Ten minutes later, the gathering continued.
More people arrived at the training grounds.
More elders followed.
The massive field slowly transformed from a chaotic crowd into an organized assembly.
One by one, the elders began calling out names.
Each elder was responsible for a group.
Each group would train under them from this day forward.
"Group Seven."
"Group Twelve."
"Group Nineteen."
Voices echoed across the field as people stepped forward to meet their assigned instructors.
Some elders were calm.
Some looked terrifying.
Others carried the quiet authority of people who had survived countless battles.
An hour passed.
Then I finally heard my name.
I stepped forward along with several others.
Twenty of us gathered before a single elder.
This was our instructor.
I instinctively focused.
The familiar system window appeared.
---
STATUS
Name: Caelion Vorthris
Age: 1 Cycle
Divine Realm: Fifth Stage
Laws Mastered: Void – Flame – Lightning Inferno
---
My eyes narrowed slightly.
A single cycle.
That meant he had lived for thousands of years.
And yet his presence felt strangely restrained, like a storm hidden beneath calm waters.
Without wasting a word, Caelion turned and began walking.
We followed immediately.
He led us toward one of the massive training buildings that stood along the edge of the field.
The structure towered above us like a fortress.
Inside were rows of advanced training facilities used by the clan.
Gravity chambers.
Energy suppression rooms.
Healing platforms.
Combat arenas.
Places designed to forge warriors.
We walked through the long corridors in silence.
Our footsteps echoed against the metallic floors.
Finally, Caelion stopped in front of a large chamber.
The door slid open with a low mechanical sound.
Inside was a massive circular room.
The walls were reinforced with black alloy panels.
Energy conduits ran along the ceiling.
At the center of the chamber was an adjustable gravity field generator.
Clearly, this was a gravity training room.
We entered and lined up side by side.
Caelion stood before us.
His eyes swept across the group once.
Just once.
But it felt like he had seen through every single one of us.
Then he spoke.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Precise.
"I am Caelion Vorthris."
"I will be responsible for your training from today onward."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"Before we begin, understand something clearly."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"This world is not kind."
"The weak are hunted by the strong."
"The careless are eliminated by the prepared."
He slowly walked in front of the line.
"The clan can guide you."
"The clan can teach you."
"But the clan cannot protect you forever."
Silence filled the chamber.
His voice echoed off the metal walls.
"Some of you possess talent."
"Others do not."
"But talent alone means nothing."
He stopped walking.
"History is filled with talented fools who died early."
"Hard work, discipline, and survival instinct… those determine who lives."
His eyes sharpened.
"So take this training seriously."
"Because regret…"
"…has no remedy."
His calm voice echoed through the chamber.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then he suddenly snapped his fingers.
Snap.
A faint ripple of energy spread across the floor.
Moments later, rows of seats emerged from the ground itself.
Energy constructs shaped into smooth benches.
Twenty seats appeared in a semicircle.
At the front of the chamber, a larger chair rose slowly from the floor.
Slightly elevated above the rest.
A position that allowed a clear view of the entire room.
Caelion walked forward and sat down first.
Only after he settled did he gesture casually.
"Sit."
We quickly took our seats.
Everyone focused their attention on him.
He leaned back slightly, resting one arm on the chair.
His gaze moved across the group again.
Then he spoke.
"Now."
"Before we begin your training…"
"…I want to see something."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"Show me."
"The strength you believe you possess."
The gravity generator behind him hummed softly.
Something told me this training…
Was about to get interesting.