The first rays of sunlight illuminated the tent. Gavin groaned as one of those rays hit him right in the face. He rubbed his eyes as he felt movement next to him. He turned on the air mattress to see Erza sleeping peacefully. Her red hair was fanned out across his arm and the pillow.
The Valkyries should be showing up soon Master Gavin. It would be wise for you both to start waking up and get ready. Veronica whispered to him as he slowly woke up.
What am I going to do Veronica?
What do you mean?
Can I really do this? I mean, by all the gods I've had encounters with three ancient powerful beings. True gods that nobody remembers existing anymore. I've learned I'm a powerful shifter and there are 5 other races out there with unique powers and abilities. Gavin rubbed his face as he laid back down. What if I fail? All I wanted was the strength to protect those I love.
Veronica was silent for a long moment. I think, Master Gavin. That out of all the previous agents I've been bonded to, you have the greatest potential. You have a reason, a desire to grow in strength. Not just for yourself, but for others. You could care less about your own power or strength. But you fight for every ounce of strength you can get. In order to protect others, you are willing to become the monster everyone fears.
A small smile lifted the corner of his mouth. You aren't wrong about that. I couldn't care less about power or strength if it was just me. But in order to keep Erza safe. To keep Tessa, Aria, and Lyla all safe from this group of extremists, I am willing to burn this world to ashes.
I hope that it never comes down to that.
You and me both Veronica, thank you though.
Gavin opened his eyes and reached over to kiss Erza softly. He brushed his tongue against her lips. She murmured something incoherently as she wrapped her arms lazily around his neck and deepened the kiss. "I figured after last night, you'd be sated for a while." Her words brought a smile to his face as he pulled back from the kiss.
He looked down and brushed his thumb over her swollen lips. "I'm never sated when it comes to you."
She nipped the pad of his thumb then pushed herself up. The blanket fell away to reveal her bare chest. "Well, you are going to have to keep it in your pants for a while, lover boy." She stretched her arms over her head and smirked in satisfaction.
Gavin whimpered and kept his eyes locked on her chest as she moved. She made sure to arch her back while she stretched, deliberately pushing her chest out. "Come on, we should get dressed before the sisters arrive."
She threw off the blanket and slid off the mattress. Her thighs trembled slightly as she walked. Damn, I'm still sore from last night. A sly smile played at the edges of her mouth as she walked across the tent towards her suitcase. So totally worth it.
She dug through her clothes and pulled out jeans, black shirt and bra and started getting dressed. Memories of the night before flashed through her mind. The chaos of the club. The test from Tempestra and the way she thought she was going to suffocate under the goddess' powerful mana. The way they danced together on the floor afterwards, and the way he ravished her for hours upon their return.
She pulled on her jeans and buttoned them, wincing at the soreness of her body as she turned to see he was already wearing his jeans. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "No matter what happens this summer, I love you." He cupped her cheek softly in the palm of his hand as he looked at her.
She leaned into his touch and smiled at him. "Same. Just try not to piss Astrid or Kara off and die on me."
He grinned at her words, the humor reaching his eyes as they glowed faintly. "No promises."
At that moment, deep fluttering sound filled the tent as a gentle breeze pushed against the tent flaps. A subtle pressure of mana and contained power filled the clearing. Gavin stepped back and grabbed a shirt from the ground. "Looks like it's time." He pulled his shirt on and looked at the tent entrance.
Erza finished sliding her bra on and pulled her shirt over her head. She nodded then pulled her hair back into a tight braid. "Playtime's over love."
Together they walked out of the tent to see Kara and Astrid standing in front of their tent. Their armor sparkled and danced against the early sunlight as they retracted their wings. "Are we interrupting something?" Astrid words were cold, bored as she regarded the two that left the tent.
Gavin clenched his teeth. His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. "It wouldn't matter if you did, would it?"
Astrid tilted her head as she studied him then shrugged. "No, not really. Just means I don't have to drag you out of bed."
"You would too." Gavin smirked as he walked forward. "Alright, so what's first?"
Kara grinned with excitement as she looked at them. "Combat practice." With that she threw out a quick right jab towards Erza's chest. She managed to jump back just in time to avoid it with a curse.
"Ooooh impressive reflexes red." Kara praised as she watched with satisfaction. "You are going to need to do better though to survive."
Astrid pointed over to the nearby open area. "We will spend until noon fighting, teaching you combat skills. Gavin, you will be my student, while Kara trains Erza." Her words held the authority of someone used to training legions of warriors.
Gavin nodded, his eyes flickered over to where Erza and Kara were already exchanging blows. Within seconds Erza was thrown on her ass with a grunt. "Come on red. You think you can stand beside the wolf when he faces his enemies with that level of strength?" Kara taunted her.
