Everyone backs away from Ryu and Apollo as they take their fighting stances. Nikko stands before Talia, her small body practically vibrating with excitement, while Talia wraps her arms around her from behind, keeping her close. I, however, am quiet, my eyes fixed on the two combatants. I watch intently, eager to see how this will play out.

  They start slow, circling each other, their movements deliberate and calculated. Ryu's stance is loose yet ready, his hands slightly raised, while Apollo's posture is more rigid, his armored fists clenched and prepared for whatever comes next. There's a tension in the air, a silent understanding between them as they wait for the first move.

  Apollo strikes first, his armored fist a blur as it shoots toward Ryu's face. But Ryu is quick, ducking under the punch and retaliating with a sharp jab aimed at Apollo's midsection. The impact resonates through the air, a dull thud echoing as Ryu's fist meets the unyielding metal of Apollo's armor. Apollo doesn't react to the hit as a human might; instead, he moves with mechanical precision, countering with a swift kick aimed at Ryu's side. Ryu blocks it with his forearm, the clash ringing out.

  Their movements become faster, more intense, as they exchange blows. Each punch and kick is almost too quick for me to follow, a blur of motion that leaves me in awe. Ryu lands a solid hit on Apollo's shoulder, but Apollo responds immediately with a powerful uppercut that Ryu barely manages to deflect. The impact sends Ryu staggering back a step, but he quickly regains his footing, his expression focused and determined.

  Apollo presses the advantage, throwing a series of rapid punches that Ryu deftly dodges or deflects. It's like watching a well-rehearsed dance, each move flowing into the next with a rhythm that's both mesmerizing and intense. Ryu's movements are smooth and precise, but Apollo's are relentless, driven by an unwavering mechanical efficiency. They're evenly matched, each one testing the other's limits, neither willing to back down.

  Ryu suddenly shifts his stance, his body coiled like a spring, and launches into a spinning kick aimed at Apollo's head. Apollo raises his armored forearm just in time, blocking the kick but staggering slightly from the force. I can see the concentration on Ryu's face, the way his muscles tense and relax with each movement as if he's calculating every possible outcome in real-time.

  Apollo doesn't give him a chance to rest. He lunges forward, closing the distance between them with a powerful punch aimed at Ryu's chest. Ryu catches Apollo's fist with both hands, the impact reverberating through his arms, and for a moment, they're locked in place, each one pushing against the other with equal strength.

  Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Ryu twists his body, using Apollo's momentum against him, and throws him to the ground. Apollo hits the earth with a heavy thud, but he's not down for long. He rolls to his feet with surprising agility for his size and retaliates with a sweeping kick aimed at Ryu's legs. Ryu jumps back, just barely avoiding the kick, and counters with a rapid series of punches aimed at Apollo's torso.

  Apollo blocks most of the blows, but Ryu manages to slip a few through, striking at the joints in Apollo's armor with precision. Despite the hits, Apollo remains steady, his stance unyielding as he swings a heavy fist at Ryu's head. Ryu ducks just in time, the fist sailing over his head, and uses the opening to land a solid punch on Apollo's chest plate. The impact rings out, but Apollo barely flinches, his mechanical body absorbing the blow with ease.

  The fight continues like this, back and forth, each one landing hits and taking them in return. The speed and intensity of their movements are astounding, their fists and kicks a blur of motion. I'm in awe of how skilled they both are, the way they seem to anticipate each other's moves as if they've done this a thousand times before.

  Ryu takes a hit to the side, the impact causing him to grunt, but he doesn't let it slow him down. He retaliates with a quick series of strikes, his fists moving faster than I can follow. Apollo blocks most of them, but Ryu's precision allows a few to land in weak spots between the armor plating. They're both pushing each other to their limits, their breathing controlled, their movements precise.

  Apollo goes for a powerful roundhouse kick, but Ryu is ready. He ducks under the kick and sweeps Apollo's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground once more. But Apollo is relentless, rolling to his feet almost instantly and charging at Ryu with a series of punches. Ryu blocks them all, his movements fluid and precise, but I can see the strain starting to show in both of them.

