The building was massive.

  Thick stone walls, high arches, and everywhere — dull thuds, shouts, the ringing of weapons.

  Above the entrance hung a sign:

  “ENTRY FORBIDDEN”

  I smirked.

  “Hahaha… well, that means I’m going in.”

  The only protection was a couple of guards at the door.

  I looked at them…

  and simply teleported.

  Short distance — didn’t even have to strain.

  Inside, I walked forward without hiding.

  Men.

  More.

  More.

  Dozens of people were training: strikes, grapples, sparring, magical stances.

  The air was dense with sweat and concentration.

  I moved deeper

  and stepped into the main hall.

  A huge gym.

  And almost immediately, I noticed them.

  The strongest.

  A woman around twenty-three — composed, sharp, eyes like a blade.

  A man around thirty-four — calm, confident, a body covered in scars that weren’t for decoration.

  They were preparing to spar.

  I walked closer, leaned against a support beam, and watched.

  Their hands were wrapped with soft rune-stitched straps — so strikes wouldn’t cripple.

  In each hand — a short dagger, the entire blade coated in red pigment.

  “Ah…” I realized. “Whoever leaves a mark — wins.”

  It began.

  She moved first.

  Careful.

  Methodical.

  With constant probing thrusts she shortened the distance, testing his defense.

  The man stepped sharply forward — and the fight exploded.

  Exchange of blows.

  Grapples.

  Turns.

  Daggers flashing within breathing distance.

  Yes, it was beautiful.

  Yes, technical.

  In the end she almost reached his throat…

  But he caught her wrist, twisted,

  and threw her over himself, slamming her into the floor.

  Silence.

  She rolled, sprang back up.

  The man laughed.

  “You’re improving.

  A little more and you would’ve had me.”

  “And you’re still the same,” she replied, laughing too.

  They shook hands.

  And that’s when I lost it.

  “HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

  The hall went silent.

  “You call that an epic battle?” I clapped. “Seriously?

  You were playing more than fighting.”

  All eyes turned to me.

  The man turned first.

  “Who are you, kid?” he asked calmly.

  “And what are you even doing here? This is a military corps. How did you get in?”

  “Like that,” I shrugged. “Just wanted to see the legendary epic fighters of the kingdom.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  I looked around.

  “But I only see you.

  Will they show up later?

  Would be a shame if you’re the strongest ones here.”

  He burst out laughing.

  Loud.

  But the woman…

  she looked ready to tear my head off.

  “You’re too confident,” she said through her teeth.

  “You think you can handle us?”

  “We’ve devoted our lives to this,” the man added.

  “Every day. Every scar.”

  He stepped toward me and shoved a dagger into my hand.

  “Rules are simple.

  Touch a vital organ — you win.”

  He pointed at her.

  “Stand up.

  Against her.”

  I looked at the dagger.

  Then at her.

  And smiled.

  “Alright,” I said.

  “Just don’t cry afterward that you got beaten by a kid.”

  And I finally

  started having fun.

  Chapter: “Stagnation”

  The fight started abruptly.

  She rushed at me so fast most in the hall didn’t even blink.

  I was already about to instinctively take flight when the man suddenly shouted:

  “Stop. Stop-stop-stop!”

  I froze.

  “You disrespecting us?” he asked darkly.

  “Huh?” I blinked. “The fight just started. What did I do wrong?”

  “Exactly.” He pointed at me. “These sparrings are without magic.”

  “Uh… what?”

  “We literally just started.”

  I sighed.

  “Yeah… fine.”

  Fortunately, I thought, physically I’m not exactly useless.

  She charged again.

  Faster now.

  More confident.

  I could see it in her eyes: she decided I was some rookie who didn’t understand what he’d walked into.

  Sharp thrust — strike to the head.

  I shifted aside, stepping inside her attack.

  If the strike came left — I was already left of her.

  She adjusted instantly.

  Low kick.

  Her leg smashed into my thighs.

  Painful?

  Not really.

  Critical?

  No.

  Manageable.

  She repeated it.

  Another low kick.

  And then I realized — she was fixating.

  During the next kick,

  I stepped forward, intercepting.

  Short movement.

  Minimal amplitude.

  The dagger slid into her side — careful, no force.

  Red pigment spread instantly across her uniform.

  Silence.

  “Got you,” I said calmly.

  And then—

  BAM.

  A mana-infused punch landed straight on my jaw.

  I saw it.

  Could’ve dodged.

  But if I had — it would’ve been too strange.

  I was slammed into the floor.

  Dust.

  Dull impact.

  I flashed green — instinctive regeneration — and immediately sprang up.

  “HAHAHAHA! I won! I won! I won!”

  Silence filled the hall.

  “Fine…” she said, clenching her fists. “Good job. You won.”

  Her voice calm.

  Too calm.

  I wonder how long her patience lasts.

  “I won,” I continued, savoring it.

  “And you lost.

  You lost to an eleven-year-old weakling. Skinny.”

  “You’re… eleven?” she asked sharply.

  I nodded.

  She looked me up and down.

  “Yeah… you’re really just a brat.”

  “Hey!” I protested. “I’m supposed to tease you, not the other way around! You lost!”

