CHAPTER 13 — "THE FIRST DAY OF REAL TRAINING"
Featuring the 7 new recruits and all their Galaxyblades.
Dawn on the ROPS training world was unlike dawn anywhere else.
Twin suns rose at opposite angles, painting the sky with lavender and molten gold. Heat shimmered off the blackstone training grounds as the recruits gathered, weapons in hand, nerves tight.
Kario, Vexa, Sen, Juno, and Raviix stood together at the front—fresh Galaxyblades strapped to them like trophies.
Behind them, the seven new recruits filtered into a line, some whispering, some staring in awe.
Astrin, Khyros, Nerya and Vel-Arin stood on the edge of the arena.
Today was the beginning.
Today, everything changed.
THE NEW RECRUITS & THEIR BLADES
The new recruits were told to draw their Galaxyblades first.
1. Rylliss — Photon Staff (Klyranite)
The tall crystal-bodied recruit clicked his hands together and activated his weapon.
A slender silver staff ignited at both ends, each tip glowing with shimmering white particles—pure compressed light.
The staff harmonized with him, humming the same tone that vibrated when he was nervous.
He whispered, "Photonic channels stable… resonant frequency aligned."
Juno nudged Vexa. "The guy's literally glowing."
Rylliss blushed brighter, which only made him glow more.
2. Borthan — Crush-Gauntlets (Dravox)
The reptilian recruit slammed his fists together.
Thick, heavy gauntlets of dark-red star-metal expanded over his forearms.
When he flexed, the plates shifted like tectonic plates preparing for battle.
Each strike released shockwaves that vibrated the ground.
Sen eyed him.
"Gonna be fun sparring with you."
Borthan snorted. "Try not to break, kid."
3. Trexan — Phase Whip (Voidborn)
Trexan stepped forward silently, expression unreadable.
He flicked his wrist.
A ribbon of black-purple energy unfurled—shifting, phasing, crackling.
The whip sliced through a chunk of training stone as if it were mist.
Raviix tightened his grip on his own spear.
Void vs. Void.
Trexan's silver eyes met his.
No words.
Just tension.
4. Miru — Gale Darts (Aelani)
Miru practically bounded into the spotlight, wings fluttering with excitement.
"Okayokayokay watch THIS!"
She pulled out two crescent-shaped metallic darts.
Wind spiraled around them before she threw—
FWIP—
They curved midair, slicing around the recruits and returning to her hands.
Juno blinked.
"Okay, she might actually be faster than me."
"Ha! Bet I am!" Miru said, already bouncing again.
5. Rhyka — Fold-Knives (Tessari)
Rhyka stepped out like a shadow.
Silent.
Controlled.
Eyes like sharpened ice.
She extended both hands—
Two thin knives materialized, folded from layers of warped space.
The blades bent slightly, not from weakness but because reality slid around them.
When she slashed, air didn't cut—the space itself tore and healed instantly.
Kario whispered, "She's terrifying."
"She's incredible," Vexa corrected, smirking.
6. Ogren — Volt-Greatmace (Magnari)
The metal-skinned recruit stomped forward cheerfully.
"Hey guys!! Watch this! It's kind of loud!"
He slammed the butt of his mace on the ground.
A flash.
A huge greatmace of glowing charged metal expanded in his hands, humming with magnetic storms.
Sparks popped as he moved it.
He grinned at Kario.
"Bro, I used your theories to stabilize the polarity field! Isn't it AWESOME?!"
Kario blinked.
"…You did what?"
7. Raviix — Void-Breaker Spear
Though he wasn't new, Raviix stepped up last.
His spear shimmered with a controlled, eerie calm.
Voidlight pulsed inside its dark blade like a trapped star.
Trexan watched with interest.
Maybe respect.
Maybe challenge.
THE MAIN GROUP SHOWS THEIR BLADES
Vel-Arin gestured.
"Now, our primary recruits."
One by one, they stepped up.
Vexa — Stardust Scythe
The ember-lit crescent blade ignited, trailing comet trails as she spun it lightly.
Even the new recruits leaned back from its heat.
Sen — Rift Axe
Gravity rippled off it as Sen lifted the giant blade onto his shoulder.
Borthan grinned—finally, someone his size.
Juno — Twin Volt Daggers + Starshuriken
Lightning crackled as she flicked her daggers out.
She spun her throwing-star Galaxyblades between her fingers like a show-off.
Miru gasped.
"That's SO COOL!"
Kario — Harmonic Katana
The blade shimmered with shifting colors, soft but terrifyingly pure.
Rhyka's eyes widened a fraction—rare for her.
Trexan murmured, "Impossible."
Even Astrin watched him with quiet pride.
THE REAL TRAINING BEGINS
Khyros stepped forward, voice booming:
"COMBAT CIRCLE! PAIRS! MOVE!"
Recruits scrambled into positions.
Vel-Arin and Nerya floated into the air to oversee.
Astrin crossed his arms.
"Focus. Precision. Flow. No elemental arts yet—just your blades."
The first drill began—
Rylliss sparred with Sen; crystal precision vs. controlled strength.Juno and Miru blurred across the arena in a dizzying speed match.Borthan and Vexa clashed power vs. fire.Ogren trained next to Kario, copying his movements exactly—almost too exactly.Trexan and Raviix circled each other like predators.Rhyka moved alone at first… slipping between groups like a ghost.
A pulse echoed.
A hum built.
Training intensified.
Sweat.
Metal.
Sparks.
Shouts.
Energy.
It was chaos—beautiful, coordinated chaos.
KARIO'S MOMENT
In the middle of a kata, Kario stumbled.
His katana flickered colors, resonating too strongly.
Astrin stepped beside him.
"Don't force it."
"I'm trying, but—nothing's working."
Astrin crouched to eye level.
"You are holding six resonances inside a form meant for one. Breathe deeper. Not harder."
Kario swallowed, nodded.
He inhaled.
Focused.
The blade steadied.
Colors quieted.
And then—
FWOOM—
A flash of pure white light pulsed through the katana, silent but powerful.
Every recruit paused.
Rhyka's eyes widened.
"That… was not one Art."
Trexan whispered, "He holds more than we can see."
Vexa grinned.
"Kario's finally waking up."
Astrin stood, smirking proudly.
"Told you."
END OF CHAPTER 13
They were exhausted.
Sweating.
Buzzing with adrenaline and possibility.
And this—
This was only the first day.
Tomorrow, the elemental arts.
New rivals.
New alliances.
New threats.
But for now?
They rested.
Together.