Chapter 12: Bargaining chip
Chapter 12
The sun hung low on the horizon as the brutal training session finally ended. Ronan wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing steady despite the hours of relentless combat drills. His muscles ached, but strangely, he didn't feel fatigued. Instead, a simmering energy thrummed through him, as if his body had become a well-oiled machine that didn't know the meaning of exhaustion.
Theo walked up with a grin, tossing him a bottle of water. "Damn, newbie. You didn't die. That's impressive."
Ronan caught the bottle and took a long gulp, the cold liquid a refreshing contrast to the heat still clinging to his skin. "Yeah. Thought I might, a couple of times."
Casey approached next, wiping her face with a towel. "Trust me, if you survived Jordan's training on day one, you're probably not human."
Jordan's voice cut through their chatter like a blade. "That's enough." He stepped forward, his usual stern expression unwavering. "We're done for today. You didn't collapse or lose focus, which means you're not entirely useless. But don't get comfortable. Tomorrow, you'll be fighting one of your teammates. Real combat. No holding back."
Ronan raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
Jordan gave a short nod toward Diana. "She'll pick the opponent. Be prepared."
Diana gave a half-smirk. "Don't lose, Ronan. It's not a good look."
Theo slapped him on the back with a wide grin. "Yeah, don't make us look bad, newbie. I'd hate to see you get your ass handed to you."
Ronan just nodded, hiding the odd sense of satisfaction coursing through him. He didn't feel the usual exhaustion that followed intense training—more like his body had gotten stronger, more resilient. The realization brought a faint, almost relieved smile to his face. It wasn't just about the thrill of survival anymore. Maybe the system wasn't solely driven by bloodlust—maybe it was reshaping him into something more durable, more unstoppable.