Callum might have messed up on his first day of learning how to fight monsters, but that didn't mean he would remain a novice forever.
In fact, he had made a promise to himself: he would never again let fear control his actions. He had taken Alexa's advice to heart and followed her lead in training. They might have been the same age, but it was obvious she was leagues ahead of him when it came to combat.
"That's to be expected from the Vice Captain's daughter, after all."
The next day, they returned to the training room to continue practicing.
Just like the previous session, they found themselves in the same scene. They even expected the monsters to charge from the same direction as before...
But they were wrong.
This time, more monsters came from behind—right where Callum was facing.
"You got this, Callum. Seven wolves. It's really a simple job," Alexa said, calmly turning to face five wolves charging at her from the opposite direction.
Callum didn't reply. Instead, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.
He gripped his sword tightly, alert and ready for any sneak attacks. Luckily, he didn't need to worry—Alexa was holding her side perfectly, and there were no threats from the east or west.
The first wolf lunged toward him, but it was unfortunate. Callum had already anticipated the movement. With a swift motion, he slashed his blade across its neck, beheading it cleanly.
Thud... Thud...!
The second wolf had apparently learned from its comrade's death. Instead of charging head-on, it circled around carefully, closing the distance.
"Wolves are aggressive, I know that... but are they this smart?" Callum muttered.
GROOOWL!
Callum spun around quickly and slashed at the second wolf.
WHOOP!
His blade missed, barely grazing the wolf's black fur and leaving a thin strip exposed.
The wolf didn't retreat.
"Crap. How did I miss that strike?"
Frustrated, he swung again. Meanwhile, three more wolves began closing in.
He wasn't aiming properly. He was just slashing in desperation, letting panic fuel his attacks.
WHOOP!
Another miss. His second strike failed again. The wolves now surrounded him—four of them in total.
Meanwhile, the two wolves that approached Alexa were already dead. She stood watching him, observing his defense calmly.
But Callum refused to panic again. Not this time.
No matter the odds, he believed that as long as he stayed brave, like Alexa, he could win.
He took a deep breath and held the sword, this time with one hand. He pointed the blade at one wolf, then swung its edge toward the next, and the next.
GRRRR...
The wolves growled in response, clearly provoked—and that was exactly what Callum wanted.
*SLASH!*
Callum struck in a flash—
*SLASH!*
*SLASH!*
Two follow-up strikes, fast and deadly. They weren't perfect, but they hit the mark.
Three wolves dropped.
The final one glared at him, thick, foul-smelling drool dripping from its maw.
Callum didn't wait to see what it would do next. He stayed alert, ready for any sudden leap.
The wolf paced, trying to calculate a way to strike before Callum could raise his sword again.
Impressive for a holographic monster—but Callum wasn't impressed. Whoever created this simulation knew what they were doing.
*WHOOP!*
*WHOOP!*
*SHAAAM!*
Callum made the first move.
"If you won't attack, I will."
He lunged forward and struck the beast down, watching it dissolve into light.
"Good job, newbie," Alexa said, clapping slowly with a smirk.
Callum barely reacted, panting heavily from the exertion. The strain of defending against multiple enemies at once was real—but he was getting stronger and better... He could feel it.
"Let's check your score," Alexa said, stepping forward with a small smile.
-----------
[Performance Evaluation for Callum Drey]
-Strikes Delivered: 11
-Strikes Conceded: 7
-Kills: 7
-Score: 6.7/10
-----------
"Not bad. You've improved a lot," Alexa said, genuinely impressed.
"I know. But I still need to be better," Callum replied, his tone cool and focused.
"Fair enough. We've got a few more days before the First Ground opens. We'll be back tomorrow."
"No. I want another session—this time with more wolves. Maybe even other monsters."
"Hmmm…"
"We don't know what's inside the First Ground, right? It's best to be prepared for anything," Callum added seriously.
...
Alexa considered it... and agreed. That day, they kept practicing, staying inside the cylindrical simulation space until nightfall.
Callum worked hard, honing both his strength and skill. He learned how to strike effectively and how to handle difficult combat situations.
In the next session, he scored even higher—7.1 out of 10—while Alexa scored 8.8. Even she was surprised by his rapid improvement.
After three days of consistent training, sometimes even going solo, Callum had changed in many ways.
The most shocking moment came when he matched Alexa's score in the final session—9.3 out of 10.
Even Magnus and Emilia were amazed. The boy had great potential. That much was clear.
....
After their last training, Magnus stepped into the room while they were detaching the simulator gear. He wore a composed expression, though his voice was serious.
"Good news," he began. "The gate to the First Ground has appeared at the Refuge's headquarters. It will officially open tomorrow. Entry begins at dawn."
"How's that good news, Father? Sounds more like a warning," Alexa teased.
"There's no room for jokes. This is what we've been preparing for. This moment defines your future. Treat it like the most important exam of your life... or even something worse," Magnus said firmly.
Callum and Alexa nodded, the mood instantly growing tense.
"Before dawn, you'll both receive a Skill Pack. It will help you immensely inside the First Ground, possibly even more than your physical combat abilities.
I've arranged for one of my most trusted Skill Pack traders to escort you to the Power Trade Centre. Choose your skills wisely."
Alexa grinned, clearly having something in mind. Callum remained quiet but determined.
"This is your only chance to choose. Once inside, you won't get another."
Magnus gave them a final nod before walking off. The two of them then left to prepare.
"Let's go grab some f**king skills!" Alexa shouted gleefully as she darted down the alleyway.
Unlike Callum, she seemed to be the happiest person alive to be entering the First Ground.
'She must have been waiting for so long...'