Harsh Training, No mercy!!

Two hours had passed.

Everyone had regained consciousness, but the pain still lingered in their bodies. Lee, Khai, and Adam had already gone to the locker room to clean themselves up. Meanwhile, Zufar remained lying on the floor, seemingly deep in thought. Anis sat down beside him and began to share what Azfiq had told her about their training and the feedback he had given them.

"How long are you going to lie there? The others have already cleaned up." Anis asked with a smile, knowing that Zufar was probably frustrated after being defeated so easily for the second time.

"Just a little longer..." Zufar replied, still deep in thought about his training.

"Azfiq said you have the potential to become much stronger. But you need to control your emotions and stop getting discouraged so easily." Anis relayed Azfiq's message to Zufar.

"What else? What else did he say?" Zufar asked, eager to hear more.

"Hmmm… He said that you and the others are still weak. He wasn't even serious when fighting us."

Anis continued, sharing the harsh truth.

"The opponents we'll be facing next week are on a completely different level."

Even though it was hard to accept, Anis agreed with Azfiq. Zufar sighed deeply, feeling a heavy disappointment. So there were still many fighters far stronger than him—it wasn't just Din.

"But he did praise Adam."Anis added.

"If Adam had the same physical strength as you, Azfiq would have had to take the fight more seriously."

Zufar nodded, realizing something. Adam had been much calmer during the entire session. If it weren't for Adam's strategy, Zufar would have been defeated without even putting up a fight.

"What about Lee and Khai? Did they get any praise?" Zufar asked again.

"They are already at a level where they qualify to go professional. But they're still far from competing for a championship title. Maybe they just lack experience." Anis replied.

To Azfiq, Zafrul had made the right choice in selecting them. They all had great potential, but it wasn't enough yet—they still needed more refining. Perhaps Zafrul hadn't been strict enough with them, unlike Azfiq himself.

Zufar suddenly stared at Anis seriously.

"In your opinion, between me and Adam, who is better?"

He asked, waiting for an honest answer.

"In terms of technique and emotional control, Adam is better. In terms of strength, Adam is far weaker than you."

Anis answered plainly. Then, she grinned proudly before adding:

"But I'm still better than both of you. After all, I was the only one who lasted against Azfiq."

Even though she had run out of energy, she had still managed to dodge Azfiq's attacks despite his insane speed.

Zufar pouted, clearly annoyed. Without another word, he stood up and headed to the locker room to clean himself up. The longer he stayed there, the more he felt that Anis would keep teasing him.

---

Later, Anis shared Azfiq's feedback with the rest of the group. Hearing the assessment, Lee and Khai felt more motivated to push themselves harder in training tomorrow. Adam simply smiled, quietly taking in Azfiq's criticism and advice.

They waited for Zufar to finish packing his things, and afterward, they all headed home together.

---

That night, at 9:00 PM, Anis chatted with Mia and Shima about her training session earlier that day.

Mia: "So?? Tell us already! How was training today??"

Shima: "Yeah, yeah! You've been so busy lately. Spill the details!"

Anis: "Haha, okay okay. It was intense! We had to fight Azfiq today."

Mia: "WHAT?! You mean the DemonKnight?? Are you serious??"

Shima: "Omg, did you even survive??"

Anis: "Of course! I'm still alive, aren't I? Hahaha!"

Mia: "Ugh, stop joking! How bad was it?"

Anis: "It was brutal. He fought all five of us at once and still won. He barely even tried. We couldn't even touch him."

Shima: "No way… that's insane. Even Zufar and Adam??"

Anis: "Yup. Even Zufar, and you know how strong he is. Azfiq dodged every attack like it was nothing."

Mia: "So, are you guys ready for the tournament next week?"

Anis: "Honestly? We still have a long way to go. But we've improved a lot. Azfiq even praised us, which is rare."

Shima: "That means something! If DemonKnight actually gave a compliment, you guys must be serious contenders!"

Mia: "Ohhh, and how was Adam~? (¬‿¬)"

Anis: "Wh-what do you mean??"

Shima: "You know exactly what she means, Anis. Don't play dumb! (¬‿¬)"

Anis: "...He was impressive, okay?! He stayed calm the whole time. Even Azfiq said that if Adam had Zufar's strength, he would've been dangerous."

Mia: "Ooooohhhh~ Interesting! You've been talking about Adam more lately~"

Shima: "Anis and Adam, sitting in a tree~"

Anis: "SHUT UP! It's not like that! (//>///<)"

Mia: "Haha, fine fine! We'll stop… for now~ But seriously, we're proud of you. You're doing amazing!"

Shima: "Yeah, you've worked so hard for this. Keep pushing! We'll be cheering for you all the way!"

