The Elite Knight's

The king's words echoed in their hearts as they trained relentlessly in the days that followed. One week later, in the kingdom's training grounds, the air was alive with the sounds of effort and determination. The metallic clash of swords reverberated through the area as Dylan and Caius locked blades in a heated sparring match.

Caius, his movements precise and methodical, lunged forward, aiming a sharp thrust at Dylan's side. Dylan grinned, his carefree nature shining through even in the heat of battle. With a swift sidestep, he parried the blow, spinning to counter with a light, playful jab toward Caius's shoulder.

"You'll have to try harder than that, Caius," Dylan teased, his tone dripping with mock challenge.

Caius narrowed his eyes, his expression unwavering. "You should take this more seriously," he replied. "The enemy won't be playing games, Dylan."

Dylan shrugged mid motion, blocking another strike."And yet, here you are struggling to keep up with me," he said with a wink.

Nearby, June and the others watched from the sidelines resting. June's arms were crossed, a mixture of amusement and mild concern on her face. "He's having fun," she said softly. "But Caius is right. He should focus."

Alisan, standing beside her, smirked. "That's Dylan for you. He doesn't do 'serious.' But somehow, he always pulls through when it matters, its like he adapt to anything easily.

As Dylan twirled his blade in a flashy flourish, narrowly dodging Caius strike, Axel crossed his arms, his stance relaxed yet solid, watching the sparring match with an impressed grin. "He's quick. Caius has the technique, but Dylan's unpredictability gives him an edge." 

Caius, however, wasn't about to let Dylan's playful antics throw him off. He feinted left, then spun right, landing a clean strike against Dylan's arm. Dylan yelped, hopping back and shaking out the arm.

"Be serious for once," Caius said with a slight smirk, lowering his wooden sword. 

Dylan laughed, rubbing the spot where he'd been hit. "Alright, alright. Maybe I do need to be serious sometimes."

Cauis walked up to the group with a casual grin. "You guys better not overdo it," he said. "We've got even more harsher training tomorrow, and I don't want to be dragging your tired selves through it."

Dylan sheathed his sword, flashing a grin. "Tomorrow can wait. For now, let's see if you can handle another round Cauis."

Caius groaned, rubbing his forehead as he turned to face Dylan. "Dylan, we've been fighting for over three hours! Take a break already—you're slowly turning into a battle junkie."

The group chuckled at Caius's exasperation, while Dylan just shrugged, unfazed. "What can I say? I like keeping things interesting."

As the group settled down to take a well deserved break, they were surprised to see the king approaching, flanked by a few of his royal guards. His presence commanded attention, though his expression was calm and composed.

"Heroes," the king began, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "I've brought five of my elite ranked knight's to assist with your training." He gestured toward the armored soldiers behind him, each standing tall and exuding an air of confidence. "Tomorrow, they'll be your opponents in the training grounds. Be prepared."

Dylan's eyes lit up, a wide grin spreading across his face. "OOOO, WE'RE FIGHTING REAL KNIGHTS? A REAL KNIGHT?? I CAN'T WAIT!" His excitement was palpable, practically bouncing on his heels.

The group chuckled at his enthusiasm, while Caius raised an eyebrow. "Dylan, you're the only one excited about this," he say's. "We're talking about highly trained warriors, not some sparring match."

Dylan waved off his concerns, still grinning. "That's what makes it fun!"

The king observed Dylan's excitement with a raised eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You are really a carefree and freedom loving person, huh, Dylan?" he said, his tone both amused and slightly concerned. "I hope you don't get beaten up too badly tomorrow."

Dylan, still grinning widely, waved off the king's remark. "Ah, I'll be fine! A little bruising never hurt anyone, right?"

Caius shook his head, muttering, "Famous last words…"

The group, feeling the weight of their training, made their way back into the palace. As they entered, the royal attendants led them to their separate bathing areas, one for the males and one for the females, to allow everyone a bit of privacy and relaxation after their intense session.

Dylan, ever the one to joke around, grinned as he waved to the others. "I'll race you to the bath! Last one is a loser!"

Caius rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a chuckle. "You're such a kid i swear, Dylan."

As they split off into their respective areas, the sounds of laughter and conversation echoed through the palace halls, a momentary reprieve before the trials and training that awaited them the next day.

The following morning, the group gathered back in the training grounds, each of them stretching and warming up in preparation for the challenges ahead. The air was filled with the sound of boots hitting the ground and the occasional quiet exchange between friends.

Dylan tossed his sword in the air, catching it with a grin. "I can already feel the adrenaline. I'm ready for this!"

Axel cracked his knuckles, standing tall and confident. "Let's see how strong these knights are."

Cauis and Alisan were working together, practicing their stances and movements, their focus unwavering. June stretched nearby, her eyes scanning the area as if preparing herself mentally for what was to come. 

