“The Threshold of Power”

The morning air was cold as Darian rose from his makeshift bed, stretching out his limbs. The camp was already alive with activity, a quiet sound of work hanging in the air. He took a deep breath, absorbing the stillness before it all began.

He walked outside, his boots crunching softly against the dirt path. The camp was in full motion—people moving purposefully, gathering supplies, and setting up for the day ahead. Combat specialists drilled their forms, their movements precise and fluid, while scouts made their rounds, checking the perimeter. Darian nodded at a few familiar faces as he passed. A simple "Morning" or a brief wave was enough to acknowledge their presence, and they reciprocated with the same casual respect.

He continued on, taking in the scope of the camp—the quiet before the storm, as he liked to call it. Soon, they'd be on the move again. The thought of it felt right. Everything was coming together, and he was ready for what lay ahead.

As he walked, his eyes landed on Bheemjog, who was hunched over a table, scribbling some notes on a small device. Darian approached him, walking up slowly so as not to disturb him too abruptly.

"Bheemjog," Darian called out as he reached his side.

Bheemjog looked up, his eyes bright and alert, despite the early hour. "Ah, Darian, good morning. Everything's going according to plan."

Darian nodded. "How much longer until everything is ready for the move?"

Bheemjog tapped a few keys on his device, eyes scanning the screen. "We'll be good to go in six hours. If nothing goes wrong, of course."

Darian smiled. "I'm trusting you to make sure nothing goes wrong." He placed a hand on the shoulder of the older man before turning away. "Make sure the communication systems are ready for the road. We'll need clear comms, especially when we hit the city."

Bheemjog gave a quick nod. "Understood. I'll handle it."

Darian moved on, satisfied with the answer. He didn't linger, knowing that the preparations were already in motion.

As Darian turned to leave, he paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on Bheemjog, who had already returned to his meticulous work. Telling Bheemjog to prepare for future plans last night was the right decision, I suppose, Darian thought. He's a calculative and intelligent person—reliable in times like these.

With that reassurance settling in his mind, Darian resumed his survey of the camp, his steps steady and purposeful.

Darian made his way to the training area, where Mara and Senna were busy overseeing the day's drills. The area was marked by the sounds of exertion—the thud of bodies hitting the ground, the swish of weapons cutting through the air, and the occasional shout of a trainer giving instructions. It was an organized chaos that Darian had grown used to over the years.

Senna stood beside Mara, a tablet in hand, flicking through various reports. She didn't look up as Darian approached, but he knew she was aware of his presence.

"How's everything?" Darian asked, his voice calm but authoritative.

Senna glanced up briefly, then back to the tablet. "We've got long-range fighters ready. And frontline fighters with the salient combat specialists."

Darian nodded, taking in the numbers. "Good. Keep the training up to standard. We'll need them all in top shape."

Senna paused for a moment, then lowered the tablet and looked him in the eye. "I think I'm close to breaking through with my poison training. It's… different now. I can feel it in my veins."

Darian regarded her for a moment, his gaze sharp. "Is that so?" He nodded. "Keep pushing. It's going to make a difference."

Turning to Mara, Darian added, "And how about you? How's your training progressing?"

Mara's expression was a little more reserved, as usual. She shrugged. "I'm at the limit of something. I don't know what it is yet, but I can feel it. Like I'm on the verge of a breakthrough."

Darian gave her a brief smile. "Good. Everyone's pushing their limits. We'll need all that strength soon enough."

With that, Darian turned to leave the training area.

Darian made his way toward the Weapon Arsenal a roughly made camp by Rathar and others under him to create better wepons, the sound of hammer strikes echoing through the air. Inside, Rathar, the camp's craftsman and blacksmith, was hunched over his workbench, his focus unwavering as he hammered away at the hot metal. His face, typically hard and stoic, showed a hint of frustration from the previous battle. The weapons he had crafted had failed to perform as expected, and it weighed on him.

Darian approached quietly, not wanting to disrupt his concentration. "Rathar," he called out, his voice cutting through the rhythmic clang of the hammer.

Rathar looked up, his brow furrowed but his eyes sharp. "Ah, Darian. I'm working on new designs for the group's weapons," he replied, his voice steady despite the weight of his previous disappointment. "We need stronger, more reliable tools for combat."

Darian nodded, his eyes scanning the workbench. "Good. What have you created so far?"

A slight pride flickered across Rathar's face as he gestured to the weapons laid out in front of him. "I've developed BOWs—automatic bows. They fire without the need for manual pulling. You just set the target, and they fire with precision and strength. I've also crafted sword daggers for the scouts and close-range fighters. For the frontline, I've developed shields that can be enhanced with vital force."

Darian raised an eyebrow. "So, you've had a breakthrough?"

Rathar's expression softened, a trace of satisfaction evident in his eyes. "Yes, Darian. After the last battle, while I was working, something… clicked inside me. I knew we needed something more. These weapons—these are the result of that moment. In just a day or two, I've crafted these three new designs."

Darian's gaze shifted to the weapons, appreciating their potential. "Good job. You're the builder of this camp, Rathar. I believe in you."

Rathar's chest puffed out slightly at the praise, and though Darian was younger, his words carried weight. "Thank you, Darian. I'm doing what I can."

As Darian turned to leave, Rathar called out to him. "Darian, your sword… it broke in the last fight, didn't it?"

Darian nodded, a hint of regret flashing across his face. "Yeah. It did."

