Martial King's Training I

Leaves rustled as the tree crashed to the ground, reduced to nothing more than a shattered husk by the remnants of the mana blast that had struck it.

I took a deep breath, the sound echoing in the silence of the forest as I withdrew my sword from the chest of my latest kill. Another 6-star beast lay dead at my feet, its lifeless form collapsing to the ground.

I exhaled heavily, my entire body aching from exhaustion as the sigils of Lucent Harmony flickered and faded away. The strain of maintaining it for so long was taking its toll, and my limbs felt heavy.

Arthur, Luna's voice came, her tone cautious.

I know, I replied silently, turning my gaze to the approaching creature.

A 4-star beast, creeping closer. Its low growls resonated through the clearing as it eyed me.

I let out a tired sigh, gripping my sword tightly. I didn't need Lucent Harmony to deal with a mere 4-star beast. Compared to the 6-star monster I had just fought, this one would be easy.

The beast lunged at me, its claws slashing through the air, but my body moved instinctively. I sidestepped its attack, the wind of its strike grazing past me, and then spun, my blade cutting clean through its side. The creature let out a pained roar, but I didn't give it a chance to recover. I moved in swiftly, driving my sword through its chest.

The beast crumpled to the ground, its growl fading into silence.

I pulled my sword free, taking another steadying breath. My muscles were screaming for rest, but I knew I couldn't afford to stop. In this forest, there was no such thing as safety—not yet.

You need to rest soon, Luna's voice urged me.

I know, I replied, glancing around cautiously, listening for any other threats lurking in the shadows. The forest was quiet for the moment, but I knew that peace wouldn't last long.

I sheathed my sword and decided to move. Staying in one place too long was a death sentence out here, and I needed to find a spot where I could catch my breath—if only for a short while. I had to stay sharp; exhaustion was dangerous, and one mistake could be my end.

Slowly, I began making my way through the thick forest, my senses heightened as I listened to every sound, every rustle of leaves. I knew this was only the beginning. Magnus had thrown me into this forest to test me, to push me to my limits, and so far, it was doing just that.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed since I'd been left here—days, maybe? It all blurred together in the endless cycle of fighting, resting, and moving. But I had no intention of giving up.

If I wanted to achieve my goals, I had to get stronger. I had to survive. And I would, no matter how many beasts I had to face.

Up ahead, I spotted a cluster of rocks that formed a small overhang, a place that looked defensible enough for a short rest. I approached cautiously, checking for any signs of danger before settling down beneath it.

I exhaled deeply, allowing myself a moment to lean against the rocks and catch my breath.

Just a little longer, I thought, closing my eyes for a brief moment of respite.

We'll make it through this, Luna said softly, her presence comforting me.

I nodded, my grip on my sword loosening slightly. I was tired, but I wasn't defeated. Not yet. This was just the beginning, and I would endure whatever came next.

Because I had to.

'When do you think I can begin the process of integration?' I asked Luna, my thoughts drifting to the next crucial step in my training.

'Give it at least two months, Arthur,' she replied. 'You can't start dissolving such an immature mana core.'

I smiled bitterly at her comment. As much as I wanted to push forward, I knew she was right. The integration process required precision and maturity; rushing it would be disastrous.

Still, the frustration lingered. Losing to Lucifer in the finals still weighed heavily on my mind, a bitter reminder of how far I had to go. It wasn't just the loss, but the way it happened—him unlocking his second Gift right in the middle of our fight, a miraculous turn of fate that turned the tide against me.

'Well, I suppose protagonists need their plot armor,' I thought with a tired exhale, a wry smile tugging at my lips. It was ironic, knowing how the story had favored Lucifer, yet here I was, doing everything I could to change it.

With a sigh, I looked around. The forest was eerily silent now, the remnants of battle fading into the background. There wasn't much to do here other than hunt, train, and rest. My phone was useless without a network in this remote place, cutting me off from any connection to the outside world.

Still, it wasn't entirely without purpose. I would sometimes play games on my phone, charging it using lightning magic. It wasn't much, but it gave me a moment of distraction—and, at the same time, helped me practice my control over lightning.

The mana in the forest was dense, almost overwhelming at times, but it also provided the perfect environment to strengthen my core. As Luna had said, my mana core was still too immature, but each day spent here brought me closer to the next step.

The days blurred together in the forest, a relentless cycle of battle, survival, and exhaustion. I had lost track of how long it had been since Magnus had left me here alone, but I knew one thing—my body was on the edge, yet somehow stronger than ever.

The forest was relentless. Mana beasts came at me constantly, each wave a test of my skills, each fight forcing me to dig deeper into my reserves. My movements became sharper, my reactions faster. Luna's sigils glowed as I used Lucent Harmony to strike down each challenge thrown my way.

Today was no different. Leaves rustled in the distance, and I turned, my instincts already heightened as I readied my sword. A beast lunged at me from the shadows—a 4-star creature, its eyes blazing with mana. I sidestepped its attack and pivoted, my sword moving in a clean arc, the blade slicing through its thick hide. The beast let out a guttural growl before collapsing to the ground.

I exhaled sharply, feeling the strain in my body as I pulled my sword free. Blood dripped from the blade, and I watched as the creature's lifeless body fell to the ground. Another one down.

'Arthur,' Luna's voice echoed in my mind, her tone cautious. 'There are more coming. You need to find shelter and rest.'

I nodded, my gaze sweeping the area. The mana in the air was dense, a constant weight pressing on my senses. I could feel the movement in the shadows—more beasts lurking, waiting for an opening.

But something was different today. I could feel it in my bones—a sense of completion, of progress. I had pushed myself to the limit, survived every encounter, and now, finally, I felt ready. The first task that Magnus had set for me, to survive a month in this forest, was nearly at its end.

I found a defensible spot beneath a rocky overhang and settled there, my back against the stone, my sword resting across my lap. My body was worn, my muscles aching, but I could feel the strength that had built up over time. Every day here had pushed me further, forced me to adapt and grow.

'I think... it's finally over,' I thought, closing my eyes for a moment of respite.

'You've done well, Arthur,' Luna said softly, her warmth filling my mind. 'You've grown stronger. Magnus will be pleased.'

I took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. This was just the beginning of my journey, but passing this task was a crucial first step. I had proven that I could endure, that I had the strength to keep moving forward no matter how dire the situation became.

Suddenly, I felt a shift in the air—something powerful, something familiar. My eyes snapped open, and I stood, my senses on high alert. From the treetops, a figure emerged, landing lightly on the ground in front of me.

Magnus Draykar.

He looked at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You survived," he said, his voice filled with approval.

I nodded, a small sense of pride swelling within me. "Yeah. I did."

Magnus crossed his arms, his gaze assessing. "You look like you've been through hell, but that's exactly what I wanted. This was just the beginning, Arthur. Now that you've survived the forest, it's time for the real training to begin."

A small smile formed on my lips as I sheathed my sword. "I'm ready."

Magnus gave a nod, his expression turning serious. "Good. The next steps will be even tougher. You wanted power, and I'm going to give it to you—but only if you can handle it."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was to come. This was what I had signed up for, what I needed to grow strong enough to change my fate.

"Let's go, then," I said, my voice steady.

Magnus's grin widened, and without another word, he turned and began walking away, motioning for me to follow. As I stepped out from beneath the overhang, I glanced back at the forest one last time.

I had passed the first task.