  Their fight is intense, a display of raw skill and determination. It's clear that they're evenly matched, each one pushing the other to their limits. I'm captivated by their abilities, by the sheer speed and power they wield with such ease. But at the same time, a part of me feels that knot in my stomach tighten again, a reminder that I'll never be this good, that I'll never be able to match their skill.

  Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Ryu manages to gain the upper hand. He catches Apollo's wrist mid-punch, twists it behind his back, and sweeps his legs out from under him in one fluid motion. Apollo hits the ground hard, and before he can recover, Ryu pins him down, his knee pressing into Apollo's back.

  They both pause, Ryu breathing heavily, the fight clearly taking its toll on them. Ryu's chest rises and falls rapidly, his face hidden in shadow, but I can sense the satisfaction in his posture. Apollo lies still for a moment before nodding slightly, acknowledging his defeat.

  Ryu stands up, offering a hand to Apollo, who takes it and pulls himself to his feet. "You've improved," Apollo says, his tone respectful and measured. "That was well fought."

  "You too," Ryu replies, a hint of a smile in his voice. "You didn't make it easy."

  As they shake hands, I can't help but feel a mix of awe and inadequacy. Their fight was incredible, a display of skill that I can only dream of. The knot in my stomach loosens slightly, but it's still there, a reminder that I have a long way to go. But despite that, I'm captivated by what I just witnessed. This is what they're capable of, and it's both inspiring and daunting.

  Ryu turns to me, his gaze softening as he notices my expression. "You'll get there, Rebecca," he says, as if reading my thoughts. "It just takes time and practice."

  I nod, though I'm not entirely sure I believe him. But I know I'll keep trying, keep pushing myself to improve, even if it feels like an impossible task. Because if there's one thing I've learned today, it's that I have to at least try.

  Nikko rushes over to Ryu, her face beaming with excitement, her cat ears twitching wildly, and her tail swishing back and forth like an excited kitten. "Papa, that was amazing!" she exclaims, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. Her voice is full of admiration, and it's clear she's still buzzing with energy from watching the fight. "You were so fast! And Apollo was strong, but you were stronger! You're the best!"

  Ryu nods, the tension from the sparring match easing as he gently pats Nikko's head. "Thank you, Nikko," he says warmly. Her tail swishes even more vigorously, and her ears perk up as she grins, clearly pleased with the praise.

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

  Talia steps closer, her expression a mixture of concern and admiration. "Are you hurt?" she asks, her voice laced with worry as her eyes scan Ryu's form, searching for any signs of injury.

  Ryu shakes his head and rolls his shoulders in a circular motion, demonstrating that he's unhurt. "No, I'm fine," he assures her, moving his arms a bit more to show that there's no lingering pain.

  He glances up at the sky, his gaze thoughtful. "It's past noon," he notes, and I look up too, noticing how high the sun has climbed. I'm surprised by how much time has passed; it feels like only a short while ago we started training, but here we are, hours later.

  "How about we take a break, and I make us some lunch?" Ryu suggests.

  "Yes!" Nikko exclaims immediately, her excitement palpable. Talia nods in agreement, and the idea of a warm meal makes me realize just how hungry I am.

  "Then we'll do some more training," Ryu adds.

  I hesitate at that. "More training?" I ask, not able to hide the apprehension in my voice. "Is that really necessary?"

  Ryu turns to me, his gaze steady. "Under normal circumstances, no," he says. "But we are about to shake the hornets' nest, and I want all of you to be ready for anything."

  His words resonate with me, bringing back the memories of the attack by the cloaked figures and the fear that gripped me then. He's right; there's a very real chance that Nikko and I could be attacked while Ryu and Talia are gone. The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and I nod, though I'm still not thrilled about the idea of more training.

  Apollo picks up his shield and spear, which have been resting against a tree, and begins to leave the training area. "Where's he going?" I ask.

  "Back to patrolling the area until I call him for more lessons," Ryu explains as he heads back to the cave, with Nikko and Talia beside him.

  I watch Apollo disappear into the forest, and a thought crosses my mind. "Doesn't he need to eat?" I wonder to myself. "Is he a—no, he couldn't be..." The thought lingers as I follow Ryu and the others back to the cave.