Gavin growled low in his throat at the display. Suddenly Astrid was in front of him, already mid-spin as she slammed the heel of her foot into Gavin's chin. The force of the impact sent him flying several yards away to land in a crumpled mess.
Alert, twenty HP lost. Veronica warned him as a message popped up.
Quest received. Survive the daily training from the Valkyries. Reward. Two Divine Keys. Reward will be Gavin when training is completed.
That stunned Gavin. The fact the system didn't even offer him a quest to beat the sisters, but only to survive told him how hopeless his chances were in a real fight. Two Divine keys though? Now that's what I'm talking about. The growth he experienced when using the first key and only going through three floors was incredible. Two more keys being offered was a blessing to look forward to.
Gavin spat a glob of blood out as he felt the pain in his head like a lightning bolt. He would worry about that later. Right now he had a monster to survive.
His legs trembled as he slowly rose to his feet. His entire body was already sore and I'm pain. "That's a cheap shot!" his anger was mounting and his pride was already wounded. What a fantastic start.
Astrid stalked over to him, head low, eyes focused. "There are no cheap shots in combat. You either win, or you die." She lunged forward and spun, another heel aimed for his head. He managed to duck under and roll to the side, cleanly avoiding the strike.
Or so he thought.
Astrid's wings fluttered free halting her trajectory as she slammed an elbow down on the back of Gavin's neck. Gavin cried out as his face slammed into the ground and he saw stars from the impact.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent wolf. You fight like a helpless child, throwing your arms around, flailing like a fish out of water. Is this how you plan to protect your mate?" Astrid's condescending words filled Gavin's mind.
His rage burned and blood boiled. His body yearned to shift, to give in to the wolf's rage and tear her throat out. But Gavin resisted that impulse for now. He instead harnessed his mana and directed it internally, strengthening his muscles and body. He had to be stronger, strike faster.
"You know nothing about me!" He roared as he lunged for her, tackling her around the waist. He pushed his legs, every step driving Astrid back. I will prove my strength, here and now. As a human!
Astrid clenched her fists and lifted them high in the air, before she brought them down on his back like mighty hammers. Gavin let out another cry of pain as the force of the impact slammed his head and chest into the dirt.
I'm getting really tired of tasting dirt. I should be able to do something, damn it. His frustrating was mounting as he continued to barely dodge one strike, only to be slammed down by a follow up one.
"Focus wolf! Do not give into anger, or you will lose every fight." Her words were quiet and disapproving as she stepped back from him. So far, I'm not impressed. A dozen times he's ended up face first into the ground. Pathetic. Yet he was chosen as an agent of Lord Koray?
"Do not telegraph your strikes. Every time you make a strike, your body language gives you away and makes it easy for your enemies to counter." She slammed the heel of her foot down on the center of his back to punctuate her words.
Gavin cried out, a mixture of pain and embarrassment as her heel landed clean. His back arched and he clenched his fist, and pulled a handful of dirt up. He threw his hand out behind him as he tried to throw the dirt in her eyes.
Astrid scoffed as she leaned back. "That's the spirit wolf. Think outside the back. Use your environment to your advantage." She stepped back and allowed him to regain his feet. Astrid took a few feet back and regarded him.
"I didn't think training revolved around you just kicking my ass nonstop." Gavin's complaint fell on deaf ears as Astrid smirked.
"If you were any good then maybe you'd do better." Astrid's condescending words ignited Gavin's anger.
The wind whirled around the clearing as he snarled and his eyes burned vibrant red. His body shook with his uncontrolled fury. The wind whirled and snapped, stronger and stronger in response to his chaotic mana. Hues of dark red combined with the red as his bones shattered and grew. His back and chest thickened with muscles and mass as black fur manifested over his body. His ears were low to his skull as he threw his arms out and roared his frustrations to the sky.
Erza stopped mid strike. This wind wasn't natural. Then she saw it, saw HIM. She turned to see Gavin fully shifted and roaring his fury as he towered above Astrid. Wind and mana swirled through the clearing, culminating into a violent storm that she had to brace herself against to avoid being pushed back.
"Dumb move wolf." Kara's words carried a hint of humor and interest as she stopped her strike inches from Erza's face.
Erza wanted to ask questions but was enraptured by the scene in front of her. Aria, Lyla and even Tessa came out of their tents, disturbed by the commotion he caused.
"What's going on? Gavin!" Tessa's cry of worry was barely heard above the storm he was causing. She held her arms in front of her face, trying to protect it from the buffering winds.
"Really wolf? You can't handle being thrown around so you resort to having a tantrum like a child?" Astrid's tone was dark, cold and brittle. Her gaze narrowed and her left eye twitched as she witnessed Gavin's shift.
His entire body shook with blind rage as he glared at her. "I am done with you looking down on me, mocking me, and belittling me." Activate Overdrive skill, Veronica. Gavin's decision was final. He would give this everything he had, all in the effort to gain a modicum of recognition from Astrid.