Anis: "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it! (Heart emoji)"

Shima and Mia encouraged Anis, telling her to do her best tomorrow. Anis also hoped that she could make some improvements, even though their training period was short.

---

The next day, the group gathered at the same training location.

This time, Azfiq led them outside for a cardio and stamina training session, taking them on a 10-kilometer jog. After completing the run, they were given a 30-minute break before continuing their training inside the ring.

While resting, they noticed Azfiq practicing 'shadow boxing' in the ring. They watched in awe, impressed by his fluid movements. Every strike he threw was precise, powerful, and controlled, showing his exceptional skill and experience.

Suddenly, Zufar stepped into the ring, standing directly in front of Azfiq. Azfiq paused his training, turning his gaze towards him.

"Can I fight you one more time? I want to see my true capabilities."

Zufar challenged him to a one-on-one fight. Azfiq smirked, amused by his boldness.

"Are you really ready for this? Yesterday, you lost badly even with a team. And today, you want to fight me alone?". Azfiq asked, his cold stare piercing through Zufar.

Zufar clenched his fists and nodded firmly.

"Well, if you insist… But this time, I'll make sure you rest until the tournament." Azfiq added with a sinister grin, releasing his killing aura.

It was the same overwhelming pressure that had made Zufar tremble in fear before. But this time, Zufar forced himself to stand his ground, even though it felt like his breathing was getting heavier.

He immediately took his stance, preparing to attack. Meanwhile, Azfiq remained completely still, hands casually tucked into his pockets. Even though Azfiq appeared to be underestimating Zufar, there was a subtle difference this time—he was taking it more seriously than yesterday's training. His sharp eyes locked onto Zufar, studying his every move.

Zufar cautiously stepped forward, but it felt as if he was trapped—even though Azfiq hadn't moved yet. Despite this immense pressure, Zufar pressed on and launched his attack.

He started with a feint punch, but just as he got close, he switched to a kick. Azfiq sidestepped effortlessly, then lunged forward, grabbing Zufar's head and slamming him into the ground.

The impact nearly knocked Zufar unconscious, but at the last second, he grabbed Azfiq's arm, preventing him from creating distance. With sheer determination, Zufar forced himself back up and immediately unleashed a barrage of punches. His left hand still held onto Azfiq's right arm, limiting his opponent's movements.

Azfiq took the hits but remained unfazed. He attempted to evade, but Zufar kept pulling him back, forcing him off balance.

However, Azfiq wasn't weakening. Instead, he started countering, throwing his own punches at Zufar. The match shifted into a battle of endurance, a test to see who would fall first.

Azfiq's punches gradually became faster, his arms moving like sharp blades, slicing through the air in rapid succession. Even though he was being repeatedly struck, Azfiq smiled—as if he was enjoying the fight rather than feeling the pain.

As time passed, Zufar's grip weakened, his strength slowly fading. Meanwhile, Azfiq remained completely composed, despite the visible marks left on his face from Zufar's attacks.

Sensing the moment Zufar's grip failed, Azfiq took immediate action. He delivered a powerful kick straight to Zufar's stomach, sending him flying backward. Zufar tumbled across the ring, rolling until he crashed into the ropes, struggling to catch his breath.

Zufar forced a smile, feeling a small sense of accomplishment for at least managing to injure Azfiq, even if the damage was minimal.

"Locking down your opponent is a good strategy. But never assume your enemy can't fight back. If you're going to restrain someone, make sure they're completely unable to counterattack." Azfiq offered his critique while casually wiping the blood off his lips.

Zufar tried to stand up, but his body refused to cooperate. He was completely drained of energy. A wave of disappointment washed over him—he wanted to keep fighting, but he couldn't even get back on his feet.

"As promised, I'll make sure you get plenty of rest before the tournament." Azfiq added with a smirk, before suddenly launching a devastating kick to Zufar's face.

The impact sent Zufar flying out of the ring, his body crashing onto the floor. He was knocked unconscious instantly. Anis, already anticipating this outcome, had prepared in advance. She immediately called for an emergency ambulance, ensuring Zufar would be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. After that, they continued their training as usual before heading home separately.

Before Adam could leave, Azfiq stopped him.

"Stay behind for a while. I want to teach you something."

Anis had planned to wait for Adam to talk about something, but suddenly had another urgent matter to attend to. She decided she would just ask him later through a message.

---

That night, Anis tried to send a text message to Adam. At first, she was hesitant, her fingers hovering over the screen. But after thinking it over several times, she finally gathered the courage and sent the message.

Anis: Hey, Adam! It's Anis. I got your number from Zufar. Hope you don't mind.

