Chapter 5: The Land of Machines Episode 16: United Training, Marching Towards the Final Battle

Part (1/2): The Foundation of Growth

On the morning of the third day, everyone reluctantly gathered for breakfast. The meal wasn't exactly inspiring—some dishes were bland, while others turned out unexpectedly spicy, forcing Yue to gulp down glass after glass of water. Akira, meanwhile, found his thoughts drifting to the taste of his mother's cooking. Mirelle and Draco grumbled about missing their familiar Undine cuisines, but given the effort the Guardian cooks had put in, none of us dared to complain too much.

Once breakfast (barely) satisfied our hunger, Akira called for a team meeting at the outdoor training grounds.

Mirelle, ever curious, broke the silence first. "Why didn't we start training yesterday? If you really wanted to assess our abilities, you could've done it then."

Akira smiled softly, his expression calm. "This is a method my old mentor, Hoshikawa-sensei, used with me. It's great for motivated people—it pushes them to make a breakthrough. But if someone's lazy, the results are the opposite. I figured that everyone here is pretty driven, so I wanted to give it a try."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "A breakthrough, huh? How's that supposed to work?"

Akira's smile widened slightly. "Let me ask you first, Draco—what do you want to train?"

Without hesitation, Draco answered, "I want to practice throwing my fire chakram and flying at higher altitudes."

"And if you master those techniques, how will they help the team?" Akira asked, his tone still calm but more focused.

Draco hesitated, scratching his head. "Well… I guess I'd use them to charge in and attack enemies or hurl the chakram at them…"

"And are you certain that'll be enough to defeat Zekhtau in his true form?" Akira's voice turned sharper, the weight of the question sinking in.

Draco frowned, struggling to respond. "Uh… maybe not. Wait, are you trying to pick a fight with me or something?"

Akira chuckled lightly. "Not at all. Just asking you to think. One more question—compared to everyone else, what's something you're better at? Something no one else can do as well as you?"

Though still a bit annoyed, Draco gave it some thought before replying, "Close combat. Dodging and countering. Oh, and I can shift my own weight and my enemy's—making us heavier or lighter as needed."

"That's exactly what I want you—and everyone else—to focus on," Akira said with a satisfied nod. "Build on what you're already great at. Refine your unique strengths. Don't rush to learn new techniques if you haven't figured out what makes you stand out yet."

He turned to face the entire group, adopting the demeanor of a coach addressing his team. "This morning, I'm not going to give anyone specific advice. And no consulting each other either. Spend the time alone. Think about your strengths, train on your own, and figure out what you can bring to the table. We'll regroup at lunch to discuss what you've learned."

The team exchanged uncertain glances but nodded in agreement. As they began to scatter across the training grounds, Akira's gaze lingered, silently observing each of them. This wasn't just a morning of training—it was the start of something deeper, a lesson in finding their individuality within the team.

Morning Training: Each to Their Own

• Akira sat cross-legged on the training field, revisiting the fundamentals taught by Hoshikawa-sensei. His mind turned to the intricacies of his technique—absorbing light with the white blade and releasing blacklight through the black blade. To refine this, he would need Yue's help in testing the properties of light and Mirelle's water buff to experiment with higher-level wave slashes.

• Yue let out a quiet sigh, her fox tail drooping as she sat alone. She pondered her role as a support unit. Could she fight alone if necessary? Against Zekhtau—who wasn't even corrupted by Chaos—what could she do? Her thoughts spiraled, questioning how much she truly contributed outside of boosting her team.

• Draco, still irritated with Akira's questioning earlier, couldn't deny that his gravity magic had always been a decisive factor in every major battle. His mind churned with ideas on how to integrate gravitational manipulation with close-quarters combat. Could he shift an opponent's weight mid-strike? Could he control his own balance in a way that made his movements unpredictable?

• Mirelle sat with an ancient tome of Andean water magic, recalling the wisdom of "quality over quantity." The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Akira's creative problem-solving—like using ice tubes to siphon out electric eels, superheating metal before flash-freezing it, or turning the battlefield into a slippery ice trap against Zekhtau—was just as valuable as mastering spells through sheer repetition.

• Elina was stuck in her own head, dwelling on past failures—times when she had failed to protect her allies, Draco, Akira, and even the camp gates she was entrusted with. Frustration gnawed at her. She wasn't strong enough. Not yet. And so, she returned to the very foundation of her training, practicing defensive stances and spear-shield forms with unwavering focus. Next time, she swore—she would not fail.

