CLEAVER OF SIN

The rest of the day swiftly went by with Asher doing absolutely nothing of significance, and before long, nighttime arrived. After a quick meal and a soothing bath, Asher changed into his pajamas. The former pair had been destroyed during the intense battle of the True Awakening.

Asher laid on his bed, a pristine white duvet covering his frame as he drifted off to sleep early. He had training scheduled for the following day, and he needed to be well-rested.

Time blurred forward, darkness slowly beginning to recede.

The moon, once high and majestic in the sky, began to dip below the horizon, making way for the arrival of the sun, which rose to bless the world with its radiant light.

Asher awoke precisely at 6:00 a.m., his system functioning as a dependable alarm. He rarely ate breakfast before training sessions, as doing so wasn't optimal for his performance. On the rare occasion that he did, it was always something extremely light, just enough to give a boost but not weigh him down.

After a quick shower and a short session of light exercise to limber his body, Asher stepped out of his room and made his way toward the First Training Ground, just as he had done consistently over the past six months. His steps echoed softly as he moved through the hallway, emerging shortly after into a vast clearing where the day's first training would commence, Physical Fitness.

There, he saw familiar faces, trainees he hadn't seen in three days. They sat around, waiting in anticipation for Instructor Harold to arrive, their eyes frequently shifting toward the entrance. There was less than a minute left on the clock. The moment Asher stepped into the field, heads turned toward him. People looked at him differently now, markedly so.

They hadn't seen him for days, and many had heard about the True Awakening. Most of the trainees had speculated on whether he would survive the ordeal. Some believed he would endure due to his outrageous talent. Others, however, predicted his downfall, citing his pride and perceived smugness as his greatest weaknesses.

But they all knew one undeniable truth: after each True Awakening, both Suns and Moons returned changed. Altered. Different. Facing a life and death situation at the age of fifteen was bound to transform anyone, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.

As Asher walked further into the training ground, he felt the lingering gazes on his back, curious, cautious, and filled with intrigue. His eyes shifted to the right where Tom, Ella, and Hito sat. They smiled at him, offering a silent greeting.

Although they hadn't seen him in three days, they already knew he had survived. What else were maids and butlers supposed to do during their idle hours if not indulge in gossip?

Asher didn't approach the trio. He had always timed his arrival at the First Training Ground to be precisely a few seconds before Instructor Harold appeared. There was simply no time to chat or catch up. That was his routine, and he saw no reason to deviate from it.

Almost like clockwork, Instructor Harold materialized at the training ground, as if he had been there all along. He didn't offer any greetings or early morning motivation. The moment the time struck seven o'clock, he switched into full training mode.

"What are you asses doing on the ground?" his voice boomed across the clearing, slicing through the morning air. "You should be standing, waiting for training to begin! You can train your legs and stamina while you're at it. Now start jogging! Nobody collapses without my permission today!"

His voice was thunderous, commanding, and impossible to ignore.

Those who were seated scrambled to their feet, urgency flooding their limbs. Everyone began to jog, falling into rhythm. But unlike before, Asher's body now carried the weight of specially designed heavy training stones. Since his physique had evolved into something monstrous, his physical strength far surpassing his peers, Instructor Harold had ensured he wore weights for every exercise.

Feet slammed against the earth in unison as boys and girls aged fifteen to seventeen jogged across the clearing, their breath steadying as they slipped into focus. Asher didn't utter a word. He merely breathed in deeply and exhaled with control.

'It's been a while,' he thought as his legs carried him forward. To the world, it had only been three days without training. But to him, it felt like months. A small smile touched his lips as he moved forward. His pace was steady, not too fast, not too slow. Deliberate.

His chest rose and fell with accurate intervals, preserving stamina, ensuring he wouldn't burn out too quickly. Behind him, other trainees jogged along. Hito, Ella, and Tom were close, maintaining pace just behind Asher.

Time passed. The jogging session ended and gave way to weights and other forms of physical conditioning. Instructor Harold showed no favoritism. He didn't spare the female trainees just because they were women. No, power wasn't about gender. Female powerhouses existed, after all. Lily of the Abyss and the Empress were perfect examples of this truth.

Hours passed before they transitioned to the next stage, movement and balance training. Everyone's chests heaved, their breathing heavy, muscles aching. Harold had, once again, pushed them to their limits.

Upon arrival at the Movement and Balance Training Hall, nobody had to be told what to do. The routine was ingrained. Each trainee picked a side, climbed up the beams, and began weaving and dodging incoming attacks designed to test both balance, agility, reaction time and speed.

Asher, however, didn't need to partake in the standard drills. He had mopped the floor with this training on the very first day. There was no point. Everyone, including the instructor, knew that.

And so, with a silent breeze and a faint smirk, the Movement and Balance instructor, Elowen, appeared like a phantom assassin on one of the training contraptions near where Asher stood, calm and composed.

With a sly smile, she addressed him, "How about something different today, oh genius Tenth Sun?" Her tone was playful, yet carried a hint of challenge as she regarded the little monster standing before her.

Asher turned his gaze toward her, his expression calm. "What do you suggest, Instructor?"

"It's simple," she replied, her smile widening. "Since you can now dodge everything without breaking a sweat and move in perfect coordination, we'll change things up. Today, you and I will fight, right here, on the balance beams."

Asher stared at her for a few seconds before nodding slightly. Fighting on the beams was nothing like fighting on solid ground. On the beams, balance became a constant concern. Fake beams, sudden shifts, lateral attacks, and unstable footing all played a role. It was chaotic.

"I accept," Asher said simply.

"Then let's begin," Elowen stated as she rose from her seated position with grace. Although her eyes were focused on Asher, her senses expanded outward, keeping track of every trainee in the hall. None were allowed to slack, not under her watch.