The Last Thunderborn

"Ranav, behave yourself. I know what you're feeling, but please remember there are people around you," Jessica reminded him.

Hearing Jessica's voice in his head, Ranav's senses returned to reality. He took a handful of water and splashed it onto his face, washing away the tears that had unknowingly gathered on his cheeks. Then, with a small burst of fire magic, he dried his skin.

"I need water magic," he thought. "It would be so much more convenient in situations like this. I have to progress faster."

Jessica, sensing his thoughts, said, "According to the usual elemental progression, your next element should be water. If you keep up this pace, you should be able to upgrade your Star Circles to level one within a month."

"Let's hope for the best," Ranav replied.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and returned to where the sisters were waiting.

The next morning, before sunrise, a knock sounded on the guest room door. Jessica immediately informed Ranav, who was meditating in the ring. He promptly stopped his practice, opened his eyes, and got up.

A well-dressed guard stood outside.

"Young Master, our lady requests that you follow me to the training ground," the guard informed him with a respectful bow.

"Please wait a moment. I need to change," Ranav said before closing the door.

He retrieved his recently purchased training clothes and put them on, along with a pair of new training shoes. After quickly washing his face in the adjacent bathroom, he combed his hair and used dark magic to clean his teeth and freshen his mouth. Within five minutes, he stepped out, looking refreshed and ready.

The guard led him out of the house, through the front courtyard, and toward a nearby field that served as a training ground. Several people in half-pants, sleeveless vests, and running shoes were already gathered there, engaged in lively conversation.

Ranav spotted Vartika Solanki dressed in her black combat outfit, speaking with a middle-aged man in a military training uniform. She noticed him as well.

"Ranav, come here," she called.

He approached and greeted her. "Good morning, Aunt Vartika." The night before, she had asked him to address her as 'Aunt' from now on.

Vartika gestured toward the man beside her. "This is Corporal Nathaniel Chacko. For the next fifteen days, he will be your physical combat trainer. Your master instructed me to help you build combat awareness, and I'm giving you the opportunity to learn from the best. Nathaniel is the top trainer in this region. He will be staying at the Solanki estate to train our guards during this period. It's your job to learn as much as you can from him."

Ranav turned to Nathaniel and bowed slightly. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'll do my best not to disappoint you."

Nathaniel studied him before replying, "You'll be training alongside the estate's knights. I won't be arranging extra sessions for you. Given your age, if you ever feel exhausted, you may quit at any time."

At that moment, Paramita and Vayunisha approached, both wearing training suits.

Vartika looked at Nathaniel. "I'll leave them in your hands. I'll be training with the girls in the other field. If you need anything, ask the guards… they'll assist you. And Ranav, give it your best effort."

With that, she left with the girls.

Nathaniel turned to Ranav. "Follow me. Here, you'll be training with the knights. Blend in with them because, from now on, you're part of the team."

"I understand," Ranav replied.

They walked toward the assembled group of knights. Nathaniel stepped forward and addressed them.

"From now on, I am in command. No requests will be entertained. You are to obey my orders unconditionally. If you do not wish to continue, now is your chance to leave. This offer will remain valid until the training ends. Now, form three rows."

The group quickly reorganized into three neat rows.

"Count off from the front row, left to right," Nathaniel commanded.

"One… two… three…" the knights began counting.

Ranav, standing at the far right of the front row, received the number 15. The total number of trainees was 44.

Nathaniel nodded. "For today, your number will be your identity. Number One, how long is the running track here?"

"One kilometer, sir," the first knight answered.

Nathaniel's gaze swept over the group. "Today, you will run five laps around this track. Your time limit is 25 minutes. Do not break formation. Anyone who fails or disrupts the line will be removed from training. Now, begin!"

The group started running in synchronized rows. Ranav stayed at the back.

The first three laps were manageable, but by the fourth lap, some knights started slowing down. One by one, several quit. By the end of the five laps, only 33 knights remained.

Nathaniel nodded. "Now, we move on to the strength test. Approach the strength-measuring machine according to your number. Remember, your score will depend on speed, technique, and raw power."

The machine in front of them was a specialized training tool designed to measure the force behind a punch. It used high-sensitivity sensors to calculate the impact power.

The first knight stepped up and delivered a strong punch. The screen displayed 1,848 units.

Nathaniel gave an approving nod. "Good."

Jessica's voice echoed in Ranav's mind. " While average untrained individuals could achieve scores of 600–700 units, trained fighters typically surpassed 1,500 units with ease. Elite warriors could even exceed 3,000 units. This data is recorded in books."

One by one, the knights took their turns. The second knight scored 2,110 units, the third got 1,750, and so on.

Ranav examined the machine. "The pad is at waist level," he noted. "All the trainees are punching downward."

"Don't worry," Jessica assured him. "Just punch as you normally would. Your physical strength far surpasses theirs. Unlike these knights, your body was forged through Mana Body Training."

Ranav frowned. "At least Nathaniel didn't set a minimum requirement."

"He's probably observing techniques rather than setting a standard," Jessica speculated. "But don't hold back too much. You need to blend in without drawing too much attention."

At that moment, Knight Number 13 stepped forward and punched the machine. The display read 2,522 units.

Number 14 had quit, so now it was Ranav's turn.

He walked up, took a deep breath, and punched the pad with controlled force. The machine trembled slightly before absorbing the impact.

Ranav looked at the screen. 4,188 units.

He blinked, thinking he had misread it. But the number remained unchanged.

"Damn it," he thought. "I should have held back more."

Jessica chuckled. "I told you… you'd be ahead of them."

Ranav glanced around. The knights were staring at him as if he were some kind of monster. He turned to Nathaniel, who was gazing at him with wide eyes… his expression was almost... adoring.

Ranav shivered internally. "Why does he look like he just found his long-lost love?"

Shaking off the unsettling feeling, he calmly returned to his position as if nothing had happened.

Nathaniel was the first to recover. He cleared his throat and barked, "Next!"