The morning sun spilled over Ravenshire, casting long shadows across the village training grounds. Hunnt flexed his hand inside the gauntlet, feeling the reinforced plates settle perfectly over his knuckles. Beside him, Pyro stretched and twirled the small Sword and Shield in his paws, testing their weight and balance. Corwin hefted his newly forged hammer, swinging it lightly to feel its rhythm.
"You're late," Corwin called, noticing Hunnt approaching. His eyes widened as he saw the gauntlet. "And… is that a hammer?"
Hunnt grinned, lifting his gauntlet slightly. "Not for you. This one's mine. Your hammer… and Pyro's Sword and Shield—let's get familiar first." Pyro twitched his ears and jabbed the SnS into the ground playfully, spinning once before crouching low, ready to test his skills.
The three of them moved into position. Hunnt led, punching into padded dummies, learning how the gauntlet absorbed and delivered force. Each strike carried weight without slowing his speed, the metal plates aligning naturally with his movements.
Pyro darted between dummies, swiping and jabbing with his SnS, blocking incoming wooden strikes with his tiny shield, and spinning to avoid collisions. Every movement was precise, calculated, and in rhythm with Hunnt's strikes. Hunnt grinned, watching the Felyne's coordination improve with every attack.
"Good, Pyro!" Hunnt called. "Watch your balance and time your strikes with your spins. Your SnS moves fast, but it's only effective if it lands accurately!"
Pyro responded with a quick series of jabs, following with a backward flip and a spinning strike, knocking over a dummy perfectly timed with Hunnt's punch. Corwin swung his hammer in a wide arc, aiming to stagger the targets. Pyro reacted instantly, using his shield to deflect, then countering with a jab that made Corwin laugh.
"You've trained him well, Hunnt," Corwin said, shaking his head in admiration. "The little guy's got reflexes like lightning!"
Hunnt chuckled. "We've been practicing together, Corwin. Every move has a rhythm. You'll see—it's all about timing."
Hours passed in a blur of movement and sweat. Hunnt's punches flowed naturally with the gauntlet's reinforcement. Pyro darted, blocked, and jabbed with flawless precision, while Corwin's hammer strikes tested the limits of their coordination. Each time Corwin swung, Hunnt and Pyro adjusted, keeping in perfect rhythm. Their training became a dance of offense, defense, and fluid synergy.
By midday, they introduced more challenging exercises. Corwin swung the hammer as a simulated monster attack, forcing Hunnt to strike from multiple angles while Pyro blocked and countered. The little Felyne zipped in between swings, using the SnS to jab and deflect, Pyro's shield absorbing minor impacts while his tiny blade delivered sharp, precise hits. Hunnt felt the gauntlet's plates absorb and return energy efficiently, each punch amplified by careful control.
"Excellent, Pyro!" Hunnt encouraged. "Keep spinning after the blocks—use the momentum to jab again. Timing is everything!"
Pyro let out a joyful chirp, performing a swift sequence: block, spin, jab, retreat, repeat. Each move was a perfect extension of Hunnt's punches and Corwin's swings. By the end of the training session, they were moving as one cohesive unit, their weapons enhancing their natural abilities rather than hindering them.
Sweat coated their bodies, but pride shone in their eyes. Corwin dropped his hammer with a satisfied grunt. "This… went better than I expected. Feels like these weapons were made for us."
Hunnt nodded, flexing in the gauntlet. "They were. And Pyro… you've mastered your SnS faster than I imagined."
Pyro purred in agreement, giving his SnS a final spin in the air, tail flicking in satisfaction.
For the first time, the trio realized that these weren't just tools—they were extensions of themselves. And with practice, coordination, and determination, they would be unstoppable together.
The real challenges, Hunnt knew, were just beginning… but with Pyro's agility, Corwin's strength, and his gauntlet's precision, they had taken the first steps toward true mastery.