Abunar's bold statement hung in the air. For a split second, a heavy silence fell over the training ground as the freshborns exchanged glances—some surprised, others smirking in disbelief.
The silver-and-orange-haired boy's mouth dropped open in shock. Nearby, the girl with the white eyes dropped her gaze, her confidence visibly shattered as she avoided eye contact. The silver-and-orange-haired boy, however, took it personally; his fingers curled into fists, and anger flared on his scarred face.
Abunar stared at him calmly, his green eyes steady with certainty.
"I'll beat you black and blue," the silver orange haired lad roared, raising his fist.
The trainer's scowl deepened.
"That's enough chatter! Drop and get ready for the next drill!" he bellowed.
The silver-and-orange-haired boy froze, scowling at Abunar with hatred that seemed ready to explode. The other freshborns scrambled to their feet, their small bodies trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline.
Abunar wiped the sweat from his brow, still feeling the burn of his defiance. Despite the pain in every muscle, his determination only grew stronger. In this harsh regimen, every push-up and every drop of sweat meant survival.
The trainer stomped toward a row of mechanical dummies lined up at the center of the field.
"Today, you're not just doing push-ups," he announced. "You're going to run circuits around those targets. I want to see speed, agility, and discipline. And if any of you collapse, you're done for. Understood?"
A murmur of anxious agreement spread among the freshborns. The stakes were high—Peravo-tech's promise of rapid growth came with the risk of catastrophic failure. Their bodies, enhanced yet vulnerable, could shatter under pressure if they didn't prove their worth.
Abunar's heart pounded as he lined up with the others. He glanced at the silver-and-orange-haired boy, who shot him a glare full of intent, and at the girl with the white eyes, who tried to avoid his gaze entirely.
Then the trainer's whistle pierced the air, and chaos erupted. The freshborns sprinted toward the dummies, their legs pumping furiously. Abunar's vision narrowed; every step, every breath, counted. The ground vibrated beneath his feet as he ran, the pounding of his heart mixing with the trainer's shouted commands.
Each circuit was a battle against his own limits. Adrenaline and Peravo-tech surged through his veins, pushing him forward even as pain threatened to overwhelm him. The trainer circled the field, his voice booming, "Keep moving! Don't you dare stop until I've counted every single step!"
Time blurred. Abunar's muscles screamed in protest, yet he pressed on, determined to prove he wasn't weak. Every drop of sweat and every aching limb fueled his resolve. When he rounded the final dummy, he barely had time to catch the trainer's furious glare before starting the circuit again.
The performance among the freshborns varied—some lagged, others pushed beyond their limits—but Abunar's focus never wavered. His mind was fixed on survival. The trainer's words echoed in his ears, a constant challenge and threat.
"Use those bones, you heap of baby fat!" the trainer roared again. "No excuses!"
Abunar gritted his teeth, tasting the metallic tang of exertion in his mouth. Each push-up, each sprint, was a testament to the brutal reality they faced. Failure wasn't an option—if they didn't shed the excess and harden their bodies, the cost would be fatal. Cells would collapse, bones would splinter, and they'd be discarded like broken toys.
As the drill continued, Abunar noticed something else—a sense of unity forming among the freshborns. Initial rivalry and frustration gradually gave way to a shared understanding: they were all in this together. Whispers, soft curses, and determined nods formed a bond forged in hardship.
When the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the drill, the group collapsed in a tired, sweaty heap. The trainer surveyed them with a hard, unreadable expression. After a long silence, he barked, "You did well... for now. But remember, this is only the beginning. The world out there doesn't give second chances."
Abunar sat up, chest heaving as he caught his breath. With one final look at his assembled peers, the trainer turned and exited the training halls. Abunar's heart pounded as he slowly rose, the echoes of the trainer's words and the relentless rhythm of the drill merging into a singular drive: he would not fail. Not today, not ever.