Upon vanquishing Antares, Jinwoo implored the Rulers to utilize the Cup of Reincarnation. His earnest wish was to resurrect those he had tragically lost during the war against the Monarchs. However, the Rulers cautioned him that this act would not t...
Jinwoo had conjured a pocket dimension-a dungeon key that opened a training ground away from the prying eyes of Kuoh Town. The air shimmered with latent magic, the terrain an endless stretch of rugged earth, jagged cliffs, and a gray sky tinged with an eerie glow. It was a perfect battlefield, void of life yet alive with challenge.
Kalawarner stood with her arms crossed, her piercing blue eyes locked on Jinwoo. Beside her, Mittelt fiddled nervously with the cuffs of her dark gloves, while Raynare remained stoic, though her gaze occasionally flicked to the shadowy figures materializing around them.
"So, what exactly are we doing here?" Kalawarner asked, her tone sharp but edged with curiosity.
Jinwoo gave her a faint smile, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. "Training. You three are powerful, but not enough to face what's coming."
Mittelt frowned, her blonde pigtails bouncing slightly as she shifted on her feet. "What's coming? You keep talking like there's some big, world-ending threat we need to prepare for."
"There's always something coming," Jinwoo replied simply, his gaze steady. "And when it does, you'll need to be more than just strong. You'll need to be prepared."
Kalawarner scoffed but said nothing. Jinwoo stepped forward, the shadows around him coiling and writhing like living entities. He raised a hand, and in an instant, dozens of shadow soldiers emerged from the ground. They stood in silent ranks, their dark forms shifting and flickering like smoke given shape.
"Your task is simple," Jinwoo said. "Take them down."
Raynare's brow furrowed. "All of them?"
"All of them," Jinwoo confirmed. "And don't hold back. They won't."
Kalawarner smirked, stepping forward as she unfurled her wings. "Fine. Let's see what these shadows of yours can do."
Mittelt hesitated before summoning her light spear, the golden weapon shimmering faintly in her hand. "This feels a little... overkill."
"You'll thank me later," Jinwoo said, stepping back to give them space.
The battle began with an explosive burst of light as Kalawarner launched herself at the nearest shadow soldier. Her strikes were precise, her speed impressive, but the shadows were relentless. Each time one fell, another would rise to take its place.
Mittelt followed suit, her smaller frame darting between the soldiers as she hurled light spears with surprising accuracy. Raynare hung back, her dark wings spread wide as she surveyed the battlefield, calculating her moves.
At first, they held their own. Kalawarner's brute strength and Mittelt's agility complemented each other well, while Raynare's sharp mind allowed her to direct their efforts effectively. But as the minutes dragged on, their initial confidence began to waver.
"They just keep coming!" Mittelt shouted, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Focus!" Kalawarner snapped, her own movements growing more frantic as the soldiers pressed her harder.
Raynare bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly as she formed another spear of light. We can't keep this up... but we can't let him see us fail either.
Jinwoo watched silently, his expression unreadable. He wasn't interested in coddling them. They needed to learn their limits-and how to surpass them.
After several grueling rounds, Jinwoo raised a hand, and the shadow soldiers dissolved into the ground. The fallen angels staggered to a stop, their breathing labored.
"Not bad," Jinwoo said, his voice calm. "But not good enough."
Kalawarner glared at him. "What do you expect? These things don't tire, and they don't die!"
"Exactly," Jinwoo said. "That's why I use them. Your enemies won't play fair, either."
Before they could protest further, Jinwoo raised his hand again. This time, a single figure emerged from the shadows-a towering, insect-like humanoid with gleaming black exoskeleton armor and burning red eyes.
"This is Beru," Jinwoo said. "You'll be fighting him next."
Mittelt's eyes widened. "What?! You want us to fight that?"
Jinwoo nodded. "He won't hurt you. But he will push you to your limits."
Beru tilted his head, his mandibles clicking as he looked at the fallen angels. "As you command, my liege," the shadow soldier said, his voice a low, buzzing hum.
Raynare took a step back, her wings bristling. "This... this is insane."
Jinwoo's gaze hardened. "You wanted to get stronger. This is how you do it."
Beru wasted no time. With a speed that defied his size, he lunged at Kalawarner, his claws striking the ground where she had been standing a moment before. Kalawarner barely managed to dodge, her wings beating furiously as she took to the air.
"Mittelt! Cover me!" she shouted.
Mittelt hesitated for only a second before hurling a barrage of light spears at Beru. The shadow soldier swatted them away effortlessly, his movements fluid and almost dismissive.
Raynare, gritting her teeth, joined the fray, her own light spear aimed directly at Beru's chest. The spear struck true, but it barely scratched his armor. Beru turned to her, his fiery eyes narrowing.
"Impressive attempt," he said, his tone almost mocking. "But insufficient."
The battle raged on, each of the fallen angels giving everything they had. Beru was an unrelenting force, his attacks precise and devastating. But Jinwoo watched closely, noting how each of them adapted-how Kalawarner's strikes grew more calculated, how Mittelt's movements became sharper, how Raynare began to anticipate Beru's attacks.
By the time Jinwoo called the session to an end, the fallen angels were exhausted, their clothes torn and their wings drooping. But there was a fire in their eyes that hadn't been there before-a determination born of struggle.
"You're improving," Jinwoo said, his tone almost approving. "But there's still a long way to go."
As the fallen angels caught their breath, Jinwoo felt a ripple in the air-a presence approaching the training ground. He turned, his eyes narrowing as a figure stepped through the shimmering boundary of the pocket dimension.
It was a young woman with pale skin and crimson eyes, her black and red outfit hinting at her demonic heritage. Her expression was a mix of surprise and relief as she saw Jinwoo.
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"Jinwoo!" she called, her voice echoing through the training ground. She hurried toward him, stopping a few feet away to give a respectful half-bow. "It's been too long."
Kalawarner frowned, her gaze flicking between Jinwoo and the newcomer. "You know her?"
Jinwoo nodded, his expression softening slightly. "We have some history."
The woman straightened, her crimson eyes locking with his. "It seems you've been busy," she said, her gaze shifting briefly to the fallen angels.
Raynare crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And who exactly are you?"
The woman smiled faintly, a hint of mischief in her expression. "My name is Esil."
