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Chapter 73 - Lessons from Experience (2)

  The transformed teens and Pilot entered the Training Room, which had morphed into an eerie setting of a deserted, rundown village lit under a full moon. The air was thick with an unsettling chill. A rusty creak broke the silence, making them jump and spin around, only to find a broken door swaying slowly on its hinges.

  "We never programmed a location like this." Lumina's voice trembled.

  "It was always deserts, fields, or forests," said Aqua. "Is there a reason why you change the scenery to an abandoned village?

  "This village holds significance." The canokian viewed the scene with disdain. "This could have been Salem if Mistress M wasn't stopped.

  "But…" Frost flinched. "This doesn't appear to be Salem from 300 years ago."

  "It's not." Pilot faced them. "As you know the Training Room was designed based on locations from Galvania and Earth. This was once a thriving town, now it's a Pestiferous Zone."

  "A pestiferous Zone?" Ivy perked up. "Is that what you call deserted venues?"

  "Yes, Pestiferous Zones are nearly uninhabitable areas that are difficult to cleanse, near irreversible. There are few on Galvania and Earth. Only those truly insane would live in those places and as you experienced in Salem, you could feel an eerily atmosphere if you aren't adept in conjuring mana."

  "And Parkerville was about to become a similar place." Bolt sighed. "Or would it just be Marge's territory?"

  "It would've been her territory, until circumstances forced her to step down." Pilot replied with a sneer. "What you need to know is this kind of devastation can happen. There is a field that took a thousand years to cleanse after the Radiant emerged a second time. Others were abandoned because of not discovering the correct method to purify them. Fortunately they're few."

  "Margeret absorbed the Rage into herself to self-destruct." scoffed the ice warrior. "She cleansed the city herself with her last gambit."

  "That was fortunate," the Sword Unit leader breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm showing you this to help develop a better understanding of the threats you'll face and to practice against a foe."

  "Who is the punk we're fighting?" inquired Aero.

  In response, a construct materialized, drawing their attention. It took the form of a gruff-looking aviana with a medium build frame, slick gray-colored feathers with a torn right wing. His presence made the group flinch with his piercing gaze.

  "That is Brakt." Pilot said, approached the replica. "This is his form from ten years ago. We have not updated his inquiry since then, as he disappeared and was only mentioned recently. His wing was damaged from a fierce battle, but he hasn't let it hinder him during battles."

  Immediately, the replica formed a pair of bronze tonfas and assumed a fighting stance.

  "This simulation doesn't reflect all of his abilities, but his use of the tonfa will be beneficial to you, Amy." He glanced at the girl. "You're first."

  Lumina hesitated, but stepped forward, manifesting her own tonfas as she approached the construct.

  "There will be times you will fight in a group or solo." He had a solemn expression. "When alone you must rely on your knowledge and skill to either hold off your opponent or neutralize them. Amy, don't be swallowed by fear if you have no allies around you. That makes you the weakest link the enemy can exploit."

  Her eyes widened, and fear flickered across her features. "I don't want that!"

  The canokian nodded. "Good, and Blair. Selen-ja won't alway be present. You will journey alongside unfamiliar allies. It may be difficult to adapt, but you must learn to overcome your insecurities."

  The shadow warrior nodded, scratching her cheek

  Turning back to the light warrior, the canokian addressed the group. "Everyone will face this one-on-one. This isn't a full representation of Brakt's abilities, but it should give you insight into his combat prowess. Learn from this." He crossed his arms. "Now, begin!"

  The construct charged at with surprising speed, faster than she had anticipated. The light warrior jumped back before being struck from the tonfa. However, the being quickly unleashed a sidekick, which she managed to block using her tonfas. She retaliated by channeling non-elemental mana in her leg and delivering a swifty, powerful kick.

  Tangerine Stamp.

  The kick sent the construct flying through the air, but it landed gracefully on its feets and immediately rushed her again. It launched a fierce assault, forcing her to dodge and block another strike from the tonfas. Then the construct coated its tonfas with wind, and struck her side before she could react. The impact hurled her across the street and into a pile of broken barrels.

  "AMY!" Aqua and Blaze shouted.

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  "Damn." the wind warrior grimaced and glanced at the copy. "So Brakt has an affinity to wind."

  "Remember," the flora warrior narrowed her eyes. "Every person has a natural affinity to an element. In Brakt's case, it's wind. For us, it's the matter of fact of our affinities since we accepted the crystals."

  "And unlike everyone else, we can't learn a second element." added the shadow warrior, a hint of disappointment. "Being a Radiant comes with that limitation."

  "That makes it more challenging." the terra warrior looked between Lumina and Brakt. "Mastering more non-elemental adroits will make our battles more manageable."

  "Strategy is the key." Pilot crossed his arms, noticing Holo-Brakt charging forward. "Don't shout, let her stay focused."

  Aqua clicked her tongue as she watched the battle, while Blaze stared intently.

  Lumina's eyes shot up as the construct rushed at her. She dove out of the way just as it struck the barrels. It turned around, quickly coated the tonfas with energy and charged at her like a relentless train. The light warrior infused her tonfas with light mana and prepared for the attack. The construct attacked with ferocity while Lumina defended with the same ferocity. They moved across the street while trading blows, each crack of the weapons resonated across the field.

