The ultimate sin

Chapter 16 (Start of training arc)

Kam stood in the air, the winds swirling around him as he looked at Gloxinia, waiting for an explanation. His voice broke the silence as he asked, "What took you so long?" Gloxinia, now standing beside him, gave a wry smile as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Well," he began, "it's not easy when I have to avoid literally everything and everyone. It took some time to ensure I wasn't being tracked." Kam raised an eyebrow, curiosity written all over his face. "So, where are we now?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. Gloxinia turned to him, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. "We are in a realm that only me and Drole know about and can access," he replied with a chuckle. Kam blinked in surprise, but Gloxinia continued, "That's another reason why I absorbed Drole's body. I had to make sure no one would find this place." Kam smirked. "Oh, that makes sense," he said, clearly impressed by Gloxinia's foresight.

"Well, now that you know where we are," Gloxinia said, his tone shifting to one of seriousness, "we need to start training." Kam raised an eyebrow, still recovering from the gravity of the conversation. "Training? You mean here, now?" he asked. Gloxinia nodded and gestured toward the surroundings. "Exactly. We need to train if you want to get stronger," he said. Kam tilted his head, considering the words carefully. "All right, then," he said, "but what are we doing first?" Gloxinia didn't hesitate. "Get your sword. We're fighting." Kam stared at him, a little confused. "Fight you?" he asked, unsure if Gloxinia was serious. Gloxinia burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the otherwise quiet space. "Fight me? You think I'm that easy?" he said between chuckles. "No, Kam. You need to train properly. I'm going to make sure you understand what it means to truly fight." Kam rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Fine," he muttered, drawing his sword. He readied himself for whatever came next, but deep down, he wasn't entirely sure what to expect.

Without warning, Gloxinia's eyes gleamed with a sudden surge of power, and he called out a command. "Spirit Spear Basquias, Form 2: Guardian!" The air around them shimmered as a massive purple wasp, nearly the size of a building, materialized before Kam. Its wings buzzed loudly, sending shockwaves through the air. Kam staggered back, his eyes widening at the sight of the creature. "What the hell is that thing?" Kam asked, taking a defensive stance. "That," Gloxinia said with a grin, "is the Guardian of Basquias. It's here to test you, to see if you're ready to face real challenges. Be careful-this thing doesn't hold back." The wasp's eyes glowed a fierce purple as it hovered in the air, its wings beating with an almost hypnotic rhythm.

Before Kam could react, the Guardian shot forward, its stinger aimed directly at him. Kam barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side just in time. He could feel the intensity of the battle already, the weight of the situation sinking in. The Guardian's stinger slammed into the ground where he had been moments ago, causing an explosion of dust and debris. Kam quickly rose to his feet, but the wasp wasn't finished. With a screech, it turned and charged again, its stinger aimed at Kam's chest. He raised his sword to block, but the force of the Guardian's strike sent him flying back, his feet scraping against the rocky ground.

Kam groaned as he struggled to get back to his feet. "This thing's stronger than I thought," he muttered to himself. Gloxinia stood calmly at the side, watching intently. "Remember," he called out, "you're overthinking this. Stop trying to figure out every move-it's wasting time. Just let your body move with the flow. Your sword is an extension of you. Think of it as part of your body, not something separate." Kam narrowed his eyes, trying to focus as the Guardian charged once again. "I get it," Kam said, though his voice was strained. "But this thing is insane! How am I supposed to beat it?" Gloxinia's grin widened. "You'll figure it out. Just keep going. You're not allowed to stop until you make a decent-sized cut on it." Kam stared at him, incredulous. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, sweat dripping down his forehead.

The battle dragged on, with Kam growing more and more exhausted with each passing moment. The Guardian was relentless, and Kam's energy was slowly depleting. His body ached, and his sword felt heavier with every swing. But despite the pain, Kam refused to give up. His sword clanged against the Guardian's stinger once more, sending shockwaves through the air. Kam stumbled back, breathing heavily, but he didn't let up. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Guardian, trying to find any weakness. The creature's stinger was like a deadly spear, and its speed made it almost impossible to keep up with.

Kam took a deep breath, trying to center himself. Gloxinia's words echoed in his mind: Stop overthinking. He gripped his sword tighter, focusing solely on the flow of the battle. The Guardian's stinger lunged at him again, but this time, Kam moved differently. He didn't think about the attack, didn't think about the strike. He simply moved-his body reacting to the Guardian's movements naturally. With a sharp swing of his sword, he sliced across the Guardian's side. The impact left a small but noticeable cut, and Kam felt a surge of satisfaction. He had done it-he had made progress.

Gloxinia watched in silence, his gaze sharp and approving. "Not bad, Kam," he said, his tone a little more respectful. "You've got the right idea now. You just need more practice." Kam took a step back, wiping sweat from his brow. "I feel like I'm about to collapse," he said between heavy breaths. Gloxinia chuckled lightly, his wings fluttering behind him. "Rest, then. You've earned it," he said. "But remember, this is only the beginning. We'll pick this up again tomorrow." Kam nodded, though his body was telling him to rest immediately. He collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the grueling training. The Guardian hovered nearby, but it seemed to sense that the battle was over, and it disappeared into the air.

Kam closed his eyes for a moment, letting the exhaustion wash over him. Despite the pain and frustration, he felt something stirring within him-something that had been missing before. Gloxinia's voice broke through his tired haze. "Get some rest," he said, his tone much softer now. "We'll make you stronger." Kam smiled faintly, his eyes fluttering closed. "Yeah," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I'm going to get stronger." As he drifted into a deep sleep, he knew that tomorrow would bring more challenges-but he was ready to face them head-on.