I woke up before sunrise. My body still carried the weight of the previous day, but it wasn't enough to stop me from getting up. On the contrary. It was a clear reminder that I still had limits, and limits exist to be surpassed.
I got up silently, careful not to wake the others. The room was still peaceful, their breathing steady, and for a moment I considered staying. But it didn't last.
I left.
The morning air in the demi-dragon territory was different. Denser, firmer. I walked to an area far from the mansion, an open space where there would be no risk of hitting anything other than the environment itself. I had used that place before. It was enough.
I stopped at the center.
I took a deep breath.
"Let's see."
I activated the sword.
The energy flowed through my body more smoothly than before. There was no resistance, no instability. That alone was already progress. I kept the flow controlled, without forcing it.
I made the first strike.
The impact in the air was clean, precise. The pressure released cut through the space ahead effortlessly. I observed the trajectory, the energy dissipation, the recovery time.
"Better."
I increased the flow.
Another strike.
Stronger, faster. The ground reacted slightly, but there was no loss of control. I continued. One, two, three strikes in sequence. I maintained the rhythm.
"Consistent."
I stopped for a moment.
"The problem isn't strength."
I breathed again.
"It's duration."
I activated the armor.
The golden energy formed around my body, firm and stable. Unlike before, I didn't feel that immediate strain. There was still consumption, but it was more controlled.
"So that's it."
I kept the armor active without moving for a few seconds.
I observed.
The mana circulation.
The response time.
The internal pressure.
"I can maintain it longer."
I took a step forward.
Strike.
Another.
The combination of the sword and armor was more efficient. The consumption was still high, but not uncontrollable. I kept testing, staying focused on not overdoing it.
"Now… the blessing."
I stopped completely.
This part was different.
I activated it.
The change was immediate. Energy exploded around me, filling every part of my body with maximum intensity. The sensation was familiar, but still… heavy.
I maintained it.
One second.
Two.
Three.
The control was there, but the consumption was absurd.
Five seconds.
My body started responding under greater pressure.
"I can't maintain it."
I deactivated it.
My breathing became a little heavier, but nothing out of control. I rested the sword on the ground for a moment.
"So the limit is still the same."
I looked at my own hand.
"For now."
I resumed training.
This time, focusing on the transition. Activating the armor without losing stability. Alternating the sword's intensity without wasting energy. Every movement needed to be efficient.
Time passed without me noticing.
When I stopped again, the sun was already beginning to rise. My body was warmed up, my mind clearer.
"Better."
I heard footsteps behind me.
"You always come here early."
I looked over my shoulder.
Scarlett.
"You too."
She shrugged.
"Sometimes."
Rai'kanna appeared soon after.
"You already started without us."
"This isn't group training."
"Now it is," she replied.
Liriel came right behind her, still adjusting her hair.
"You don't even call us."
Elara walked beside her.
"He prefers training alone."
Lyannis was already analyzing the environment.
"And that makes sense."
Vespera appeared last, as always.
"But not completely."
I looked at all of them.
"So you want to train?"
Scarlett smiled slightly.
"Always."
Rai'kanna was already getting into position.
"Don't hold back."
"I won't."
Elara raised her hand.
"I'll maintain support."
Liriel nodded.
"Me too."
Lyannis observed everything.
"I'll focus on movement analysis."
Vespera only said one word.
"Start."
I nodded.
I moved first.
Group training was different. More dynamic, more unpredictable. Rai'kanna came straight at me, strength against strength. Scarlett appeared from the flank, fast and precise. Vespera attacked in an almost invisible way.
Elara maintained light barriers, Liriel sustained energy, Lyannis analyzed every movement.
"Faster," Scarlett said.
I increased the pace.
"Better," she replied.
Rai'kanna pressed harder.
"You're still holding back."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
She was right.
I increased it more.
The sword's flow responded well. The armor activated soon after, stabilizing the impact. This time, I managed to maintain it longer without losing control.
"That," Elara said.
Liriel reinforced it.
"It's more stable."
Lyannis completed.
"But it still consumes too much."
"I know."
I continued.
The training went on. It wasn't about winning. It was about adjusting. Every movement, every reaction, every mistake was corrected on the spot.
When we finally stopped, the sun was already high.
Scarlett took a deep breath.
"Now that's more like it."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"You improved."
"Yes."
Elara analyzed carefully.
"Greater control."
Liriel smiled softly.
"And lighter."
Lyannis nodded.
"But still far from the ideal limit."
"I know."
Vespera looked directly at me.
"But you're getting there."
I took another deep breath.
"Not fast enough."
Scarlett gave a slight smile.
"Then train more."
I nodded.
"I will."
I looked toward the horizon.
The training helped.
But I knew.
Against what was coming… this still wouldn't be enough.
And that was exactly why I couldn't stop.