clenched his jaw. "…No, sir."
Virgil let the silence linger before continuing. "You won't be thrown into a battlefield just yet. Your first mission is to conduct small-scale raids—cutting off Astoria's supply chains, disrupting their operations. Hit them hard enough, and Sterling will take notice. And when he does? That's when the real fight begins."
He surveyed the room, meeting each soldier's gaze. "You're dismissed. Stay ready."
Two Days Later – Fort Novara Underground Training Facility
The group stood on a massive freight elevator, descending deep beneath Fort Novara. The walls of the shaft stretched endlessly above them, lined with reinforced steel and glowing blue runes, pulsing faintly with energy. The air grew colder the deeper they went.
Virgil leaned against the railing, arms crossed. "This place is the highest-security facility we have. And for good reason." His tone was unreadable.
"That supposed to make us feel better?" Ryoma muttered.
Milo whistled, peering over the edge. "Damn. How deep is this place?"
"Deep enough that you won't be seeing daylight for a long time," Virgil replied.
Sosuke glanced around. The tension was obvious—no one knew what to expect. Even Arthur, who usually had something smart to say, was unusually quiet.
After several minutes, the elevator slowed, coming to a heavy stop. The doors slid open, revealing a vast underground facility. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, supported by thick metal beams reinforced with layered enchantments. Rows of training arenas, obstacle courses, and weapon racks filled the area. Hundreds of soldiers trained in separate sections, their shouts echoing against the walls. Despite the sheer scale, everything was methodically structured. This wasn't just a training ground—it was a war zone in preparation.
Sosuke took it all in. So this is where they forge monsters.
Virgil led them down a long hallway, passing heavily armored guards stationed at key points. At the end, a reinforced door loomed over them, sealed with multiple layers of security. Virgil pressed his palm against a scanner, and after a few beeps, the locks released with a heavy clunk.
"This is it." Virgil pushed open the door, leading them into a smaller chamber. Five guards stood at attention, watching them closely.
A second door across the room hissed as it unlocked, then slowly slid open.
From the other side, a confident, almost arrogant voice rang out.
"Alright, you pieces of shit, listen up!"
A tall, broad-shouldered woman strode in, radiating authority. Her brown hair, cut just past her shoulders, swayed slightly as she moved. She wasn't bulky, but her toned arms and sharp posture left no doubt—she was a fighter. And from the smirk on her face, she knew she was stronger than every single person in the room.
"I'm Tina Kallard, your new instructor," she declared, resting a hand on her hip. "For the next six months, I own your asses. Off you go, Quinn."
Virgil clicked his tongue. "Tch." Without another word, he turned and left, clearly irritated.
Tina didn't watch him leave. Instead, she clapped her hands together, grinning. "Now, I bet you're all wondering—who the hell is this lady? And why'd they drag you to some secret underground prison just to meet me?" She leaned forward, eyes glinting. "Well, too bad. You won't find out until you survive six months of hell."
She slammed her fist onto the nearest table, causing it to shake. "Here's the deal. This facility is buried so deep underground because of the barrier surrounding it—it slows time. Six months here? Barely three months out there. That means twice the pain, twice the effort, and twice the progress."
Sosuke exhaled sharply. Great. More time distortion bullshit.
Training Begins: Day One
Tina led them to a massive training ground lined with combat dummies, weights, and sparring circles. The floor was reinforced steel, with faint rune patterns glowing underneath—a clear sign that this place was built to withstand serious damage.
"Alright, listen up." Tina cracked her knuckles. "First thing we do here is test limits. No point training if I don't know how much of a pathetic mess you all are right now."
She pointed at a long track. "Speed test. One lap. Don't hold back."
Ryoma grinned, stretching. "Finally, something I can win."
Sosuke rolled his eyes but took his position.
Tina smirked. "Oh, and by the way—this track's under a mild gravity increase. Nothing too crazy. Just an extra 50%."
Before anyone could process that, a loud beep signaled the start.
The moment they pushed off the ground, everyone felt it. Their bodies were heavier, movements sluggish. Even Ryoma, the fastest among them, visibly struggled.
Sosuke gritted his teeth. This is mild?
From the sidelines, Tina watched, arms crossed. Her expression didn't change, but something in her eyes gleamed with interest.
A sharp beep cut through the air. Before anyone could react, the weight slammed down. The sudden 50% gravity increase turned every step into a battle, every breath a struggle.
Sosuke moved first. His body adjusted instantly, muscles coiling and releasing like a spring. He shot forward, faster than anyone, faster than even he expected. The track trembled under his strides, each step sharp, precise.
Reid was next, right behind him. His pace was steady, measured—focused. Ryoma kept up, a confident smirk tugging at his lips as he pushed himself forward. Milo, Arthur, Lyra, and Ren followed, each locked into their own struggle against the crushing weight.
This isn't just training. Sosuke exhaled sharply, pushing harder. It's like my body is absorbing something deeper, forcing itself to grow. He wasn't the only one feeling it. Reid's steps became more fluid. Ryoma's breathing steadied, his movements refining with each push forward. Even Milo, who usually hesitated, looked more sure of himself.
Tina stood at the edge of the track, arms crossed, eyes scanning their progress. "Is that all you've got?" Her voice cut through the tension, equal parts mockery and challenge. "Come on, you wanna be strong, don't you? Then show me something!"
Sosuke rounded the turn, stealing a glance at the others. Reid's gaze was locked straight ahead, determination fueling every motion. Ryoma's grin was gone, replaced by quiet focus. Milo clenched his jaw, his speed keeping him just ahead of Arthur and Lyra. Ren, though lagging, moved with an eerie sense of calculation—like he was breaking down every weakness in his approach, fixing it in real time.
They're adapting fast… Sosuke's eyes narrowed. Way too fast. The weight should have been unbearable, their bodies should've struggled longer. And yet, with every passing second, the resistance felt… lighter.
Tina grinned as she watched. "That's more like it," she muttered to herself.
"Don't slow down now!" Her voice snapped them back into focus. "Push past your limits! You think anyone's gonna wait for you to catch your breath on the battlefield?"
Sosuke exhaled, forcing himself faster. He didn't expect this, but something about the intensity of it—the shared struggle, the fire in their eyes—made it bearable.
This place isn't just training us, he realized. It's changing us.
As the lap came to an end, the group staggered to a stop, chests heaving, legs burning. But Sosuke couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at the back of his mind.
Tina's ability—it wasn't just increasing their endurance. It was accelerating something deep within them. Something unnatural.