Echoes of Battle

The euphoria of victory was short-lived. The moment he stepped out of the pit, reality came crashing back—his body ached, bruises forming where his opponent's fists had landed. His lungs still burned from exertion, and every muscle screamed in protest. But despite the pain, he was still standing. And in Black Hollow, that counted for something.

Callen clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You didn't die. That's a start."

Mira, leaning against the wooden railing of the pit, smirked. "You're slow. Sloppy. If that guy had been a real fighter, you'd be unconscious right now."

Finn, standing beside her, frowned. "He won, didn't he?"

Mira rolled her eyes. "Winning isn't enough. Surviving isn't enough. If he wants to make it to the top, he has to be better."

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing finally steadying. "Then I get better."

She tilted her head, studying him. Whatever she saw seemed to amuse her. "We'll see."

Garrik approached, his imposing frame cutting through the crowd. He nodded toward the unconscious man still sprawled in the pit. "You've made an impression, but one fight doesn't mean anything. You want real status? You keep winning."

[Quest Updated: Rise Through the Ranks – Win Two More Fights]

Garrik tossed a small pouch his way. He caught it, feeling the weight of the coins inside—his winnings.

[Quest Reward: Arena Payout Acquired]

It wasn't much, but it was more than he had when he walked in. He tucked the pouch away, already thinking about what came next.

The walk back to the hideout was slower this time. His body protested every step, exhaustion clawing at him. Finn, ever the energetic one, practically skipped beside him. "You were awesome! That last move—bam! Right to the ribs. He never saw it coming!"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, I need to make sure next time, I don't take so many hits."

Callen nodded. "That's what tomorrow's for. Recovery first. Then training."

Mira glanced at him. "If you're serious about this, you'll need more than just strength. You need strategy. Instinct. Awareness."

He frowned. "And how do I get that?"

She smirked. "By fighting people better than you."

The implication was clear. His next opponent would be tougher. Stronger. Faster. And if he wasn't ready, he wouldn't walk away so easily.

The next morning, his body still ached, but he forced himself up. Mira didn't wait—she tossed a wooden practice sword at him the moment he stepped outside. "Time to learn how to read a fight."

They moved to a small clearing behind the hideout. The ground was uneven, littered with broken crates and discarded debris. Mira stood across from him, practice sword in hand, her stance relaxed but ready.

"Fists and brute strength will only get you so far," she said. "Real fighters control the fight before it even begins."

She lunged.

He barely raised his sword in time to block. The impact rattled through his arms. Before he could recover, she twisted, knocking his blade aside and delivering a sharp kick to his ribs.

He hit the ground hard, coughing.

[Pain Tolerance Slightly Increased]

Mira sighed. "Sloppy. Again."

He got up, adjusting his grip. This time, when she moved, he tried to read her intent. She feinted left, but her stance gave away the real attack—a quick jab to his ribs. He dodged, just barely.

[Adaptive Growth: Combat Awareness Slightly Increased]

Mira smirked. "Better. But not good enough."

She came at him again. And again. Each exchange left him bruised, but he was improving. Slowly.

Hours passed. By the time Callen called for a break, he could barely lift the practice sword. His breathing was ragged, sweat dripping down his face.

Mira studied him before nodding. "You're learning. We'll see if it sticks in the arena."

[Quest Progress: Training for the Next Fight – 50% Complete]

He wiped his brow, already thinking ahead. He had survived his first real fight. Now, he had to make sure he survived the next.

Because the deeper he went into the pit, the more dangerous his opponents would become.

And there was no turning back now.