Chapter 69: The Extra Months

Six months had passed since the grueling World Ascension Tournament, and the students who participated had returned to their respective schools. Some were eager to return home, others were content to rest and recover, but Kael, Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu had made a different decision.

They chose to stay at the guilds for an additional four months, continuing their training in preparation for the next tournament. With the next competition on the horizon, they were determined to become even stronger, refining their skills and pushing their limits beyond what they had already achieved.

Kael's Progress:

Kael's days were filled with intense training, with Darius pushing him harder than ever before. The previous months had shown Darius Kael's potential, but the real challenge was now before him: Kael needed to master his power, refine his abilities, and control them with the precision required for the next tournament.

Darius focused on improving Kael's Voidstep, making sure Kael could move silently, faster, and with greater fluidity. Each day Kael would practice disappearing and reappearing, his body moving like a shadow across the training field. It wasn't enough to just be fast anymore—he had to be unpredictable, able to strike from any angle before his opponent even realized he was there.

"Good," Darius said after Kael completed another flawless set of movements. "But you need more. Master the void's power, don't let it master you."

Kael nodded. His training had become second nature now, but that didn't mean it was easy. He pushed himself harder each day, his resolve growing with each passing hour.

Ryuu's Focus:

At the same time, Ryuu continued his training with Aeliana, who made sure every strike and every move was done with purpose. They spent the first few weeks focusing on Ryuu's agility, working on his fluidity and speed. Aeliana's rigorous methods paid off—Ryuu's movements were now sharper than ever, and his footwork was as precise as a dancer's.

But Aeliana didn't stop there. As much as she pushed him to be fast and precise, she also drilled into him the importance of control. "The power you wield is impressive, Ryuu," she would often say, "but without control, it's useless."

For weeks, Ryuu worked on controlling the power within him, making sure every strike and every decision had purpose. His blades became extensions of his own body, and his confidence began to soar.

Hana's Agility:

Hana's training with Kaito focused heavily on her agility. Kaito made sure she could move in ways that most people couldn't even imagine. Her reflexes had improved to the point where even the slightest movement felt like a blur to the naked eye. Yet, Kaito's methods were not just about speed—he also focused on Hana's precision.

Kaito had Hana spend hours perfecting her movements. "Every step counts," he would say. "You need to move as if your opponent's life depends on it. Every motion must be deliberate, every choice calculated."

Hana's body became leaner, faster, and more powerful with each passing day. Her once-refined movements became more deadly, and she began to feel a new sense of confidence she hadn't had before.

Tetsu's Strategy:

Tetsu's training with Sylas was a continuation of the strategy-based lessons he had begun months earlier. Sylas pushed Tetsu to think several moves ahead, drilling him on how to control the flow of battle rather than simply reacting to it.

Every morning, Tetsu would go through combat simulations where Sylas would present him with different scenarios to test his ability to think on his feet. Sometimes, Sylas would pit Tetsu against mock opponents, forcing him to think and adapt on the fly. Other times, he would create elaborate traps, testing Tetsu's ability to think strategically.

"Your mind is your greatest weapon, Tetsu," Sylas would say. "If you can anticipate your opponent's next move, you will always be one step ahead."

Tetsu's mind became sharper with each lesson, and his ability to outsmart opponents grew stronger. He no longer relied solely on brute strength—he was learning to use his mind just as much as his physical abilities.

As the months continued, Kael, Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu became more skilled, more powerful, and more focused. Their training had pushed them to new heights, and they knew that when the next tournament came, they would be ready.

While they didn't meet each other this chapter, each of them felt the weight of the decision to stay and train longer. They were no longer just participants in a tournament—they were warriors, and the world would soon see the fruits of their labor. But even with their growing strength, they knew that there was still so much more to learn, so much more to achieve before they could truly call themselves the strongest.

The next few months would be crucial—every day counted as they prepared for the ultimate showdown that was fast approaching.