Leon and Unutay stood facing each other. An ominous tension hung in the air as their gazes met. Leon scrutinized the young man with a sharp look – and was surprised. There was no fear. No nervousness. Only that calm determination.
Around the training field, dozens of soldiers pressed in. Curious eyes, captivated by the thought of seeing Leon Virell, the fastest sword-fighter on Earth, in action. But only one person in the circle immediately realized what was happening: Valea Morrin. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Unutay parry Leon's first strike.
Leon sprinted forward. A powerful overhead blow – parried. A second from the side – blocked again. Then a flurry of strikes: low, high, diagonal, spinning – yet Unutay did not retreat. With sharp precision, he parried every attack. The rhythm accelerated, blades flashed like stars at dusk. Every strike a thunderclap, every block a hiss. And then – a counter-attack. Leon could only parry it with difficulty.
"Your swordsmanship is… not bad," Leon said in a calm voice. But in his mind, he was astonished. This isn't my full effort… and he's keeping up?
Leon took a step back. "How about it? Good even without weapons? Because we're going to speed up."
Unutay tilted his head slightly, a genuine spark of admiration in his eyes. "We can try. I'm curious."
Without another word, both plunged their swords into the ground. Valea stepped forward, her gaze tense. She knew Leon well enough to know he could hardly hold back once he got serious. And yet… she sensed that Unutay was more than just a talented fighter.
"Ready?" Leon asked. "If you are," Unutay replied calmly.
Leon chuckled briefly – then charged. Fists flew. Kicks, elbow strikes, blocking techniques, evasive maneuvers – all at breathtaking speed. No hit landed, every attack was parried or countered into empty air. The pace increased with every second. Soon, most spectators could barely follow the movements. Only Kiro, Torgul, Mika, Elandra, and Keal kept their eyes fixed – and even they had to blink to grasp the sequences.
Valea stared at Unutay. He's not just keeping up… he's holding back. She recognized it in his body language, in the elegance of his movements. It was as if he was testing – not fighting.
Leon, however, continued to increase the pace. "Faster!" he challenged, attacking with a fluid combination of kicks and punches. Unutay did not reply, but he held his ground. What's more – with every moment, he began to smile. His movements became more instinctive, his body seemed to remember a rhythm that even he didn't quite understand.
Leon's eyes narrowed. What kind of energy is this? Every strike he delivered met a counterpart so exact, it was as if Unutay had seen it coming. This was no ordinary training anymore. This was a dance of two forces of nature.
"I can't see anything anymore!" whispered a young soldier. "Who is this guy fighting Leon?!" Another replied, stunned: "No idea… but he's keeping up – against Leon Virell!"
And then came the moment. Unutay landed the first clear hit – a precise kick to Leon's chest. Leon staggered back briefly. The audience collectively held its breath. But immediately, Leon countered with a powerful punch that struck Unutay directly on the shoulder. The blow echoed through the field.
Leon now stepped closer. The aura around him thickened – more energetic. He was in battle mode. His strikes became more brutal, his techniques more aggressive. The spectators felt it – this was no longer playful.
But Unutay did not yield. He responded with the same intensity. Their movements now looked like a perfect choreography, like two masters dueling at the highest level – every punch, every kick a chapter in a story of fighting spirit and mutual respect.
While the two fighters continued their duel, the headquarters was suddenly unusually quiet. Commander Davor Krayt noticed it immediately. Too quiet. Where were the people? The stations should have been manned long ago.
"Where is the staff?" he sharply asked a passing soldier. "Uh… in the training camp, Sir. Commander Leon Virell is conducting a training fight… with a… new fighter." Davor frowned. "What?! Now?! While we're about to depart?"
Without another word, he marched off. With each step, his gaze darkened. As he approached the training camp, he heard the roar of cheers, the clapping of hands, and the metallic screech of movements cutting through the air. Cheers. Enthusiasm. What in the world is going on here?
When he entered the hall, the crowd parted. The first ones to recognize him recoiled in shock. Davor stepped forward – and froze. In the middle of the ring, a battle raged as if from another world. Leon and Unutay – two bodies, two shadows, two forces meeting at the highest level. Their movements were so fast they were barely discernible. Only the pressure waves of their attacks and the snapping of displaced air indicated their speed.
Unbelievable… Davor could hardly believe what he was seeing. That guy… keeping up with Leon?
The two fighters did not notice his arrival. They were completely absorbed in the moment. Fists flew, kicks sent dust flying, the hall shook with every movement. The level was so high that even among the R9 warriors, few could truly comprehend the exchange.
Then – a clean hit. Unutay struck with a precise hook to Leon's ribs. Leon recoiled, grunted, wiped his lips. And then came the counter – lightning-fast, precise, full of force. Unutay staggered briefly. But his gaze remained calm. Determined.
