The Phoenix Guild buzzed with anticipation.
The walls of the legendary training hall — where Darius, Inavy, Diana, and Rose once forged their legacy — were about to witness the rise of a new generation.
Diana Flamesoul snapped her fingers. Golden sparks danced in her eyes like living embers.
Diana (smirking, relentless): "Alright, Phoenix recruits… let's see what you're made of."
Her gaze locked on Ryu.
Diana: "Ryu… finally training together, huh? Brace yourself, boy."
Ryu, already sweating, forced a smile.
Ryu (whispering to Ryan in code): "Run, man… she's insane!"
Too late. Diana grabbed him by the collar like a stray cat.
Diana: "Where do you think you're going, Ryu Nox?!"
Ryu (panicking): "AAAAHH! SENSEI DARIUS, HELP! SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!"
The guild erupted in laughter.
Training Hall – Special Arena
Dante, Abby, Annie, and Kane entered. Annie ran straight to Ryan.
Annie: "Yan!!"
Kane muttered his usual cold "hi." Abby stopped, seeing Ryu trembling.
Abby: "What happened to you?"
Ryu (pointing): "She…"
Abby's eyes widened. Then she grinned.
Abby: "No way… it's her! The legendary Diana Flamesoul!"
Diana raised an eyebrow as they clamored for autographs, but her focus quickly returned to the recruits.
Diana: "Ryan Valeborn… I can't feel your aura. Must be that Reversum Lorien and Inavy mentioned. You're off the exercises. Watch from the sidelines with Dante."
Ryan nodded silently, eyes fixed on the field.
Kane muttered internally:"That nerd's already ahead… but I won't fall behind."
Zen Kagetsune entered. Silence fell. Instincts sharpened. Annie and Abby took battle stances.
Darius: "Relax. He's one of us now."
Ethan's eyes burned with restrained fury. A simple "Tch" escaped him.
Phase One – Absolute Stealth
Diana raised her hand. The arena went dark. Aura, light — gone.
Diana: "Today you learn Absolute Aura Concealment. Become NPCs. Nonexistent. Invisible."
Eyes blindfolded, recruits faced sensory disorientation: distorted sounds, shifting gravity, sudden temperature changes.
Ryan, at the edge, closed his eyes and followed the Reversum's lead — moving through the chaos like zero itself.
Dante (confused): "You shouldn't be doing this."
Ryan: "Can't resist getting stronger."
Phase Two – Emotional Reflection
Illusions of trauma assaulted them:
Ryu relived his father's death.
Ethan saw Rose fall, Inavy unconscious.
Annie faced her mother's final breath.
Abby confronted the apocalypse, witnessing her father Antoine's demise.
Zen was alone, haunted by Liv's accusing cries: "Why?"
Kane saw Ryan as the ultimate hero, while he felt invisible.
Even Ryan trembled, reliving the near loss of his mother — yet he stood firm.
Phase Three – Night Hunt
Diana: "Final test. Your hunter… is Zen Kagetsune."
Thrown into a dark forest, every sound could give them away.
Ryu melted into shadows. Ethan moved like a surgical strike. Annie, Abby, and Kane became ghosts, masking emotion, silencing steps.
Ryan walked. No aura. No intent. Zero.
Zen whispered:"This boy… he has erased himself."
After the Training
Exhausted, the recruits gathered. Diana crossed her arms.
Diana: "Well done. You're dismissed… for now."
Before Ryan could leave, she stopped him.
Diana (meeting his gaze): "Ryan… a word."
Ryan: "Of course, Sensei."
Diana: "I've seen those with immense power… but you are different. This Reversum isn't just strength. It has purpose. It will either consume you… or save you."
Ryan: "And if it does both?"
Diana lowered her eyes for a moment. Then, a serene smile broke through.
Diana: "Then make it count. Even if it's the last thing you ever do."
End of Chapter 53 – Blood Training: Heroes or Shadows?
"Sometimes the fire inside us isn't just power… it's purpose. And only those who endure it can truly shine."
📍End of Chapter 53 – Blood Training: Heroes or Shadows?