Chapter 11: In the Shadow of the Dragon's Claws

King Eldrin's offer opened a new chapter in Diego's life. The Dragon's Claws were an elite unit of the Ocxi Kingdom, comprised of its most formidable Battle Mages. Joining them was an honor that even Elara had only dreamed of. For Diego, however, it was more than just an honor; it was a monumental step towards learning to control his power, unraveling the secret of the Ancient Prophecy, and avenging his family. At the same time, it was a place where he would be constantly scrutinized, his power questioned.

The Dragon's Claws headquarters was even more magnificent than the main Battle Mage building. With its tall, spired towers, stone walls carved with dragon figures, and the intense mana energy palpable in every corner, it was the embodiment of power and discipline. Stepping inside, the very air felt different to Diego; sharper, more energetic.

On their first day, Diego and his team were met by Captain Thorne. Thorne's stern gaze still held a shadow of suspicion over Diego. "Welcome to the Dragon's Claws," Thorne said, his voice cold. "There is no room for weakness here. Each of you will be trained to fight against the kingdom's greatest threats. And Fruz, this applies to you twofold. While the source of your power is uncertain, your potential is undeniable. But uncontrolled power brings nothing but destruction."

Diego nodded. Thorne's words did not surprise him.

"Your training program will be intense," Thorne continued. "Mornings will be physical conditioning, afternoons will be magic theory and practical applications, and evenings will be tactical exercises. Each of your letter levels will determine your place here. However, here, it's not just about letter level, but also discipline and teamwork."

Elara's eyes sparkled. This was where she had always wanted to be. Kael calmly observed their surroundings, while Roric grumbled, "How boring. I hope we get to slay plenty of monsters."

The first few weeks in the Dragon's Claws were a complete struggle for Diego. The physical training was challenging even for Diego, who was accustomed to the heavy labor in his village. Early morning runs, weightlifting, and combat drills burned his muscles anew each day. But Diego's strong will and unyielding nature kept him going.

The magic training, however, was more interesting. The other Knights specialized in their own magic types. Elara learned to wield air magic more skillfully, transforming wind into sharp blades and invisible shields. Roric sought ways to make his fire magic more controlled and destructive, launching fireballs like projectiles. Kael learned to use his healing spells not only to mend wounds but also to regulate his teammates' mana flow and empower them.

Diego's ability copying feature proved to be both a great advantage and a disadvantage during training. On one hand, he rapidly expanded his repertoire by copying the abilities of other Knights. For instance, he copied "Air Blade" from Elara, "Fireball" from Roric, and "Mana Regeneration" from Kael. This allowed him to become a versatile mage. In training duels, he surprised his opponents by copying their abilities, overcoming them with unexpected moves.

However, this situation created both admiration and envy among the other Knights. Especially high-letter-level Knights were wary of Diego's unique ability. Lysander, a haughty mage and the nephew of A-level Commander Valerius, openly displayed hostility towards Diego. Lysander specialized in "Ice Dungeon" magic and prided himself on being A-level.

"Rising from F-level with a copying ability isn't true power, Fruz," Lysander would say during training. "True power is gained through innate talent and years of hard work."

Diego paid no mind to such remarks. What mattered to him was becoming stronger. One day, he engaged in a training duel with Lysander. Lysander immediately activated his "Ice Dungeon" spell, attempting to imprison Diego in an ice cage. However, Diego focused on his System interface.

Ability Copy Module: Scanning Nearby Abilities...

Ability Found: [Ice Manipulation (Lysander)]

Copying Possibility: 90%

Diego tapped the "Copy" button. Lysander's ice magic flowed into Diego. Lysander froze in astonishment. Using the copied ability, Diego shattered the ice cage around him and hurled sharp ice spears towards Lysander. Lysander barely managed to dodge.

"What?" Lysander cried, his face pale with shock. "You... you used my magic?"

Diego shrugged. "I just copied it."

This incident caused a stir within the Dragon's Claws. Diego's ability was no longer just a rumor but a visible reality. Captain Thorne began to monitor Diego even more closely. He was trying to decide whether Diego's power would be an uncontrollable threat or the kingdom's greatest asset.

Diego's ability copying feature also created a disadvantage. Although he could copy many abilities, mastering them fully took time. Furthermore, the abilities he copied might not be as powerful as their original counterparts, especially when copied from high-level mages. This made Diego realize that he needed to not only copy but also develop his own unique magic style. His infinite mana gave him the freedom to experiment.

Elara, Kael, and Roric were both amazed by Diego's rapid development and supportive of him. Elara pondered how they could integrate Diego's ability copying into the team's strategies. Kael wondered about the limitless nature of Diego's mana and how it could be combined with healing spells. Roric, meanwhile, was impatient to use Diego's power against greater enemies.

One evening, after training, as the team ate together, Elara brought up the topic. "Malevolent Spirits... What does the Royal Family plan to do about them? Will they just send us?"

Diego shook his head. "King Eldrin takes this threat seriously. But some on the council are still skeptical. And Captain Thorne... he seems to be keeping me under close watch."

Kael looked worried. "This is a threat to all kingdoms. It's not just the Ocxi Kingdom's problem."

Roric grumbled while chewing his food. "Maybe that's why the Battle Mages abandoned us in the village. They feared a greater threat and sacrificed a small village."

Diego's face tightened. The memory of his village still burned within him. "I need to find out why the Battle Mages acted that way. And who is behind these Malevolent Spirits."

His first days in the Dragon's Claws had not only given Diego new abilities and physical strength. They had also deepened his understanding of the world's realities, further fueling the fire of vengeance within him. He was no longer just a hunter; he was beginning to become a symbol of a new hope, standing against the dark forces threatening the world's balance. And on this journey, Elara, Kael, and Roric would be his unwavering supporters.