Jungle Dungeon:
The air in the jungle dungeon was thick with the scent of damp earth, tinged with raw magical energy. Emily stood before the group, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Becoming Unranked isn't impossible," she said calmly. "But it requires effort—both physically and magically. If we cultivate properly, our magical potential can grow tremendously. Physical strength, however, demands extreme routines. There's no skipping that part."
Enel, leaning casually against a moss-covered wall, added, "For Emily and me, the physical part is already done. But for you two? You will complete it in full."
Michael's eyes widened.
"And what exactly does that entail?"
Enel smiled faintly.
"Well… twenty kilometers of running daily, over a hundred push-ups, two hundred sit-ups, fifty track-backs… and that's just the start."
Michael's jaw dropped.
"What?! Are you trying to kill us? How is this even possible?"
Chris shrugged.
"Then stop whining. It's better if we just begin."
Chris sat down in the magical formation Emily had shown, channeling his mana. Energy flowed through him, aligning perfectly with the pattern.
Seeing no other choice, Michael gritted his teeth and followed suit.
After hours of meditation and magical synchronization, Emily clapped her hands.
"That's enough for now. Time for physical training."
Michael groaned.
"Oh no… the real nightmare begins."
Emily led them to a clearing where the uneven ground would push them to their limits.
"Start with a five-kilometer warm-up," she commanded.
Michael jogged reluctantly beside her, while Chris moved silently. As Michael struggled for breath, he decided to try his luck.
"You know… if you slowed down a little, maybe I could… help you out," he said, attempting a grin.
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And how exactly would you 'help' me?"
Michael scratched the back of his head, awkwardly.
"Well… maybe I could… motivate you? Yes… motivate!"
Emily laughed lightly, teasing.
"You're hopeless. Keep running, or you'll regret it."
Through grueling push-ups, sit-ups, jungle sprints, and log carries, Michael couldn't help but glance at Emily. And Emily, pretending to remain serious, found herself smiling at his clumsy attempts to impress her.
By the end of the day, Chris nodded approvingly.
"Not bad. You survived. Your strength—physical and magical—will only grow from here."
Emily smirked at Michael.
"And maybe, just maybe, you'll learn a bit about endurance… and humility."
Michael groaned again, but deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
---
At the edge of the Cromon Kingdom, two opposing armies faced each other. In the distance, the Falmuth Empire advanced like a wall of steel and armor. In the front line, the Cromon forces readied themselves.
Inside a grand war carriage sat Princess Ninía, the soon-to-be Empress. Behind the carriage, Nihal moved forward, his glowing green sword shimmering ominously. Ito's eyes burned with determination, his goal clear: claim the Princess's nail.
Ito muttered under his breath,
"If I'm right, the Princess—or rather, the future Empress—is in that carriage."
Cross raised his hand.
"Forward! For Cromon!"
---
Burke charged, shield raised, sword gleaming. Cross met him head-on. Sparks flew with every clash.
Cross was precise, methodical.
Burke was raw power and experience combined.
For over an hour, the two clashed with relentless intensity. Finally, Burke executed a perfectly timed strike, disarming Cross.
Cross staggered back and fled.
"This was only the first step," Burke said, steadying his breath. "The real fight begins now."
---
Nihal advanced, his green magical sword arcing with energy. Ito stood ready with twin blades.
The fight started tactical and fast-paced.
Nihal unleashed sweeping magical arcs, cutting through the air.
Ito parried and countered, gradually increasing the pressure.
Nihal tried a final strike, but Ito blocked it with his magical sword. Unbalanced, Nihal fell to the ground, his senses overwhelmed.
He lay there, vision blurred, as Ito stood over him. Despite the defeat, Ito did not strike lethally. Nihal had lost—his senses shattered—but he remained alive, a bitter lesson learned.
---
Then
With Nihal neutralized, Ito focused on the carriage. Princess Ninía was vulnerable, her guards stretched thin.
Ito's attacks were lightning fast, each strike precise and deadly.
Princess Ninía tried to defend herself, dodging where possible.
Energy surged around Ito, aura flaring, every move revealing the depth of his power.
Ito cornered the Princess, intent clear—her nail. Guards tried to intervene, but Ito's overwhelming power pressed them back.
The battle paused on a knife-edge, unresolved. Princess Ninía's fate remained uncertain, leaving a tense opening for future confrontations.
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