Akira closed the thick tome, running a hand through his hair. Outside, darkness had fully settled, the castle corridors lit only by flickering torches. He had lost track of time, absorbed in the histories of the Five Kingdoms.
It was late. Too late to continue reading tonight. He rose, determination coiling in his chest. Tomorrow, he would face the training field stronger, sharper, ready for anything Raizen threw at him.
Without a word to Sebastian, he made his way to his room. The castle was quiet, the only sound the soft click of his boots on the stone floor. Once inside, he collapsed onto the bed, muscles screaming, body exhausted but mind restless with resolve.
Morning arrived too quickly. The sun was still low when Akira stepped onto the training field, bow in hand, muscles tense and ready. But something was different today.
Raizen stood silently at the far end of the field, a large iron cage beside him. Its bars shimmered faintly, a subtle hum of contained magic vibrating through the air. Akira's stomach tightened.
As he approached, Raizen opened the cage. A massive boar erupted from within, its fur bristling with crackling magical energy, eyes glowing with a deep crimson light. Its tusks gleamed like sharpened steel. The creature sniffed the air, then stamped its hooves, shaking the ground.
Raizen's voice, cold and detached as always, cut through the tense air:"Kill."
No instructions. No advice. Just a single word.
The boar lunged before Akira could fully react. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly tusks.
Instinct took over. He nocked an arrow, fired — but the boar twisted mid-air, dodging with terrifying precision. It charged again, faster this time, muscles coiled for the strike. Akira ducked and rolled, firing another arrow that grazed its flank. The boar squealed in frustration, sparks of magic flying off its fur where the arrow connected.
Breathing harshly, Akira realized brute force alone would not win. This wasn't a target to hit. It was a predator that learned, adapted, and punished mistakes. Every shot, every movement had to be precise, timed, and deliberate.
The boar slammed its hooves into the dirt, and the ground trembled violently. Akira stumbled, struggling to keep his balance as the tremors rattled through his legs. The magical creature's eyes glowed brighter, muscles coiling with lethal intent.
Before he could steady himself fully, the boar lunged forward, tusks aimed directly at him. Instinctively, Akira raised his bow, bracing it against the charge. The boar's tusks collided with the wood, sparks of magical energy crackling off the impact. The force shoved him backward, grinding dirt into his palms.
Akira rolled to the side and fired an arrow mid-motion. It hissed through the air — and missed. His stomach sank as he noticed the bow itself had cracked from the earlier collision, the wood splintered along the limb. Every shot now risked failure.
He swallowed, chest heaving, and his mind raced. Observation first, brute force second. He scanned the field. A massive tree stood to his left.
A plan formed. He would lure the boar into it. Timing, patience, and precision — his previous lessons coalesced.
Akira shifted his stance and feigned weakness, stepping into the boar's path. The beast charged, tusks aimed as if reading his intent. At the last possible moment, Akira sidestepped, letting the boar barrel straight toward the tree.
THUD.
The impact sent a shockwave through the dirt. The magical creature staggered, stunned by the collision. Heart pounding, Akira grabbed two arrows simultaneously, stabbing the boar's glowing eyes. The boar roared, thrashing blindly, unable to see, but still very much alive.
Akira exhaled sharply, thinking he could simply stall it now — hit, run, repeat. The reality however would be different as the boar attacked where he stood almost hitting him. He thought it was a coincidence but no the boar knew where he was it can't see now so the explanation is it can hear him.
A cold sweat ran down his spine. Akira's mind worked furiously while he dodged. He glanced back at the same tree — the bark where the boar had slammed earlier was cracked deep, the trunk leaning just slightly off-center. One more hit. That's all it needed.
He sprinted toward it. The boar, guided purely by sound and rage, jerked its head toward him and roared before charging.
He reached the tree at the last possible heartbeat — tremors shaking through his legs — and dove behind it. In case it fell the wrong way, he would push it toward the boar.
CRAAACK—
The boar smashed into the weakened trunk with all its weight.
SNAP—THUNDERING CRASH!
The massive trunk toppled, roots tearing out earth as gravity dragged it downward — straight onto the thrashing beast. Akira scrambled away, dirt spraying his face. The boar squealed and kicked beneath the crushing weight, its roars weakening, then fading into strained wheezes.
Silence… except for Akira's pounding heart.
He lay in the dirt, chest rising and falling, staring up at the sky. His bow was cracked, his arrows nearly gone, arms trembling from exertion… and yet…
He had won.
Raizen's boots crunched closer. Akira didn't need to look to feel the intensity of the man's gaze.
"…You exploited its senses. Turned its strength into weakness," Raizen finally said, voice low. "Good. Remember that."
Akira sat up, wiping sweat and grime from his forehead.
His eyes burned with fierce determination.
He wasn't strong enough yet.
He would have died if he was even a heartbeat slower.
Risk alone wouldn't save him next time.He needed strength.
Because in this world, power is the only thing that's absolute.