• Osiris, never having fought in direct combat before, sat staring at a training dummy, utterly lost. Her neural database overflowed with potential training routines—hundreds of them. But where was she supposed to start? Something weighed on her chest, a gnawing doubt she couldn't quite name.

• Lunar had separated himself from the others, setting up a workbench stacked with portable hacking devices and engineering tools. He barely touched any physical training—because to him, preparation was firepower in itself. Outfitting the right tools, gadgets, and failsafes would be just as crucial as a well-placed blade.

Each of them trained alone, reflecting, analyzing, and searching for their own paths. Though scattered across the training grounds, their shared purpose bound them together—whether they realized it or not.

Lunchtime : The Pyramid of Growth

As lunchtime approached, Akira gathered everyone in a circle, checking in on their progress. One by one, they shared their struggles, and the weight of frustration hung thick in the air. Each of them seemed disheartened by their lack of clear progress. But what was even more aggravating was that, despite the tense atmosphere, Akira sat there with a relaxed smile.

Lunar was the first to call him out. "Why are you smiling? Everyone looks miserable."

Akira, still grinning, answered cheerfully, "I'm not smiling because I enjoy seeing everyone struggle. I'm smiling because it means you're all taking this seriously. No one has given up. No one has wandered off the path. You're all truly engaged in your own growth."

Osiris raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

Akira leaned forward slightly, his voice steady as he began to elaborate. "This is a combination of two methods—The Four Pillars of Progress mixed with The Pyramid Skill Model. It's different from the usual Skill Tree Approach, which most people follow. Here's how it works:

1. Desire – Yesterday, I made everyone take a break. It wasn't to waste time but to reignite motivation and set a strong mental foundation. Now, you're all eager to push forward.

2. Effort – This morning, I had everyone train alone with no guidance. You had to take action without relying on hints or outside support.

3. Focus – With no distractions or instructions, you all had to delve deeper into your own thoughts, learning what you truly needed to develop.

4. Evaluation – And now, we're here, exchanging insights, reflecting on our training, and figuring out how to refine our approach moving forward."

A long silence followed as everyone absorbed his words. Draco was the first to break it. "Alright… but what's this Pyramid Skill Model you keep mentioning?"

Akira nodded and continued, "Most people train using the Skill Tree Approach—branching out, specializing in one specific direction. But the problem is, that can sometimes leave gaps. You become great at one thing but struggle to integrate with others. That's why I recommend The Pyramid Skill Model instead.

"Think of it like this—first, build a solid foundation with your unique strengths. That's your core. Once that base is stable, you gradually layer on complementary skills—ones that reinforce and elevate what you already excel at. Eventually, you form a structured, stable 'pyramid' of abilities rather than an imbalanced tree."

Draco exhaled sharply, realization dawning. "So that's why you pushed me to focus on my specific ability earlier." He rubbed the back of his neck, his frustration finally easing. "I get it now… Sorry for snapping at you before. And… thanks for pushing us."

Yue, unable to hold back, threw her arms around Akira from behind. "Big brother Akira is always the best!" she chirped.

Akira chuckled, ruffling her hair with a slightly exasperated smile. But there was warmth in his eyes, a softness that hadn't been there earlier. Around the circle, the mood began to shift. Smiles replaced furrowed brows, and the weight in their chests seemed a little lighter. They still didn't have all the answers, but at least now, they understood why Akira had structured their training this way. And with that, they were ready to move forward.

Afternoon : Refining Strengths

After lunch, we split into smaller groups, brainstorming ideas and experimenting with techniques. Though none of us perfected a brand-new combat move just yet, we started to see the outlines—the fundamental structures we could build upon. It wasn't just about brute-force training anymore. It was about understanding—knowing what pieces to refine, what skills to strengthen, and how to bring out the best in each other.

As evening settled in and dinner was over, the training hall transformed into something resembling a study room before a high-stakes exam.

• Draco scribbled down combo sequences for punches, kicks, and how to integrate them with his gravity magic.

• Elina practiced layering her barriers at different ranges, trying to gain finer control over their activation and durability.

• Mirelle flipped through her Undine water magic tome, jotting down notes on potential hybrid techniques.

• Yue, her fox tail swaying lightly, chanted advanced incantations for higher-tier light magic, committing them to memory.

• Osiris sat with an intense expression, absorbing combat fundamentals from the database as if her life depended on it.

• Lunar, as always, was the odd one out—buried in circuit diagrams and tools, fine-tuning some contraption he refused to explain.

That night, everyone was lost in their own world of focus and determination. Some mulled over Akira's words about the Four Pillars of Progress, while others put their unique strengths into serious refinement, pushing themselves in ways they hadn't before.

