We climbed down from the wall as the morning edged closer to noon. The air warmed, carrying the smell of hot metal and pine sap. The sounds of construction followed us all the way to the base. Kira hopped off the last rung and stretched, rolling her shoulders as we prepared for the next task.

  I followed, boots hitting the concrete with barely a crunch. My eyes scanned the area out of habit as I moved, my weight on the balls of my feet ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

  The cruiser sat where we’d left it, dusted with a fine layer of grit kicked up by the work crews. I reached for the driver’s door and froze.

  A wrongness slid in under my skin without warning. Subtle. Chilling. The same pressure I’d learned to trust long before the System ever showed its face. The back of my neck prickled. My breath stalled halfway in.

  Someone was watching us.

  Before the thought fully formed, the world sharpened.

  The edges of everything pulled into focus. Sound flattened, then clarified. I could hear the whine of a grinder two blocks away. The clink of a dropped bolt. My own pulse, slow and steady sounded like it was thundering in my chest.

  Enhanced Perception triggered.

  A shadow shifted at the edge of my vision.

  My head snapped in the direction, locking onto a distortion where the light didn’t behave the way it should, slipping behind a stack of steel beams near the outer work field. I scanned the other side waiting for the shadow to reappear but it never did. It was simply gone.

  The pressure eased, leaving behind a sour aftertaste in my gut but I was already on edge as my eyes snapped to every possible ambush location.

  “Kira,” I said quietly.

  She was already watching me, her posture changed, weight balanced on the balls of her feet. “You felt it too.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where?”

  I nodded toward the beams. “There. Just for a second.”

  She followed my gaze, eyes narrowing. Her hand hovered near her pouch, fingers brushing a crystal out of habit.

  “Do you want to check it out?” she asked.

  I listened. Searched. The System stayed silent. No alerts. No hostility flag. Just the normal chaos of a city trying to rebuild itself.

  “No,” I said after a moment. “Whatever it was, it’s gone. We’ll flag it and keep moving.”

  Kira didn’t argue. She trusted my instincts, and that trust settled something tight in my chest.

  We got in the cruiser and pulled away, but the feeling lingered. Like an alarm left ringing.

  We weaved through the streets as I doubled back multiple times looking for a tail. Nothing appeared to be following us but if the pursuer was supernatural then we may never see them until they attacked.

  Eventually I gave up and drove to the annex behind the detachment that we were using for sparring sessions.

  The training yard buzzed with energy by the time we arrived.

  It had started as a parking lot behind the detachment. Now it was a patchwork of cleared asphalt, rubber mats scavenged from gyms, and portable barricades arranged into lanes and cover points. A group of officers were already stretching, armor half-fastened, weapons leaned against a makeshift rack.

  Jamie waved the second he spotted us.

  “You’re late,” he called.

  “I thought I picked up a tail. Not all of us have the leisure of being a rookie.” I dodged as Jamie tried to give me a shove.

  “Too slow Junior.” I quipped as I lifted my fists in a mock fighting stance.

  “Save the Testosterone for the ring boys.” Kira said as she pushed pass. Jamie lunged forward and I nimbly jumped out of the way pushing him to the side.

  Kira just shook her head as Jamie came back and shoved me with a wide grin plastered across his face. I scanned the rest of the yard.

  Logan stood nearby, rolling his shoulders, his axe resting against a concrete barrier. He looked relaxed in the way only people who lived for violence ever did. Fred was stretching next to him, doing lunges in between.

  And then there was Theo.

  He arrived like a thunderclap, laughing loudly as he clapped one of his teammates on the back hard enough to stagger him forward.

  “There he is,” Theo boomed when he saw me. “Valen’s favorite overachiever.”

  “Pretty sure that title’s still up for debate,” I said.

  Theo grinned. “Only because you refuse to accept it.”

  His team fanned out behind him, a mismatched collection of armor styles and weapon choices. They looked rested. Confident. Hungry for action.

  Sage leaned against the hood of a supply truck nearby, laughing with other team members, her flaming red hair tossled in the breeze. The moment I stepped into the yard, her gaze locked onto me. I gave her a nod and continued into the open space.

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  We split into groups, the yard filling with motion and noise. Laughter mixed with shouted instructions. Someone cranked a portable speaker, music thumping low and rhythmic.

  Everywhere I looked weapons met weapons as everyone burned off their fear and anxiety from Valen facing disaster after disaster.

  Theo and Fred paired off with Jamie and Logan for sparring. Metal rang against metal. Logan’s axe slammed into another axe with jarring force, Fred laughed as he absorbed the hit, boots skidding across the pavement.

  “Again!” Theo barked, a wild grin on his face as he summoned another ball of water.

  Kira moved toward two paramedics who had awakened as healers, helping them run drills that mixed movement with healing timing. She corrected footwork, adjusted grip, offered encouragement with the same calm focus she’d shown in the hospital.

  ?I summoned my blades and went to join Logan and Jamie.

  ?Theo whooped from across the yard. “That’s cheating!”

