Chapter : 17 Fight for Training

In a desolate sandy desert beneath the scorching sun, a magical circle materialized, its hues blending in a mysterious dance of red and black. Within the circle, a peculiar skull crest emerged, and from it descended Vali, landing directly on the barren sand.

"Cough! Dammit, again," Vali grumbled, spitting out the unwelcome mouthful of sand. He called out to Albion, but there was only silence, a frustrating inability to connect just like the first time he arrived.

Surveying the landscape, Vali's eyes locked onto a distant sight—a colossal dome with imposing pillars. "That's quite far, but I'll check it out later," he muttered, his determination unwavering. With a focused stance, he delivered a powerful punch to the ground, creating a crater that crumbled beneath him, revealing an altered underground forest.

"I'm back," Albion's voice resonated as Vali navigated the silent realm beneath the surface. He explored the quiet expanse, weaving through the trees, and after a vigorous ten-minute run, he realized something was amiss.

"Wasn't this place full of colossal black beings? Where the hell did they go?" Vali questioned, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.

"This place is vast; perhaps if we go further, we might find them," Albion suggested, Just as they considered delving deeper, a subtle click echoed—an unmistakable sound, as if someone had stepped on a fallen branch.

Vali turned around, his eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the sound. Spotting no one, an idea sparked in his mind. Summoning his Dragonic wings, he turned to around, asking, "Do you see him, Albion?"

"Yes, he's hiding behind the fourth tree from the left," Albion's voice resonated in Vali's head. The concealed figure took a cautious peek, unaware of Albion's awareness.

Turning back, Vali conjured a white ball in his palm, pointing it towards the tree. "I've already seen you. If you don't come out, don't blame me," Vali warned. After a brief pause, the sphere of light crackled with electrical sparks, shooting toward the tree. The bark shattered, and a peculiar violet creature, standing on two legs with a hole in its chest and a white mask, was revealed. It stood at 5 feet tall, caught off guard by Vali's discovery.

The peculiar masked creature extended its finger toward Vali, a red dot materializing at its tip. The ominous glow transformed into a devastating beam that obliterated trees in its path. Vali swiftly sprinted to the side, easily evading the destructive force. "This guy is showing off," Vali remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Balance Breaker..."

In an instant, Vali was enveloped in formidable armor as his eyes fixed on the masked creature. He dashed toward his opponent, but the creature defied expectations, swiftly changing directions. "You're fast, but not faster than me," Vali taunted, flying in pursuit.

The masked creature, sprinting through the leafless branches, once again aimed its finger at Vali. A red beam shot forth, and Vali rotated in mid-air with precision, narrowly avoiding the lethal attack. "Hah! You're not the only one with that," Vali jeered, the chase intensifying.

Vali unleashed a cluster of lightning, the bolts relentlessly pursuing the masked creature and leaving destruction in their wake. Realizing evasion was futile, the creature retaliated with another red beam. The collision unleashed a massive force, shrouding the area in smoke.

Thinking itself safe, the masked creature was unaware as Vali soared into the smoke. Emerging in front of his foe, Vali delivered a bone-shattering punch, sending the creature crashing to the ground in rift with a resounding thud, creating a crater beneath. The impact echoed through the surroundings.

Vali descended gracefully, halting just inches above the ground, his eyes fixed on the masked creature. A distinct crack echoed through the air, and the mask shattered, causing the creature to vanish inexplicably.

"What the hell happened? Where did it vanish?" Vali questioned, scanning his surroundings with a perplexed expression.

"Vali, look above," Albion's voice urged. Vali's gaze ascended, revealing numerous colossal black creatures with white masks and pointed noses. A sinister assembly, ready to unleash their devastating beams.

"Hehe, I finally found them," Vali chuckled, momentarily amused. "Vali, it isn't time to laugh. Pay attention," Albion cautioned.

"Don't worry, time has changed. There's no need to run," Vali declared confidently. The colossal creatures unleashed a barrage of red beams, yet Vali's adept flying skills allowed him to elegantly dodge each one. To his surprise, the creatures began firing beams at each other in their frenzy.

Vali flew above them, skillfully avoiding the chaos, and even managed to land powerful punches, disrupting their coordinated attack. As the colossal creatures discharged their beams, Vali confidently moved forward, extending his hand. Albion's resounding voice echoed, "Divide...divide...divide."

Confusion gripped Vali as the beams persisted. "Wait, what's going on?" he questioned, narrowly evading a beam. The divine dividing ability seemed ineffective.

"Huff...huff...Albion, what happened? Why didn't the ability of Divine Dividing work?" Vali questioned, catching his breath.

"I don't know, kid. This doesn't make any sense," Albion confessed, his voice reflecting shock.

Vali attempted to continue the conversation, but the relentless beam onslaught interrupted him.

As a barrage of beams targeted him. Swiftly, he lifted his palm, releasing a cluster of lightning in every direction, creating a protective shield.

"Break their masks, did you see how the other one vanished? Maybe they share a similar vulnerability," Albion suggested.

Vali flew toward another colossal being, delivering a powerful punch that shattered its mask, causing it to slowly vanish. "You were right, Albion," Vali acknowledged. However, the remaining creatures intensified their assault.

Fueled by determination, Vali soared straight up, breaking through the underground ceiling and emerging into the open air. "That was fun, but let's rest for a bit," Vali muttered, his voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.

As the echoes of the battle lingered, an unexpected voice disrupted the moment, asking, "What was fun?"

As Vali turned around, he encountered three individuals dressed in a strikingly similar manner. They wore black kimonos paired with long white jackets, each sporting a katana at their waist. The elegance of their attire hinted at a shared sense of authority, and the presence of the swords suggested a formidable nature.

To be continued...