"Now get up, Rudra," Adam ordered, his tone sharp, urging me to hurry.
"Yeah," I muttered, pushing myself upright and sliding into my fighting stance.
"Good. Now dodge as many attacks as you can—eyes closed."
Adam shifted into position. I shut my eyes, forcing myself to grasp every particle in the air, listening to the faint sounds they carried. I was trying to sense him, to locate him without sight, using the subtle disturbances around me as my guide.
---
3rd Person POV
Rudra stood barefoot in the center of the training hall, his eyes sealed shut. He had sworn not to open them, no matter how brutal the session became.
Adam's voice echoed across the steel walls, calm but commanding.
"Sight is hesitation. Thought is hesitation. When your mind falters, your body must already know."
The words had barely faded when a hiss split the air. Rudra felt the sudden drop in temperature, the shift in pressure. His body twisted instinctively as a jet of water lashed past, splattering against the wall.
Adam pressed forward, shards of ice whistling through the air. Rudra ducked low, rolling across the slick floor. He didn't see the attack—he felt it: the rush of displaced air, the sting of cold against his skin, the vibration of impact when ice shattered nearby. His body moved before thought, before fear.
"Better," Adam growled, circling him. "But don't just dodge. Anticipate. The world tells you where I am if you listen."
Rudra inhaled deeply, drowning out the hum of the facility's machines. Every sound mattered—the drip of water, the crunch of Adam's boots on frozen ground, the faint crackle of ice forming. He sensed Adam gathering power again, the air tightening with cold.
Without opening his eyes, Rudra pivoted, arm raised. The ice spear shattered against his forearm guard, fragments scattering harmlessly.
Adam escalated. With a sweep of his hand, water surged across the floor, flooding Rudra's footing. The slick surface betrayed balance, forcing him to adapt. He spread his stance, lowering his center of gravity, listening to the rhythm of the water as it shifted.
Then came the freeze. Adam clenched his fist, and the water solidified into ice beneath Rudra's feet. The floor became treacherous, every step a risk. Rudra's body reacted—knees bent, weight distributed, movements sharp and deliberate. He slid, caught himself, and spun aside as another barrage of ice shards tore through the air.
"Good," Adam said, his tone clipped but approving. "Now survive the storm."
The facility roared alive. Adam unleashed a relentless sequence—jets of water, spears of ice, freezing gusts that cut like blades. Rudra's body flowed, sidestepping, blocking, ducking, guided only by instinct sharpened through repetition. His mind screamed to open his eyes, but his body refused, moving with a rhythm born of survival.
He slipped once, crashing onto the ice. The cold bit into his skin, but before thought could paralyze him, his body rolled, springing back to his feet. Another strike came, and he was already moving, already reacting.
Minutes stretched into eternity. Rudra's muscles burned, his lungs heaved, but his movements grew sharper, faster. He was no longer dodging blindly—he was reading the environment, sensing the smallest cues: the crackle before ice formed, the hiss before water surged, the subtle shift of air before Adam struck.
Finally, Adam lowered his hand. The storm ceased. The facility fell silent, save for Rudra's ragged breathing. He stood soaked, battered, but unbroken—his fists clenched, his stance firm, his eyes still closed.
Adam's stern expression softened into a faint smile.
"You're beginning to fight without sight, without thought. When hesitation comes, your body will carry you. That is survival."
Rudra's chest heaved, but his voice was steady.
"Then keep attacking. I won't open my eyes."
Adam nodded, the faintest trace of pride in his gaze.
"Good. Because the battlefield won't wait for you to think. It will demand you move—or die."
---
Adam exhaled, then walked over and sat beside Rudra. His voice dropped, carrying warmth beneath its usual steel.
"You know, Rudra… I may not be the kind of person anyone wants to talk to. But one thing I can say is this: your destiny is far more gruesome than any other human on this planet. You'll struggle for every step you take from now on. You'll cry, you'll beg for mercy. But remember one thing, child—no matter how hard life gets, you move forward. Because that's the only thing a human can do."
He paused, then continued.
"As you know, you'll be going on a mission to find the hidden temple. You'll face challenges that will test your morals, your boundaries. And you don't have mana, which already puts you at a disadvantage. That makes your case even more serious. So don't give up on life. Do you understand, Rudra?"
Rudra stayed silent, studying the emotion Adam tried to hide behind his eyes. After a long moment, he sighed.
"Yes, cap. Got it."
Adam smirked faintly. "Alright then. Let's wake that dumbass." He pointed toward Sammy, who was passed out on the cold floor.
"Yeah, let's do it," Rudra replied.
Together, they walked over. Rudra, ever the "good friend," kicked Sammy's ass—just over fifty times.
It was his fault for being so weak.
"Ahhhhhh!" Sammy screamed in pain.
"Did you just cry? Haaaahaaaa!" Rudra laughed uncontrollably. "How can someone cry just from getting their ass kicked by me—the most handsome guy on the planet?"
"You… You're probably the worst-looking guy in the whole world, so shut up!" Sammy shot back, still clutching his side.
"How did you… Am I that predictable?" Rudra asked, disappointed at how easily Sammy guessed him.
"It's practically written all over your face."
"You… All of you are jealous of my beauty," Rudra declared proudly.
"You fuck…" Sammy muttered.
"Stop, both of you," Adam cut in, his tone sharp. "It's been five days since we entered this facility, and you idiots still have the energy to fight. Calm down. Let's get out of this shit place first."
Obeying, they exited the hall. Outside, Sophie and Amanda stood together, speaking in hushed, serious tones.
"Hey, what are you two doing?" Sammy asked.
"Oh, you're finally out," Sophie snapped, marching up to Adam and jabbing her finger into his chest. "Do you even know how long you've been in there? We were worried sick—we were about to break that damn door down!"
As Sophie continued her tirade, Rudra and Sammy drifted toward Amanda.
"How was your training?" Rudra asked.
"Great," Amanda replied simply, her expression calm.
After some brief conversation, the group decided to head to the headmaster's office—to meet the new girl