The training facility was enormous. Its roof towered at least twenty meters high, and its walls stretched hundreds of meters in every direction. The flooring was made of a rubber-like material—firm yet soft enough to cushion falls. The walls and ceiling were constructed from reinforced concrete, giving the entire facility a monotone, utilitarian appearance. Racks of various training weapons were scattered throughout the space.
Inside, numerous groups of people were engaged in training—some in pairs, others alone. Freshly formed teams, straight from the lecture hall, were meeting their instructors for the first time, while seasoned groups were preparing for another venture into the Demon Realm. Among them were individuals wielding immensely powerful Artifacts and honing their Awakened abilities.
The group lingered for a moment, taking in the sheer scale of the facility. It was their first time seeing something so vast. After a few moments of quiet observation, they stepped forward, scanning the area for their instructor.
Soon, they spotted a middle-aged man wearing a uniform with the number "11" emblazoned on his badge. He was broad-shouldered, with black hair that was just beginning to gray.
"Group 11?" he asked, noticing the approaching group staring at him.
"Yes," Ayla responded.
"Good," the man said, his gaze shifting across each member of the group.
"My name is Eleric. I'll be your combat instructor until your Second Trial. Since this is your first training session, the goal is simple—get to know your teammates through combat."
Nobody was surprised to hear they would have to fight one another. They had all assumed it would happen sooner or later when they first learned about the group formation.
"You'll engage in one-on-one duels, switching partners until you've sparred with everyone. The rules are simple: the duel ends when a person's back touches the ground or they forfeit. There's a team of healers available, so don't hold back."
Eleric lingered for a moment, watching the students carefully.
"Any questions?" he asked.
Silence filled the air as no one spoke.
"Very well. Pair up and begin your duels…Oh, and you may use any abilities or artifacts in your possession."
Vale glanced at his groupmates. Their eyes shifted between one another, waiting for someone to step up and initiate the first spar.
They didn't have to wait long.
Dain was the first to move, approaching Vale with his usual smile all over his face.
Understanding the gesture, Vale nodded. He was also curious about his massive groupmate's abilities. Besides, he would have to fight each of them eventually so there was no point in delaying it any further.
The group split into the first set of pairs: Vale against Dain, and Ayla against Klein.
Wasting no time watching the other battle, Vale focused on Dain. His opponent had already summoned his weapon—a pair of silver gauntlets wrapped tightly around his fists.
Vale summoned his weapon as well—the Ordinary Katana—and prepared for the attack.
As their weapons materialized, Dain dashed forward with an astonishing speed. His muscles bulged, almost tearing his clothing as he moved with an incredible force. Even fully prepared, Vale barely managed to deflect the sheer power behind the gauntlet's strike.
Gritting his teeth under the weight of the impact, he countered, his katana slicing toward his opponent.
The blade missed its mark. Despite his massive size, Dain was incredibly quick, evading the strike entirely before lunging forward again.
Sparks flew as metal clashed, the sharp clangs echoing throughout the training hall. The expressions of the two young men, however, were vastly different. Vale's face was one of focus and determination. Dain, on the other hand, wore a grin that only grew wider with each passing second, reveling in the thrill of combat.
Despite the overwhelming force behind Dain's attacks, Vale used his opponent's strength against him. With each deflected strike, Dain's blows became easier to read, their immense power diminishing with each miss.
Just as Vale successfully parried another incoming strike, something caught his eye. In the corner of the room, the other duel had already ended. Ayla stood above Klein, who lay face-down on the ground—stiff as a board.
"She won already?" Vale pondered at the sight.
But the moment of distraction cost him dearly.
Before he could react, one of Dain's strikes connected. A sharp pain shot through his ribs as his lungs struggled to keep air in.
The force of the strike sent Vale twirling through the air.
He barely managed to twist midair, somehow landing on his feet—struggling for balance for a single moment. But there was no time to recover.
Dain was already charging, his gauntlets aimed directly at Vale's face. The massive size of his opponent blocked Vale's vision entirely.
Vale's grip tightened as he lunged forward, meeting his opponent head-on.
At the last second, he adjusted his strike, slashing low—his katana cutting deep into Dain's thigh.
Blood spurted from the wound, pooling on the facility's floor.
Dain looked down, checking his injury. After a brief moment, he nodded in approval and prepared for another strike.
"Seriously?" Vale muttered as the large student dashed at him again, this time with even more ferocity.
Dain unleashed a flurry of strikes, forcing Vale to stay on the defence. Vale could sense his opponent's mana reserves running low, whereas his own were still at about half capacity. He didn't need to defeat Dain—he just needed to outlast him.
Vale focused entirely on defense. Dain, meanwhile, seemed to be throwing everything he had into each attack. The battle continued for several more exchanges until Vale noticed a change in his opponent's presence.
Dain hesitated. His aura significantally weakened.
His gauntlets flickered, their once-polished silver now nearly translucent—a pale imitation of their former brilliance.
"I won," Vale thought as he watched the last of Dain's mana reserves drain away.
Already recovered from her own duel, Ayla stood watching the unfolding battle, while Klein was being treated by the medical staff.
Just as Dain's gauntlets started to vanish, something shifted. The last traces of his mana essence funneled toward his hand as he stretched it outward.
Then—a sharp clink echoed through the hall as a small, round object flew into the air, spinning rapidly.
"…A coin?"
Vale hesitated, his eyes locked onto the spinning object, mesmerized by its shine.
"Why is he tossing a coin in the middle of a fi—"
Before Vale could finish his thought, the coin landed.
The instant it touched the ground, it vanished, as if it had never existed.
Then—Vale felt it.
A sudden, massive surge of mana erupted from within Dain.
Vale's eyes widened in disbelief. The mana reserves that had just depleted were now completely replenished.
A menacing grin spread across Dain's face as he watched Vale's stunned expression.
The massive student had recovered his mana essence.