The training field was drenched in the golden glow of morning sunlight. Renji stood with his hands on his knees, panting heavily. His body was drenched in sweat, his muscles screaming for rest. But his eyes burned with determination.
Sunil Rajput, calm and composed as always, watched him with an amused expression. "You've got guts, I'll give you that, future rival."
Renji exhaled sharply. "Don't act like this is over. Teach me more."
Sunil chuckled. "Relax, self-proclaimed World No. 1. You've already made huge progress in just a few hours. But…" He paused, tilting his head slightly. "There's only so much I can teach you. The rest? That's up to you."
Renji frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sunil kicked the ball up and balanced it on his foot. "Celestial Dominion isn't just about technique. It's about your presence on the field. Your ability to manipulate the flow of the game—bend it to your will."
He flicked the ball up and caught it in his hands. "I've given you the foundation. But to truly master it, you need experience. You need to face players who challenge you—who push you beyond your limits."
Renji clenched his fists. "So you're saying I have to figure it out on my own from here?"
Sunil smirked. "Exactly. But don't get me wrong, future rival—I fully expect you to take this to the world stage."
Renji's eyes widened slightly.
Sunil's gaze sharpened. "I'm not teaching you for fun. I'm not helping you because I pity you. I'm doing this because I want to see you on the world stage. I want a rival worth fighting."
Renji felt a shiver run down his spine.
Sunil walked past him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "So don't disappoint me, Renji Kurogami. Prove that you're worthy of standing at the top."
Renji clenched his jaw. "Tch… You don't have to tell me twice."
Sunil grinned and stretched his arms. "Anyway, you should take a break. Rest is just as important as training. And besides…" He pointed toward the main training grounds. "You can learn a lot just by watching today's match."
Renji followed his gaze.
The match between EOS Team 2 and the Old Legends was about to begin.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll watch… but only to see how I'll crush them in the future."
Sunil laughed. "That's the spirit, future World No. 1."
With that, Renji took his first step toward mastering Celestial Dominion—not as a student, but as a future rival of the world's best.
To Be Continued…