Leon now seemed irritated. Not out of anger at Unutay – but at himself. He had underestimated him. He exploded. Strike after strike, combo after combo. He used every technique he knew. Slices, hooks, kicks. Unutay parried, dodged, countered – smiled. It wasn't an arrogant smile. It was the smile of a fighter who felt something awakening within him.
But then… A jolt went through the air. Davor had seen enough. This was getting dangerous. With a mighty leap, he jumped between the two. His aura unleashed like a thunderclap that shook the hall. "Stop that!"
Leon and Unutay paused in a fraction of a second. Dust swirled around them. The crowd fell silent. Deadly quiet.
Davor stood with outstretched arms between them, his voice thundering through the hall: "What is this?! Tomorrow we depart – into the unknown! And you're putting on a damn spectacle here?! Don't you have anything better to do?!"
Leon breathed heavily. "I wanted to test the new guy. His strength. Valea also agreed." Davor turned to her. "Valea?!" She avoided his gaze, lowering her head.
Davor angrily ran a hand through his beard. "What new guy anyway? We don't have any new recruits!" Leon pointed at Unutay. "Him." Davor turned to him. "Who are you?" Unutay stepped forward, a little embarrassed, but upright. "Unutay. Pleased to meet you." "What are you doing here?" Before Unutay could answer, Keal stepped between them. "Commander – this is the young man I told you about. He was with us in the mountains. He fought with us. And saved what could be saved."
Davor considered. Then he nodded slowly. "Right… he was supposed to be measured." Keal continued: "Yes, but the measurement station wasn't fully operational then. Commander Leon wanted to… find out in his own way."
Davor slowly turned to Leon. "And you found this… appropriate?" Leon raised his hands placatingly. "I just wanted to lighten the mood a bit. This wasn't a challenge. And besides… that was my decision."
Davor was silent for a moment, letting his gaze sweep over the assembled fighters. Then he spoke with cold determination: "Enough. Everyone return to their station now. Immediately. This is not a playground. The Alliance is counting on you. Tomorrow the seriousness begins – and you're behaving like children."
Slowly, the crowd dispersed. Whispering, thoughtful. The frenzy of the fight gave way to the silence before departure. But everyone knew: What they had seen here would not be easily forgotten. And Unutay… was no longer an unknown.
Everyone slowly left the training grounds. But before Keal and the others could also leave, Commander Davor Krayt raised his hand. "You stay a moment longer," he said calmly but firmly. Unutay, Keal, Torgul, Nerion, Elandra, Kiro, Mika, Leon, and Valea waited in tense silence. Everyone sensed that Davor had something on his mind.
Davor turned to Unutay. "Where did you learn to fight like that?" Unutay shrugged slightly. "I don't know. I lost my memories. Since then, I haven't fought again – until the day the attack began. And now…"
Davor went to the sword, which was still stuck in the ground, pulled it out, and examined it carefully. The blade seemed alien, not of Earth. No mark, no smith's stamp, no hint of an origin. "Where did you get this sword?" he asked seriously. Unutay replied calmly: "I don't know. It was just… always with me."
Davor looked him deep in the eyes. "Are you sure you're human? This sword is not from Earth."
A low murmur went through the group. The atmosphere suddenly grew heavier. Keal stepped forward. "Commander… may he accompany us? We stand behind him. We want him to be part of our squad."
Davor remained silent for a moment. He was visibly weighing – between trust and caution. Leon stepped up to Unutay, placed a hand on his shoulder, and grinned. "Not bad, Unutay. I won't forget your name. We'll repeat this fight sometime."
Davor glanced at Valea. She stood a little apart, scrutinizing Unutay with a piercing gaze. Then Davor turned to the group. "Go. Prepare for departure. As for Unutay – I will inform you of a decision soon."
The group nodded. Keal briefly placed a hand on Unutay's shoulder, then they left the training grounds.
Davor remained with Leon and Valea. He looked in the direction Unutay had disappeared. "What do you think?" he asked quietly. "Who is he? Could he be an enemy spy?"
Valea nodded slowly. "I had that thought too. His aura is different… alien. And yet… it doesn't feel cold. It feels warm. Somehow genuine."
Leon folded his arms. "He's strong, no question. But when we fought, I never felt he wanted to hurt me. He fought with full force, yes – but not with lethal intent. He… enjoyed the fight. To me, he doesn't seem like a spy."
Davor remained thoughtful. "And what should we do?" Valea answered cautiously: "We can't just lock him up – that would be an affront to Keal's squad. But letting him roam freely… is risky." Leon looked down. "If he were a spy – wouldn't he have let them die on the mountain already? He helped them. That doesn't fit an enemy."
Davor: "Or that's exactly his trick – building trust, making himself indispensable… and then striking."
Valea sighed. "We need to test him – before we send him through a portal." Leon nodded. "The lab should be ready by now."
