THE TRAINING GROUNDS

CHAPTER 16: THE TRAINING GROUNDS

The anticipation of their upcoming battle with the strongest beast weighed heavily on Steve and Yumiko. They knew that preparation was key, and their training had just begun.

"Why do we need to collect water and apples for training?" Steve questioned, puzzled by the seemingly unrelated tasks.

Yumiko turned to him with a determined expression. "Water is essential for our daily needs, and selling apples will provide us with the funds to acquire more weapons," she explained.

"Is everything we do just for money?" Steve inquired, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Yumiko's eyes sparkled with purpose. "We need to be equipped with the best weapons to face that beast head-on," she replied firmly.

A sense of unease settled over Steve as he pondered Yumiko's words. "Wait, are there other beasts lurking within the portal?" he asked cautiously.

Yumiko nodded, her face serious. "Yes, there are numerous creatures guarding the portal, with most of them fiercely protecting their king," she revealed.

Steve's curiosity grew, and he couldn't help but question further. "How are we supposed to bypass them all and reach the beast?" he inquired.

Yumiko gestured for Steve to come closer. "No, we won't confront them directly. First, we gather all the necessary supplies and raw materials to create powerful weapons," she explained.

Steve felt a surge of frustration building within him. "This doesn't seem fair," he thought to himself, slightly agitated.

Once they had gathered all the required materials, Yumiko called Steve closer to discuss their strategy.

"Wait, you had a plan all along?" Steve asked, surprised by Yumiko's foresight.

Yumiko smiled mysteriously. "Indeed, I've been devising this plan for years," she revealed.

"Once I enter the portal, the beasts surrounding their king will prevent us from crossing," Yumiko explained.

"There are two formidable beasts guarding the entrance of the portal, and others prowling within the forest," she continued.

"We need a weapon of extraordinary strength, capable of slaying a beast with a single strike," Yumiko stated, determination glinting in her eyes.

Steve's skepticism crept back in, and he questioned the feasibility of such a feat. "Is it even possible to defeat a beast with a single strike?" he asked Yumiko with doubt.

Yumiko motioned for Steve to follow her. They ventured into a distant den, located miles away from their current position.

Inside the den, Steve observed people diligently mining and collecting coal. Yumiko called out to a particular man.

"Yo, long time no see," Yumiko greeted him.

The man's face contorted with annoyance. "Not you again. What brings you here this time?" he retorted.

"I need the items on this list," Yumiko requested, undeterred by his grumbling.

Steve observed the exchange, finding their bickering slightly annoying.

The man grudgingly handed over the desired items. Suddenly, he pulled a lever, revealing a hidden passage.

Steve's eyes widened in astonishment as he witnessed what lay beyond the door. The space was filled with an abundance of colorful and radiant stones.

"What is this place?" Steve inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Yumiko grinned. "This is the realm of magical stones. We're here to collect these stones and forge weapons," she explained.

Steve's intrigue grew, and he couldn't help but ask another question. "How do these stones work?" he wondered.

"These are power stones. When applied to a sword, it amplifies its strength tenfold," Yumiko

clarified.

"That's remarkable," Steve remarked, beginning to grasp the potential of these stones.

"There are various other stones with different properties," Yumiko began, but her explanation was interrupted by the impatient man.

"Hurry up! We don't have much time," he urged them.

Yumiko snapped at him, frustration was evident in her voice. "Hold on! I'm in the middle of something here," she retorted.

"Alright, let's collect the stones and continue the discussion at our base," Yumiko proposed.

Together, they gathered all the required stones and returned to their base.

"This power stone will be used to forge a sword," Yumiko declared, holding up one of the stones.

Steve's concern flared up as he contemplated the potential dangers. "Wait, won't the sword explode if we attempt to infuse it with the power of the stone?" he questioned.

"I will try to make it work. Meanwhile, you can craft your own weapons," Yumiko reassured him.

Steve set to work, forging swords and spears from iron. Finally, he completed his weapons.

However, in a moment of carelessness, the power stone fell among the iron shavings, causing the entire stone's power to transfer to the iron.

"So, that's how it works," Steve realized, a surge of excitement coursing through him.

A sudden blast erupted from another room, startling both Steve and Yumiko. "Why isn't this working?" Yumiko exclaimed in frustration.

Yumiko emerged from the room, ready to admit defeat, but her expression shifted to one of astonishment. "How did you do it?" she asked Steve, bewildered.

With a confident smile, Steve replied, "I simply merged the iron and the stone, and it worked."

Yumiko's curiosity didn't waver, and she presented another item for inspection. "And what about this?" she inquired.

Steve's eyes widened, and he shouted, "No!" But it was too late, and another blast shook the room.

"Iron absorbs power, and diamond repels it. That's the basic principle," Steve explained.

But as they prepared to move forward, Steve noticed a lone iron sword left behind. Intrigued, he reached out to touch the sword, gazing at his reflection on its polished surface.

In a fleeting moment, Steve's eyes transformed, glowing an eerie white before returning to normal.

Startled, he instinctively tossed the sword aside and collapsed, fainting from the sudden ordeal.

Yumiko rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. "Is everything alright?" she asked anxiously.

Blinking away the disorientation, Steve mustered a reassuring smile. "Yep, all is fine," he replied, trying to shake off the strange occurrence.

As if in response to the inexplicable events, thunder rumbled ominously, reverberating through the air.

Steve's gaze lingered on the discarded sword, pulsating energy radiating from its very core.

Then, abruptly, he awoke from what seemed like a vivid dream.

Breathing heavily, Steve realized that it had all been a figment of his imagination.

The electrifying power he had sensed in the sword was nothing more than a product of his subconscious.

With the weapons successfully forged, they were now ready to face the challenges ahead.

Yet, as Steve's gaze fell upon the last iron sword he had created, he felt an inexplicable attraction to it.

"Come on, we mustn't delay any longer," Yumiko urged impatiently.

Steve made a decision, tucking the iron sword into his bag, drawn to its mysterious allure.

Setting aside his hesitation, Steve joined Yumiko, and together they stepped forward.

Yumiko hurled a stone at the wall, and a portal materialized before their eyes.

As they crossed the threshold and entered the portal, a dark and enigmatic world greeted them.

Steve's heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension as they ventured further into the unknown.

Unbeknownst to them, the beast they sought had received a message from one of its guards. "They have arrived," the beast relayed, its eyes opening wide with anticipation.

With a menacing glimmer in its gaze, the beast prepared to make its move, ready to face the challenge that awaited it.