The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 101 - The Secret Training

Chapter 101: 101 - The Secret Training

Kaiser, Viktor, Edmar, Brock, Khan, and Jin walked together across the wide training ground, their footsteps crunching lightly against the packed dirt.

The sun was high by now, hanging over the Training Ground like an ever-watchful eye. The air was hot and heavy with the smell of sweat, dust, and the faint burn of exertion.

Tap- Tap- Tap—

Tap- Tap- Tap—

Tap- Tap- Tap—

The group headed toward one of the larger open arenas surrounded by wooden weapon racks, and a few stone benches placed nearby for people to watch or rest.

The training ground wasn’t really crowded, but there were still a handful of people around, either practicing alone or in pairs.

Some of them glanced at the group in curiosity when they noticed the six walking together.

"A new young fighter was added to their group..."

"Oh, you’re right."

"I would’ve thought Brock and the two were picking on the three boys, but it seems like they’re actually in a chill relationship, seeing that they’re always together whenever they’re having breaks."

Some of the people watching whispered among themselves.

Anyway—

As soon as they reached the arena... Kaiser and Viktor broke away from the group and walked straight toward the weapon racks.

Then without hesitation, Kaiser grabbed a wooden greatsword— its surface scratched and worn from repeated strikes. Viktor, on the other hand, took two wooden axes, slightly smaller than usual but no less sturdy-looking.

Then, without a word, Kaiser turned back toward Edmar and—

FWUMP!

He tossed something in his direction!

"Hmm?"

Fwip-

Edmar instinctively raised his arms and caught them.

Two wooden one-handed swords.

He looked down at them, confused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What’s this for?"

Kaiser just smiled, casually stepping into the arena.

"Experience."

"...Huh?"

"That’s the training we’re always doing after lunch."

Kaiser said with a shrug.

"The fastest way to improve our techniques and skills... is through battle."

He added.

Edmar frowned.

"So... We’re just basically sparring?"

Kaiser didn’t answer immediately. But opening his mouth—

"I don’t think we can really call it [BASIC]."

He awkwardly mumbled that.

Then, he turned to look at Viktor and nodded.

Viktor nodded back, walking to the edge of the arena and taking a seat on one of the stone benches. He was twirling his axe around lazily in his hand, clearly not planning to step in right away.

That’s when Kaiser finally looked back at Edmar.

"You’ll see soon, just watch."

He said with a smirk.

Then, without any more explanation, Kaiser walked to the center of the arena.

"..."

Edmar stayed in place, still gripping the wooden swords tightly, watching closely.

He knew something strange was going on, but he couldn’t quite figure it out yet.

’Viktor wasn’t joining the fight? Then who—?’

Just as Edmar thought of that.

T A P.

Heavy footsteps echoed as someone else stepped onto the arena floor from the opposite side.

His eyes quickly turned toward it, and there—

"Huh?"

He saw Brock, a stupid grin plastered on his face.

Edmar’s eyes widened.

"...What...?"

A frown slowly crept over his face as the realization sank in.

’Wait... Kaiser is going to spar with him?’

Edmar turned to look at Viktor, his confusion deepening. Viktor was still just seated, leaning forward a bit, watching the arena casually like he had seen this happen already.

Then, he turned back toward the center. Brock had taken a wooden greatsword too— just slightly larger than Kaiser’s. He spun it once in his hand before gripping it firmly.

"Ready, kid?"

Brock asked, a bit excited.

Kaiser exhaled and raised his weapon.

"Yeah."

And just like that—

"I’ll start, old man."

BAM!

FWOOSH—!

Kaiser rushed forward!

"..."

Edmar blinked, startled by the sudden burst of movement. Kaiser moved like a bullet, closing the distance between him and Brock with a powerful dash.

He didn’t hesitate. As soon as he got into range, he swung his weapon with both hands in a wide horizontal arc!

THWACK—!

The wooden greatswords collided, a loud crack echoing across the training ground.

Brock had blocked it with one arm. One.

Kaiser gritted his teeth, putting more force behind his attack, but Brock didn’t budge.

Then—

BAM!

Brock pushed forward and shoved Kaiser back several steps. But instead of retreating fully, Kaiser spun with the momentum and slashed from the other side!

"...!"

Edmar’s eyes widened. The speed, the sharpness of that follow-up—it was clean. Crisp.

Kaiser didn’t have that mastery over greatsword when they fought before... And it’s only been a few days since that!

