The Awakening Of The Shadows
Chapter 47: A New Lian

Chapter 47: A New Lian

The dust was still settling around the training arena as Lian remained on his knees, struggling to catch his breath. His entire body ached, his muscles burned, and his mind was still in shock from what had just happened.

He had lost. Again.

But this time, it wasn’t just another defeat.

It was a lesson.

Viktor stood before him, arms crossed, watching with that cold, assessing gaze. His expression wasn’t one of contempt or frustration, but it didn’t show pride either.

"Get up," Viktor ordered, with no patience for hesitation.

Lian gritted his teeth and forced his body to move. Every muscle protested, but he slowly rose to his feet. His legs wobbled, his body trembled, but he didn’t fall.

The silence among the soldiers watching was broken by a dry chuckle.

"He still has the strength to stand," one of them commented.

"Let’s see if that means anything," another replied.

Lian ignored their words, keeping his eyes locked on Viktor.

"Is that all?" he asked, his voice filled with exhaustion but not defeat.

Viktor raised an eyebrow.

"You want to continue?"

Lian clenched his fists. He knew he had no chance against Viktor now, but he couldn’t accept that this was how it ended.

"If I give up now, everything I’ve done until today will have been for nothing."

The veteran sighed.

"Then let’s see if you’re as determined as you think."

He took a step back and gestured to the arena.

"From now on, you’ll fight every day," Viktor said. "Not against me. Not yet. But against every other soldier in this base."

Lian frowned. "What?"

"If you want to become a real warrior, you need to learn to fight against different styles and tactics. And more importantly..." Viktor narrowed his eyes. "You need to learn to lose. Again and again, until losing is no longer an option."

A chill ran down Lian’s spine.

"So, starting tomorrow, every morning, you’ll have practice fights against anyone willing to face you," Viktor continued. "You can use your sword. But if you rely on it, I guarantee you won’t last a week."

Lian swallowed hard.

"Understood," he finally said.

Viktor nodded.

"Good. Now get some rest. Tomorrow, your hell begins."

---

The sky over Red Hollow was covered in dark clouds when Lian woke up, his body still aching from the previous night’s fight. He had barely slept, but he had no choice. Training would start immediately.

Stepping out of his tent, he headed straight for the training grounds, where soldiers were already warming up and preparing for their daily routines.

Viktor was there, waiting.

"Are you ready?" he asked, without ceremony.

Lian simply nodded.

Viktor scanned the area and pointed to a tall, muscular soldier sharpening a dagger.

"You. First fight."

The man grinned as he stood up.

"Finally," he murmured, spinning the dagger between his fingers. "I’ve always wanted to see what this academy prodigy can do."

Lian took his stance, Oblivion in hand. He tried to recall what he had learned from Viktor the night before.

The soldier moved first, his speed surprising for his size. He lunged with a quick thrust, aiming for Lian’s flank.

Lian dodged by instinct, spinning to the side and attempting a counterattack with his blade.

But before he could complete the strike, he felt a brutal impact against his chest.

The soldier had feinted his initial attack and landed a solid punch to Lian’s stomach.

The air was knocked from his lungs.

The next attack was a swift side kick, sending Lian sprawling backward. He landed on his knees, coughing.

"Get up," Viktor commanded.

Lian pushed himself up, ignoring the pain.

The soldier smirked.

"Not fast enough," he taunted.

Lian took a deep breath. He needed to stop thinking like a swordsman.

Oblivion was a lethal weapon, but relying on it made him predictable.

The soldier lunged again, and this time, Lian didn’t just dodge. He stepped into the attack.

The dagger’s blade grazed his arm, cutting into his skin, but he ignored the pain and grabbed the soldier’s wrist, twisting his body and throwing him to the ground in a swift movement.

Before his opponent could react, Lian pressed Oblivion’s blade against his throat.

Silence filled the arena.

Then, Viktor gave a small smirk.

"Now that was decent."

The soldier on the ground chuckled, raising his hands in surrender.

"Not bad, kid. But this is just the beginning."

Lian helped the man up and stepped back, tasting the metallic tang of blood in his mouth.

He looked around. The watching soldiers muttered among themselves, evaluating him.

Viktor studied Lian’s expression and crossed his arms.

"Who’s next?" Lian asked, his voice hoarse.

Viktor smiled.

"You’re still far from being ready, but at least now... you want to fight."

The crowd around them began to murmur.

Lian was exhausted, injured, but something new burned inside him.

This training... wasn’t punishment anymore.

It was the path to something far greater.

---

The days passed in a blur.

Since his first fight in that arena, Lian hadn’t had a single moment of rest.

Each morning, he woke up alongside the veteran soldiers and faced Viktor’s brutal training. His body, already used to the rigorous academy drills, was pushed beyond limits he never imagined.

Fights. Falls. Blood. Pain.

Viktor wasn’t joking when he said his hell was about to begin.

Lian fought every day, against opponents who grew stronger each time.

He faced men and women who had survived countless battles against the monsters of the portals—soldiers who had been in real combat for years. Each one had a different fighting style, forcing him to adapt constantly.

He learned to predict attacks, to read subtle movements, and to fight even when his body screamed for him to stop.

His reflexes became sharper.

His strikes, more precise.

But more than anything, his mindset changed.

He stopped fighting like a student from the academy—

And started fighting like a warrior.

There was no room for pride or hesitation.

His opponents gave him no breathing space, and he returned the favor with the same intensity.

With every blow he took, he learned a new way to counter.

With every fall, he learned to get up faster.

Gradually, the soldiers who once mocked him began to see him differently.

They still taunted him, but now—there was respect in their eyes.

And after weeks of relentless training, Lian finally stood in the center of the arena, facing Viktor, and asked:

"What’s next?"

The veteran studied him for a moment before crossing his arms.

"You’ve learned to survive against humans," Viktor said.

"Now let’s see if you survive against monsters."

Lian remained silent for a moment. He knew this day would come. This was why he was here.

To fight on the front lines.

To face real monsters.

And now, It was time to face that reality.