The sound of fists striking targets and the rhythmic thuds of Riku's feet hitting the floor echoed through the training room. Sweat streamed down his face, his muscles burning with each repetition. His body had grown used to the strain of intense training over the past months, but even he couldn't deny how physically demanding the sessions had become. He was getting stronger, faster—preparing for something bigger than himself, something the world was not yet ready to face.
Riku's Essence burned within him, his focus sharper than ever as he threw punch after punch, each movement fluid and calculated. But something was different about him, something even he had noticed. Despite the hours of grueling exercise, his clothes remained perfectly dry, the sweat never soaking through the fabric. He could feel it too—his body was pushing itself, but there was no real scent of exertion. It was as if the sweat simply stopped at the surface of his skin, evaporating instantly without leaving any trace. A small, unspoken reminder of his Divine Avatar Ascended form, he mused, a quiet pride swelling within him as he continued his training.
As Riku caught his breath, wiping his forehead with a towel, a soft voice echoed from the door.
"Hey, Riku."
Riku turned his head, seeing Yumi standing in the doorway of the training room. She was wearing her usual training gear, her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, her crimson ribbon fluttering slightly in the breeze from the open windows.
She looked a bit shy as she stepped inside, her eyes briefly glancing down at the floor before meeting his gaze. "Would you… would you spar with me?" she asked, her voice a little quieter than usual, as though she wasn't entirely sure he'd say yes.
Riku paused for a moment, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Despite the upcoming invasion and the weight of their responsibilities, he appreciated the way Yumi always sought to grow stronger. She didn't hesitate to ask for help, and it was something he respected deeply about her.
"Sure," he said, wiping the remaining sweat from his face. "You ready?"
Yumi nodded, her eyes glinting with determination, though her cheeks turned slightly pink as she spoke again. "Thanks, Riku."
As they squared off, Yumi took a deep breath, focusing her mind. The sparring room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of their clothes and the shifting of their feet on the wooden floor.
"Let's make this a good one," Riku said, his tone now more serious. He knew they needed to push each other in preparation for the battle ahead.
The spar began with Yumi charging forward, her fists aimed at Riku. She moved with precision, aiming to test his reflexes. Riku easily dodged her strikes, his body shifting effortlessly with each attack, countering with swift jabs and blocks.
But as they fought, Yumi couldn't help but notice something odd. Even as they moved through the spar, Riku's clothes remained completely dry, his skin unmarked by the usual sheen of sweat. There was no smell, no wetness that usually accompanied intense physical exertion.
It was like he wasn't even sweating, or if he was, it never touched his clothes. The thought distracted her for a moment, and she lost focus as Riku took the opportunity to gently tap her shoulder with his knuckles, causing her to stumble slightly.
"Focus, Yumi," he said with a playful grin. "You can't let little distractions throw you off."
She shook her head, regaining her footing. "Sorry. I just… You always seem so composed, Riku. I don't know how you do it."
Riku smirked, his eyes twinkling with a quiet confidence. "You know how it is. It's just a little trick I've picked up."
Yumi laughed softly, but then quickly got serious again. "I won't let you win that easily."
The spar continued for a while longer, both of them pushing their limits. Yumi's strikes became sharper, her movements more fluid, while Riku responded with calm efficiency, blocking and countering with ease. They were both getting better—each test of their abilities bringing them closer to their full potential.
As the spar came to an end, Yumi stepped back, her chest heaving with a combination of exertion and excitement. "That was amazing, Riku. You're just…" she trailed off, her voice suddenly quieter, as though she was about to say something more but wasn't sure how to put it into words.
Riku wiped the sweat from his brow and gave her a soft smile. "You're improving too, Yumi. Keep pushing yourself, and you'll be ready for anything."
Yumi looked at him with admiration in her eyes, though a hint of pink remained on her cheeks. "Thanks," she said, a little shy again, but her smile spoke volumes. "I'll keep pushing. I won't let you down."
Meanwhile, at the Essence Warrior Training Facility, Toru Kurotaki continued his relentless pursuit of power. The tall, dark-haired, and brooding ex-rank warrior was in a corner of the training hall, his focus entirely on the practice dummy in front of him. Sweat poured down his face as he slammed his fist into the target with enough force to crack the reinforced structure. He had long since dismissed the importance of the upcoming invasion. To him, it was all secondary to surpassing Riku, the one warrior who had always seemed to be a step ahead of him.
Every punch he landed seemed like a reminder that he still wasn't good enough. No matter how much he trained, no matter how much effort he put in, Riku's strength was something Toru could never quite catch up to. It frustrated him. It burned in his chest like a constant reminder that he had more to prove, not just to others, but to himself.
"Next time, I'll be the one who's stronger," Toru muttered under his breath, slamming his fist into the dummy one last time, sending it flying across the room.
The coming war didn't matter to him. Not yet. His only focus was Riku. And he would keep training, keep pushing until he was the one who stood at the top.