Moving on, Brock blocked it like it was nothing.

TAK—!

And then came the counter.

WHOOSH—

Brock raised his greatsword and brought it down vertically!

Kaiser raised his weapon in time—

BOOM!

The impact cracked the wood slightly. Kaiser’s knees bent, his arms shaking.

"GURGH...!"

He grunted but didn’t fall.

Instead—

"GRAAHH!"

He tilted his weapon, deflecting Brock’s blade to the side, then lunged forward with a heavy upward swing!

Brock stepped back just in time, avoiding the blow by a hair. The attack missed—but the movement itself was sharp and powerful.

"..."

Edmar, still standing off the arena, was now watching with intense focus. He thought Kaiser was strong and decent, sure... but he didn’t expect this.

Not this level of strength. He was fighting against Brock, a well-known elite among the Silver Ranker veterans. And he wasn’t going down immediately.

’How long has he been doing this kind of training...?’

(It’s just Kaiser’s 2nd day if fighting Brock... But Kaiser had been fighting someone stronger than him since the beginning, he was fighting Viktor back when he was just new in the Copper Place. This was how he got stronger fast.)

BAM!

SWOOSH—

Kaiser charged in again, unleashing another series of rapid attacks. Every movement, every swing— Edmar could tell he wasn’t just blindly swinging.

There was structure. A pattern. It wasn’t polished, not yet... but it was there. He was trying things mid-fight, figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

This wasn’t just a spar.

This was a forge.

And Kaiser was letting Brock hammer his instincts and form into shape.

After several more exchanges, Brock finally landed a clean hit.

THUD—!

A shoulder blow.

"KEUK?!!"

Kaiser stumbled back. But he didn’t fall. He didn’t stop.

"GRAAAAHH—!!"

He lunged in again.

This time, he feinted right— then pivoted to the left and swung!

TWHACK!

Brock blocked it, and his grin widened. He liked what he was seeing. Kaiser was getting better and better through sheer desperation!

"I see..."

Edmar blinked slowly, now understanding.

This was the [Secret Training].

Fighting these three monsters.

Learning through fire and pain.

And based on Viktor’s relaxed expression... this wouldn’t be a rare occasion.

’Are they going to do this everyday...?’

(Yes.)

Edmar lowered his gaze to the wooden swords in his hands. They suddenly felt heavier.

"..."

Then, he looked back up just as Brock knocked Kaiser down with a well-placed kick to the stomach.

BAM!

"KEUGH...!"

Kaiser rolled on the ground, coughing— but even as he groaned, he was trying to get back up.

Brock finally stepped back.

"That’s enough for now."

He said casually, lowering his weapon.

"O... kay..."

Kaiser nodded weakly, sitting up and panting hard.

The match was over.

But the training?

Far from it.

Edmar tightened his grip on his swords, his mind racing.

"So this is how they train, huh..."

This was the difference maker between them.

This was how Kaiser were closing the gap.

Not by meditating or something shady shits.

But by challenging hard obstacles again and again until you get better... And eventually get over it.

"...Alright then."

Edmar muttered under his breath.

Tap-—

Then he stepped toward the arena!

"I want to try too."

Edmar declared.

"Oh?"

Brock raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a smirk.

Jin and Khan, who were watching nearby, smiled a little. They find Kaiser and the other two as fun toys to train, they were curious about their potentials.

Viktor glanced at Edmar and chuckled quietly.

"You’re greedy. It was supposed to be my turn."

He muttered under his breath, but he just brushed it off afterwards.

Kaiser, still catching his breath, smirked from where he was sitting.

"...Heh. I knew he would like this."

He said.

Anyway—

"Haha, I’m flattered you want to fight me, kid. And I would really like to bea—train you too."

Brock said.

"But unfortunately, my turn is done now."

Then he followed with that.

"Huh?"

Edmar tilted his head, confused by his words.

But without explaining, Brock stepped out of the arena— he was carrying Kaiser on his shoulder. The guy was barely moving, groaning.

"Gugh... Thanks..."

"No biggie, brat."

Brock walked toward one of the benches nearby, then gently sat down and placed Kaiser beside him.

Then, as Edmar was watching them—

TAP—

Someone suddenly stepped into the arena. He didn’t even notice it.

"...?"

And when he looked in front of him—

"Hello."

He saw Khan.

Khan smiled and waved at him.

"Looks like I’ll be your training partner."

He said with a light tone, a wooden spear in his right hand.