Once everyone was ready, they set off. Despite everything they had gone through the day before, they weren't willing to wait any longer; the determination to grow stronger was what pushed them to hurry.
The light of dawn illuminated the horizon, but the air was still cold, and gusts of wind swept across the landscape. In the distance, a gigantic, imposing mountain could be seen. Reik stared at it, wide-eyed.
"Is that enormous mountain Mount Pixie?" Reik asked, looking at Kaiser.
"Yes, that's the one. But we still have a long way to go. I told you it would take two days. Cheer up!"
The group continued their journey toward the mountain. As they advanced, the sensation that the mountain was growing larger and larger intensified. Reik couldn't take his eyes off it; his curiosity grew with every step he took.
Fain, walking beside Reik, broke the silence.
"My body burns just thinking about what's waiting for us up there," he said with excitement.
"I know exactly what you mean. I can't wait to get there and push past my own limits," Reik replied.
Kaiser, walking a few steps ahead, heard the conversation and smiled slightly.
"It's good that you're excited; it's a positive thing. But don't forget that what awaits you up there isn't just physical training. You will be tested in many ways, all with the sole purpose of honing every one of your skills."
Fain smiled confidently.
"Whatever it is, I intend to overcome it. Our destiny is to reclaim the kingdom and wipe out those demons, so I'll do whatever it takes, no matter the price."
Reik nodded, although he still had doubts about his earlier conversation with Kaiser. That idea of having to pay a price to reach the top... he wasn't entirely convinced.
The hours passed as they continued along a rough dirt path. The sun was already high in the sky, and the morning chill had disappeared, leaving behind a pleasant temperature. However, the terrain grew increasingly steep, with rocky trails that made the journey harder and added extra fatigue. Even so, no one complained.
Kaiser motioned for them to stop.
The group immediately came to a halt, their attention focused on Kaiser. He observed the path, which was becoming steeper with every step, then turned to face the group.
"We'll rest here for a few minutes," he said.
Everyone nodded and began to sit down, taking the opportunity to rest for a while.
While some drank water, others simply caught their breath after the long hours of walking.
Reik approached Tharion and Laira and sat down beside them.
"How are you? Everything good, friends?" Reik asked with a smile.
Tharion and Laira looked at each other as if he were crazy.
"Reik, are you okay? You seem like a different person. You're never this cheerful," Laira said, looking at him strangely.
"Yeah, exactly! Have you been drinking along the way? Because that would easily explain this situation," Tharion added.
"I'm fine, just a little happy, that's all. What, can't I smile once in a while?" Reik replied, frowning.
Laira and Tharion answered at the same time:
"Well, no!"
"You're never this cheerful... well, you're basically never cheerful," Laira said, smiling.
After resting for several minutes, Kaiser called the group to continue the journey.
"Alright, let's keep going. We've rested enough," Kaiser said with a firm voice. "It's time to move on."
The group quickly got up to get going, some doing stretches to ease the tiredness in their legs. Reik yawned, more than tired, he felt sleepy from not having slept well the night before.
"Come on, let's go. The journey is almost over," Kaiser said, encouraging the group.
Reik looked at Tharion and Laira, who had already started walking, and joined them. The group stayed united, though those who had been slaves not long ago felt the weight of exhaustion the most. Their bodies were still suffering, compounded by the fatigue of the journey, for which they were not fully prepared.
Hours passed, and the group kept walking without rest. The sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky in reddish and orange hues. Darkness slowly took over the path, making it increasingly difficult to move forward. They could barely see where they were stepping, forcing them to move with extreme caution.
When night fell completely, they decided to stop. Walking in the dark was too dangerous, and the exhaustion weighed on them like a heavy stone. They barely had the strength to speak; all they wanted was to drink water, eat something warm, and sleep as soon as possible. With one last effort, they set up a small camp at the foot of a rocky hill.
They took turns standing guard every three hours, more out of precaution than any real fear of an imminent threat. In that secluded place, peace reigned, but they couldn't afford to let their guard down.
The next morning, with the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon, they resumed their march. The path was becoming steeper and more difficult; the summit was close, but so was the most demanding stretch. Every step required extra effort; the slippery ground and loose stones forced them to move with caution.
Hours passed, and exhaustion became unbearable. Some could barely take another step, but no one stopped. They overcame the pain and fatigue with sheer determination, driven by a single desire: to reach their destination as soon as possible.
Kaiser didn't say anything about resting. There was no need. The expression on everyone's faces made it clear that they weren't going to stop until they reached their goal.
Finally, as the evening of the second day fell, they reached the summit of Mount Pixie. Before them stretched an awe-inspiring landscape. The purity of nature was felt in the air, in every breath, in every breeze that caressed their faces. A sea of deep greens covered the slopes, contrasting with the vast and clear sky. Rocks in vibrant colors, like nothing they had ever seen before, adorned the land, giving it an almost mystical appearance.
