《The Legendary Acki》 The sad beginning Narrator: ¡°This is Seacrest, a peaceful village on the shores of the nation Velora. A land once filled with darkness, now flourishing, thanks to eight legendary heroes. They appeared from places unknown, united to liberate these lands from tyranny. Their names have been etched into history, their deeds shaping the world Acki now calls home.¡± The scene shifts to a quiet, sunlit field just outside the village. Among the tall grass and distant mountains, a young boy lay on his back, his face buried in a worn, leather-bound book. Acki¡¯s thoughts swirled as he read, his eyes wide with wonder. So this is the secret to magic? Visualization¡­ concentration¡­ His heart quickened. A smile tugged at his lips, curiosity dancing in his gaze. ¡°Hey, Acki!¡± his mother¡¯s voice rang from the house, cutting through his thoughts. ¡°Lunch is ready!¡± He sat up quickly, marking the page with a blade of grass. ¡°Coming, Mom!¡± he called back, springing to his feet and dashing toward the cottage. His mind was still racing with thoughts of magic, but the scent of honeyed toast grounded him in the moment. As he washed his hands and joined his mother at the table, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Any letters from Dad?¡± His mother hesitated, her smile faltering ever so slightly. ¡°Not yet, dear. But he¡¯ll send one soon, I¡¯m sure.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Acki nodded, biting into his toast. ¡°I miss him. He promised he¡¯d bring me a new book on magic.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be home soon,¡± she reassured him, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty. ¡°Now eat up before it gets cold.¡± The next morning, Acki stood alone in the field, determination in his eyes. He held out his hand, reciting the words from his book. ¡°I call upon the flames of the sun¡ªFireball!¡± A small flicker of flame appeared in his palm before sputtering out. His shoulders slumped in disappointment. ¡°That was¡­ lame.¡± He frowned, staring at his hand. ¡°Maybe if I yell louder¡­¡± He tried again, but the result was the same. A tiny flame, then nothing. ¡°Ugh, maybe magic isn¡¯t for me,¡± Acki muttered, tossing the book aside. He picked up a stick, swinging it half-heartedly through the air. ¡°Dad¡¯s a swordsman, after all. Maybe I¡¯m more like him.¡± Just as he was about to give up, his mother¡¯s voice called from the house again. ¡°Acki! A letter from your father!¡± Acki¡¯s heart leapt. ¡°Really? I¡¯m coming!¡± He sprinted home, kicking up dust as he raced through the fields. He burst through the door to find his mother standing at the table, the letter already in her hands. She was trembling. Acki¡¯s excitement faded as he watched her slowly unfold the letter. Her eyes scanned the words, and the color drained from her face. ¡°Mom¡­?¡± Acki stepped closer, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°What does it say?¡± Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she dropped the letter to the floor. Acki¡¯s world froze. His mother¡¯s sobs filled the room, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. He could only stand there, helpless, as the realization hit him like a blow to the chest. Days passed, but the warmth in their home was gone. His mother had changed, her grief turning into something darker. She stopped smiling. She stopped cooking. She barely spoke to Acki. Instead, strange men began visiting the house, and his mother sank deeper into despair. Acki sat alone in his room, staring at the magic book he once treasured. I don¡¯t understand¡­ he thought, his chest tight with confusion. Mom was never like this before¡­ He clenched his fists, his mind drifting back to the letter¡ªthe one that had shattered their lives. Dad¡¯s not coming back¡­ His mother¡¯s muffled sobs echoed from the other room, and Acki buried his face in his hands, wishing he could make sense of it all. Black Flames This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The Half Demon Girl This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The First Adventure Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. A Burning Feeling This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The Sword Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Glimpse of Power Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The Timeskip This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Official Adventurer Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Go time Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. New Meaning The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Travel If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Hard Work The sun rose, and with it, the start of a new day. Acki was the first to wake, standing up and shouting across the camp. ¡°Wake up, everyone! Morning exercises start now!