As night descended, Solomon and Henry embarked on a hunting expedition to procure food for their group, leaving Damian and the guards to watch over the women. Upon their return, they brought back a deer, which they prepared for dinner. As they sat around the fire, Damian's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "What did the dark lord mean by training?" His confusion was palpable, and Henry's response was reassuring.
"We'll find out tomorrow, brother. For now, let's rest. Trust me, you'll need it by dawn." With that, Henry bid the group goodnight and retired to his quarters with his wife, Ariel. As they settled in for the night, Ariel felt a sense of relief wash over her, grateful that they had made it through the day's ordeal. However, her mind began to wander, and she couldn't shake off the thought that had been plaguing her: "Why were Solomon and Henry's powers dormant at that critical moment?" She drifted off to sleep, her mind still racing with questions.
The next morning, the dark lord, Pyro, stood before Solomon, Damian, and Henry, his eyes blazing with intensity as he addressed them. "My aged bones were restless yesterday, eager to begin the process of disposing of the Royal trash that stands before me. Today, your journey of self-discovery commences. Today, you will embark on a path that will transform you, body, mind, spirit, and soul, into a unified, lethal force. A weapon within a weapon, forged in the fire of adversity."
Pyro's voice dripped with disdain as he continued, "We will put everything you have ever learned to the test, and we will see just how proficient you are. It will be a grueling and bitter process, one that I doubt you are accustomed to, given your pampered upbringing as kings. You are accustomed to issuing orders, but can you actually wield a blade? Can you withstand the rigors of true combat?"
Pyro's words were laced with scorn, his gaze piercing as he challenged the three men before him. "Let us see if you have what it takes to survive, to adapt, and to overcome. Let us see if you can transform yourselves into the warriors you were meant to be."
The dark lord, Pyro, sneered at Solomon, Damian, and Henry as he announced their first challenge. "Today, your task will be ridiculously simple. All you need to do is land a single blow on me. I'm willing to bet that even a 12-year-old could manage that. Strike me successfully, just once, and you'll have accomplished your mission. Let your trial begin, boys."
Ariel woke up to find Henry missing. She hastily got dressed and rushed outside, where she was greeted by the sound of clashing swords. Her heart racing, she followed the noise and arrived at the arena, where she was met with a shocking sight: Solomon, Damian, and Henry were engaged in a fierce battle with the dark lord Pyro.
Nahar, who was sitting on a nearby rock, noticed Ariel's arrival and greeted her. "You finally woke up." Ariel's eyes were fixed on the battle unfolding before her, and she asked Nahar, "What are they doing?" Nahar's response was matter-of-fact: "Training." Ariel's gaze remained fixed on the battle, and she observed that despite their valiant efforts, Solomon, Damian, and Henry were unable to land a blow on the dark lord.
Nahar joined Ariel in observing the battle, and they sat down on a nearby rock. Nahar explained, "They've been at it for hours now, and they still haven't managed to touch the dark lord. It's as if he's...teaching them." Ariel's eyes narrowed as she watched the battle, and she remarked, "It doesn't look like the dark lord wants to kill them. It's more like he's...training them." Nahar nodded in agreement, adding, "He said something about them needing to train their mortal bodies to the core before they can fully become the gods they're meant to be. I'm not entirely sure what he means, though."
As they continued to watch the battle, Reina, who had been sitting with them, remained quiet, observing the scene with an air of curiosity. The sound of clashing swords filled the air, and the group watched with bated breath as the battle raged on.
As the three men charged at Pyro, his criticism was swift and merciless. "Henry, what is that stance you're using? Didn't you learn anything from yesterday? Solomon, that's not a feather you're wielding, it's a sword! Put some power behind your swing! And Damian, whoever taught you how to hold a sword should be found and executed. No one has even come close to touching me with steel yet. Shameful, especially from those who are supposed to be the best. How are you feared, anyway?"
Pyro's taunts continued to rain down on the trio as they struggled to land a single blow on him. Their efforts were met with swift parries and ripostes, leaving them stumbling backward, their faces flushed with frustration and embarrassment. "Hopeless!" Pyro exclaimed, his voice dripping with disdain and malevolence. he declared, "With each passing day that you fail to accomplish your task, you will become increasingly entrapped in this dimension. Your very existence will begin to wither away, your souls slowly rotting from the inside out. Until you prove your worth to me, your fates are sealed, forever bound to this desolate realm."
The weight of Pyro's words hung in the air, casting a dark and foreboding shadow over Solomon, Damian, and Henry. The consequences of their failure were clear: a slow and agonizing descent into oblivion, their souls trapped in a state of perpetual decay. The pressure to succeed had never been more intense, and the trio knew that they had to dig deep within themselves to find the strength and determination to overcome the challenges that lay ahead.