Chapter 87 - 85 — Choosing
""Ark—what the hell? He’s already on us again!"
"H-how? He’s carrying three times our weight!"
"...He’s insane."
The trainees of the iron division stared with wide eyes as Zephyrion closed the distance and ran past them without so much as a glance.
It was the twenty-fifth time he had done so while carrying thrice the weight, and yet there wasn’t a single bead of sweat on him.
In contrast, every trainee was drenched, their steps dragging as they struggled to stay upright.
"Shit..."
Kaiden gritted his teeth as he watched the gap between them stretch even further. Zephyrion had passed him twenty times already, twenty times.
And while his own pace had slowed under the strain, Zephyrion only seemed to move faster.
His gaze locked onto the relic on Zephyrion’s wrist, and he gnashed his teeth. Even with the burden of that thing and thrice the weight, he still couldn’t keep up. What the hell!
’I won’t lose!’
Kaiden clenched his fists and pushed himself harder.
Just behind him, Fiona’s eyes were also fixed on Zephyrion’s back, but there was no frustration in them, only awe.
’He’s amazing.’
Zephyrion had joined their training only days ago, yet from the first session, he had dominated everything. None of them had been able to keep up.
’But I can’t fall behind!’
If she wanted to stand beside him someday, she had to keep up. Steeling herself, Fiona pushed herself forward.
Nearly every gaze was drawn to him, yet the boy at the center of it all remained focused on something else entirely.
’I’ve fully healed.’
Almost two weeks had passed since he acquired Demorian’s rod and underwent the bone forging process. The recovery had been grueling, but now there wasn’t a trace of pain left in his bones.
’It feels good.’
In truth, Zephyrion had never felt better. Now that he was fully healed, he could sense the change clearly; his bones were denser, stronger, far more resilient. It felt as though even the weight of a mountain wouldn’t be enough to break them.
At the same time, though his strikes now carried greater weight and force, his body remained light, responsive. His bones felt less like flesh and more like... fluid metal.
He had been running with three hundred kilograms strapped to each limb, yet the strain was barely noticeable.
’I can go faster.’
The moment his feet met the ground again, Zephyrion drove forward with greater force, his figure shooting across the training grounds.
"Ark! He sped up again!?"
"What is he even made of!?"
"Can we catch him at all?"
"...No chance."
The trainees stared in disbelief as the distance between them stretched even further. Moments later, a heavy thud rang out across the grounds.
"W-what—someone just dropped!"
"...Wait, that’s Kaiden, isn’t it!?"
"Get a medic! Hurry—he’s foaming!"
A medical team rushed in shortly after and administered a restorative elixir.
Even as Kaiden was lifted onto a stretcher and carried away, his intense gaze still remained on Zephyrion.
...
"Gather!"
It was late afternoon by the time Garrick finally called an end to the run. By then, the trainees were barely holding on.
"Ahh... finally..."
"...I can’t feel my legs..."
They dragged themselves into formation before the platform, though not without casting shaken glances toward Zephyrion.
He was the only one among them not panting or drenched in sweat. While Kaiden, who had long since returned, gritted his teeth at the sight, Fiona simply smiled.
"Alright!" Garrick’s shout snapped their attention back to him. "I’m tired of repeating myself, so I’ll skip the trash talk today. Rejoice, I’ve got great news!"
At the sight of Garrick’s grin, the trainees couldn’t help but swallow. Experience had taught them that his idea of great news was rarely anything good.
"A week from now, the choosing will commence."
"The choosing?"
"Already?"
"...Finally."
The trainees’ eyes lit up instantly, clenching their fists with excitement. A faint smile appeared on Kaiden’s lips, while Fiona’s hands clenched with resolve.
Only Zephyrion remained unfazed.
’The choosing.’
It was a competition held to select the trainees who would represent Calderalth in the Proving, an event involving all the houses of the south. Out of hundreds, only ten would be chosen.
’Th... th... th... is...!’
Zephyrion frowned slightly at the broken voice echoing through his mind. He released the restriction, and the voice boomed instantly.
"You—! How could you keep me sealed that long!? This is pure wickedness! Have you forgotten who I am!? I am Demorian, the greatest genius to ever grace this world—I—"
Zephyrion cut him off without hesitation. The man continued to struggle for his attention, but he ignored him completely.
"Now, it’s always been tradition for all ten spots to go to the steel division... but that was before I started training you lot."
A faint shift passed through Garrick’s gaze as his aura pressed down on the trainees.
"At least five spots. Out of ten, I want five of you taking them. Understood?"
"What!? Five!?"
"That’s impossible..."
The trainees shook their heads. The steel division was the strongest in Calderalth. The competition among them for those ten spots was already brutal, adding themselves into it was like stepping into a den of lions.
"...maybe the young lord can..."
Several glances shifted toward Zephyrion. The image of him defeating five steel trainees was still burned into their minds. If anyone could do it, he could...
"Enough!" Garrick’s heavy aura crashed down, silencing them at once. "You’ve been training hard these past few months. You’ve worked, you’ve improved. Trust in your abilities and raise your heads. You will take those spots. Now, let me hear you say it."
The trainees clenched their fists, teeth grinding, and Zephyrion could see resolve taking shape in their expressions.
"I will take those spots!"
"Louder."
"I will take those spots!"
"Louder!"
"I will take those spots!"
’He motivated them.’
Zephyrion found himself slightly surprised. It was the first time Garrick had ever encouraged them like this. The man usually did nothing but tear them down.
As he watched the wide, eager grin on Garrick’s face, Zephyrion gave a faint nod.
’He placed a bet.’
Garrick’s tendencies were well known throughout the house, so it wasn’t surprising. And with an event like the choosing, it was almost expected.
Still, Zephyrion pushed the thought aside and focused. The choosing was another opportunity to gather resources and clear the fog.
No matter how it unfolded, he would come out on top.