The Ashen Dominion

BAM!

Viktor kicked off the ground and launched himself forward, he got in front of Jin in a second.

SWOOSH—

Then he immediately brought down his right axe for a vertical slash!

CLACK!

Jin blocked it with his left machete, his stance didn't even budge.

Then—

FWOOSH—!

Jin responded with a right thrust, it was fast. Aimed straight at Viktor's throat!

"!?"

Viktor saw that, and gritting his teeth—he twisted his right wrist and used the blade part of his wooden axe to deflect it!

CHHK—!

The wooden machete's edge scraped past his cheek, leaving a shallow red mark.

"Tch...!"

But he didn't stop.

Using the same wooden axe to deflect the attack, Viktor transitioned smoothly—his legs already shifting.

FWIP—!

He performed a small but fast horizontal slash with his left axe, aiming at Jin's neck!

SWISH—

But Jin just leaned back slightly.

Viktor's axe missed him by a hair's breath.

And following that, Jin raised his right foot and launched a front kick straight at Viktor's chest!

"—!"

THUD!

But Viktor raised his left leg and blocked it with his knee!

"Kh...!"

He staggered a bit but didn't fall back.

"Hmm, not bad."

Jin muttered, his eyes still lazy.

"..."

Viktor didn't reply.

He just crouched slightly—then moved again.

FWOOSH!

He dashed to the left and struck with his left axe in a rising arc!

TWHACK!

Blocked by Jin's machete.

Then Viktor spun and used the momentum to slash with his right!

SWISH—!

A diagonal strike from the other direction!

CLACK!

Jin parried it again. Effortlessly.

But Viktor wasn't done yet!

TAP— TAP— F W O O S H—!!

He kept moving—slashing, feinting, spinning his dual axes around in flowing motions.

His body didn't stop.

Like a storm of blades!

Each of his swing were sharp and timed perfectly!

But...

CLANK! CLACK! TAK! TOK—!

Jin blocked every single one of them.

Not with power, but with just pure precision.

He twisted his wrists, turned his body, and barely moved more than a step at a time.

His footwork was minimal. It was efficient as fuck.

Not flashy, not aggressive.

Just clean... Almost perfect.

'Ugh...! He's not even trying...!'

Viktor realized that mid-swing.

But still, he forced himself to keep going.

"HAAAAAAH—!"

SLASH! TAK! WHOOSH! BAM—!!

He started putting more strength into his attacks!

More speed! More intensity!

His strikes became erratic but sharper.

FWISH—

Then he tried sweeping low with his right leg.

"Hup."

Jin just jumped.

"HAAA!!!"

He tried going for the ribs.

SWISH~

Jin twisted his body and avoided it.

He tried slamming both axes downward—

TWHACK—!

Jin crossed his machetes and caught both in an X!

Then suddenly—

"Huh?"

Jin leaned forward, using his body weight.

And—

BAM!!

He headbutted Viktor right in the forehead!

"GUHH—!!"

Tap. Tap.

Viktor got pushed back two steps, blood leaking down from his forehead!

"Shit...!"

He wiped it quickly with a curse.

Then without thinking—

FWOOSH!

He dashed again and swung both axes inward from each side!

A closing chop—like a pincer!

C L A C K!!

Jin spun one machete and blocked both with one smooth motion!

And after that—

SWOOSH—!!

He pivoted.

And slammed his left elbow into Viktor's chest!

B A M!!

"GAH—!!"

Viktor flew back and rolled across the ground once!

TAP— TAP—

He stopped himself and quickly stood back up, panting heavily.

"Haaaaa... fuuuuuu..."

His arms were trembling. His body felt heavy now.

But still—

Fwip~

He raised his axes again.

"Come on..."

He muttered.

"Again...!"

Then Viktor exclaimed that, trying to raised his adrenaline.

Jin just stared at him.

Then stepped forward slowly.

Tap.

"...Alright."

He said.

And when he got within range—

BAM!

Jin kicked off this time!

And suddenly—

He attacked.

THAK—!!

His machete crashed against Viktor's left axe!

Then—

SWOOSH!!

He spun and slashed at Viktor's legs—

TAK!

"GUGH?!!"

Blocked barely by Viktor's right axe!

But Jin kept moving.

FWWIP— BAM! SLASH! CLACK!

He spun, flipped his grip, and unleashed a barrage of clean, fast strikes.

Each one pushing Viktor back— Each one sharper than the last!

'FUCK...!'

Viktor grumbled in his head.

THAK! THUMP!

"KEUK...!!"

Then he got hit on the side of his shoulder.

