chapter 12:can't stop the pain

The air hung heavy as Valeri stood at the edge of the makeshift arena, his body tense and his mind racing. Across from him, Lucien, his mentor and tormentor for the day, stretched his arms lazily, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The rules were simple: Valeri had to land ten hits before the timer ran out. Once it did, Lucien's full strength, both as a mage and martial artist, would be unleashed. Valeri knew what that meant. Survival, let alone victory, would become nearly impossible.

Lucien's flames, infamous for their intensity, were said to burn even the most inflammable of woods. His mastery over fire wasn't just a weapon but an extension of his being. The stakes were clear, and Valeri couldn't afford to falter.

"Ready?" Lucien asked, his voice calm but laced with anticipation. "Remember, you only need ten hits. I'll even give you a head start." He gestured mockingly, urging Valeri to make the first move.

Valeri's fists clenched. His body screamed at him to act, but his mind hesitated, calculating the odds. Then, he surged forward, opening the battle with a low dash aimed at closing the distance.

Lucien's response was immediate. A wall of flame erupted between them, forcing Valeri to veer to the side. The heat was suffocating, the air around him crackling with energy. Valeri threw himself into a roll, trying to dodge the next wave of fire that came sweeping toward him.

"Come on," Lucien called, his tone almost teasing. "You can't just run. Where's that Aikido finesse you're so proud of?"

Gritting his teeth, Valeri darted in, feinting to the left before spinning to the right. He aimed a quick strike at Lucien's midsection, but a jet of fire erupted from Lucien's palm, forcing him to pull back.

"You've got to do better than that," Lucien said, his voice quieter now but still corny. "Or are you waiting for me to burn some sense into you?"

Valeri's frustration mounted. His usual tactics, redirecting energy, countering, and neutralizing attacks, felt useless against Lucien's flames. Aikido thrived on physical contact and momentum, but Lucien's attacks never gave him the opportunity to engage directly.

A sudden memory flashed through Valeri's mind his first lessons on mana. His instructor had described it as the fluid energy of the world, capable of shaping the impossible. Manipulating phenomena that have not yet occurred... The words echoed in his mind as he dodged another fiery assault.

If he couldn't fight Lucien directly, perhaps he could manipulate the environment. Focusing his thoughts, Valeri channeled his mana, attempting to control the air around him. A faint breeze stirred, barely noticeable amidst the heat. But it was a start.

Lucien noticed the shift. "Finally," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten how to breathe."

The first breakthrough came as Valeri managed to create a sudden gust of wind that extinguished one of Lucien's smaller fireballs. It wasn't much, but it gave him an opening. He closed the distance and landed a light punch on Lucien's side before retreating.

"One," Lucien counted, rubbing the spot theatrically. "Nine more to go. At this rate, I might even break a sweat."

The fight pressed on, each exchange pushing Valeri to his limits. Lucien's attacks were relentless, but there was a method to his madness. He wasn't just testing Valeri's strength, he was forcing him to think faster, to act with precision. Every attack carried a purpose, designed to exploit Valeri's weaknesses.

Valeri, for his part, was learning. His attempts to control the wind grew more deliberate. He used small gusts to extinguish flames, redirecting them just enough to close the gap. By the time he landed his third hit, a sharp elbow to Lucien's ribs, his confidence was growing. "Not bad," Lucien said, his voice quieter now. "But don't get cocky. The timer's still ticking."

The countdown loomed over Valeri like a shadow. He knew that once it ended, Lucien would no longer hold back. He needed to land his hits now, while he still had a chance.

By the time Valeri landed his eighth hit, a desperate jab to Lucien's shoulder, he was drenched in sweat, his body aching from the strain. His wind control, though still shaky, had become his lifeline, giving him just enough of an edge to keep going.

But then, the timer buzzed.

Lucien's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, focused expression. "Playtime's over," he said simply. The shift was immediate. His movements, once measured and almost lazy, became razor-sharp. His flames burned hotter, their intensity forcing Valeri to retreat.