¡± His tone was serious but not harsh. Groans and yawns filled the air as everyone slowly stirred, rubbing their eyes from exhaustion. As the group gathered, Acki led them a little further from the camp area. ¡°Good morning, everyone! I hope you rested well. As I said yesterday, today we begin your training. Since none of you have combat experience, we¡¯ll start with some light exercises. Begin with stretches, followed by push-ups, squats, planks, and sit-ups. Do as many as you can. Afterward, drink plenty of water.¡± The group nodded and got to work. Most of them struggled with the exercises, barely able to do a single push-up, but Acki wasn¡¯t concerned. He knew that with time and proper training, they would improve. As he scanned the group, something caught his eye. Thorin was effortlessly performing each exercise with perfect form, doing ten of each without breaking a sweat. Acki watched, impressed, though he kept his thoughts to himself. He continued circulating through the group, offering help and adjusting their forms. When the exercises ended, the group looked exhausted, hunger written on their faces. Acki surveyed them before speaking up. ¡°Since everyone did such a great job, I think it¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± His cheerful tone lifted their spirits. ¡°I¡¯ll need a small party of three or four to go hunt for some food.¡± Without hesitation, Thorin spoke up, eager to impress. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Acki scanned the group, waiting for anyone else to volunteer. After a moment of silence, he shrugged. ¡°I guess that means Thorin will pick who goes with him.¡± Thorin quickly chose two others from the group, his eyes shining with excitement. ¡°You two, come with me,¡± he said, gesturing cheerfully. The two groaned but followed him anyway, knowing they had no choice. As they walked toward the woods, Acki kept an eye on them from a distance. Once they were out of sight, he jumped into the trees, moving silently as he followed them. From his vantage point above, Acki was once again impressed by Thorin¡¯s skills. The man moved through the forest with ease, his sharp eyes spotting animals before they had a chance to flee. Within an hour, Thorin had hunted three boars and two rabbits. ¡°Do you think this will be enough for everyone?¡± Thorin asked, looking at the two with him. The others groaned, already tired. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯ll be enough. Let¡¯s just get back to camp. I¡¯m starving,¡± one said. ¡°Same here,¡± the other mumbled. Thorin chuckled at their complaints. ¡°Guess we should head back then. Don¡¯t want to keep Acki waiting.¡± Acki continued to observe, quietly admiring Thorin¡¯s leadership and hunting skills. As the group returned to camp, Acki silently dropped back into position among the others, unnoticed by the returning party. The group cheered when they saw the amount of food Thorin and his companions had gathered. Thorin brushed off the praise, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he accepted the compliments.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The group set to work cooking the meat, and the aroma of sizzling food made everyone¡¯s stomachs growl. They ate as much as they could, leaving some behind for later. Afterward, Acki finished his meal in private before rejoining the group. ¡°Alright, everyone. Pack up. We¡¯re covering more ground today.¡± There were audible groans, but Thorin remained upbeat. Everyone packed quickly and followed Acki as he led them onward. Asha, who had started to regain some of the weight she¡¯d lost, walked close by his side. Acki noticed the subtle change and spoke up. ¡°You¡¯ve gained some weight back,¡± he said, his tone serious but kind. Asha blushed and looked down, embarrassed. ¡°Am I getting fat?¡± she asked, voice quiet. ¡°Maybe I should cut back on the food.¡± Acki looked back at her, startled. He immediately tried to correct himself. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what I meant. I meant that you¡¯ve started to gain some strength back.