April sat on the ground, still catching her breath.
Her body ached from the fight, but the frustration in her chest burned hotter than the pain.
"I wasn't strong enough."
Jax knelt beside her. "You did well. But well isn't enough. Not against Ragnörak."
April clenched her fists.
She had trained for weeks, pushing herself beyond her limits.
Yet, the commander had handled her with ease. If he had been serious, she might be dead.
She looked at Jax, then the others.
"Train me harder," she said, voice firm. "I need to be far stronger. Fast!"
Jax smirked. "Now that's the spirit."
Dante cracked his knuckles. "Then we push you past your breaking point."
Kai nodded chuckling. "You'll hate us by the end of this."
Saya grinned. "Let's begin."
April's first test was simple: survival.
Dante, the powerhouse, took charge.
His Bear Gear granted him monstrous endurance and strength. April had to last ten minutes against him without going down.
Wham!
A single blow sent her sprawling.
"Again," Dante said.
She got up.
Another hit. Another fall.
"Again!"
Her body screamed, but she forced herself to rise. Over and over. Until she could dodge.
Until she could endure.
Kai took over next. His Hawk Gear made him almost untouchable.
April had to tag him—just once.
She chased him through the training grounds, relying on her echoing effect to track his movements.
But he was too fast.
Hours passed. Or maybe days.
Then—finally—she heard the faintest hesitation in his step.
Now.
April lunged—claws extended—
SCRATCH!
A thin tear in Kai's sleeve.
She had done it.
"Not bad," Kai admitted.
Phase 3 was stealth & instincts with Saya.
She used her Panther Gear, which specialized in stealth and precision.
April had to track her in a pitch-black room.
Her Echoing Effect was sharp, but Saya moved silently.
No sound. No presence.
April had to feel her.
Days passed.
Then, one night—
A whisper of movement. A shift in air pressure.
April spun, claws flashing.
Clang!
Metal met metal.
Saya blocked—but April had found her.
"You're getting there," Saya said with a smirk.
The 4th and last phase was full combat with Jax. The Lion Gear user fought with sheer force and strategy.
April had to beat him.
They clashed—blow for blow, strike for strike.
Jax tested every skill she had learned.
He pushed her until she bled, until her body screamed for rest—
Until she roared in defiance.
One final move—
A perfect counter—
BAM!
Jax hit the ground.
Breathing hard, April stood over him.
He grinned.
"You're ready."
April had pushed past her limits. She had become stronger.
But she knew—
Ragnörak was coming
.
And next time, she will be ready.