Jorish relaxed his fist, taking a deep breath before tightening it again. He felt the sun’s unceasing waves caress his body, filling him with Energy. He kept his breathing regulated as he concentrated energy on his body, pushing more and more Energy into it. Soon, the warmth turned into heat, the heat into flames, flames into inferno.

Jorish smelled burning metal, seeing wisps of smoke coming from his skin as he heard it sizzle. Feeling the pain coming from his body, he smiled, enjoying the sensation as he burned. It had been three months since his promotion, ever since that day, he knew he had to get stronger, and he worked hard everyday to do that.

Jorish kept sending more and more Energy inside his body, standing on an empty spot in the middle of the camp, as a few soldiers from his battalion stood watch, not to protect him, but rather to admire him. This cultivation has become a daily occurrence, and there weren’t many spots where he could get the unfiltered, unobstructed sunlight, unless he wanted to leave the camp.

Jorish felt as the Energy inside him reached its peak, his body unable to hold any more Energy. At that moment, he suddenly moved, trying to compress even more Energy into his body. He waited for the rebound that had always happened, pushing the limits of your body sure does hurt, grunted Jorish in preparation.

Pushing the Energy, Jorish initially felt the same sensation, as his body started trying to reject the excess. However, Jorish kept pushing even further, each day getting even more Energy in before losing control. Watching his concentration, onlookers started backing off, preparing for the out lash that often occurred. Jorish kept concentrating the Energy, his pain surging higher. Suddenly, Jorish heard something break before feeling a weird sensation.

He felt Energy burst, leaving his body chaotically as usual. Then, it froze in the air in an uncanny, golden glow around him. Moments later, it started rushing back towards him, getting absorbed back into his body. Jorish felt power coarse into his every muscle, he heard as the ground he stood on cracking, the air around him crackling. Moments later, peace returned as he relaxed his grip, feeling new found power.

Moments later, a person approached him from the wide-eyed crowd. Jorish turned around, as he looked at Dyce, smiling.

Dyce smiled back, a playful gleam in his only eye as he spoke. “Congrats, first officer Jorish on your breakthrough. You have now left the early stages of being a practitioner. Up for a spar?”

Jorish nodded, grabbing his spear as Dyce did the same. The crowds around them stood back even further, with more and more people coming to witness their duel.

Jorish and Dyce stood opposing each other. Stillness remained for a few moments, before they both stepped forward simultaneously. Both spears extended, meeting in the middle as they both sent a simple thrust, putting all their force into the first strike without any tricks.

The spears collided, both physical force and Energy pulsing, pushing them both back. Dyce quickly swirled his spear, jabbing it at Jorish in fast, short strikes. Jorish dodged the first two hits, stepping back, before he swung his spear widely, pushing Dyce’s spear away before stepping back in, swiping his spear at Dyce once again.

Jorish grunted as his strike bounced off near Dyce, hitting the waves of Energy Dyce released. Every time Jorish stepped forward to strike, he was parried as Dyce sent more and more Energy waves. Dyce moved instead, as he swung his spear at Jorish. Gripping his spear tightly, Jorish moved his arm, lifting his spear to block Dyce’s strike before he grunted, feeling a push of Energy hitting him in his gut, breaking his focus momentarily as it forced him to step back.

Jorish dodged in a hurry as his attempt to block was ruined, he stared at Dyce as he thought about his next steps, a few moments later he smiled as he said. “Careful now, Dyce.”

Jorish felt the markings on his skin crawl as he focused all his power, stepping forward. Dyce sent more waves of Energy towards Jorish as Jorish smiled. Feeling something is wrong, Dyce jumped back as Jorish walked unimpeded through Dyce’s Energy waves, moving with such force that he wasn’t even slowed down.

Jorish stepped in again, swinging his spear down with all his force. Dyce turned around, thrusting with his spear upwards. Jorish felt his full-powered strike freeze as it struck Dyce’s spear, feeling different fluctuations of Energy that caused him to momentarily freeze in place. Dyce smiled as he pulled back his spear before quickly and lightly poking Jorish’s shoulder before exclaiming.

“I win.”

Jorish relaxed as he sighed, saying. “You know, second officer Dyce, if you didn’t cause a disaster every battle, you would’ve been promoted three times over by now.”

Dyce shrugged as they both laughed.

Moments later, a youth ran to Dyce, whispering in his ear before running back. Dyce turned to Jorish as he spoke.

“It seems that we are needed at Captain Isar’s”

Jorish’s face turned serious as he nodded. We are finally getting there? He thought, catching his breath as he followed Dyce.

Minutes later, Jorish and Dyce entered the commanding tent as Jorish stood in the front, between familiar faces such as Tyran and Brandon, as well as new faces that joined them as they expanded further. In the center, Isar stood, waiting for people to join in before starting.

Finally, he started speaking.

“Tomorrow, we assault Graus-toke. We had our first conflict with them a few months ago, and we know that they are the strongest force in the cities at the moment. If we are able to take control of their city, the rest of our battles will be much easier.”

Everyone nodded, as some people expressed looks of worry while a few showed looks of excitement. Isar then spoke again. “Indeed, last time we suffered just to push back the second Battalion of their army, however, it is different this time. We have amassed an army much larger than theirs, and we have the advantage, as long as we take care of one thing.”

Brandon looked at Isar as he asked. “Which is?”

“Their 2 candidates.”

The place turned in silence, as people understood the grim reality. A candidate was not a Monarch, a Monarch could hold the entire army on his own. Yet, it didn’t make reality any less cruel. Noticing the atmosphere, Jorish hit the floor with the back of his spear as he spoke.

“We handled that one previously, one more won’t be a big difference.”

Isar smiled as he spoke. “Indeed, one more or less won’t be a big deal. We prepare for the seige by the next dawn”

Jorish departed the tent, preparing himself for his next battle.

The battle for Graus-toke.