¡± Asha¡¯s expression softened, and she looked up at him, the tension easing. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered, barely audible. Thorin, overhearing the conversation, couldn¡¯t help himself. He laughed loudly and shouted toward the group. ¡°Hey, look at these two lovebirds making conversation!¡± Acki turned red, slightly embarrassed. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say that!¡± he called back, trying to hide his discomfort. Asha kept walking, her thoughts lingering on the moment she shared with Acki. The rest of the group laughed as the mood lightened. But the laughter quickly stopped when a group of 20 bandits jumped from the bushes, brandishing weapons. ¡°Everyone stop! We have you surrounded!¡± one of the bandits yelled. ¡°Give us everything you have, and we won¡¯t hurt you!¡± The group froze, fear visible on their faces, but Acki and Thorin remained unfazed. Acki stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t want trouble. Just turn around and leave, and I¡¯ll let this slide.¡± The bandits laughed mockingly. ¡°Ha! What are you going to do? Fight us all?¡± Acki¡¯s expression darkened, and he let out a disappointed sigh. ¡°Well, have it your way.¡± With a blur of motion, Acki swiftly took down all 20 bandits, reappearing at his original position without ever drawing his weapon. The group stood in stunned silence, watching the bandits crumble. ¡°Alright, everyone, carry on,¡± Acki said, as if nothing had happened. The mood shifted instantly. Fear evaporated, and the group felt a newfound confidence, knowing that Acki would protect them. Their respect for him deepened, especially Thorin, who was more impressed than ever. As they resumed their journey, Asha returned to Acki¡¯s side. He remained as calm and collected as ever, unfazed by the earlier confrontation. After a long day of traveling, Acki finally found the perfect spot for camp. He spoke to the group once more. ¡°Alright, everyone, rest up as much as you can. we start comat training when you¡¯re done.¡± The groans from the group were louder than ever, but they obeyed. After a brief rest, Acki led them to a clearing, where he spoke again. ¡°Alright, everyone, we¡¯ll start with basic fighting training. Everyone grab a branch and pair up with someone. One of you should be stronger, the other weaker. The stronger one will help the weaker one improve their form, or if the weaker one has better form, they¡¯ll help the stronger one with technique. I¡¯ll be here to help with your form as well.¡± The group got to work. Thorin, as always, impressed everyone with his strength and form. His skill was unmatched, and Acki couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride knowing that Thorin would soon become one of his strongest allies. As the night wore on, the group trained hard, some improving rapidly, others struggling. But Acki wasn¡¯t worried. He spoke to the group with encouragement. ¡°Great work, everyone. You¡¯re improving quickly. Just remember, strength doesn¡¯t come overnight. Prepare yourselves for more training tomorrow.¡± The group groaned, but Acki¡¯s cheerful tone made them laugh as they headed back to camp. They gathered around the fire, their tired faces softened by the warmth. ¡°I¡¯m beat,¡± one of the group members said. ¡°We did so much today.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± another added. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to wake up tomorrow.¡± The group chuckled, but soon their conversation turned to Thorin. ¡°How is Thorin so strong?¡± someone asked. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem tired at all after all that training.¡± ¡°I thought I was the only one who noticed,¡± another chimed in. Thorin laughed, brushing off the praise. ¡°Ah, stop it. The only reason I¡¯m strong is because of Acki. He motivates me. I might be older than him, but I look up to him.¡± ¡°Yeah, right,¡± someone teased. ¡°You probably come from a family of super strong people.¡± The group laughed, but Thorin¡¯s expression suddenly changed. His usual cheerfulness faded. ¡°Well¡­ actually, that¡¯s not far from the truth.¡± Everyone fell silent, and even Acki listened intently. Thorin sighed and looked around the group. ¡°I come from a family of Vikings. My ancestors were some of the strongest warriors in history. My parents were well-known too, but by the time I was born, they had left that life behind. They settled in a small village, hoping for redemption. But the Viking spirit never died within them. When I was nine, our village was attacked by a group of slavers. They¡­ they killed everyone, including my parents.