The next exchange was a blur. Lucien's counters were brutal, each one calculated to test Valeri's limits. A flaming kick sent Valeri sprawling, and a searing punch nearly knocked the wind out of him. Yet, through sheer determination, Valeri kept pushing forward. Valeri's body screamed in protest, every movement a struggle against exhaustion and pain. Lucien's attacks came faster now, his flames dancing with deadly precision. But Valeri refused to give up.

He tried everything, his Aikido, his wind control, even desperate feints, but Lucien countered each move with ease. The distance between them seemed insurmountable, the gap in their abilities a chasm Valeri couldn't cross. Then, in a moment of clarity, Valeri remembered the flicker of wind he'd created earlier. It was a small thing, almost insignificant, but it had distracted Lucien just enough to give him an opening. Focusing his remaining mana, Valeri manipulated the air behind Lucien, restricting its flow until the space felt still and empty. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he released it, creating a gust that swept past Lucien's back. The distraction worked. For a split second, Lucien's focus wavered, his attention drawn to the unexpected sensation. Valeri seized the moment, closing the gap with everything he had left. His fist connected with Lucien's jaw in a clean, decisive strike. Lucien staggered back, blinking in surprise. A slow smile spread across his face as he straightened, rubbing his jaw. "Well," he said, his tone as dry as ever, "that's one way to make a point. Shall we fully begin now?" Lucien said with a smirk, "What?" Valeri said in surprise, in a split second as if teleported to a different area, wider, Different.

The training area was dimly lit, the trees scarred with the marks of past battles. The scent of sweat and metal hung in the air, a testament to the grueling sessions held within these walls. In the center of the ring, two figures stood in silence. Lucien Saint-Aurel, a man forged in fire and blood, cracked his knuckles. He was dressed in nothing but black training pants, his toned, battle-hardened physique on full display. His sharp, calculating eyes locked onto his opponent, a younger, leaner fighter whose stance was loose, almost relaxed, yet brimming with tension like a coiled spring.

Valerius Cassian. Unlike Lucien, who radiated overwhelming dominance, Valeri's movements were fluid, unpredictable. He specialized in aikido, an art of redirection and counterplay, but today's fight was different. No weapons. No killing intent. Just pure, unfiltered combat.

And Lucien? He wasn't holding back.

The moment the bell rang, Lucien moved.

A single step. Then, an explosion. The air cracked as his fist tore forward, aimed straight for Valeri's jaw. No hesitation. No testing the waters. It was a punch meant to break bones. Valeri barely reacted in time. His feet slid back, his body twisting with the attack rather than resisting it. Aikido wasn't about brute force, it was about flowing with your opponent's momentum, using their strength against them. He redirected Lucien's strike past his shoulder, the sheer force of it sending a shockwave through his entire arm. But Lucien was already there. Without breaking stride, he pivoted, his left knee firing up toward Valeri's ribs. The younger fighter twisted again, barely escaping the full brunt of the strike, but even the grazing impact made his stomach churn.

Lucien pressed forward, relentless.

Right hook. Feint. Elbow to the temple. Low kick. Every attack was a symphony of brutality, fast, precise, devastating.

Valeri had no room to breathe.

His body moved on instinct, redirecting each strike just enough to avoid getting crushed, but Lucien's sheer pressure was suffocating. The moment Valeri deflected one blow, another was already coming.

Lucien was testing him. Pushing him. Trying to break him. Valeri's footwork became lighter. He stopped trying to keep up with Lucien's speed and instead let the older fighter dictate the rhythm. Every time Lucien's fist shot forward, Valeri barely adjusted his stance, making Lucien overextend just slightly. And then, finally, An opening.

Lucien lunged in with a devastating right straight.

Valeri didn't dodge.

He stepped into the attack.

