Lucian stared at his wooden sword. It used to feel heavy, but now it was too light. He was getting stronger.
Still, it wasn't enough.
"If I stay like this, I won't be able to protect anything."
Tonight, he would push beyond his limits.
Training in Secret
Lucian slipped out of the mansion. The cold night air made him shiver, but he didn't stop.
Deep in the forest, he reached his hidden training ground. No one knew about this place. Here, he could train freely.
He took a deep breath. No distractions. Just him and his strength.
Fighting Techniques
First, boxing. Fast punches, sharp and controlled. His fists struck the wooden dummy again and again.
Next, Muay Thai. Kicks and knee strikes. The dummy shook with each hit.
Then, grappling. He practiced takedowns, imagining an enemy stronger than him. He had to be ready for anything.
Weapon Training
Lucian picked up his wooden sword.
Swing. Step. Strike. His movements were faster than before.
Then, the dual crowbars—his favorite. They were small but deadly.
Finally, the longsword. Heavy, but powerful. He needed to control it better.
He wasn't just practicing. He was getting stronger.
The Breakthrough – Ring Evolution
Then, something changed.
As he swung his sword, a strange heat filled his chest. His ring was reacting.
A golden light flashed. His vision blurred. His heart pounded.
"What's happening?!"
Crack! His ring split apart, shattering into bright fragments. But instead of vanishing, the pieces merged into something new.
His old ring was gone.
In its place, a deeper, richer color took form—one step closer to the dark purple ring he would one day achieve.
The power was overwhelming. His body trembled, veins burning with energy.
Then—boom!
Lucian fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
When he looked down, his ring was no longer the same.
He had evolved.
A New Resolve
Lucian stood up, his whole body shaking. But he smiled.
"This is just the beginning."
He clenched his fists. He was going to get even stronger.
Back to the Mansion
By the time he returned, the sun was rising. His body ached, but he didn't care.
His ring had evolved. His power had awakened.
And this was only the start.