¡± The group listened in stunned silence. Some looked away, uncomfortable with the sadness in Thorin¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± someone whispered. Thorin let out a dry laugh. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You were curious. Who wouldn¡¯t be when someone like me comes along?¡± He grinned, and the mood lightened as the group started talking and laughing again. Acki, still nearby, felt a deeper bond with Thorin than before. They both knew what it was like to lose everything. Crownless Unity If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ambush A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A message in blood Edrik got off his horse and swung his sword it left Acki swinging away from him He grinned it was obvious he was cocky Edrik: I¡¯ll beat you to a pulp and take the merchandise you stole. Ackis face showed rage like no other Acki: Stop calling my friend''s merchandise A smug laugh came from Edrik Edrik: or what? He kept laughing, though Acki had fully snapped. He jumped at him with all his force, his fists ready. Acki: I''ll kill you His eyes had a dark feel to them he was In a blind rage. The fight continued as Acki faced Edrik, who was delivering deadly swings with his sword, which moved with incredible speed. Acki managed to block every attack, narrowly avoiding being hit. Edrik appeared to have an endless amount of stamina, Acki focused intently, searching for any openings in his opponent''s speed. After enduring a series of brutal attacks, Acki finally spoke out. Acki had a faint grin on his face, he had figured something out, though it was clear he was getting tired as well. Acki: You can''t control it can you..? He was gasping for air Edrik''s sword and armor were worn out, though he wasn''t tired¡­ not one bit. Then he faced Acki, listening, and spoke out. Edrik: So you''ve noticed¡­ I must say I''m impressed no one I''ve ever fought until now has noticed mid-fight that I can''t control my power. You truly are a strong one, Acki. Ackis grin widened Acki: Keep your worthless phrase for some other low life¡­ don''t think that I''m like anyone you fought before I''m on a whole new levelIf you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Ackis''s group was amazed by his skills they were extremely impressed. Thorin watched closer than anyone, and he felt motivated with each passing second. He wished he could be as strong as Acki one day. Edrik: might be but you still have no chance of beating me He had a cocky face Acki: quit acting tough we both know you''re losing this fight Acki used his feet to launch himself at Edrik his fists prepared to destroy his head Edrick blocked just in time barely keeping up with Ackis strength. Acki then unleashed a barrage of punches each one getting stronger and faster Edrik: brute strength won''t be enough to beat me Acki smiled Acki: oh I know He curled his leg preparing for an attack Edrik had no choice but to shield himself from the barrage then Acki kicked him with his leg on the side launching Edrik into a tree and away from his sword the kick was so strong it emitted a sound wave immediately breaking Edrik''s armor blood came out of Edriks mouth barely breathing Acki grinned curling his fists and slowly walking toward Edrik Acki: ¡°You¡¯re nothing without that speed of yours, aren¡¯t you? All that power, and still, you¡¯re just a fragile little man hiding behind strength you can¡¯t even control. Pathetic.¡± He stopped just a few steps away from Edrik, his voice cold and dripping with bloodlust. Acki: ¡°You said brute strength wouldn¡¯t be enough. Maybe not. But I don¡¯t need strength to break you I just need you to keep running out of excuses.¡± He cracked his knuckles, his shadow looming over the broken man. Acki: ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? Don¡¯t insult my friends but if you kept on doing it, I¡¯ll make you regret it. Now, get up¡­ or I¡¯ll make sure you never stand again.