  ?“You’re just jealous,” Jamie yelled back.

  ?“Victor, hurry up and get over here! Fuck, who else can join us?” Theo shouted, looking around in feigned panic. “Sage, Kira, you are on our team. The new healers as well. Shit, how fast can the North District players get down here?”

  ?“Now, now. You’re exaggerating. Let's fight,” I said, though I felt an excited grin spread across my face.

  ?“Fuck no,” Theo shouted. “Logan, switch teams. Now.”

  ?Logan gave me a look. I rolled my eyes and gave him a nod. Logan walked to the other side of the field as Jamie approached me, suddenly looking nervous.

  ?“Uhhhh, Elias,” Jamie said, eyeing the eight enemy players. “You sure this is a good idea?”

  ?My heart thundered in my ears as I prepared for the fight. Battle lust dulled my thoughts, sharpening my focus on the attack.

  ?“It looks like a fun challenge. I will aim for the back line; you focus on defending. Time your taunts and skills. We won't always have a fair fight, so let's see what happens.”

  ?I walked forward with Jamie at my side, his shield at the ready.

  ?“Same rules as always,” I called to Theo and his team. “Three hits to the chest and you are out, or if you get knocked out of the perimeter line, you are done.”

  ?“This is going to be a quick fight,” Logan boasted, lifting his axe to his shoulder with a wicked grin.

  ?“Ready when you are,” Theo said, his face fully focused. The feigned panic was nowhere to be seen as he lifted his staff.

  ?“GO!” I shouted.

  ?I immediately sprinted towards their front line, hoping to catch them off guard, but they were ready.

  ?A sphere of water rocketed towards my face. I ducked under it, droplets stinging my skin as it missed me by a hair. Logan and Fred stood shoulder to shoulder with their axes at the ready, wide grins stretching from ear to ear.

  ?Mana coiled in my leg muscles.

  ?Windstep Activated

  ?Another ball of water and a red bolt of mana arced towards me, but the asphalt absorbed the impact of my launch as I suddenly appeared above the group. I threw my tethered Gladius straight at Theo.

  ?The blade redirected at the last second as Theo managed to block the sword with his staff. The blade sunk into the asphalt, and I immediately pulled myself towards the stuck Gladius.

  ?Theo had been staggered by the sword’s impact and wasn’t prepared for my kick. I slammed into his chest, sending him tumbling towards the perimeter.

  ?As I landed, a hook suddenly grappled my foot, ripping me from my stance. I rolled as the ground rushed towards my face, managing to free my leg from the hook, but Logan and Fred were already there. Their axes swung down in a crushing arc.

  ?I crossed my Jian and Gladius to catch the crashing blades. The impact drove the wind from my lungs and buckled my elbows, but the block held. My arms screamed, but my blades held.

  ?A sudden shout drew my attackers' attention as Jamie activated his taunt. I took the moment to pivot on my back, sweeping their legs out from under them in a tight rotational arc.

  ?Proficiency notifications flashed in my periphery, ignored in the heat of combat.

  ?I was back on my feet in a flash just as a small flame struck my chest, scorching my armor.

  ?“That’s one,” Sage called out with a smug look. Frustration at my inattentiveness coursed through my blood along with the surge of mana.

  ?Windstep Activated

  ?I appeared behind Sage, slashing with my Jian, but a barrier shimmered into existence. A quick glance showed Kira grinning, her hand outstretched.

  ?I focused on her and activated Windstep again. I landed behind her, but I could see the mana shield already flaring to life.

  ?She is getting fucking good at activating that skill.

  ?I kept moving instead. My two blades quickly dealt three slashes to Victor, who was trying to take down Jamie. Jamie was desperately blocking attacks as Logan and Fred started stalking towards him, the taunt skill still in effect.

  ?“FUCK!” Victor cried out as the taunt cleared, and he stormed off the field.

  ?I parried Fred’s swing with my Jian as it chopped towards Jamie, while my Gladius stabbed forward in three quick thrusts to tap his chest armor. Sweat ran down my face stinging one eye but I ignored it as the battle continued.

  ?A warning surged up my spine, snapping my head to the side.

  ?Enhanced Perception Activated

  ?Something slammed into my shoulder, staggering me under a heavy shower of water.

  ?“That’s two,” a breathless Theo said, rejoining the fight.

  ?I stabbed my Gladius into the ground and activated Kinetic Burst, blasting asphalt and dirt in all directions.

  ?Windstep Activated

  ?The world flashed. Globes of dirt and concrete appeared to stand still, mixed with flame and water magic, as I appeared behind Kira. Her hands were raised in front of her as she cast a dome-shaped mana barrier to block the debris.

  ?I tapped her three times on the shoulder as time snapped back to normal. The debris crashed into her barrier, but she wheeled on me, feeling the taps on her tunic. I was breathing heavily but felt a wild thrill at having knocked her out of the fight.

  ?“You little shit,” she complained, though a wide grin split her face.

