Scene 1 — The Field of Unity
The training ground stretched endlessly, a barren plateau scarred by past battles. Yet now it hummed with life—mana, aura, and the raw potential of dozens of awakened warriors.
Jinyoung lifted a hand, and the Duality within him swirled violently—black and purple energy coiling with white and grey. The Abyssal soldiers, once mindless, now responded like extensions of him. Their shadows twisted, shifted, and aligned with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Control… focus… responsibility.
For the first time since awakening Stage Three, Jinyoung felt the weight of absolute power. Not fear, but clarity.
"Let's begin," he muttered. His voice carried across the field. The hunters and allies snapped to attention, feeling the faint pulse of the Ruler blessings now coursing through their veins.
Scene 2 — Haru: The Mana Artillery
Haru stepped forward, raising his arms. Unstable mana poured from him in chaotic surges. It crackled like a storm threatening to tear the sky apart.
I can control it… I have to, Haru thought.
With Jinyoung's white/grey aura nearby, Haru's mana stabilized slightly. He shaped it into sharp spikes, shooting them in precise arcs. Each spike interlocked with the Duality aura, creating miniature explosions on impact without harming the field.
"You're doing well," Jinyoung called. "Focus on flow, not force."
Haru nodded. Each strike grew faster, cleaner, more lethal. By the end of the first hour, he was producing controlled mana storms that could rival a lesser Monarch's artillery—but he still needed more refinement.
Scene 3 — Riyomi: Shadow Assassin
Riyomi melted into the shadows, leaving her body behind like an afterimage. Her movements were silent, ghost-like, each step predicated on instinct.
Every shadow, every corner… I am everywhere and nowhere, she whispered.
The Abyssal soldiers simulated enemy units for her. She darted between them, striking with precision, and her shadow clones now reacted independently, flanking and trapping her targets.
Jinyoung observed. Her synergy with Duality is remarkable. Shadows mimic the abyss… she might be the perfect scout.
Riyomi's training was brutal—she pushed herself to the edge of exhaustion, testing how much the Ruler blessing amplified her speed and stealth. Every successful maneuver gave her more confidence.
Scene 4 — Riku: The Speed Experiment
Riku blurred across the battlefield, almost invisible to the naked eye. Each movement was calculated, each step synchronized with the flow of Duality's energy.
If I can't outrun the collapse of a universe, I won't survive, he thought, testing how far the blessing extended his reflexes.
He raced alongside Abyssal soldiers, dodging energy blasts and performing split-second counterattacks. Each step left trails of distorted air, interacting strangely with Jinyoung's aura.
Duality… it's not just power. It's timing, perception, life itself.
By the end of the drills, Riku could move in bursts too fast for a normal SSS hunter to track. Yet even he knew this was only the beginning.
Scene 5 — Combined Drills: Hunters & Abyssal Army
Jinyoung raised both hands. The Duality energy flared, forming shifting barriers that isolated the battlefield into zones.
The Abyssal soldiers formed defensive lines, their shadows intertwining with Jinyoung's aura.
Hunters split into squads, combining abilities with Haru's mana, Riku's speed, and Riyomi's shadows.
Each strike, block, and dodge was measured—not for survival, but to train instinct with blessing synergy.
Haru's mana blasts created controlled shockwaves. Riyomi's shadows intercepted them mid-air. Riku moved faster than the explosions could expand. The Abyssal soldiers acted as both shields and mirrors, reflecting attacks to test reflexes.
Jinyoung smiled faintly. This… is more than raw power. This is coordination. Precision. Control.
Scene 6 — Abyssal Army Evolution
The Abyssal soldiers, Liam, Rune, and the other evolved units, began showing unexpected growth:
Liam's armor gleamed brighter, spikes elongating, crystalline shards shifting like living ice. His brute strength increased tenfold.
Rune's clones gained intelligence, strategizing attacks and adapting mid-battle.
Secretary and the Orc mage bosses reshaped their forms, incorporating Abyssal energy into new magical systems.
They are no longer tools. They are warriors, extensions of me, Jinyoung thought.
Even small Abyssal soldiers began mimicking tactics, dodging and countering with uncanny precision. Duality acted like a conductor, linking army, hunters, and allies together.
Scene 7 — Fine-Tuning & Inner Mastery
Jinyoung closed his eyes. Duality spun violently, then settled. He began practicing conscious control over the black/purple and white/grey sides.
Black/Purple: Devours unstable energy, reshapes battlefield obstacles, enhances soldiers' combat instincts.
White/Grey: Stabilizes blessings, amplifies ally abilities, shields from hostile energy.
He practiced switching between them seamlessly, using the Duality to balance both offensive and defensive maneuvers for himself and his army.
Each movement left trails of swirling energy, testing the limits of both the army and hunters. Sweat, blood, and energy mingled—but no one faltered.
Scene 8 — Closing & Foreshadowing
The sun—or what passed for a sun in the multiverse training field—began to set. The battlefield was littered with scorch marks, frost scars, and energy traces.
Jinyoung opened his eyes. We are stronger… but the Monarchs won't wait forever.
Haru grinned, "I feel like I can handle anything now."
Riyomi smirked, "Shadows and speed, perfected."
Riku laughed, "And I don't think even a top-tier Monarch can catch me… yet."
Jinyoung looked at the Abyssal army, fully integrated. Next step… mastery. The Monarchs are coming. And when they do, we'll be ready.