¡± Edrik attempted to stand up then fell to his knees throwing up blood Acki: Where did all those big words go? Don''t tell me they didn''t mean anything Acki started laughing he walked right up to Edrik Edrik spoke out barely Edrik: Go to hell you demon Acki laughed even louder Acki: SO YOU¡¯VE FINALLY NOTICED YOU MESSED WITH A DEMON AND NOW YOU¡¯RE PAYING THE PRICE He grabbed Edrik by the neck lifting him in the air and curled his fist Acki swung as hard as he could hitting Edrik in his stomach repeatedly each strike left Edrik closer to death Then Asha yelled out Asha: ENOUGH ACKI Acki looked over his shoulder wondering whys she yelling Asha: this isn''t what we stand for¡­ what you are doing is torture and by the time you''re done he¡¯ll die Thorin yelled out at the same time Thorin: Yeah she''s right! The Acki we know wouldn''t kill someone who''s already down! Acki cooled down throwing Edrik back to the ground Acki stood over Edrik, his fists clenched, blood dripping from his knuckles. His black eyes were a void, his presence suffocating. He crouched down next to Edrik¡¯s broken body, his voice low and chilling. ¡°You have no idea how close you are to death right now,¡± Acki said, his tone razor sharp and dripping with menace. ¡°I should kill you. I want to kill you. But you¡¯re not worth the blood on my hands.¡± He paused, his gaze piercing. ¡°No, you¡¯ll serve me better alive.¡± He grabbed Edrik by his neck, lifting his battered face to meet his own. ¡°You¡¯re going to run back to your guild. You¡¯re going to tell them what happened here. Tell them that Acki isn¡¯t someone they can toy with. If they send another weakling like you after me, I¡¯ll show no mercy. I¡¯ll rip them apart, piece by piece, and send their remains as a gift. I don¡¯t care who they are or what they stand for.¡± Acki¡¯s voice dropped even lower, filled with bloodlust. ¡°Let them know I¡¯m not some foolish adventurer looking for trouble. I know exactly what I¡¯m doing. I know your guild is just a tool of the corrupt nation you serve. And I know about the rot in your so called leaders. I¡¯m going to burn it all to the ground. Every chain you¡¯ve forged, every life you¡¯ve ruined I will free them all. But first, I¡¯ll make sure the guild knows their place.¡± He let Edrik fall back to the ground and stood tall, his shadow looming. ¡°And you,¡± he said coldly, his dark eyes boring into Edrik. ¡°If you ever come after me again if you dare to think you¡¯re strong enough to face me I promise you, I won¡¯t hold back next time. I¡¯ll kill you, and I¡¯ll enjoy it. So get stronger, Edrik. Get smarter. Because if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll end you without hesitation.¡± Acki turned to leave but stopped, looking back over his shoulder. His voice carried a deadly calm. ¡°This is your one chance. Don¡¯t waste it. Run back and spread my message. And pray to whatever gods you believe in that we don¡¯t meet again.¡± Everyone, let''s head out! Make sure to take his horse equipment, food, water, and everything else he has. Judgment If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Blood And Sweat Two years had passed since Crownless Unity began their secret training. They had taken refuge in the same location where Acki had once trained with Ian as a child, making it their base for both living and grueling training. Each day, the group grew stronger, progressing at an incredible pace. Over time, Acki also gained better control over his emotions, along with his powers and leadership skills. Their daily routine consisted of grueling training, sparring, endurance tests, and mastery of various skills and knowledge. They had all grown so much that if their former selves were to see them now, they wouldn¡¯t even recognize who they had become Acki stood near the training ground, watching closely as everyone sparred. The noise of blades clashing and heavy breathing filled the air. Acki fixed his gaze on Thorin and Crimson, their movements sharp and calculated, each strike carrying enough to end a beast their faces showing no fear nor showing any signs of being tired. Acki had a concerned look on his face Acki: Thorin Crimson ENOUGH! His voice was sharp commanding and smooth at the same time Acki walked up to the both of them Acki: Both of you are improving, but you keep holding back. I understand that you don''t want to hurt each other, but if you''re not going all out, you won''t improve. Both of them exhaled at the same time then Thorin spoke out Thorin: You''re right, Chief. It''s time we finally go all out against each question can he handle me He chuckled Thorin''s chest was swelling from pride Crimson showed a faint grin Crimson: You better believe it. I can handle you without breaking a