Morning sun spilled across the training courtyard of the Valentine mansion, casting long shadows as two figures clashed in a flurry of steel. Luca, wielding his twin sabers, moved with sharp precision, his strikes meeting the firm guard of Vincent's sword. The rhythmic sound of their spar echoed between the marble pillars, accompanied by the steady beat of their breaths.
Sweat dripped from their foreheads as they finally came to a halt, blades locked for a moment before stepping back.
"You seem to have grown stronger," Vincent said in his usual cold tone, sheathing his sword. "Have you broken through?"
Luca nodded, wiping the sweat off his brow. "I seem to have broken through the Meridian Saturation Stage."
Vincent tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. "But you feel stronger than that."
Luca let out a quiet sigh, not surprised by his observation. "I have an abundance of aura… I just need to compress it into a seed to advance to the Core Compression Stage."