It was like preparing for the ultimate final exam—only the stakes weren't grades, but the future of Draft itself.

Even if none of us had mastered our techniques yet, the foundation had been set. The spark of progress had been lit.

Because no matter where you were or who you were—if you understood your strengths, built a solid foundation, committed to action, embraced creativity, and continuously refined your approach—you would eventually find your own way to breakthrough.

Part (2/2): Part Title: The Spark of Synergy

The next morning, the training grounds were unusually lively, the air buzzing with energy. Akira's method was finally bearing tangible results, and everyone had found a clearer path to refine their skills.

"Whoa, Yue, try it again! You've almost got it!" Akira called out enthusiastically. His younger sister, brimming with excitement, took a few steps back, her gaze locked onto the target ahead. She raised her hands, her voice steady as she chanted, "Photon Blast!" A golden beam shot out, zigzagging slightly before hitting its mark with a satisfying burst of energy. It wasn't quite as powerful as Zekhtau's Prism Photon Laser, but it packed a serious punch.

"I did it! I did it, big brother!" Yue cheered, bouncing on her toes with joy, her fox tail wagging wildly like a happy flag.

Akira chuckled. "That's great, Yue, but we're not done yet. Let's take it a step further. I'll use the white blade to absorb the light, and you purify the Blacklight when I release it, okay?"

"Got it!" Yue nodded eagerly, her excitement matched by Akira's confidence. Their sibling bond shone brightly as they exchanged ideas, refining techniques together like two halves of the same mind.

A short while later, On the other side of the training grounds, Mirelle was standing ready.

"Mirelle, time to try the next step!" Akira called as he approached her. He whispered some instructions, and she nodded, summoning a high-speed water jet infused with tiny shards of ice.

"We're adapting Nagaria's techniques into something like an Abrasive Water Jet Cutter, the kind used to slice through metal," Akira explained. Mirelle closed her eyes, focusing intensely before releasing a jet of water with a loud whoosh, its force slicing through the air like a blade.

Across from her, Elina took up a defensive stance, gripping her spear tightly. She muttered an incantation, and a double-layered barrier appeared in front of her—an outer layer to absorb impact and an inner layer as tough as steel.

"Ahhh!" she cried out as the powerful water jet slammed into her barrier. The force was overwhelming, but she gritted her teeth and held her ground. Finally, the jet faded, and she let out a breath, drenched in sweat but smiling. "It didn't break! Your idea of soft layering over hard defense works, Akira!"

"That's incredible, Mirelle! The water's cutting power is stronger than I expected," Elina said, her eyes sparkling with excitement despite her exhaustion.

Mirelle allowed herself a small smile of pride. "Thanks, Elina. You've helped me figure out just how strong it is. I'll refine it for better accuracy next time!"

Meanwhile, on another part of the field…

"Lunar! Osiris! Give me your best shot!" Draco's voice boomed as he stood ready, his fiery determination unshaken. Facing him were the ever-composed Lunar and the hesitant Osiris.

"I'm not really built for direct combat… What do I do?" Osiris murmured nervously.

Lunar's gaze sharpened. "Stick to Akira's plan—cloak yourself and provide me with live support using your tech."

"Alright… If everyone's okay with it, I'll try." Osiris gulped before activating her jacket, vanishing from sight as she darted to a corner, her cloaked figure feeding real-time data to Lunar.

"Not bad!" Draco smirked, slamming his foot onto the ground to manipulate gravity. The pebbles around him lifted slightly, floating in a faint gravitational field. "This is what makes me unstoppable!" he said with a grin, feeling more confident now that Akira's advice on force and momentum had made his abilities sharper and more effective.

But Lunar wasn't about to let him dominate so easily. "Let's see how you handle this." He pressed a button on his modified toolkit, deploying thin, nearly invisible sheets across the battlefield. Some sections became as slick as ice, others as sticky as glue. To add chaos, he triggered bursts of smoke and bright flashes.

"Osiris, I need wind resistance data, now!" Lunar called.

"On it!" Osiris replied from somewhere unseen, her voice a steady reminder of her hidden presence.

Draco's footing faltered as he struggled to adjust his gravity to the ever-changing terrain. "Damn, this is intense!" he exclaimed, his laugh ringing out across the field. Despite tripping a few times, he grinned wildly, exhilarated by Lunar's unpredictable tactics. "This is harder than half the dungeons we've fought!"

Lunar smirked. "That's the point. Adapt or fall, Draco."

