Warrior Training System

Cassian and Cassandra emerged from the ruins much sooner than they had anticipated—what they thought would take days had been resolved in just one. This was all because they obtained what they wanted far more easily and earlier than expected. Both now possessed war armors and newly acquired weapons, though the price was being forced to swear an oath to break the seals surrounding the Challenging Grounds in exchange for their gains.

The bitter taste of that forced promise lingered, but it was hard to deny the enormity of their rewards. The war armors weren't ordinary relics; they granted both of them abilities far beyond their current level. With these, they could easily defeat opponents leagues above them—powerful enough to establish kingdoms if they wished. Well, for now, only Cassandra could dream of such feats, as Cassian wasn't even sure if he could fully wield his war armor yet.

Cassandra, however, had no such doubts. She now wore her dark silver armor, its transformative abilities molding it perfectly to her body. It accentuated her figure with a sleek and almost theatrical elegance, reminiscent of a warrior's costume designed to showcase their physical prowess. The silver cape flowing behind her added a regal touch, and on her head rested a slim tiara with a star at its center, perfectly complementing her silver hair. The entire ensemble made her look both formidable and majestic, as though she were a knight straight out of legend.

"You look stunning, Detective," Cassian complimented, his gaze lingering on her thighs as the muscles flexed, visibly outlined even through the sleek surface of her armor. Suddenly, the dark silver armor shifted, transforming into a less imposing leather design. Cassian blinked in surprise, not expecting the change. "Did you do that?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Cassandra nodded, an excited smile lighting up her face. "The armor has the ability to transform into different types of armor—and even clothes," she explained. As she spoke, the armor shifted again, this time into a shimmering blue, floor-length gown that hugged her figure perfectly. It left her muscular arms, neck, and beautiful face exposed, the silver star-shaped band on her head still gleaming. The transformation gave her an air of elegance and power, seamlessly blending beauty and strength.

"That's convenient," Cassian remarked, glancing at his warrior circle and the armor mark etched at its top. Excitement flickered in his eyes as he added, "Should I try wearing mine?"

They hadn't had the chance to don their war armors inside the challenge ground, as the guardian had unceremoniously thrown them out after they swore an oath to free his challenge grounds. The vague instructions he provided—finding similar places scattered across the world—left them with little direction. While ruins were plentiful worldwide, none carried the same significance as the fabled Old World Island.

Where could they possibly find another fragment of the Old World? The question lingered, though they weren't even sure such places still existed. Still, without any time constraints pressing on them, the uncertainty didn't weigh too heavily. Cassian decided to focus instead on the blood-drop mark within his warrior circle.

As he concentrated, a sudden pull gripped him, and in the next moment, his vision shifted to a blood-tinted hue once again. But this time, it was his own perspective. He could see Cassandra standing in front of him, and unlike before, he was now wearing the armor himself.

He moved his hands, marveling as the intricate metallic ropes seamlessly wove across his fingers and arms, adjusting perfectly to his form. It felt like a second skin—an extension of his body. The sensation was surreal; he could feel the breeze brushing against the armor's surface, the warmth of the sun, every little detail as though it were his own flesh.

"It's like a part of my body," Cassian said in an amazed tone, flexing his fingers and watching the armor respond effortlessly.

Cassandra nodded with a knowing smile. "They certainly are," she replied, her own armor shifting back into its original shape as if in agreement.

"How do you change its shape?" Cassian asked, inspecting the armor closely, trying to find some kind of switch or mechanism.

"Just think about it," Cassandra replied with a smirk.

Cassian closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to will the armor to transform. After a moment, he opened his eyes, frowning. "Nothing's happening," he said, frustration creeping into his voice.

After trying repeatedly with no success, Cassian sighed, his tone slightly dejected. "I don't think mine has that function," he muttered, lowering his hands in disappointment.

Deciding to shift focus, he drew his sword, and his expression quickly changed. To his surprise, enveloping the blade with his domain felt effortless, as though it were made to harmonize with him.

His downcast mood vanished, replaced by excitement as he examined the red sword. Its dimensions were perfect, fitting his grip like it was crafted specifically for him. "Well, I guess you can't have everything," he said with a grin, appreciating the unexpected boon.