They had done it. Now, the real test would begin.
Out of nowhere, a tall man with a robust build and immense musculature appeared next to Reik. He observed the group in silence for a moment before walking over to Kaiser.
"I've been expecting you. My name is Jack, it's a pleasure!" he said in a firm voice.
"It's been a long time, old friend! I'm so glad to see you," Kaiser replied with a smile.
Everyone stared at Jack. They didn't perceive anything extraordinary about him, apart from his impressive height and colossal musculature, but they knew from Kaiser's word that he would be the one to train them.
"Reik, come here. This is Jack. You'll learn a lot from him and get stronger, so listen to everything he says. Understood?" Kaiser said.
"Of course. Nice to meet you, Jack!"
"The pleasure is mine, Reik. I see something interesting in you. I expect great things from you," Jack replied with a smile.
Reik wasn't surprised. It wasn't the first time someone had placed their hopes in him, but this time, his determination was unshakable. Now that he was here, he knew he wasn't leaving the mountain as the same weak boy he still considered himself to be.
"Follow me, I'll take you to a place where you can settle in and rest. We'll start training tomorrow. Today, it's best you recover your energy; you're all exhausted. Tomorrow, it all begins... and it's going to be really tough," Jack said.
The group started following him, and after a couple of minutes, they arrived at a cave. Reik and Laira exchanged glances, but didn't say anything and continued walking in silence. A few seconds after entering, Jack opened a door in the cave's darkness, and they all crossed the threshold.
What they saw on the other side was surreal and unbelievable. The room was intensely lit, and everything around them was metallic, as if it were a bunker. There were weights and all sorts of tools designed for building muscle mass, a completely unexpected place in the middle of the mountain.
"This is the first room you'll be in. Tomorrow, you'll start training here, and when I think you're ready, we'll move on to the next phase," Jack explained. He then pointed to the back, on the left side of the room. "You can leave your things behind that door. There, you'll find the rooms, and don't worry, they're big enough for everyone. On the right, you'll find the dining area."
As they left their belongings, Reik, Laira, and Tharion exchanged glances. The place they were in surprised them greatly. They were inside something like a bunker, hidden in a cave at the top of a mountain, something they never would have expected.
"I can't believe this place is inside a cave," Reik said, still amazed.
"Honestly, no one would expect something like this. I was impressed when we crossed that door," Laira added, looking around the room. "But... will we really get stronger here? The room is new, yes, but... will lifting weights improve us that much? I know it helps build strength, but that takes time. And for combat, I'm not sure if it'll be the most useful..."
Tharion sighed, resting his hands on his hips.
"You're right..." he murmured, somewhat disheartened. "I was expecting something more... I don't know, more related to fighting techniques or something magical."
Reik crossed his arms, deep in thought. At first glance, the place seemed completely normal. Despite how new it was, it didn't have the eerie vibe they had imagined. It wasn't the kind of place where they expected to learn to fight for their lives against a demon.
"Remember what Jack said earlier," Reik said, looking at his companions. "This is just the first room. Think of it like level one. Once we get through it, we'll move on to the next."
Laira and Tharion looked at him attentively.
"So, this means it's just the foundation," Reik continued. "It's very likely he brought us here to assess our individual levels and, from there, design a specific training regimen for each of us based on our strengths."
Laira furrowed her brow, thinking about his words.
"It makes sense... Maybe it's not just about lifting weights, but something more complex."
Tharion sighed, relaxing his shoulders a bit.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough..."
Reik smiled at Laira and Tharion, saying:
"I trust that the three of us will go far and grow strong together."
Then, he extended his hand, inviting them to join in a small gesture of camaraderie.
Tharion and Laira reached out, joining their hands with Reik's. They were more united than ever, driven forward by a shared goal.
After that moment of solidarity, they all headed to the dining hall, following Jack's directions.
The meal he offered was abundant and rich in carbohydrates, perfect for restoring their energy after two days of intense hiking.
There was rice, freshly baked bread, roasted meat, sautéed vegetables, and a hot soup that helped fight off the mountain chill.
When they finished, Jack reminded them of the next day's schedule so they could be prepared.
"Make sure you get a good night's sleep. I want you in the training room at eight in the morning to begin. It's going to be a long and tough session, so keep that in mind and rest properly," Jack said enthusiastically.
After dinner, the group headed to their rooms to rest. Despite their overwhelming exhaustion, the excitement and uncertainty about the next day's training made it hard for them to fall asleep.
Reik settled into bed and, as he stared at the metallic ceiling, he remembered the feeling he had when facing the demon Sergoth in the valley. Even after everything, he could still feel his hands go numb at the memory of the overwhelming power of that being. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push those thoughts away, and turned onto his side in an attempt to sleep.
"One way or another... I will become stronger. It's decided," he murmured to himself.
Slowly, exhaustion overcame his restless mind, and he fell into a deep sleep, ready for the challenge that awaited him at dawn.