The seventh day did not end with celebration.
It ended with understanding.
Kael touching Lunaria had changed something—not in Lunaria, but in all of them. The air the next morning felt heavier, charged with expectation. The basin of cracked stone seemed to remember what had happened, as if the ground itself waited to see whether that single moment had been a fluke… or the beginning of something irreversible.
Lunaria arrived first, as always.
Silver hair tied loosely this time, ribbon resting at his wrist rather than in his hair. His expression was calm, unreadable, but his presence alone bent the atmosphere around him.
Ash, Riven, Juno, and Kael gathered before him.
"Training continues," Lunaria said. "No exceptions."
He turned his gaze to Ash, Riven, and Juno first.
"You three—dodging training resumes. Same rules as before. I won't attack. You may use everything."
Ash nodded, jaw tight.
Riven cracked his neck, grinning. "Good. I hate standing still."
Juno exhaled slowly, grounding himself.
Then Kael stepped forward.
"I want something different," Kael said.
Ash turned sharply. "Kael—"
Kael didn't look away from Lunaria. "I don't want you holding back with me."
The basin went quiet.
Lunaria studied Kael for a long moment. His eyes were sharp, searching—not judging, but measuring.
"You touched me once," Lunaria said. "That doesn't make you ready."
"I know," Kael replied honestly. "That's why I want this."
Riven raised an eyebrow. "You're insane."
Kael smiled. "Probably."
Lunaria took a step closer. "Say it clearly."
Kael didn't hesitate. "Fight me. With skills."
Ash stiffened. "Kael—he—"
Lunaria raised a hand, silencing him.
Then Lunaria spoke.
"If you want to fight me normally," he said calmly, "you must first withstand one of my skills."
The words landed like a hammer.
Juno's breath caught. "One skill…?"
Lunaria nodded. "Not an ultimate. Not Overdrive."
He tilted his head slightly. "Just a skill."
Kael swallowed—but didn't back down.
"…Alright."
Lunaria stepped back and gestured outward. "Ash. Riven. Juno. Begin."
The basin exploded into motion.
Ash attacked first—fast, clean, disciplined. His strikes flowed seamlessly, no wasted movement, each attack designed to limit Lunaria's escape routes rather than force a hit.
Lunaria slipped through them like air.
Riven followed immediately, violent and unpredictable, chaining movement skills with raw instinct. The ground fractured beneath his feet as he tried to box Lunaria in with sheer pressure.
Lunaria pivoted once.
Riven missed by centimeters.
Juno didn't rush.
He waited.
Then struck when Lunaria moved—launching a compressed mana net meant to collapse space inward.
For a split second—
Lunaria paused.
Then stepped out.
The net crushed empty air.
Ash clicked his tongue. "Damn it."
Minutes passed.
Sweat poured. Breathing grew ragged.
Lunaria remained untouched.
"Enough," Lunaria said.
The three stopped immediately, stepping back.
Lunaria turned to Kael.
"Your turn."
Kael stepped into the center of the basin, rolling his shoulders. His aura flared—not wildly, but steady, controlled, dense.
Lunaria faced him.
"I'll warn you once," Lunaria said. "If you can't endure this, yield immediately."
Kael nodded. "Understood."
The air changed.
Lunaria raised one hand—not dramatically, not hurriedly.
Mana gathered.
Not explosive.
Condensed.
The pressure alone made the cracked stone groan.
"This is a movement-restricting skill," Lunaria said calmly. "Gravitational Bind: Silent Field."
The world dropped.
Kael felt it instantly—an invisible weight slamming down on his body from every direction. His knees bent violently as gravity multiplied, crushing him toward the ground.
The basin cracked deeper.
Ash shouted, "Kael!"
Kael gritted his teeth, muscles screaming as blood vessels threatened to burst. His vision darkened at the edges.
Move, he ordered himself.
His legs trembled—but held.
Riven stared, wide-eyed. "He's still standing…?"
Kael roared, forcing mana through his body—not outward, but inward, reinforcing bone, muscle, will. The stone beneath his feet shattered as he adjusted his stance, sinking slightly but refusing to fall.
Seconds passed.
Each one felt like an eternity.
Lunaria watched closely.
Kael took one step forward.
The ground imploded beneath that step.
But he stayed upright.
Then Lunaria lowered his hand.
The pressure vanished.
Kael collapsed to one knee, gasping violently, sweat pouring off him like rain.
Silence followed.
Lunaria walked toward him.
"…You endured it," Lunaria said.
Kael laughed weakly between breaths. "Barely."
"That's enough," Lunaria replied.
He turned to the others.
"From today onward," Lunaria said, "Kael will begin combat training with me."
Ash exhaled slowly, relief and awe mixing. Riven shook his head, grinning in disbelief. Juno stared at Kael with renewed respect.
Lunaria looked down at Kael once more.
"But understand this," he said quietly. "Standing equal doesn't mean standing safe."
Kael met his gaze, still breathing hard—but smiling.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The wind swept across the basin.
And the ground, once again, braced itself.