Adam didn't seem to reply immediately. But after a few minutes, Anis's phone rang, signaling a new message notification.

Adam: Oh, uh… hey! Nah, it's fine. Didn't expect you to text me, though.

Anis: Why? You sound surprised. I can't check up on my teammate?

Adam: No! I mean—yeah, of course, you can. Just… unexpected, I guess.

Anis: Hahaha, relax! I just wanted to see how you're doing. Training was crazy today. And I saw Azfiq pulling you aside earlier.

Adam: Yeah, he, uh… he wanted to teach me something. A trick to increase attack damage. It was kinda intense… actually, it was really intense.

Anis: Ooooh~ Sounds useful! So basically, now you can hit harder? Maybe next time you'll actually hurt him.

Adam: I-I mean… I hope so? But it's Azfiq, you know? He just stood there and didn't even flinch today.

Anis: Hahaha, true. That guy is basically a tank with a death wish. But hey, at least you're getting stronger!

Adam: I guess… still got a long way to go, though.

Anis: By the way… Do you have someone?

Adam: Wait… someone?

Anis: Yeah. You know. Someone special? 👀

Adam: Uhhh… w-wait, what kind of question is that?? I mean… uh… n-no? I don't.

Anis: Hmmmm~ Interesting.

Adam: Wh-what's that supposed to mean??

Anis: Nothing. Just curious. No need to get all flustered.

Adam: I-I'm not flustered! Just… confused. W-why are you even asking??

Anis: No reason. Just getting to know my teammate better.

Adam: O-oh… r-right. Y-yeah, that makes sense.

Anis: Anyway!! After the tournament, let's go out somewhere. Just to relax and celebrate a bit. What do you think?

Adam: G-go out?? L-like, you mean… uhh… like a date??

Anis: Hahaha, you're adorable. It's just a hangout, Adam. Chill. Unless… you want it to be a date?

Adam: W-WHAT?! N-No! I-I mean, n-not that I wouldn't but—wait! N-no, I didn't mean it like that! I—I—!!

Anis: Hahahahaha, you're so easy to mess with!

Adam: I feel bullied…

Anis: Awww, okay okay, I'll stop. But seriously, let's hang out after the tournament, yeah?

Adam: Y-Yeah… sure. Sounds fun.

Anis: Good! Now, get some rest. I don't want you looking half-dead in training tomorrow.

Adam: Y-Yeah, okay… G-Good night, Anis.

Anis: Good night, Adam.

Anis smiled to herself, feeling happy that she was able to have a private conversation with Adam. As she was lost in her own thoughts, suddenly, she realized that she had forgotten to ask about Zufar. Without hesitation, she sent another text message to Adam.

Anis: Hey, you still awake?

Adam: Uh… yeah. Kinda. What's up?

Anis: Just wondering… How's Zufar? Did you visit him?

Adam: Yeah, I went after training. He's… well, he's still out cold. Doctor said he should wake up by tomorrow, though.

Anis: I see… That idiot really pushed himself too much today.

Adam: Yeah, but you know how he is. Once he sets his mind on something, he won't stop.

Anis: Yeah, I know… but still. Azfiq really didn't hold back on that last kick.

Adam: Y-Yeah… I felt it just watching.

Anis: At least he's okay. I was kinda worried.

Adam: Oh? You care about him that much, huh?

Anis: Duh, of course, I do. He's a teammate. And also… my student.

Adam: R-Right… student. Totally. Not because you secretly like him or anything…

Anis: Pffftttt. Excuse me?! Where did that even come from?!

Adam: I dunno… just saying… you've been talking about him a lot lately~

Anis: EXCUSE ME, SIR. I can say the same about YOU and Zufar! You always train with him, help him, fight with him… hmm? Do YOU secretly like him?

Adam: W-WHAT?! NO!!!

Anis: Hahahaha, see? I can turn the tables too~

Adam: Ugh… I walked right into that one.

Anis: Yup! Anyway, let's check on Zufar together tomorrow before training.

Adam: Yeah, good idea. Hopefully, he wakes up and doesn't try to fight someone the moment he opens his eyes.

Anis: LMAO, true. Okay, sleep now, Adam. For real this time.

Adam: O-Okay… Good night, Anis.

Anis: Good night, Adam.

They ended their conversation, and Anis kept smiling as she re-read her chat with Adam over and over again. Now, she knew for sure that Adam didn't have anyone special, which meant she could take her next step when the time was right.

For now, however, she decided to focus on improving her own skills, especially after witnessing Zufar's fight that morning. She could sense that Azfiq had fought with a purpose—as if he was warning them that their future opponents would show no mercy.

Perhaps Azfiq had fought them before, or maybe he was personally connected to them in some way.