The air stood still.
A thick silence settled over the clearing as Adam processed Kaelrik's challenge.
One strike.
That was all it would take to determine whether or not Kaelrik would consider training him. But Adam could tell—it wasn't just about taking a hit. It was a test of survival.
Kaelrik's cold blue eyes locked onto him, his grip on the twig casual yet firm. He twirled it lightly between his fingers, as if it were nothing more than a plaything.
And yet…
Adam could feel it.
That overwhelming presence.
His instincts screamed at him. This is dangerous.
Seren, standing at the side, tense and ready, finally spoke. "You're serious?"
Kaelrik smirked. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You're going to fight him with a twig?" she asked incredulously.
Kaelrik's expression didn't change. "If he can't survive a twig, he has no business asking me for training."
Adam took a slow breath, centering himself. This was it.
"I won't hold back," he said, gripping his sword tightly.
Kaelrik tilted his head, amused. "I'd be insulted if you did."
A Swordsman's Killing Intent
Adam's body tensed as Kaelrik took a step forward.
Instantly, a suffocating pressure filled the clearing. It was as if the entire mountain had settled on Adam's shoulders. His breathing slowed. His pulse sharpened.
Seren, standing just a few paces away, instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword. She had felt bloodlust before, against bandits, monsters, and even assassins, but this?
This was different.
Kaelrik wasn't simply strong.
He was beyond the concept of strength.
There was no wasted movement, no excess energy. His entire being screamed lethal precision, a blade honed beyond perfection, a force of nature that could erase someone from existence in a single breath.
And he had no sword.
He didn't need one.
Adam's nuclear core pulsed inside him. His instincts roared at him to move.
Then—
Kaelrik moved.
Adam barely had time to react.
Kaelrik's step was slow, almost casual, yet—in a blur, Kaelrik vanished from sight.
Adam had faced speedsters before. He had fought superhumans who could move beyond the speed of sound back on Earth.
And yet, he had never seen anything this fast.
Adam's golden eyes flickered as he activated his energy sense, but the signal was already overwhelming. It was like trying to track lightning in the middle of a thunderstorm
One moment Kaelrik was five meters away.
The next, he was right in front of him.
Adam's body reacted on pure instinct.
Dodge!
He twisted to the side, but it was too late.
The twig whistled through the air.
It was so fast that for a split second, his brain couldn't register it.
Then—impact.
A single tap against his ribs.
It felt like being struck by lightning.
The world blurred. A deafening BOOM erupted through the clearing as Adam's body was launched like a cannonball.
The ground shattered beneath his feet, a massive shockwave splitting the earth as Adam was sent flying backward.
Seren barely had time to react before Adam's body slammed through three thick trees, snapping them like twigs before finally crashing into the rocky ground.
Dust kicked up around him as he gritted his teeth, suppressing a groan. His arms throbbed where Kaelrik's twig had struck.
Silence.
Seren's eyes widened. She had seen Adam tank monstrous attacks, endure fights that would kill normal men, but now?
He was shaking.
Kaelrik, meanwhile, stood motionless.
His expression was unreadable, as if he had just brushed aside a leaf, not sent a superhuman flying.
Seren stared in shock.
One second.
That was all it had taken.
One second.
Kaelrik still stood in the same spot, the twig resting lazily at his side.
Seren's hands tightened around her swords. "What the hell was that?"
Kaelrik exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "A test."
Seren's eyes flashed with anger. "You could've killed him!"
Kaelrik shrugged. "If that was enough to kill him, then he wasn't worth training."
She clenched her fists, but before she could respond—
A voice interrupted.
"…I'm not done yet."
Seren whirled around.
Through the clearing of broken trees and shattered rocks, Adam rose.
His body ached. His vision spun.
But he was still standing.
His breathing was ragged, golden eyes burning with determination as he wiped the blood trickling from his lips.
"That… hurt." Adam muttered, rolling his shoulders.
Seren gaped. "Adam—sit down, you're injured—"
"I'm fine," he cut her off.
Seren didn't look convinced. "You just got launched through an entire damn forest—"
Adam took another step forward, muscles burning with pain, but his will kept him upright.
He looked at Kaelrik, his golden eyes steady.
"I survived," Adam said simply.
"Not bad," Kaelrik finally said. "You're still breathing."
Adam coughed, wiping dirt from his face.
"What… the hell was that?"
Kaelrik exhaled through his nose. "I barely used any force, and you still look like you got hit by a war hammer. What does that tell you?"
Adam pushed himself up. His arms were numb. He had enhanced strength, durability, and speed—he had fought a high-ranking cultist and survived.
But against Kaelrik?
He couldn't even see the attack coming.
"It tells me," Adam growled, clenching his fists, "that I have a long way to go."
Kaelrik smirked slightly. "At least you're not an idiot."
Adam took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders. His nuclear core hummed, actively working overtime to circulate energy and numb the pain.
He was ready for more.
"That means I pass, right?" Adam asked, his voice steady.
Kaelrik was silent for a moment, then he chuckled. "Barely."
Adam smirked despite himself. "Still counts."
Kaelrik's blue eyes narrowed, analyzing him carefully.
"…Alright," he said finally.
Adam stiffened.
Kaelrik crossed his arms, expression unreadable.
"You've got my interest. Let's see if you can keep it."
He turned away, walking toward his cabin, his posture relaxed, as if nothing of note had happened.
"Come," he said.
Adam and Seren exchanged looks.
Seren released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"So, what now?" she asked.
"Now," Kaelrik said, "your real training begins."
He glanced back at Adam, his blue eyes dead serious.
"For the next year, you will suffer."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And here I thought I was already suffering."
Kaelrik's smirk deepened.
"Not yet."
With that, Kaelrik flicked the twig into the dirt and strode toward the small wooden house.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow, I will break you."
Adam and Seren exchanged a glance.
Seren sighed, adjusting the strap of her sword. "Well, you got what you wanted. Hope you don't regret it."
Adam smirked, despite the ache in his arms.
"I never do."
As they followed Kaelrik, the Shadowspire Mountains loomed behind them.
A year of hell awaited.
And Adam welcomed it.