Chapter Sixty-One

The morning sun bathed the Wheat Manor's training grounds in a warm, golden light, casting long, stretching shadows across the dew-kissed grass.

Muichiro stood alone amid this serene scene, his bare feet planted firmly on the ground, his toes curling into the soft soil below him.

The tranquillity of the moment was soon to be shattered.

He inhaled deeply, his breaths measured and steady.

With each exhalation, he grounded himself, his senses acutely attuned to the world around him.

He wasn't alone for long; as the minutes trickled by, three distinct shadows began to take shape at the edges of the training grounds.

Muichiro didn't need to turn his head to acknowledge their approach; his instincts were as sharp as his sword, and he remained poised and alert.

The trio closed in on Muichiro with an air of purpose, their movements fluid and filled with determination. It was instantly clear to anyone watching that they were no ordinary opponents.

Two of them were women, their lithe bodies possessing an uncanny grace. Their hands, each with nails resembling sharp claws, hinted at their feral nature, and animal-like traits such as tails and ears peeked out from above their clothes.

The third member of the group, a man, wielding a gleaming sword with an aura of deadly intent.

His gaze locked onto Muichiro.

The attack commenced without delay, the trio moving in perfect coordination.

Muichiro's training had honed his instincts to perfection, and he reacted to their assault with astonishing speed.

One of the women lunged forward, her movements deceptive. Muichiro shifted with inhuman speed, his body twisting as he gracefully sidestepped her attack.

She missed her mark, her momentum carrying her forward before she regained her footing. Muichiro's evasion was effortless, a testament to his uncanny reflexes.

Meanwhile, the other woman closed in, her approach different. She feigned an attack high, aiming for Muichiro's head, but her true intention was a sweep of her leg. Muichiro, vigilant, recognized the deception.

In a fluid motion, he hopped, her foot slicing through the air just inches below him.

The swordsman seized the opportunity, capitalizing on Muichiro's stance.

With the deadly grace of a practised duelist, he slashed his sword in a swift arc. Muichiro responded with a surge of strength, a formidable kick to deflect the blade.

*Claaaanggg!!!*

The clash of steel against his foot sent a resonating shockwave through the training grounds.

As the skirmish intensified, the trio's desperation grew evident.

Their coordination waned, outmatched by Muichiro's power and speed. Evasion merged with parries, graceful sweeps intertwined with powerful kicks.

The two women, despite their feral determination, found themselves struggling to keep up.

Muichiro's defences were impenetrable, and his counterattacks were executed with ruthless efficiency. The pressure mounted, and exhaustion began to wear them down. Labored breaths punctuated their efforts.

Through it all, Muichiro remained a steady force. He seemed to move effortlessly, his combat prowess undeniable.

Dodging a flurry of blows, he pivoted and delivered a breathtaking spinning kick that left one of the women sprawled on the ground, unable to rise.

Now, it was two against one.

The remaining woman's eyes blazed with glee as she faced Muichiro. Her movements became more frenzied, desperate to avenge her fallen comrade.

Muichiro met her onslaught with unwavering poise, blocking her strikes and returning with swift counters.

As the battle raged on, fatigue slowly tipped the scales. Despite her fierce resolve, the woman's attacks grew sluggish.

'Now!!'

Muichiro saw his opening and seized it. With a lightning-fast combination of kicks, he sent her sprawling to the ground, unable to continue.

With both women now incapacitated, only Adrian remained. The swordsman, who had sparred with Muichiro before, was well aware of his opponent's incredible growth.

He knew the outcome of their encounters well. With a resigned sigh and a wry smile, he finally conceded, lowering himself to the ground in disappointment.

As the training grounds fell into a momentary silence, the combatants took a collective breath, their bodies weary but spirits invigorated by the fierce battle.

The two women, now back on their feet, approached Muichiro with expressions that melded exhaustion and exhilaration.

They expressed their gratitude for the intense spar, their smiles reflecting the thrill of the fight.

Adrian, still recovering on the ground, could only chuckle at Muichiro's skill.

"He's grown so much more since the time we spared..."

He had witnessed the young adventurer's remarkable growth since joining the Demeter Familia, and it was clear that Muichiro was going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Battle: 3 vs. 1 / Winner: Muichiro / Battle time: 9 mins 15 seconds.

....

Amidst the aftermath of their intense spar, Muichiro found himself at the centre of admiration and appreciation.

The two girls he had just battled, no longer strangers but members of the Demeter Familia, bore expressions that melded exhaustion and exhilaration.

Chloe Ashford, the first to step forward, possessed a wolf-girl's grace and strength, making her a formidable figure within the Demeter Familia.

At twenty-one years of age and a Level 3 adventurer, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Chloe's personality was that of a caring elder sister, her kindness and outgoing demeanour endearing her to many.

Her protective instincts extended not only to her family but also to the fields and the familia's interests within the dungeon.

Chloe's striking beauty was undeniable, her smooth, unblemished skin acting as a canvas for her chestnut-brown hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall.

Her most captivating feature was undoubtedly her brown eyes, filled with warmth and a hint of mischief.

Yet, her most distinctive traits were the cute wolf ears that perched atop her head and her bushy tail, both larger than those of most wolves.

Standing beside Chloe was Nala White, a vivacious and spirited member of the Demeter Familia.

At twenty years old, she was a touch younger than Chloe, but her Level 2 status was a testament to her competence as an adventurer.

Nala's responsibilities included guarding the fields and providing support to Chloe in her familial duties.

With her dark brown hair framing her face and golden eyes that sparkled under the right light, Nala's appearance was captivating.

Her keen fashion sense was evident, as was her outgoing and playful personality, often characterized by teasing and bubbliness.

Although Chloe and Nala had only encountered Muichiro that morning, they were already deeply impressed by his combat prowess.

The rumours they had heard about his ability to defeat opponents above his level had seemed too extraordinary to believe, but today's spar had solidified those stories into undeniable truths.

Chloe stepped forward with a genuine smile on her face, her wolf ears perking up in admiration. "Muichiro, that was an incredible spar. You're a remarkable fighter."

Nala, not one to be outdone, chimed in with enthusiasm. "Seriously, Muichiro, that was amazing! You've got some really cool moves there....you were like Wacha and we were ahhhh!!!"

Muichiro, usually reserved and quiet, nodded in appreciation of their kind words.

"Thank you, Chloe, Nala. You both fought exceptionally well. It was an honour to spar with you."

As the trio exchanged these words of mutual respect, a fellow familia member called out to them, breaking the reverie.

They were reminded of the family meeting scheduled for the upcoming festival. It was a vital gathering, as the festival's official commencement was only a day away.

The Demeter Familia was working tirelessly to ensure that everything ran smoothly during the grand three-day event, and every member had their responsibilities.

With their sights set on the familia hall and the impending meeting, Chloe, Nala, and Muichiro made their way through the bustling Wheat Manor.

Completely forgetting about Adrian who looked heartbroken that they didn't even call out to him.

"Damn ikemen...sigh he doesn't even try and women surround him. Guess I'll take another trip to the Entertainment District, there goes this month's salary."

....

(Chloe picture.)

(Nala picture.)