  ?I gave her a wink before disappearing again in another Windstep. This time I felt the strain on my mana pool as it dipped dangerously low. Kira's barrier collapsed as I reappeared behind Sage, slashing out three times with the flat of my blades.

  ?Sage began to curse. I launched upward, throwing my tethered Gladius at a disoriented Theo just as his head snapped from Kira to Sage.

  ?This time, the blade glanced off his new armor before sticking into the ground. Theo looked up as I pulled myself towards him. He lifted his staff, but my feet slammed into it, driving him into the ground with the force of the impact. I tapped him on the neck with my Jian twice.

  ?“That’s three,” I gloated as Theo swore in frustration.

  ?I glanced up to see Jamie sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily. Guilt lanced through me as I realised I had abandoned Jamie in the heat of battle. Shame scorched my cheeks but I pushed it aside as I locked eyes with Logan. Logan moved toward me, twirling his axe. He’d barely broken a sweat while my breaths came ragged. He hadn’t chased once during the chaos. He’d waited. A predator waiting for his prey to tire.

  ?“About time,” Logan said with his familiar wild grin. “I was getting bored playing with the rookie, waiting for you to finish.”

  ?“I’m not done. You still got the two new—” I thumbed towards where the healers had been standing, but I realized they had moved off the field to stand with the rest of the group.

  ?“What the fuck?” I asked.

  ?“We may be new players, but we weren’t born yesterday,” the male healer called out, crossing his arms. “I’d rather fight one of those dungeon monsters than you.”

  ?The other healer nodded in agreement, a look of apprehension on her face as she gave me a quick glance.

  ?“Good call,” Theo commented, rubbing his chest. “That guy is a fucking monster, and the one he is facing is no better.”

  ?“Enough blabbering, more fighting,” Logan said, drawing my attention back to the giant.

  ?I had stalled long enough that my breathing had evened out. I tightened my grip on the hilts of my swords.

  ?We launched towards each other at the same time. Logan swung in a massive arc.

  ?I folded backward as the blade sliced through the air an inch above my body. I rotated into an upward slash, but Logan stepped back to avoid it.

  ?There was no room for thought, only movement. I didn’t dare to hard-block any of his attacks; Logan’s brute strength would obliterate my defense. Instead, my thrusts were easily parried, and we avoided each other's heavy slashes.

  ?Exhaustion ached through my body. My muscles screamed in protest at every deflection and sudden change of direction. Logan was finally showing strain, sweat beading on his forehead. The spectators had stopped making flippant remarks, standing stunned at the blur of steel.

  ?Logan suddenly shifted his grip on the axe, choking up on the handle near the blade. I saw it too late. He caught my next thrust in the hook of his battle axe, wrenching the Gladius from my hand. Before I could respond, he followed up with a savage strike to my jaw using the shaft of the axe, sending me tumbling across the asphalt.

  ?I rolled over to find Logan already there, the blade of his axe hovering at my throat.

  ?“That’s three,” Logan echoed.

  ?I had been beaten without landing a single strike on him.

  I have a lot of work to do. I need to get stronger.

  ?“God, you are a beast.” I grinned at the man before leaning back to look at the sky. My breathing was uneven once more, my jaw aching in time with my heartbeat.

  ?“Speak for yourself, you bloody monster,” Logan grunted as he sat down heavily, his breathing equally ragged.

  After taking a short break to review the fight, we returned to training until the sun climbed high and exhaustion set in. Rotations blurred together. Sparring turned playful, then serious, then playful again. Someone brought out protein bars and water. Someone else cracked a joke so bad it drew groans from everyone within earshot.

  ?Another System notification popped up as I finished a final set.

  ?Enhanced Perception Proficiency increased.

  Current Proficiency: 41%

  ?I wiped sweat from my face and leaned on my knees, chest heaving. The yard buzzed, alive with sound and motion. Training meant being able to save ourselves or someone else in a critical moment; no one shirked that responsibility.

  ?Kira walked over and pressed a cold bottle into my hand. “You look happy.”

  ?I took a long drink, then nodded. “I am.”

  ?She smiled, softer now. “Good. It’s about time. I thought you were going to explode from stress.”

  ?“Sorry if I made you worry. Lots of things to stress about, but this... the physical activity helps wash it away.” I took another sip of water.

  ?“I know another physical activity we could do to relieve stress,” Kira said, her voice dropping an octave, predatory and low.

  ?I choked on the water, spitting and sputtering as Kira flashed me a mischievous smile. She turned and walked away, her hips swaying with deliberate emphasis as my eyes locked onto her.

  ?For a second, the yard vanished. I just wanted to be back in my bedroom with Kira.

  ?I wiped the water off my armor as laughter rang out behind me. Steel clashed again, and the feeling from earlier crept back into my thoughts. The shadow. The sense of eyes on my back.

  ?I scanned the edges of the yard.

  ?Nothing.

  ?For now, the team trained. The System rewarded our effort with proficiency increases. And for the first time since morning, the unresolved note faded into the background, drowned out by sweat, fire, and the sound of people choosing to stand together.