Aikido was all about turning an opponent's force against them. With a swift twist of his hips, he grabbed Lucien's wrist, guiding the punch past his body while using the momentum to throw Lucien off balance.

Lucien's eyes flashed with intrigue.

His feet barely touched the ground before he righted himself, using his core strength to snap his body back into control. But the moment he landed, Valeri struck.

His palm shot forward, aimed for Lucien's diaphragm. A direct hit. Lucien staggered.

For the first time in the fight, he had been pushed back.

Valeri didn't celebrate. He knew what was coming. Lucien's grin was sharp. "Not bad."

And then, He disappeared. Valeri barely caught it. A flicker of motion. A shadow shifting in his peripheral vision.

Lucien was behind him. The speed was inhuman. Before Valeri could fully turn, a powerful forearm wrapped around his throat, a rear-naked choke. Lucien locked it in instantly, his biceps constricting with vice-like strength. Valeri's wind control flared. A sudden burst of air shot from his body, breaking Lucien's grip for a fraction of a second. It was a small, instinctive burst, barely controlled, but it was enough.

Enough for him to drop his weight, breaking free. Enough for him to twist, redirecting Lucien's arm with a fluid counter. Enough for him to throw Lucien over his shoulder.

The entire area shook as Lucien's back slammed into the floor.

For a split second, the air stilled.

Then, Lucien laughed.

A low, dark chuckle, full of amusement.

The moment Valeri realized what was happening, it was too late. Lucien grabbed his wrist mid-motion and pulled him down.

Valeri barely managed to flip midair to avoid landing on his back, but Lucien was already moving again. His legs snapped around Valeri's arm, an armbar.

Valeri's eyes widened.

Lucien baited him. The less experienced fighter reacted instantly. Instead of resisting, he flowed into the hold, twisting his body just before Lucien fully locked it in. His shoulder screamed in protest, but he slipped out, barely. Lucien's foot shot up.

A brutal kick connected with Valeri's ribs. The impact sent him tumbling across the ground, gasping for air. Lucien climbed to his feet, rolling his shoulders. His movements were effortless, as if the entire exchange had been nothing more than a warm-up. Valeri, still kneeling, wiped the blood from his lip. Lucien tilted his head. "You're good at adapting." Valeri exhaled sharply. "You're good at forcing adaptation." Lucien smirked. "Again."

They rushed each other. No hesitation. No pauses. Lucien's fists became a storm, hooks, jabs, elbows, every attack flowing into the next. His strikes were heavier now, less about speed, more about breaking his opponent. Valeri moved like water. His wind control still faltered, still wavered, but it was there. Each time Lucien struck, Valeri's body tilted at just the right angle. Every time Lucien tried to overpower him, Valeri redirected his force, guiding it away rather than resisting. But even so, Lucien was winning. His sheer physicality was overwhelming. His adaptability was terrifying. His presence was suffocating.

Valeri's body ached. His vision blurred. But his mind, His mind was clear. Lucien threw a heavy right hook. Valeri ducked, then stepped in. He caught Lucien's arm mid-swing. Shifted his weight.

Redirected.

Lucien's entire body flipped over. A textbook aikido throw. The ground shook.

Lucien lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. Valeri took a step back, his chest rising and falling. He didn't expect it to work. Lucien blinked.

Then, He started laughing.

A low, satisfied laugh.

"Not bad." He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "You'll still get killed in a real fight." Valeri exhaled, dropping to a knee. "Maybe." He gave a small, lopsided grin. "But at least I won't die instantly."

Lucien smirked. "That's all that matters."

Valeri collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Every muscle in his body ached, but a faint sense of triumph warmed him.

Lucien offered him a hand, pulling him to his feet. "Not bad," he said, his voice quieter now, almost approving. "You've still got a long way to go, but you're starting to get it."

Valeri managed a weak smile. "You mean how to get punched in the face repeatedly?"

Lucien chuckled. "That too." He said with a smile.