As they continued their warm ups, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the training grounds. The five elite knights appeared, walking in formation with an air of discipline and confidence. Their clothing was simple but well fitted for combat, and their expressions were serious, clearly ready for the upcoming sparring.

The knights came to a stop, one of them speaking up with a commanding tone. "So, who's going to fight first?"

Alisan stepped forward, her eyes glinting with determination. "I'll go first. I want to see how much I've improved with my magic."

The group exchanged curious glances, and even the knights seemed intrigued by her confidence. With a nod of approval, one of the knights motioned for her to take her position.

As both Alisan and the knight took their stances, the air between them seemed to tense with anticipation. Without hesitation, Alisan moved first, her eyes narrowing with focus. She raised her hand, her mana swirling around her as she called out, "Rapture Magic: Crushing Surge!"

A powerful burst of pressure erupted from her, crashing toward the knight. The force behind it was enough to make the ground beneath him tremble as the knight quickly raised his arm to shield himself. Though the surge pushed him back, he quickly regained his balance, a glimmer of respect in his eyes.

The knight, not missing a beat, charged at Alisan, his sword swinging down toward her with precision and strength. Alisan, with quick reflexes, raised her staff to block the strike, the force of the blow vibrating through her arms. She gritted her teeth but held her ground, her staff absorbing the brunt of the attack.

Without wasting a moment, Alisan spun her staff in her grip and shouted, "Rapture Magic: Crushing Surge!"

Another wave of force exploded from her, catching the knight off guard. The surge pushed him back, causing him to stagger, but he quickly regained his footing, eyes narrowing in determination.

The knight's footing faltered under the force of the Crushing Surge, and with a grunt, he was knocked down to one knee. The impact left him momentarily stunned, and before he could recover, Alisan closed the distance between them in a flash.

With swift precision, she pointed her staff at the knight's neck, her eyes locking onto his with unyielding focus. The training ground fell silent, the tension palpable as the knight froze, unable to move.

"You're down," Alisan said calmly, her voice steady but firm.

The knight, breathing heavily, couldn't help but think how he had been bested by a younger girl. Surprised but accepting his defeat, he straightened up and gave a respectful nod. "That was impressive, Alisan," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "You are clearly right to have the title of a hero."

Alisan lowered her staff slightly, a small smile playing on her lips as she chuckled. "I got lucky, but thank you. I still have a long way to go." She laughed lightly, the sound easing the tension in the air

The knight chuckled in return, a respectful glint in his eyes. "Even luck can be impressive when used wisely. You've got potential, Alisan."

Dylan, eager to jump in, was about to speak up. "My turn to fight!"* he began, but Axel cut him off, stepping forward with a confident grin.* "I'll go next," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I want to see how much I've improved."

Dylan was about to speak, but Axel cut him off, and his expression shifted to mild annoyance. "Why'd you cut me off? I wanted to go next. What, you trying to show off?"

Axel shrugged, a grin still on his face. "Not really. Just want to test my limits."

Dylan huffed, rolling his eyes. "Whatever, man. Go ahead, show 'em what you've got."

Axel dropped into the fighting stance he had been refining, his body low and poised for action. He gave the knight a nod, his grin still present. "Let's have a good match," he said, his voice steady.

Without another word, he dashed toward the knight with impressive speed, his fist flying toward him in a powerful punch.

The knight quickly raised his guard, preparing to block Axel's attack, but Axel's strength and speed were something to behold.

The knight, despite raising his guard, was still pushed back by the force of Axel's punch. He staggered but quickly regained his footing, clearly impressed. "What a monstrous strength you have there," he muttered, his eyes widening. "I'm sorry, but I'll take this seriously now."

With a determined shout, the knight rushed forward, swinging his sword at Axel. The blade hit Axel's side, but to the knight's shock, Axel barely flinched.

Axel grinned, unfazed by the attack. In an instant, he grabbed the knight's sword mid swing, his grip like iron. The knight's eyes widened in disbelief. Before he could react, Axel's fist shot forward, landing a solid punch directly into the knight's stomach, overpowering the knight and sending him stumbling backward.

The knight gasped for air, struggling to recover from the powerful blow. His face twisted in pain, but he quickly realized he had no chance of winning. With a pained sigh, he lowered his sword. "I yield," he said, his voice strained. "You're too strong for me."

Axel, still standing tall and confident, nodded with a hint of respect. "Good match," he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're tough, but I've got a little more in the tank."

As the first knight helped the third knight to his feet, still catching his breath from the powerful punch, the tension in the air shifted. The remaining knights observed Axel, clearly impressed by his strength.

The third knight, still recovering, nodded toward the others before calling out, "June, your turn."

June, who had been quietly observing, nodded with determination. "Yes, sir," she replied before stepping forward.

The fourth knight, a tall and fierce looking woman, met June's gaze. "I've seen how your two friends fought," she said with a smirk. "Show me what you've got, June."