And on the wrist.

"ARGH—!"

He staggered—

THWACK—!!

Then suddenly, Jin's wooden machete slammed into his chest!

"GAH?!!"

Viktor coughed and dropped one axe from the impact!

"Ugh...!"

He dropped to one knee.

But Jin didn't continue after that.

And with a calm look on his face...

"That's enough for today."

He casually said that.

But Viktor didn't want to stop yet...

"..."

Fwish~

He glared and picked up the axe again.

His whole body ached. He was covered in bruises. Breathing heavy.

But still—

He stood.

"Sorry... But just one more...!"

BAM!

Then he dashed forward again!

SWOOSH—

He swung his axe at Jin. Then, with a frown on his face—

Tap.

Jin swiftly sidestepped.

Then—

BAM!!

"...?!!"

He hit Viktor in the back of the neck with the flat side of his blade. Viktor wasn't even able to let out a sound.

THUD—!!

He just dropped.

He was down. Face on the ground.

Not unconscious. But barely able to move.

"..."

Jin exhaled, resting the wooden blade on his shoulder.

"...You're not bad. But you're forcing it too much."

He said.

"You're rushing things that don't need to be rushed."

Jin added.

Then he just looked away and walked off.

"Rest. Then train again."

He muttered.

And with that, he left the arena.

"..."

Everyone watching was silent for a while.

Then—

"Well damn..."

Kaiser mumbled, now sitting up properly.

Brock crossed his arms, nodding his head.

Khan smiled a bit.

"That was a good show."

He said.

Edmar stood silently, processing everything. He was gauging Viktor's strength against his.

Meanwhile...

"...Damn it."

Viktor muttered, pushing himself up. He was okay now.

"I couldn't land a clean hit..."

He grumbled.

Then at that moment... Kaiser approached him.

He didn't laugh or joke.

He just placed a hand on Viktor's shoulder.

"Hey, that was a good fight."

"..."

Viktor looked away.

But a small smile formed on his lips.

"Next time..."

He whispered.

"Next time I'll hit him for sure."

Kaiser smirked.

"I'm looking forward to that."

Then he said that.

*****

After the sparring matches, Brock, Khan, and Jin excused themselves first.

"We'll go back to our training now."

They stood up one after the other, gave a few short nods toward the three— and just like that, they went their separate ways.

They simply walked back to their own training zones.

They still had goals for the day to finish.

Meanwhile...

Kaiser, Viktor, and Edmar stayed seated on the stone bench.

The three of them just sat there silently, staring ahead at the empty arena.

Their weapons were either laid on the ground or leaned against their knees.

"..."

"..."

"..."

No one spoke.

The wind quietly passed through the open grounds, carrying the smell of sweat, wood, and faint dust.

But still—

Silence.

Kaiser was staring down at his hands. His fingers flexed slightly, remembering the clash against Brock. That last blow that knocked the air out of him. He was strong, sure... but not enough. Not yet.

His palms tightened, nails slightly digging into his skin.

He hated that feeling.

That helplessness when he knew he couldn't break through.

Viktor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes were narrowed, fixed on the dirt below. The fight with Jin kept replaying in his head. His speed. His control. The sharpness of every swing. He needed more. Way more.

Even now, his knees were still slightly shaking from those exchanges.

Not fear— just frustration.

Frustration that he couldn't keep up.

Edmar, on the other hand, sat upright.

His eyes were calm, but inside— he was boiling.

That damn spear of Khan... He couldn't even land a clean hit.

Each tap felt like a slap reminding him: not good enough.

Not focused enough. Not refined enough.

He clenched his fists on his lap.

"..."

Time passed.

They didn't need to talk.

They were all thinking the same thing anyway.

Then—

Kaiser stood up first.

He rolled his shoulders back and turned to the other two.

"I'm going."

That's all he said.

Viktor stood up next.

"Me too."

Edmar followed right after, brushing dust off his pants.

"Let's train separately. See you later."

Kaiser nodded.

Then the three of them, without saying much else, walked off in three different directions.

Each toward a different area of the training ground.

They didn't need to say what they were doing.

They were already doing it.

They were chasing.

Chasing the backs of monsters. Even for a bit so next time, they could do better.

Even if they lost today, they'll do a bit better tomorrow...

And even if tomorrow's still the same, then just continue.

Again.

And again.

And again.

They know something will change eventually.

As long as they didn't stop trying to improve.

...

...

...

...

...

Kaiser, Viktor, and Edmar continued to train.

Days goes by.

Then weeks.

And before they even knew it... A few months had peacefully passed.