Rathar's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'm making you a new one. A dagger-like sword. It'll have the length of a sword but the structure of a dagger. Smaller, but much stronger."

Darian's lips curled into a faint smile. "I have high expectations."

Rathar's grin matched his. "I won't disappoint you." 

After that Darian,

made his way toward Kai, who was busy working with the Elementalist, overseeing their progress. The air here was filled with the soft murmurs of concentration as each Elemental, honed their skills.

As Darian approached, Kai looked up, offering a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Morning," he said, his voice steady as always.

"How's the training going with the Elemental?" Darian asked, his tone direct, though his question wasn't rushed.

Kai shifted his weight, clearly considering the answer. "The Elemental are adapting quickly, Darian. They're learning how to control their abilities better, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. As for my own training…" He paused, glancing down for a moment. "I'm making progress, but there's still a lot to uncover. I'm not stopping until I figure out how to push past my limits."

Darian gave a small nod, impressed with Kai's determination. "Good. Just make sure they're ready when the time comes."

Without waiting for a response, Darian turned and continued on his way, moving through the camp with ease.

Meeting Marcus

As Darian continued his walk, someone came running up to him. It was Marcus.

"Darian, according to the plan, we're moving out in six hours, right?" Marcus asked, his voice carrying the usual tone of Respect.

Darian gave a small nod, acknowledging the question. "Yes."

"Did Bheemjog announce it?" Darian asked.

Marcus nodded again. "Yeah, he has. Everyone is getting ready to move. They're gathering supplies, preparing for the move. Some of the vehicles that were damaged in the battle are being repaired. We're also finding new materials and resources."

Marcus looked over Darian. "Are you feeling alright?"

Darian smiled faintly. "Yeah, I'm okay. Better than ever before."

Marcus grinned. "Good."

Darian shifted the conversation slightly, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Hey, Marcus, how's your training going? I never really asked you because we didn't have the time. But, what's your ability?"

"Darien," Marcus began, his voice calm yet firm, "you asked about my ability. I call it… Kinetic Bastion. It's a bit hard to explain, but basically, I can manipulate kinetic energy within a two-meter radius around me. It's like a protective field—anything that enters that range, any attack, I can absorb its energy."

Darien raised an eyebrow. "And then what? Redirect it?"

Marcus nodded with a faint smile. "Exactly. I can channel the kinetic energy I absorb and send it back with double the force, sometimes even stronger if I focus my vital force into it. It's both defense and offense—absolute control over the flow of an attack."

Darien's expression shifted into one of intrigue. "And it's not just defense?"

"No, it's not," Marcus continued, his tone deepening with a hint of excitement. "If I go on the offensive, I can create controlled explosions.

"If I go on the offensive," Marcus continued, his voice a little more intense, "I can create controlled explosions by vibrating molecules within some range outside the domain—like generating heat waves or sonic booms. It's a bit unpredictable sometimes, but with the right focus, it packs a punch but it isn't strong as it sounds because it takes lot out of me and can't be generated Limitlessly Think of it as both a shield and a weapon, all wrapped into one."

Darien's gaze remained fixed on Marcus, the weight of the explanation sinking in. "Sounds like it gives you a lot of options," he said.

Marcus chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, but I'm still figuring it out. I'm reaching my limit with this ability, and I think I'm close to a breakthrough. Maybe if I push it a little further, I'll unlock something more. But I haven't settled on a name for it yet. I was thinking of calling it Kinetic Bastion… Or maybe something else."

Darien nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds fitting. You're a wall of force, but you can also be the hammer. Kinetic Bastion… it works."

Marcus gave a half-smile, eyes lighting up at the approval. "Yeah, I think I'll stick with that for now. It's just a name for now, though… I have a lot of work to do before I really understand what it can do."

Darien's expression softened for a moment. "You'll figure it out. Marcus ''Nods''

Than Jack appeared and asked Marcus there is some enhancement being done with jeeps so Bheemjog and Rather called you . Marcus looked at Darian, and Darian smiled, giving a small sign of approval. Taking the cue, Marcus turned to Jack and said, "Jack, let's go." Marcus then made his way to Rathar and Bheemjog to coordinate and discuss how the weapons would be modified and deployed in the vehicles or jeeps.

After Marcus and Jack left, Darian stood alone, deep in thought. Everyone is improving steadily, he mused. It's time for me to push myself further. I need to break through the second pathway. Resolving to advance, Darian headed toward the jungle where he had trained the day before.

Upon reaching the dense forest, he sat cross-legged on the ground, his mind focused. My comrades are advancing, and I must guide them to discover this method as well. But first, I need to master it myself. Let's focus on breaking through to the second pathway for now.

He concentrated deeply, channeling his energy inward. The process took longer than it had the previous day. While breaking through the first pathway had been a lengthy and painful endeavor as he worked to understand it, today the effort seemed even more grueling. Hours passed as Darian endured waves of intense pain and struggle, but after nearly five hours, he finally succeeded.

Darian stood up, his body buzzing with newfound strength. He could feel his agility, stamina, and various other attributes had evolved once again. But a thought lingered in his mind. It's getting harder and harder to break through these pathways. I'll need to find a better method soon.

Checking the time, Darian was startled. "Five hours already? Oh no, it's nearly time!" he muttered. Without wasting another second, he hurried back to the camp.

When he arrived, he saw that everyone was just about ready to move. Emerging from their camps, the group gathered. Darian addressed them with a firm yet calm voice, "Now, we shall move."

Everybody replied ''yes''.