Beyond Limits

Trevor's breathing was shallow as he gazed up into Adam's glowing blue eyes. For a brief moment, time seemed to still, and his mind wandered back to the moments they had shared—the camaraderie, the laughs, and the quiet, intimate moments where their bond had deepened. He had always respected Adam, but now, seeing the raw power in his friend's eyes, that respect felt magnified.

With a wide grin breaking the tension, Trevor said, "Your eyes... they're really shiny, you know that?"

Adam, hiding a chuckle, helped Trevor back to his feet, his usual seriousness softened for a moment. "I've noticed," he replied, his tone calm. "But it's not just my eyes. I don't know exactly what this is, but I can see things... differently. It's like everything around me has a different form, like I can see through things, and—" he paused for a second, eyes still glowing faintly, "—I think it's mana. I can sense mana clearer ."

Before Trevor could react, Darius' voice boomed across the field, drawing their attention back to their opponent. "Are you two tired already?" he teased, his towering figure still standing strong, though there was a glint of approval in his eyes.

Adam turned to Trevor with renewed focus, his hand still steady on his three-segment staff. "Are you good to keep going?" he asked, scanning Trevor for any signs of real fatigue.

Trevor waved off the concern, though there was a hint of exhaustion in his voice. "I'm low on mana, but I can push through for a bit longer." He laughed, adding, "I didn't even know what 'low on mana' felt like before. Funny how fast things change, huh?"

As they steadied themselves, Darius planted Baltaçek firmly in the ground and drew a long line behind him in the dirt. He looked at the two of them and said, "Since you've both managed to manifest your Grand Weapons, the next part of your training is simple. Push me past this line with the power you have right now, and you'll be ready for the next level of training."

Trevor's face twisted in disbelief, his usual bravado crumbling. "Are you serious?! There's no way we can do that! You've barely even tried so far, and now you want us to push you back?"

Darius raised a hand. "I'll keep my word," he said. "I won't use reinforcement beyond what I've already shown. I'll remain at low power."

Trevor scoffed, shaking his head. "Low power or not, it's still practically impossible!"

Adam, who had been silent, finally spoke, his eyes scanning Darius carefully. "He'll keep his word." There was a subtle intensity in his voice as he added, "I've got a plan, but I'll need you to cover me... and we'll need a distraction."

Trevor grinned, despite the situation. "Oh, don't worry. I'll take this seriously," he said, his tone light, but his stance growing more focused. With a flourish, he manifested his True Maymum Staff, the gold bands gleaming in the fading light. "False staffs won't cut it anymore. Let's go all out."

The two exchanged a quick nod, and Trevor was the first to move, rushing toward Darius with his staff swinging wide. Adam followed close behind, the three segments of his staff spinning as he prepared for the next phase of the attack.

Darius, ever watchful, sidestepped Trevor's opening strike and quickly shifted to avoid Adam's approach. But Adam's staff suddenly extended, the segments stretching into long chains that connected seamlessly. The weapon's reach caught Darius off guard, grazing his cheek for the first time since the battle had begun.

Darius raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Impressive."

Before he could regain his stance, Trevor had already prepared his next move. He slammed his staff into the ground, his voice ringing out clear and focused:

"Maymum's Staff: Stretch!"

The staff elongated with incredible speed, its length catching Darius off-guard once more. But this time, Baltaçek was up, deflecting the strike with a solid block.

As Darius fended off Trevor's attack, he realized something—Adam had stopped attacking. He looked to the side and saw the reason: Adam, standing a few feet away, his hand raised toward Darius, was forming a massive mana sphere. It was bigger than anything Darius had seen from him before, crackling with raw energy.

"Maximum Output: Mana Blast."

Darius's eyes widened. The sheer size of the blast was reminiscent of the Mana Barrage he had used earlier. As the orb hurtled toward him, Darius braced himself. The mana sphere collided with the earth, sending a shockwave rippling across the field. The explosion was deafening, the sound echoing through the valley with the same intensity as Darius' previous attack.

Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring everything for a moment. When it cleared, Darius was still standing, Baltaçek raised in defense, the ground around him scorched and cracked. He had blocked the bulk of the attack, but as he looked down, a small smile crept onto his face.

He glanced back at the line he had drawn earlier. He had been pushed just beyond it.

"They did it," he thought to himself, a mixture of pride and amusement filling his chest. Adam had pulled off a Maximum Output attack—a feat not many could achieve, let alone so soon in their training.

His gaze shifted, and there, lying on the ground a few feet away, were Adam and Trevor, both collapsed from exhaustion, their bodies tangled together, sound asleep. The exertion had taken its toll, but they had succeeded.

Darius walked over, standing above them with an approving smile. Kopa approached from the side, his expression one of awe. "I've never seen anything like it," Kopa admitted, shaking his head in disbelief. "Their potential is... extraordinary."

Darius nodded. "They've exceeded even my expectations." He looked down at the sleeping duo, a proud glint in his eyes. "But this is only the beginning."

---------------------

Back in the snowy highlands, the training field was littered with broken weapons and deep gouges in the earth. The cold wind swept across the battered landscape, but at the center of it all stood Kon, his chest heaving, two gleaming swords in his hands. The edges of the blades glowed faintly with yellow energy, marking the culmination of his efforts.

Across from him stood Talonir, his expression unreadable, but a certain satisfaction glimmering in his eyes. "Took you long enough," Talonir said, his voice even but carrying a weight of approval. He crossed his arms, his cape of feathers fluttering slightly in the wind.

Kon, battered and bruised from the intense sparring session, could barely stand. Sweat trickled down his face, mixing with the snow, but despite the exhaustion, a quiet smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He had done it. He had manifested his twin swords—the true mark of the Kaplan Clan's Grand Form.

With his vision blurring from fatigue, Kon's legs finally gave way, and he collapsed into the snow, barely conscious. But as he slipped into unconsciousness, the smile never left his face.

Talonir watched him silently for a moment, then moved forward, his hand resting briefly on Kon's head in a gesture of acknowledgment. "Well done" he whispered.