Chapter 10 #2
“So what you’re saying is the harder we train and the more we damage ourselves from our own attacks, the stronger we get?” I ask.
“Not just our attacks, for example what Michael did to you yesterday you will become stronger from that as well. The caveat from that is any damage we take from demons doesn’t cause the same effect, because when you are scratched or bitten from a demon some of their demonic essence is transferred through the wound, which our healing ability is just strong enough to heal normally and isn’t able to strengthen the wounded area, since it has to expel the demonic essence,” Lucius continues.
“That is why the entire group isn’t a lot stronger right?” I ask.
“That’s also why it takes us a lot longer to heal after the battles we have if we get injured,” Frida chimes in. “Look who else is here.”
Looking up as we enter the training grounds, I spot Perseus standing on the edge of the arena. As we get closer to him I notice his chest and arms are covered in fresh bandages, so he is still recovering. At least he can stand and walk around now.
Just as we cross into the arena, Fenrir shouts, “Behind you.”
I lunge forward, pivoting and catching Michael’s right forearm before his fist finds its mark.
“You’re not going to get me with that again,” I snap at Michael, locking eyes as I crush the vambrace around his arm.
“Not bad, this is closer to what I’m expecting from you, but you’re still in tune with Fenrir.” Michael replies and with a flick of his wrist he breaks the grip I have on his arm.
Jumping back to get some distance he removes his right greave with his left hand, then removes the crushed vambrace before repeating with his left arm.
“There is no reason to keep these decorative things on. I don’t want to destroy them,” he mutters before removing his chest piece and revealing a super defined body.
Fuck, he’s huge.
He has muscles on his muscles, covered in battle scars, a remnant of his past battles.
His pecs bulge, and his twelve-pack abs twitch as he becomes even more imposing, while moving back into a fighting stance.
“Why don’t you show me what you can really do?” he says with a smirk.
“Fine.”
Shifting, I’m taken off guard by the sight of my wings. As I flex my shoulders they flap and I’m pulled back a couple feet.
Wow, okay, we need to figure out how to use this to our advantage.
Without realizing it Michael attacks and Fenrir, instead of shouting this time, takes over avoiding Michael’s assault, countering with a slash of my now claws.
They connect with Michael’s abs and do nothing.
“How is that, aha,” I roar as Michael grabs my arm and snaps it like a twig before throwing me across the arena.
“What do I need to do to motivate you to actually take this training seriously?” he shouts. “If memory serves every time that Frida or Serafine was in danger you actually took it seriously. So do I have to resort to…”
“If you even think about it, I. WILL. FUCKING. KILL. YOU!” Fenrir and I scream as I instinctively use my wings to jump to our feet.
“Then try to stop me,” Michael replies back with a disturbing tone in his voice as he lunges at Frida, who is watching on the edge of the arena.
Without thinking, I dash toward them and get between the two of them.
The thought of him hurting her enrages me so much that Fenrir’s soul and mine begin to merge.
I feel that divinity again welling up in my wings, just as it becomes overwhelming an explosion of divine energy sends out a massive shockwave that completes the fusion.
The power that envelopes my entire being is so strong that it sends pulsing waves of energy out of me.
This time when I slash at Michael with my left claw, I draw blood, which catches him off guard.
I exploit that by smashing my right fist into the side of his head, sending him across the arena this time.
Chasing him down, I get above him, while still in the air, and put both claws together, raising them above my head, smashing him into the ground with such force it creates a huge crater.
As he bounces, I grab his left leg, spin, and throw him with all my might across the arena into a wall, shattering the marble like it’s a pile of leaves.
“Hahahaha there it is, that’s what I’ve been looking for,” Michael bursts out through the rubble, shouting.
Throwing it aside, he continues, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my own blood.
You’re stronger than I gave you credit for.
Now you need to develop the ability to channel that power on your own at your command and use it.
If you can accomplish that there aren’t many that can stand against you.
That’s enough for today. I want you to remember how you got to this spot and when we reconvene, I want you to attain it without outside influences,” he says as his voice returns from a chuckle to stern and commanding.
Still pissed off by what he attempted, I lunge at him again.
“I said enough!” he shouts, smashing his right fist into the left side of my head, driving me to the ground and somehow instantly draining me of all my energy, almost causing me to black out as I transform back.
Laying on the ground he steps over me as he leaves the training arena.
“Are you okay? That looked bad.” Frida shouts, running over to me concerned, while helping me sit up.
“Yeah, it’s not as bad as it was yesterday. Let’s get out of here and get some food,” I reply, staggering to my feet. Looking up, I notice Perseus has a grin on his face; he must have found Michael’s attack amusing.
What an ass.
Walking away I feel a slight pain on my shoulder, looking I see Frida is biting me. I raise my brow, slightly confused.
“What? You’re my chew toy,” she says as a beautiful smile crosses her face.
“Come on, let’s go,” I reply with a laugh as I throw my arm around her hip.
Day after day I train, getting pummeled over and over, again and again by Michael. Every time lasting longer in the arena, as I develop the ability to not just shift, or react to Fenrir’s intuition, but gradually discover how to tap into that divine energy within and control it.
We do this for what seems like weeks, with the crowd of spectators growing every day to see what I can do. While Michael and I train, the others resume training in the other arenas around us.
With every passing day I feel that mine and Frida’s relationship deepens and it truly feels like she is my soulmate.