By the end of the morning, the training grounds were alive with excitement and progress. Everyone was beginning to realize the importance of teamwork, innovation, and refining their unique abilities.

From Yue's light magic to Mirelle's devastating water jets, Elina's layered defenses to Draco's refined gravity control, and Lunar and Osiris's clever tactics, the team was coming together in ways they hadn't before.

For the first time, it felt like they were ready to take on Zekhtau—and perhaps even beyond.

Part Title: The Clash Before the Storm

Lunchtime

Laughter and chatter echoed through the makeshift cafeteria set up at the training grounds. Everyone was still buzzing from the morning's intense practice session.

"Ugh… I got completely drenched this time," Mirelle groaned with a lopsided smile as she sipped from her bowl of soup. "But at least now I know just how much cutting power that water jet has—totally worth it."

"Draco, are you hurt anywhere?" Elina asked, concern evident in her voice.

He merely shrugged. "Eh, just a few bruises. Nothing serious. That was fun."

Lunar, seated beside him, idly poked at the vegetables on his plate with his fork. "I didn't take any hits, of course. Osiris was backing up my systems the whole time."

Osiris flushed slightly. "I was just… following Akira's instructions. I'm not that great."

"Oooh, this all sounds so exciting!" Yue's ears perked up with curiosity. "I want to try pairing up with everyone, too!"

Akira chuckled. "Don't worry—you'll get your chance this afternoon. We're doing full partner matchups, no exceptions!"

A collective whoop of excitement erupted across the table.

Afternoon: Round-Robin Sparring

The training grounds became an electrified battlefield as every possible matchup was tested. Though it was just practice, the intensity felt like the finals of a world-class tournament.

"Draco! Catch this!" Yue called from a distance, sending an Enhancement Spell his way. His movements became unnaturally fluid, his body nearly weightless as he dodged and struck with unparalleled agility.

"Mirelle, don't forget the illusion mist technique we talked about!" Akira shouted across the field.

Mirelle grinned and conjured a fine mist around her before launching ice shards through the veil, making it nearly impossible for Elina to see where the attacks were coming from.

Elina, however, was unfazed. She reinforced her double-layered barriers—one soft to absorb impact and another as rigid as steel. "Hah—still standing!" she panted after deflecting the barrage, eyes gleaming with determination.

Meanwhile, Osiris experimented with stealth tactics, blending her invisibility skills with sabotage maneuvers. She snuck behind Lunar, disabling minor components of his gadgets one by one.

"Oi, stop disabling that!" Lunar groaned, though there was an amused edge to his voice. Deep down, he was impressed by her quick adaptability.

The training field turned into a storm of magic and combat techniques—lightning flashing, ice shattering, mist swirling, and explosions of energy lighting up the air. It was nothing short of a fantasy warfare showcase. Time slipped away unnoticed as they lost themselves in the exhilarating chaos of the sparring matches.

Evening

"Hah… completely wiped out," Draco muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "But that was awesome."

"I had a blast too," Elina admitted with a soft smile. "I feel like I've improved my defensive techniques so much today."

"Really? That's great," Mirelle said, brushing a few stray water droplets off her cheek. "I think I got a lot better at controlling my water pressure, too."

Akira turned to Osiris, his voice laced with genuine concern. "Osiris, how are you holding up?"

Still catching her breath, Osiris gave him a small but determined smile. "I… I'm an AI, but I never realized how much real combat requires on-the-spot adaptation… Thanks for all the guidance."

"And you," Yue turned toward Lunar, tilting her head. "Disappeared again?"

A voice came from behind a nearby pillar. "I was just setting up a few more traps for later. Can't waste a good opportunity, can I?" Lunar smirked as he stepped out of the shadows. He clapped Draco on the shoulder. "We'll have to spar again, big guy."

Nightfall

After dinner, everyone collapsed onto their beds, exhausted yet exhilarated. Their minds buzzed with the thrill of the day's battles, each replaying their fights and thinking of ways to improve.

Akira did a final check around the quarters before turning in for the night. Yue, half-asleep, peeked out of her room to call to him.

"Big brother… today was so much fun. Thank you."

Akira ruffled her hair with a fond smile. "Same here. You've grown a lot, Yue. Tomorrow, though… we'll be facing a real Guardian-class opponent. Let's give it our all."

Yue's sleepy eyes flickered with determination. "Mhm… we'll win together."

That night, they all drifted into deep sleep—excited, determined, and just a little afraid of what lay ahead.

Tomorrow, they would face a true test of their strength.

But with the teamwork they had forged, the impossible no longer seemed quite so out of reach.