"That's right," Cassandra said with a smile, her gaze fixed on Cassian's glowing red sword. However, her smile faltered slightly as her eyes moved to his face. Unlike her armor, his covered his face entirely, the metallic rope-like texture shifting subtly, almost like tiny snakes slithering across its surface. The glowing red eyes of the helmet added an eerie intensity, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Honestly," she muttered, half-joking, "that thing makes you look like something straight out of a nightmare."

"Well, not much I can do about it. As you can see my armor doesn't have the function to change its appearance," Cassian said with a shrug. Stepping forward, his movements were smooth and deliberate as he executed a series of flowing slashes. His sword moved as if it were an extension of his body, slicing through the air with precision. With a sudden, powerful thrust, he stabbed forward, releasing a gust of wind so strong it slammed into the ruined wall ahead, carving out a perfectly circular crater. "Not bad, huh?" he asked, casting a glance at Cassandra.

She nodded, a competitive glint in her eye, and twirled her spear with precision. Shifting into a throwing stance, she launched it with incredible speed. The spear shot skyward so fast it vanished from sight within seconds. But Cassandra didn't chase after it. Instead, she stood confidently, a small smile on her face. Moments later, with a brilliant flash, the spear reappeared in her hand as if summoned by magic. "Pretty impressive, wouldn't you say?" she remarked.

Cassian couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Her armor could change shape, even into clothes, and now her weapon could return to her in the blink of an eye, no matter how far it was thrown. Meanwhile, he was stuck with a creepy-looking armor that might be cursed and a sword—admittedly powerful, but it hardly compared to the versatility of her equipment.

"Yeah, yeah..." Cassian muttered, sliding his sword back into its sheath. As he did, his armor vanished from his body. "Now that we've explored the ruins, should we head back to Magisteria?" he asked, glancing at Cassandra.

"I was thinking the same," Cassandra replied, her tone calm. She didn't need to remove her armor like Cassian; instead, she transformed it into a simple leather outfit. Her needle-like spear also shifted, taking on the appearance of a more traditional and weathered weapon.

Cassian couldn't help but look at her with a tinge of jealousy as he asked, "So, are we taking a ship, or are you going to fly us back again?"

"Do you think I'm some kind of vehicle?" Cassandra retorted with a smirk. "Even if I could, I wouldn't fly across the Great Sea."

Before Cassian could respond, she enveloped him in her domain, and they shot into the sky. The wind rushed past them as she continued, "We're going to use one of those things to cross the sea?"

For the first time, Cassian saw the vast expanse of blue stretching endlessly in every direction. Above them, the sky mirrored the sea below, creating a surreal view of endless azure. Far beneath them, in the darker depths, he noticed small shapes moving—some leaping out of the water, others diving gracefully from air to sea. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

"What are those?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe and curiosity.

"Sea beasts," Cassandra explained, her voice steady as they descended toward the water. "The people living near the sea have learned to tame them and use them as transport between lands. It saves them the trouble of building ships that would just get smashed by these same creatures."

She angled their descent, heading closer to the shoreline near the ruins. Cassian realized he hadn't noticed the ocean before because the towering mountains had blocked his view. Now that the path was clear, the sight was breathtaking—a vast expanse of shimmering blue stretching to the horizon, bathed in the golden light of the evening sun. Though it wasn't sunset yet, the scene was serene and stunning.

"And the really large beasts," Cassandra continued, "are used to pull ships for long-distance travel. We'll board one of those ships to cross the sea."

As they got closer, Cassian could finally make out the details of the tiny shapes he had seen earlier. The sea beasts grew larger and more distinct—creatures of various colors and species. Some were long like serpents with fins rippling along their sides; others resembled massive, multicolored fish. Their sizes varied, but all were big enough to carry four or five people comfortably on their backs.

Some beasts were even larger, capable of holding ten or more riders. He saw a group of people atop one of the creatures, laughing and cheering as it dove into the water and leapt out again, sending sprays of seawater glittering in the sunlight. It looked like tourists enjoying the thrill of the sea.

Cassian's eyes widened as he took it all in. "Incredible," he murmured, unable to hide his amazement.