Chapter 36 (the first step to synergy)

Training continued for the next two days, and Wednesday was declared a free day from school activities, but Drake, however, didn't relax but continued to train and hone his strength. On the fourth day, Drake and his team went to the physical and mental evaluation building to train their teamworking.

The building is generally used for students to develop experience through simulated battles. It is categorised depending on the level of training the students wish to undertake. There is teamwork and the individual categories, each with three stages, which are the first ring, the second ring, the third ring and fourth ring, named after the Mana rings.

Drake and his team entered the building, the interior bathed in a blue glow of illuminated crystals. As they admired the impressive sight, a lady with long white hair and piercing blue eyes, in her late twenties, wearing a fitted black and blue gawn approached them. "I'm this building's third attendant. How can I assist you?" She asked politely, her lips graced with a smile. "We're here to train as a team." Drake replied. "Yes." Mark added.

The female attendant adjusted her

stance. "The building has seven rooms. Four are for individual training, and three are for team training. No team training rooms are currently available. However, a team is nearly at the end of their session. You can wait if you would like." She folded her hands in front of her chest as her gaze met theirs.

"No problem, we can wait." Drake replied. "Excellent. Please follow me to the waiting area," she said, leading them as she continues. "Each room has its own instructor. They oversee your training from their positions and will stop the session if they deem you unable to continue. So you don't need to worry about your training." She turned to them. "Please take a seat." Drake's team seated.

"Thank you very much for your service." They said unison, showing their appreciation, and the lady walked away.

After 10 minutes of waiting, Ronan, Griffin, and Veronica emerged from the training room. Their eyes met Drake and his team's in a clash of steel and a silent exchange of unspoken threats. Approaching Drake and his teammates, Ronan imitates a hostile conversation. "You never cease to amaze me, coming here with your pathetic strength." A venomous hiss hunts out of his voice. "You really don't know your place." He turned to Freya and sneered, like a knife cutting through the air. "Even your third partner is no less weak than you." He glanced at Mark and nodded. "I pity you for being on such a weak team."

His words dripped with temptation. Mark raised up, enraged, and grabbed Ronan's shirt. Griffin tried to intervene, but Ronan stopped him with a wave of his right hand. "Keep your mouth shut, or I will make you regret those words." Mark's eyes burnt with rage. The crackled tension got broken by the arrival of the attendant.

"Please come in; it's your turn." Drake stood up and gently placed his hand on Mark's shoulder. "Let go,he said with a calm but firm voice. Mark reluctantly released Ronan and walked towards the attendant. Drake moved close to Ronan. "Are you not ashamed of yourself, acting like a sheep without a shepherd?" He whispered in a growled voice.

His words pierced through Ronan's pride like a dagger. "If you have something against me, come at me directly." Waving at Ronan, Drake walked away, living him in a thunderstorm of frustration, clenching his fists, and brow- frowning. Freya bowed to him with a fleeting gesture of politeness and left his presence to join her teammates.

The female attendant opened the door, allowing Drake and his companions to enter. She closed it behind them. They found themselves in a vast, open space resembling a volleyball court, enclosed by tempered glass strong enough to withstand a force of 250 horsepower. To their left, behind the glass, is a man standing near a cylindrical stand. "Are you ready?" He asked. Drake and his friends were startled, as they hadn't noticed him. "

After a moment of searching for the source of the voice, they all nodded. The man clicked one of the four buttons on the cylindrical stand. A blue crystal humanoid golem, three times the size of an average human, materialized before them. Before the man could say start,

Mark leaped forward. "Torrential Aura: Void Fist Technique, Wave Surge (2 circle)."He channelled his aura through his blood, drawing the aura deeper from his bloodstream, and infused his muscles with the energised fluid. This enhanced the fluidity and momentum of his strike.

He charged forward with his fist surging with increasing power, mimicking the force of unstoppable waves. He slammed the golem's abdomen, sending it flying, everyone was shocked to see this including the inspector. The inspector increased the golem's tier three times, but the result remained the same.

"Seems I don't need to hold back. He pressed the highest tier on the cylindrical stand, the fourth tier. The humanoid golem split into two, their auras subtly different from the previous one. Mark charged as usual, but the golem reacted instantly, firing water bullets with enough force to pierce through human flesh.

Mark quickly crossed his arms across his chest, enveloping them in an aura shield himself. Drake also created a water barrier using the 'Aqua shield technique (1 circle)' to protect himself and Freya from the flying bullets. One of the golems leaped forward, aiming a massive punch at Mark, who also defended with the back of his arms enhanced with aura, crossed in front of him. The impact forced him to slide back. Before he could gain balance, the second golem, already in the midair, with his clenched fist, prepared to smash him.

"Draconic mana: Aqua Dragon Roar (3 circle)." Drake shouted, unleashing a pressurised water blast at the golem. It doesn't stop the goblin entirely, but it slows it down enough to allow Mark to retreat. 

"We should stop here for today." Mark said, his voice rumbled in a low, tense silence, waiting for Drake's reply as they stood on guard. "We can't stop now. It'll be our best to push this a bit forward." Drake replied. Mark gave him a quick glance. His brow furrowed like a storm cloud gathered over the horizon. "Are you insane?" He asked in disbelief. Can't you see Freya is shivering?"

Drake took a deep breath. "Don't get me wrong. I don't mean we need to take them down. It's just too early for that, and this is the best experience for her to harden her heart. And also for us. Don't forget, the inspector is here to stop the training when things become dangerous"

They were still communicating when the first golem lunged towards them. Drake raised his hand. "Draconic mana: Aqua shield." A water barrier materialized around them but was instantly shattered, with the force from the collision sending them flipping backward.

Drake instictivly noticed something strange during the attack. He turned to Mark, who is a bit far away from him. "There is a way face them, but I'm not sure if it will work. Regardless of it, we need to take the chance. Are you in?" They both lucked eyes.

Mark started to felt a strange sensation throughout his body like a kid who got to taste a new candy." Okay, I'm in." He smiled back at Drake.