Davor raised an eyebrow. "I'll check myself. Until then – he should stay near the group. Watch him closely." Valea: "Agreed." Leon nodded in agreement. "If he has something to hide – we'll find out."
Mika looked up at Unutay. "Hey, that was really impressive how you fought. I had trouble even keeping up." Kiro chimed in immediately. "Not bad. We have to fight each other sometime too!" Unutay looked surprised, but friendly. "Gladly, we can do that."
Back at the camp, Nerion approached Unutay. "I'd like to do a test with you – if you don't mind." "What kind of test?" Unutay asked cautiously. "Perhaps I can help you get your memories back." Unutay's eyes widened. "Really? You'd do that? When can we start? I finally want to know who I am." "Right now, come with me," Nerion said.
Keal noticed the two moving away. "Where are you going?" "I want to try to get Unutay's memories back," Nerion explained. Keal looked at Unutay seriously. "Are you sure?" "I want to know. Why I lost my memory. Who I really am." Keal nodded. "Then I'll come with you."
In the quarters, Nerion spread a circle of rune stones on the floor, connected them with fine lines, and pulled out an old book. "Please stand in the circle," he said. Unutay stepped into the middle. Keal sat quietly beside him. Nerion raised his staff, began to read – the runes lit up, the symbols glowed. But in the next moment – a pressure wave. Keal and Nerion were thrown back.
Stunned, they got up. Unutay stood motionless in the circle. Untouched. Mika and Elandra came in, alarmed by the light and noise. "What happened?" Elandra asked. "Unutay?" Keal called. "Did you feel anything? Do you remember anything?" Unutay looked around. "No. Unfortunately not. I didn't feel anything." Keal turned to Nerion. "Did you do something wrong?" "No… not really. Everything was as described. I don't understand it," Nerion mumbled, scratching his head. "Isn't that dangerous?" Mika asked skeptically. "Using magic you don't know?" "It should work," Nerion replied helplessly. "I just don't understand it."
Meanwhile, Commander Davor reached the lab and spoke with the leader. "Why couldn't you measure Unutay?" he asked. "The system ran normally. But at the beginning of the measurement – a short circuit. We repaired everything, tried again – another short circuit. On the third attempt, the control system completely burned out." "Do you think Unutay caused that?" "Unlikely. The room was isolated. No known energy or magic could have escaped." He thought briefly. "Or… he's so strong that the measurement simply couldn't process it." "Is there such a thing?" Davor asked, surprised. "Theoretically, yes. But he would have to be significantly above R10 rank. That's the highest known power level – so practically impossible." "When can we measure him again? I want to be there myself." "Hard to say. We're waiting for a new station. Two, maybe three days." "We don't have that much time," Davor murmured. "I'll have to keep him here for now."
"Because of suspicion of espionage?" the leader asked. "Possible," Davor said seriously. The lab leader laughed. "A spy? No. We don't just measure strength – we also measure purity." "Purity?" Davor repeated skeptically. "Yes. The purity of the soul. The purer a person, the more energy they can absorb. R9 warriors are between 70 and 80 percent. With Unutay, we had… 82." Davor's eyes widened. "As strong as an R10 warrior?" "No – that's just a collateral value. But it shows that his heart is pure. It could also have been a measurement error." "Was there anyone else with such a value?" "A technician – 87 percent. Can neither fight nor cast spells."
Davor nodded. "So… can we trust him?" "Scientifically? No statement. As a person? I think so – but you should still keep an eye on him."
The next morning, everyone was ready for departure. Davor approached Keal. "It's your decision. If you want, Unutay can come. But you bear the responsibility. Understood?" Keal nodded. "I understand."
Davor looked at him seriously. "Then good luck."
Keal turned to the group. "I have good news. Unutay can come!" Joy spread. Kiro grinned. "Now he's officially one of us!" Mika jumped forward, hugged Unutay. "Welcome, big brother." Torgul, Nerion, and Elandra were also happy.
"We'll make up for the celebration – when we defeat the enemy," Keal said. The loudspeakers crackled. "Squad Keal – to the portal."
The seven made their way to the inner courtyard. The three commanders (Davor, Leon, Valea) were ready. "The first portal is open," said one of them. "You know what to do. Good luck."
Unutay looked fascinated at the shimmering portal. "Is that… the portal?" he asked Torgul. The grinned. "Never seen one?" Kiro chimed in. "Getting cold feet? Want to chicken out now?" "Stop that," Elandra reprimanded. "No," Unutay said seriously. "I will help you. No matter what comes."
Davor, Leon, and Valea stepped up. "From here on, you're on your own," Davor said calmly. "The portal is stable. Go." "Take care of yourselves," Valea said quietly. And so the Seven stepped through the gate. The first foreign world awaited them.