Veronica activated the skill and Gavin felt a surge of power coursing through him. His muscles bulged and veins thickened with the enhanced strength. His body felt like it was breaking apart under full strength of his skills, but Gavin welcomed the struggle.
It feels like I've become a force of nature when I use everything. How much higher is the ceiling? How much farther can I possibly go? Gavin threw his head back and howled to the heavens. Then he crouched low, his feet cracking the ground beneath him as he launched forward with everything he had. I overcame those levels in the dungeon. I went through the first evolution. There is no way I can't even scratch this woman.
He sprang forward at full speed. The force of his launch cratered the ground where he stood. He appeared behind Astrid in a blinding flash, fist already in motion to the back of her head. "I've got you!" He shouted as drove his fist down.
Astrid sighed as she stepped to the right, Gavin's fist flying harmlessly past and impacting the ground where she previously stood. "Strength and speed without battle intelligence is pointless Gavin. You are like a child, lashing out with a weapon he doesn't understand." She swung her leg out, faster than before and Gavin barely managed to jump back.
"How? How do you keep avoiding everything I throw at you?" Gavin snarled in frustration as he jumped forward, claws extended as he aimed for her throat.
"Because unlike you, I don't flail around like a child Gavin. Focus on what I'm saying." Her voice maintained that calm, cold boredom as she spun to the side and brought her elbow down on his back. The impact caused Gavin to fall forward, down to one knee.
"You have so much potential, pup. Yet you refuse to listen, completely stubborn in the way you fight! How often do you ignore Veronica? How often do you ignore any advice given to you?" Her emotionless façade cracked under her restrained, cold fury. Her wings fluttered behind her as she watched him.
"I am supposed to save all of the shifter race, all of the Demi!" He shouted. His emotions were going haywire as he rose to his feet. "I have so much thrust upon me. By Koray. By Lunaria. Tempestra. Even you!" he snarled as he ran forward, his motion a blur as he spun and tried to connect his leg with Astrid.
Instead of dodging it. She growled low in her throat as she grabbed his leg. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing as Gavin struggled to move his limb. She effortlessly held him in place as he tried to pull back.
"Then fucking listen once in your life. I am here to help you. To train you. To guide you as the goddess directed. You think you can handle everything that's to come. To lead the remaining members of your clan in the war that was prophesized with your current level of strength?" She shouted her words as her fingers dug into his fur and she lifted him up into the air and slammed him back into the ground.
"Right now, all you would accomplish is having everyone around you die. Everything burned to ash, lost and forgotten." She leaned down to whisper harshly. "You have an over inflated sense of power and ego right now. It is my job to beat that out of you and turn you into a warrior that's halfway worthy of the responsibility the gods have placed upon you. Either man the fuck up pup, or I might as well kill you now and Lord Koray can find another agent."
Erza heard those words and it ignited her fear and anger. She took one step, intending to interfere, before a hand latched onto her arm.
"Don't. He needs to hear this. He needs to learn that there is always someone stronger. He can't keep fighting like he is and expect actual growth." Kara's words were uncharacteristically gentle as she stepped closer to Erza.
"I wont sit back and let him die." Era's reply was dark and cold as her eyes glowed amber brown mixed with red. She faced Kara and pulled her arm free.
"I doubt Astrid will actually kill him. We are under orders to protect and train you two, remember?" Kara spoke softly as she walked to stand in front of Erza and blocked her view of Gavin.
Gavin spat blood onto the ground and groaned as she let his leg go. His entire body was hurting as she continued her assault. "What do you know, about being an agent? You are nothing more than a trained lapdog for Lunaria!"
Astrid's eye twitched in response as she narrowed her gaze. "You better watch your tone pup. Even my patience has its limitations." She lifted her leg high into the air and swung it down right above his head.
Gavin cursed and forced his battered body to roll to the side. He activated his mana and sunk into the shadows. I need a moment to think and regroup. He felt the dark void surround him as he fell.
"Finally acting smart. Retreating to regroup against a powerful enemy is not a weakness. It is strength and wisdom." Astrid's voice echoed through the abyss. The barest hint of a smile lifted one side of her mouth.
Gavin rolled his sore shoulders as he collected his thoughts. "Obviously I can't beat her with brute strength or speed. There must be a way."
Think back to your battles with the Draconians. You couldn't beat them in brute strength or speed and we had to think outside the box. Perhaps you should try to do a similar strategy with Astrid?
Gavin grinned at the thought. Thanks, partner. He focused his mana on the shadows around him. He wasn't just brute strength. He had all the elements under his control and at his fingertips.
The shadows of the abyss answered his call as he growled low in satisfaction. He jumped up through the shadows and as he did so, the shadows followed.
This fight was just getting started.