Training (1)

Since, we have reached a 100 collections heres another chapter.

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Luke decided to test his newly acquired skills and train himself within the pagoda until Kanae woke up. He knew that simply waiting around would be a waste of valuable time, especially considering the potential of the pagoda he had just gained. He left the resting area and stepped inside the door marked "Level 1."

The moment he crossed the threshold, the environment around him shifted dramatically. The serene atmosphere of the resting area was replaced by a vast, desolate battleground. The sky above was an ominous gray, with dark clouds swirling in slow, foreboding circles. The ground beneath his feet was barren, devoid of any life, yet it bore countless scars—massive craters, deep gashes, and jagged cliffs that spoke of an unimaginable conflict. It was as if this land had been the stage for a battle between gods, with forces so immense that the very earth itself had been torn asunder.

Luke took a deep breath, allowing the cold, dry air to fill his lungs as he surveyed the desolate landscape. The sheer scale of the battleground was overwhelming. Everywhere he looked, there were signs of devastation: massive craters created by powerful impacts, the ground split open as if cleaved by an enormous blade, and mountains reduced to rubble. The lingering aura of death and destruction hung heavy in the air, like an invisible fog that seeped into his bones.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer magnitude of the destruction that had taken place here. The battle that had raged in this place must have been on a scale far beyond anything he had ever witnessed. The remnants of that clash were still present, etched into the very landscape as if to serve as a permanent reminder of the power that had been unleashed.

"Just what kind of war was fought here?" Luke wondered aloud, his voice barely more than a whisper.

As he continued to explore the battlefield, his mind was flooded with images of what might have happened. He could almost see the armies clashing, their weapons smashing into the ground with such force that the earth itself was torn apart. The air would have been filled with the sounds of battle—metal clashing against metal, the cries of the wounded, and the roar of powerful attacks unleashed by beings of unimaginable strength.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice interrupted his thoughts, reverberating through the empty battlefield with a cold, detached tone.

{ Assessing the challenger's strength… }

{ Strength graded: EX.}

As the voice continued, Luke felt the ground beneath him begin to tremble slightly, as if something immense was stirring beneath the surface.

{ Creating battlefield scenario: 'One Man Army.'}

Luke tensed, instinctively gripping the hilt of his katana as he prepared for what was to come. The title of the scenario alone was enough to send a thrill of anticipation coursing through him. He could only imagine what kind of challenge the pagoda had in store for him.

"System, this isn't you, right?" Luke asked, his voice calm despite the rising tension in the air.

[ No ]

[ That is the spirit of the artifact. Its job is to manage the pagoda and the challengers who enter it. ]

"Cool," Luke muttered.

{ Scenario Ready.}

{ The Challenger will now face the scenario: 'One Man Army.}

{ Challenger will now face nine waves of beasts. }

{ Level 1: 1,000 Grade SS Beasts. }

The pagoda's spirit voice echoed, cutting through his thoughts. Luke's grip tightened on his katana, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through him. He was new to this. But he had power, more than he could fully comprehend, and this was his chance to master it.

The ground quivered, and from the earth, massive forms began to rise. The beasts were unlike anything Luke had ever seen—hulking creatures, their bodies covered in scales that glistened like obsidian under a pale, artificial sun. Their eyes burned with primal rage, and each of them radiated an aura of elemental power. Fire, lightning, and wind crackled around them, making the air hum with dangerous energy.

Instinctively, Luke raised his katana. The first beast charged at him with a roar that shook the ground, its body wreathed in flames. Luke hesitated, the weight of the situation dawning on him. But as the beast drew closer, something shifted inside him—a survival instinct, a flicker of the warrior he could become.

He swung his katana clumsily, the blade colliding with the beast's fiery hide. To his surprise, the creature was sent sprawling back, the flames around it sputtering out. Luke's eyes widened—he had barely put any force into the strike. The realization hit him: his current strength, graded at EX, was far beyond these SS-level creatures.

But the beasts weren't just physical threats; their elemental powers were formidable. Another beast lunged at him, this one cloaked in a storm of lightning. It moved with terrifying speed, bolts of electricity arcing off its body. Luke barely had time to react, instinctively raising his katana to block. The blade met the lightning with a resounding crack, the force of the impact sending a jolt through his arm.

It hurt—his inexperience showing as he failed to properly brace himself. The beast circled around him, ready to strike again. But Luke wasn't idle. He remembered the techniques he had learned, the power at his disposal. 

Summoning his Cryokinesis, he raised his free hand, willing the air to chill. Frost formed around him, and with a sharp gesture, he unleashed a wave of ice towards the lightning beast. The air crackled as the ice collided with the electricity, but the beast was caught off guard. The ice encased its legs, freezing it in place long enough for Luke to dart forward and finish it with a swift slash.

The battle continued, Luke gaining confidence with every beast he defeated. He still lacked finesse—his movements were unrefined, his timing off—but he was learning. With each strike, each block, he became more attuned to the rhythm of combat. The beasts pressed in on him, but their numbers were no match for the raw power he wielded.

Finally, the last of the 1,000 beasts fell, its body crashing to the ground with a thud. Luke stood over the battlefield, panting heavily. His muscles ached, not from the effort but from the strain of fighting so many foes in succession. Yet, despite his exhaustion, there was a spark in his eyes—a growing understanding of his capabilities.

{ Level 1 complete. }

Luke had little time to rest before the spirit's voice echoed again.

{ Level 2: 10,000 Grade SS Beasts.}

He barely had time to comprehend the number before the ground rumbled, and the second wave emerged. This time, the beasts were more organized, their elemental powers more potent. Fire, ice, and shadow coalesced as the creatures rose from the earth, their eyes glowing with malicious intent.

Luke's earlier confidence wavered as he saw the sheer number of enemies. But there was no turning back. He steeled himself, recalling the lessons from the first level. He couldn't afford to be reckless; he needed to fight smarter, to use his powers more effectively.

The first of the beasts attacked—a massive wolf-like creature shrouded in darkness. It moved with unnerving speed, its form blending into the shadows as it charged. Luke swung his katana, but the beast dodged, its shadowy form slipping through the cracks in his defense. It reappeared behind him, its jaws snapping shut where his head had been just moments before.

Luke spun around, slashing at the beast with a quick strike. The blade connected, but the creature simply melted into the shadows, reappearing a few feet away, unharmed. Luke cursed under his breath. These beasts were smarter, faster. He couldn't rely on brute strength alone.

Drawing upon his Cryokinesis, Luke focused on controlling the battlefield. He spread out his ice, creating a slippery surface that forced the beasts to slow down. The shadow wolf stumbled, its movements becoming erratic as it struggled to maintain its balance. Luke seized the opportunity, launching a barrage of Scattering Lotuses at the beast. The ice shards flew through the air, each one honing in on the creature's weak points. This time, the wolf couldn't escape. The shards pierced its body, freezing it solid before it shattered into pieces.

But there was no time to celebrate. The other beasts had surrounded him, each one wielding its elemental power with deadly precision. Fireballs rained down from the sky as a massive lion-like beast roared, its mane ablaze with flames. Luke ducked and weaved through the inferno, feeling the heat singe his skin even as his EX-grade defenses held strong.

He countered with Arctic Breath, a chilling mist spreading out from him and extinguishing the flames. The lion roared in frustration, but Luke was already moving. He darted forward, closing the distance between them before slashing at its legs. The beast stumbled, its fire flickering as it struggled to stay upright. Luke didn't give it a chance to recover, finishing it off with a swift decapitation.

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Yes, I have used grammrly and AI since English is my third language.

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