Training wasn't optional anymore.
They gathered in an abandoned industrial yard on the edge of the city, far from civilians, far from interference. Rusted metal structures surrounded them, broken walls and empty spaces providing the perfect environment to test their abilities without restraint.
Jovian stood at the center, Vital Mirage at his side, its glow steady and focused. Across from him stood Iggy, rolling his shoulders slightly, Phantom Ember flickering behind him like a living flame.
"Don't hold back," Iggy said bluntly.
Jovian didn't bother responding.
The fight started instantly.
Phantom Ember lunged first, its movements aggressive and explosive. Each strike carried heat, not just physical force but burning intensity that warped the air. Jovian reacted quickly, Vital Mirage intercepting the first blow, their fists colliding with a sharp burst of energy.
The difference in style was immediate.
Iggy fought with raw aggression, overwhelming pressure, forcing mistakes through sheer intensity. Jovian, in contrast, moved with precision, each motion calculated, each strike controlled.
But precision alone wasn't enough.
Phantom Ember surged forward again, releasing a wave of heat that forced Jovian back. The ground beneath him scorched slightly as he slid, regaining balance just in time to block another strike.
"Too slow," Iggy muttered.
Jovian narrowed his eyes.
Vital Mirage pulsed.
This time, he didn't just react—he adapted.
As Phantom Ember struck again, Jovian shifted his stance, redirecting the force instead of blocking it head-on. Vital Mirage mirrored the movement perfectly, deflecting the attack and countering with a precise strike aimed at Iggy's opening.
The hit landed.
Iggy staggered slightly, more surprised than hurt.
"…Better," he admitted.
Across the yard, Alaric and Lucien observed silently.
"He's learning fast," Alaric noted.
Lucien's gaze remained fixed on the fight. "He has to."
The battle continued, each exchange sharper than the last. Jovian's control improved with every movement, his connection with Vital Mirage strengthening as he pushed past instinct and into deliberate execution.
Finally, after one last clash, both of them stepped back.
Breathing heavier.
More aware.
Stronger.
Iggy smirked faintly. "You're not useless."
Jovian didn't react to the jab.
But he understood something now.
Each of them fought differently.
And together…
They could become something far more dangerous than any one of them alone.