sweat, but the real question is can you handle me? Acki laughed Acki: If you''re both so confident in yourselves, go all out this time. Don''t hold back any strength. Both of them looked straight into Ackis''s eyes Thorin: Right! Crimson: Right! Acki jumped back and yelled that was the sign to start their sparring match Crimson held his sword tightly and then vanished behind Thorin swinging his sword with all his strength Thorin was unfazed turned just in the nick of time blocking the attack The force of the blow reverberated through his body, but he stood firm, eyes locked on Crimson Thorin: You''ll need to be much faster than that to catch me off guard Crimson fired up unleashed a barrage of slash attacks slowly pushing Thorin back each strike was precise Thorin pushed his sword making Crimson fly back Crimson: quit being on the defense and attack already Acki watched closely thinking this was exactly what they needed to show any improvement Thorin: if I attacked now the fight would end too fast I would like to enjoy this as much as possible He chuckled Crimson had a serious face looking angry Crimson: take me seriously you overgrown gorilla Thorin: hey that''s not n- Before Thorin could finish what he was saying Crimson attacked again this time moving even faster he used his sword and fists to fight making Thorin block his sword while he attacked with his fists Thorin started taking the fight seriously and went on the attack as well leaving Crimson damagedIf you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Crimson: finally realized that if you didn''t take me seriously you''d lose? Thorin smirked Thorin: don''t make me laugh you''re not nearly strong enough to defeat me Crimson lunged forward with a powerful thrust, aiming straight for Thorin¡¯s chest. Thorin didn¡¯t move, his grin widening. He twisted his body at the last moment, using Crimson¡¯s momentum to send him crashing into the ground. Crimson let out a grunt, rolling to his feet Crimson: Damn it¡­ He muttered under his breath, frustrated but refusing to back down Acki With his hands crossed over his chest, he couldn¡¯t feel prouder of the people they had become. Then Asha appeared out of nowhere, bringing tea and biscuits for Acki. Asha waved to Acki. Asha: Hey Cheif you looked tired so I made you some tea and biscuits Acki turned to her with a wide smile Acki: thank you Asha I appreciate your concern Asha: no problem Acki took the cup of tea sipped it and went back to watching Thorin and Crimson Asha then realized they were sparring and they weren¡¯t holding back Asha had a concerned look on her face Asha: Those two look like they¡¯re going all out¡­ Acki: it¡¯s cause they are Asha''s face went pale Asha: and why are they going all out¡­ Acki: because I told them to Asha: YOU MORONIC IDIOT DO YOU NOT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME THEY SPARED WITHOUT HOLDING BACK Acki: woah mean and yeah who wouldn¡¯t remember that the both of them sustained bad injuries but after they healed their skill grew exponentially Asha: THEY WERENT JUST ANY KIND OF INJURIES BOTH OF THEM HAD CRACKED RIBS BROKEN ARMS AND MULTIPLE HEAD CONCUSSIONS Acki pointed toward the sky having a smug look on his face Acki: It''s going to be fine this time cause they aren¡¯t fighting each other for real it¡¯s only a sparring match plus if things do get serious I¡¯ll intervene Asha looked at Acki as if he was the stupidest person to ever live Asha: Wipe that smug look off your face¡­ or I''ll do it for you¡­ She said in a calm yet serious tone Acki had a drop of sweat on his forehead as he shifted his arms back to his chest Acki: oh relax just watch as they train it''s amazing how much they''ve grown over the years Asha listened and stayed right next to Acki watching as Thorin and Crimson fought Thorin: I think it¡¯s about time we finished this. His face was a serious expression, his determination unwavering. Crimson, though visibly tired, had a fire in his eyes that refused to die. Crimson: For once, I agree with you. Without hesitation, Crimson raised his sword high into the sky. He began spinning at an incredible speed, creating a sharp whirling sound. Channeling all his strength into his legs, he launched himself with explosive force toward Thorin. For a moment, Thorin¡¯s face showed a hint of worry, but he quickly suppressed it. He adjusted his stance, gripping his sword tightly with both hands. His body tensed like a coiled spring before he