Chapter 52: Ten Months Forged in Light
The training grounds had changed. Once sterile chambers filled with blank walls and neutral lights, they now shimmered like endless arenas pulled straight from imagination. One moment, the squad sparred on a floating platform above rolling storm clouds; the next, they were dropped into crystalline forests where every branch sang when struck. Cream Puff had long abandoned "standardized" training. Instead, the sweetie pie tailored their battles to match the chaotic, unpredictable rhythm of the world they were preparing to face.
And the seven had grown into it.
Brian stood at the center of the field, his stance low and steady as Ava barreled toward him. She swung with a burst of speed, faster than she'd ever been months ago. Brian met her strike with an easy block, the ground cracking slightly beneath his boots. He grinned despite the sweat on his brow. "Heh. You're not holding back anymore."