  The light warrior face showed concentration, but she felt herself waiver under the intense gaze of the construct. It feinted a strike causing Lumina to block nothing except air. Taking advantage, the construct spun around, thrusting the back end of the tonfa into her stomach, before delivering a swift kick that sent her off her feet.

  Midair, Lumina dismissed her weapons and fired two Bright Shots. The construct rushed at her while dodging both adroits. Lumina reformed her tonfas just in time for the next strike. After the clash the fake aviana leapt back, coated itself in wind mana and charged at her with a sudden burst of speed that made the onlookers tense.

  Lumina quickly jumped to the side, but was surprised by her opponent making a sharp turn by swiftly slamming his foot into the ground to change its course. She raised her tonfas, grunting as the construct rammed into her, forcing her backward across the field. With a scream, they both crashed into a rundown house.

  "Damn it." Blaze shouted.

  "That's enough." Pilot moved forward.

  Inside the house, Lumina lay flat on her back as the construct stood over her with cold, unfeeling eyes. Fear on her face, she watched as it prepared for another attack, but stopped as soon as Pilot issued the command. The construct turned its back to her, and moved away. Lumina sniffed, covering her eyes. Those merciless eyes promised to bring harm to those it engaged with. Tears slipped down her face, mix of a frustration of defeat and sorrow for those who were unfortunate meeting the real Brakt

  "Amy!" A familiar voice was heard. She uncovered her eyes to see Aqua and Blaze kneeling beside her.

  "Are you okay!?" The water warrior asked worriedly.

  "I'm sorry." the light warrior said softly.

  "You don't need to be." Blaze grinned at her.

  They helped her and led her out of the house. The others were asking how she was. She frowned when she spotted the construct move further away.

  "Did he always have those eyes?" asked the light warrior. "I've never seen something like that before. Margaret was unhinged crazy, but that's something else."

  "Like these." Pilot faced her, his eyes adopting showing the same intense glare. The group flinched collectively.

  "Yeah, that's different from your last intense expression." shivered the lightning warrior.

  "Different from that woman." The ice warrior whispered

  "It f-feels different than b-believing you are superior." stammered the shadow warrior as she stood near Ivy, who grimaced.

  Pilot closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, you'll encounter individuals with expressions like that. I have no doubt people in your world have or had those same eyes. Eyes that see you as nothing more than prey. There are those who enjoy fighting: to test oneself, to find a challenge and overcome it, or to defend the less fortunate. But there are those who let their bloodlust consume them, who savor power over all else, who wish to harm others."

  He glanced at the construct. "I've never personally met Brakt, but I have heard he was respected for his leadership and strength. However, as you have learned, his image dwindled overtime to due to his methods." He faced them. "You may develop those eyes, but if there is anything you will learn from this. You are not cold-hearted monsters. Don't become the demon you fear, but learn to overcome and be the person you strive to be, am I clear?"

  "Right?" They nodded.

  "Amy." The canokian locked eyes with her.. "Spend some time with Selen-ja. She may not have the image of a warrior, but she is someone who still holds her heart."

  "Yes." She gave a determined nod.

  "Good. Sam, you're next."

  Aero stretched himself before moving forward. "Boss, that sounds threatening coming from you, but I guess I'll get my ass kicked."

  Lumina exhaled softly, hearing the chatter and the wind warrior's march. She stared at the replica across the field preparing to attack.

  "Are you okay?" asked the worried water warrior.

  Lumina sighed. "I will be," Her gaze fixed on Brakt's stance. "That man, I felt unconfident under his gaze. I shouldn't have. I'm dreading meeting him soon."

  "If we fight him, it will be as a team." Aqua wrapped her arm around her friend's arm. "If it's the two of us, we'll hold him off."

  "Yep."

  Aqua smile lowered. "Although, with his background he might try to use his words to persuade us."

  "Hmm?" Lumina furrowed her brows. "You think he might try to appeal to us?"

  "Yes," The water warrior scratched her head as the wind warrior started the fight. "He might say things that might make sense, things we might agree with on some level. That's how people like him work, plant seeds of doubt or twist truths to make their ideals appear reasonable."

  "Oh." Lumina frowned, then displayed a small smile. "I won't follow or agree with him. This was one of the topics you discussed in your debate club last year."

  "Yes, we just can't be easily persuaded, see the lies hidden in their words.

  "Many people in history have preyed on uncertainty." Lumina and Aqua perked. They turned to Geo who stared intently at the fight. "Fake visionaries with a hidden agenda." His narrowed his eyes. "Too many wars ignited because the foolish followed a egoistical, convincing idealist with selfish ambition. We just need to be smart enough to not be easily swayed."

  "Well said." nodded the water warrior. "No matter what he says, stay grounded and not be easily swayed."

  "Ja," He shrugged. "We won't be manipulated by an upcoming despot."

  Blaze listened to their conversation while watching the Wind Radiant engage the construct. A thought struck him, Brakt could try to explain his reasons and appeal to them. Or the man was too egotistical to consider reasoning and believed his slight against him was something that should leave the two territories in ruin after he campaign was done.

  As he watched Aero be defeated by the hologram and the eyes displayed from it, he knew this man was someone they needed to be careful with.

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