propelled himself forward, his blade aimed directly at the airborne Crimson. Their attacks were so fast that they seemed like flashes of light to everyone else except for one person. To Acki, time seemed to freeze. Everything slowed to a halt as he stood there, calm and unshaken. Step by step, he walked toward the clashing warriors, now suspended mid-air in a frozen moment. Acki raised a single finger from each hand, positioning himself precisely between the two attacks. Time resumed. A deafening crash echoed, and a massive cloud of dust erupted around them. No one could see what had just happened. Thorin, Crimson, and Asha stared into the dust-filled chaos, their hearts pounding. When the air cleared, Acki emerged unscathed, a faint smile playing on his lips. He stood calmly, his fingers effortlessly blocking both of their attacks. Acki: Both of you did a great job. I¡¯m really proud of you two. Thorin and Crimson were stunned. Their weapons fell from their hands as they dropped to one knee, their heads bowed in shame. Thorin: I apologize, Chief. I went too far¡­ I almost killed an ally. Crimson: Chief, I apologize as well. I ask that you punish both of us for losing control. Acki¡¯s gaze softened, devoid of any anger or disappointment. Acki: Why would I punish either of you? You both did exactly as I instructed. You pushed yourselves to the limit. Although¡­ He paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. Acki: ¡°You were about to kill each other, which is not what I instructed.¡± Thorin and Crimson, still ashamed, couldn¡¯t muster another word. They felt as though they had let their leader down. Acki: Enough of that. Stand up now. I already told you it¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve both grown immensely, and I¡¯m impressed. This is exactly what I wanted to see. Thorin and Crimson hesitated, but they slowly rose to their feet. Though their shame lingered, a sense of pride began to bloom. looking between them, with a faint smile Acki: For what it¡¯s worth¡­ that was one hell of a fight. You¡¯ve both come a long way. Thorin smirked faintly, the shame on his face fading. Thorin: I guess we did alright. Crimson still catching his breath Crimson: Don¡¯t give yourself too much credit. If Cheif didn¡¯t stop me you wouldn¡¯t be alive. Thorin grinned Thorin: Keep telling yourself that, Crimson. We both know who was holding back. Crimson: Oh, is that right? Before they could start bickering, Asha stormed over, arms full of bandages, her face a mix of anger and worry. Asha: Idiots, the both of you! Sit down before you drop dead! Crimson smiled trying to wave her off Crimson: It¡¯s just a scratch- Asha: Sit. Now. Thorin raised his hands in surrender, collapsing to the ground, while Crimson muttered under his breath but obeyed. Acki: You¡¯ve got more authority over them than I do. Asha: Maybe because I¡¯m not a reckless fool who lets his people beat each other to death. Acki grinned Acki: They weren¡¯t going to die. I would¡¯ve stopped them if it got too serious. Asha: Oh, really? Like the last time, when they ended up with broken ribs and concussions? Acki: And they came back stronger for it. Asha: Unbelievable. As Asha worked, Crimson leaned back against a rock, still catching his breath. Crimson: You¡¯re lucky she¡¯s here, Chief. Otherwise, you¡¯d have two less warriors. Thorin: Speak for yourself. I was fine. You¡¯re the one who looked ready to pass out. Crimson turned to Thorin and gave him a glare of death Crimson: Say that again, and I¡¯ll knock you out for real. Acki laughed out loud he was amused by their bitter talk Acki: Enough. Both of you are strong stop trying to make a competition out of it. Both Thorin and Crimson fell silent at his words. Despite their injuries, a sense of pride flickered in their expressions. Acki: Rest while you can. Tomorrowtwo will be sparring against me. Thorin groaned, leaning back with a wince. Thorin: You¡¯re trying to kill us, aren¡¯t you? Acki: If I wanted you dead, I wouldn¡¯t waste my time training you. Crimson let out a short laugh despite his exhaustion, while Asha rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she finished bandaging Thorin. Acki turned away, his gaze shifting to the rest of the group still training in the distance. For a moment, he allowed himself to take in the sight the sound of clashing steel, the sweat and effort of his people, the bond they had forged. Acki: We¡¯re getting there. Slowly but surely.