Marvel: Sin Lord

Chapter 22: The Proving Ground



It had been a week since Emma started training Inarius to control his abilities. Today, however, there would be no lesson. She informed him during breakfast that she would be leaving to recruit a mutant named Kitty Pryde and that she would handle it alone.

Inarius nodded, hiding his disappointment. The lessons with Emma had been intense but oddly comforting. They gave him a sense of direction, a feeling that he wasn't entirely out of control. Now, he'd have to spend the day training with the other Hellions, which was fine—it just wasn't the same.

The Hellions gathered in the training room, a massive arena-like space filled with obstacles, platforms, and high-tech equipment. Today's focus was combat against automated drones designed to simulate real enemies. The drones were fast, unpredictable, and outfitted with advanced weaponry.

Inarius tightened the grip on his sword, the ethereal, glowing purple weapon that had become an extension of himself. He took a deep breath, the energy of the blade humming in his hands like a living thing.

The session began, and the Hellions moved into formation. They worked well as a team—most of the time. But there were moments of tension, particularly when Empath's manipulative nature got in the way. Inarius, however, had no intention of relying on anyone else today.

The drones came out in waves, darting through the air with blasters firing. Tarot used her cards to create a shield, deflecting an energy blast aimed at Catseye. Roulette's bad-luck fields caused one drone to short-circuit and crash to the ground. Inarius, meanwhile, focused on his sword.

One drone swooped toward him, its mechanical arms extending like claws. Inarius waited, still as a statue, until the last possible moment. Then he moved, sidestepping with lightning speed and slashing upward. The blade cut through the drone effortlessly, its glowing edge leaving a purple trail in the air.

Another drone targeted him from behind, firing a series of energy bolts. Without even looking, Inarius spun and deflected the blasts with his sword, each one ricocheting harmlessly away. The memories he'd absorbed over time—years of instinct from animals, humans, and even the faint impressions of something darker—guided his movements.

A third drone approached, larger than the others, with a shielded core and twin-mounted cannons. It fired relentlessly, forcing Inarius to dodge and weave. The others tried to help, but Inarius shouted, "Stay back! I've got this."

He sprinted toward the drone, using the platforms to gain height. As he leaped, the drone's cannons swiveled, aiming directly at him. Time seemed to slow. He raised his sword high, focusing every ounce of energy into the blade.

With a fierce cry, he brought the sword down. The blade met the drone's shield, and for a moment, it held. Sparks flew, and the air filled with the sharp smell of burning metal. Then, with a surge of purple light, the shield shattered, and the drone split in two.

The Hellions stared in stunned silence as the remains of the drone crashed to the ground.

"Damn," said Roulette, breaking the silence. "That was... intense."

Inarius stepped down, breathing heavily. The sword's glow dimmed slightly as if responding to his exhaustion. He looked at the others and shrugged, trying to downplay what had just happened.

"It's just a drone," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

But inside, he felt a surge of pride. For the first time, he wasn't just surviving—he was thriving.

The session ended, and as the Hellions filed out, Empath gave him a grudging nod. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Inarius stayed behind for a moment, staring at the remains of the drone. The sword in his hand still felt warm, its energy pulsing faintly. He didn't fully understand his connection to it yet, but he knew one thing for certain: he was getting stronger.


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