  She took a deep breath.

  “Victory isn’t the most important thing,” she began philosophically. “What matters is learning from defeat.”

  “Great,” I said.

  “So did you learn?”

  She went silent.

  Then confidently:

  “Yes.”

  “And what was it?”

  Silence.

  Then she rushed me again.

  “Doesn’t matter!” she shouted mid-charge.

  The man grabbed her shoulder.

  “Enough.”

  He turned to me.

  “Listen… you look like a kid, but your speed…”

  “And reaction,” she muttered. “But you only won because of speed.”

  “Not only,” I objected. “If not for my brilliant st—”

  “Shut up,” the man said calmly.

  “You’re no fun,” I sighed. “Why so serious? Won’t even let the winner joke properly.”

  They looked at each other.

  And… laughed.

  Briefly.

  “Listen, kid,” the man said. “Want to join us? With that talent you’ll become one of

  “Talent?” I grimaced. “Yeah…”

  I looked at them carefully.

  “Actually, no.

  I have persistence.

  You just have talent.”

  They froze.

  “You’re carried by talent,” I continued.

  “I’m carried by work.”

  The man looked at me…

  and something like sadness flickered in his eyes.

  “Look at yourselves,” I said quieter.

  “You’re stuck. Hard stagnation.”

  She pressed her lips tight.

  “When was the last time you beat your record?

  When was the last time you fought for real, not jus

  “Kid, I just—” he started.

  “No,” I cut him off.

  “Ten years ago you were stronger.

  There was fire in your eyes.”

  I pointed at them.

  “And now…

  I see people who settled.”

  The hall was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  And for some reason, at that moment

  I realized I hadn’t found an epic squad.

  But I’d found the ones who could still be awakened.

  Chapter: “Don’t Call Them Weaklings”

  I had already turned to leave when a hand landed on my shoulder.

  Heavy.

  “Hey, kid,” the man asked calmly. “What’s your name?”

  “Arkgrim,” I answered.

  “So… Arkgrim.”

  And the next second his hand tightened.

  Not just strong—

  unbelievably.

  My shoulder popped in the air and before I could blink he hurled me upward like a pillow.

  I hit the ceiling.

  …and hung in the air.

  “So you’re saying we’re weak?” his voice came from below.

  “Uh…” I stretched. “I didn’t say it directly, but… yeah.”

  He burst out laughing.

  “HAHAHA!

  You’re an interesting boy.”

  And he jumped.

  Not upward—

  across the hall.

  With monstrous speed he pushed off walls, columns, the ceiling, like gravity didn’t exist.

  Strike from behind.

  I dodged.

  Shifted downward.

  And at the same moment she rushed me.

  “Okay,” I exhaled. “Got it.”

  I sent ice under my feet, sliding backward, raising ice walls before me.

  Crack.

  He stood on the ceiling directly above me.

  Sharp drop.

  I created a dense, heavy water dome.

  He slammed into it full force.

  BOOM.

  I started laughing.

  “HAHA—”

  But from behind.

  Her.

  She had crept up, thinking I was distracted.

  A massive water blade formed in her hands, thin as a razor.

  I instantly created water film at impact points, shifting, dodging, sliding.

  And then—

  spears burst from the ground.

  Earth spikes shot upward, trying to skewer me.

  But I saw the mana gathering before impact.

  I created several small ice golems to slow her.

  …she cut through them without even noticing.

  “Yeah…” I muttered. “You’re not academy students.”

  I started subtly shedding droplets of water.

  She gathered them, absorbing them without realizing.

  When there was enough—

  CRYSTALLIZATION.

  Huge, massive ice blocks closed around her.

  One second.

  She shattered them.

  “Fire magic?” I narrowed my eyes. “So you’ve got fire, earth, air…”

  I smirked.

  “Missing water.”

  I blasted flame straight at her.

  She pushed through the fire, creating a wind vortex around herself, carving a path.

  “Of course…” I sighed. “Classic.”

  How do I beat you…

  And then I remembered.

  “Oh,” I smiled. “You definitely haven’t seen this.”

  I began oscillating the air.

  A specific frequency.

  I threw the wave at her.

  She grabbed her ears sharply.

  I changed the frequency.

  Moved closer.

  Directed the sound at her heart — not lethal, but painful.

  She fell.

  I stopped the vibration.

  “HAHA! Winner!”

  I turned around.

  …the gym was empty.

  Destroyed walls.

  Cracks.

  Debris.

  The man was still lying on the floor — apparently hit harder than planned.

  And then—

  She stood up.

  Looked at me, surprised.

  “Got you.”

  Left.

  Right.

  Above.

  Below.

  Stone walls rose from all sides.

  “Seriously?” I tilted my head. “That’s your move?”

  I released a burst of flame.

  The mini-prison exploded apart.

  She was barely standing.

  I sighed.

  “Well… that was fun.”

  I turned and walked toward the exit.

  “If anything,” I threw over my shoulder, “I’ll be at the tavern tonight.

  Maybe we’ll meet again.”

  I left.

  Leaving behind two epic fighters who had just realized

  the world had become slightly wider.