  ?????

  We all sit by the fire, which Ryu has reignited. Another worktable has been set up nearby and transformed into a small kitchen area. On it, there are various vegetables, spices, herbs, and thick slices of beef. Ryu begins cutting the beef into squares, his movements precise and practiced. Nikko stands beside him, helping as best as she can while he sets up a cooking area over the fire.

  He suspends a large, flat metal grate over the flames, securing it with sturdy metal poles on each side. The grate glows faintly as the fire heats it, and Ryu carefully places the beef squares and vegetables onto the surface, searing them with a satisfying sizzle. The aroma of cooking meat and herbs fills the cave, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

  As Ryu cooks, I sit quietly, my mind racing with thoughts. The attack of the cloaked figures, the spar between Ryu and Apollo, and the moment when I had to stab that cloaked figure—it all flashes through my mind. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I turn to see Talia sitting beside me, a concerned look on her face.

  "Are you alright?" she asks gently.

  I nod, but then I stop and shake my head. "I can't get what happened yesterday out of my mind," I admit, my voice trembling. "I've never been in a serious fight before, and now I'm learning how to fight... how to kill." The words come out shaky, my fear clear in my voice. "It's just... a lot to take in."

  Talia nods, her expression understanding. "I understand," she says, her voice soft and reassuring. "But we're here for you." She gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze, and I can't help but feel a little better.

  "Thanks," I say, managing a small smile as the scent of the cooked food grows stronger, filling the cave with warmth and making me even hungrier.

  Lunch is then served. Ryu has made a beef stew, and as I take my first bite, I'm surprised by how delicious it is. The warmth of the meal, combined with the company, begins to ease my nerves. As we eat, the four of us share stories and laugh together. A comforting feeling washes over me—not just from the stew, but from the warmth of their company.

  After lunch, we return to the training area, though Ryu stays behind to work on his project. He's still at his workbench, the strange ball of metal now sporting an eye just like DP-8's. Apollo is waiting for us when we arrive, ready to continue our training.

  We start with more hand-to-hand combat. Apollo guides me through the movements, showing me how to position my feet, how to balance my weight, and how to throw punches and kicks with proper form. At first, I'm stiff and awkward, my body still adjusting to the idea of fighting without a weapon. But as the training progresses, I start to get a feel for it. I glance over at Talia and Nikko from time to time, watching how they move. Talia's punches are fluid and strong, and Nikko's smaller form is quick and agile. It's inspiring, and I find myself pushing harder, determined to improve.

  After a while, we transition to knife training. The thought of wielding a blade in combat still makes me uneasy, especially after what happened with the cloaked figure, but Apollo is patient. He shows me how to hold the knife properly, how to strike with precision, and how to defend myself. The more time passes, the more comfortable I become with the weapon in my hand. The fear that initially gripped me starts to fade, replaced by a growing sense of confidence.

  Finally, we move on to shooting practice. Apollo suspends a training dummy in the air and gives it a push, making it swing left and right. Talia and Nikko start shooting first, their blasters firing blue and red bolts of energy that light up the area and leave scorch marks on the dummy. I watch, taking mental notes, and when it's my turn, I focus on hitting the target with precision. My shots aren't perfect, but they're getting closer to the mark each time.

  After we've gone through target practice, Apollo shifts gears, leading us to the final part of the day's training. He retrieves a large folded cloth from his pouch of holding, spreading it out on the ground with precise, deliberate movements. Then, from the same pouch, he produces a variety of small tools and objects, placing them neatly on the cloth.

  "These," he begins, his tone as steady and patient as ever, "are your blaster maintenance tools. Proper upkeep of your weapons is just as important as knowing how to use them. Without regular maintenance, a blaster can misfire, jam, or even fail completely when you need it the most."

  I glance over at Talia and Nikko, who are already pulling out their blasters and laying them on the cloth. They seem familiar with this routine, their hands moving with practiced ease. Meanwhile, I fumble a bit as I draw the twin blasters from my belt, feeling slightly out of my depth.

  Apollo doesn't seem to mind my inexperience, though. He patiently explains each step as we begin taking apart the blasters, showing me how to carefully disassemble them piece by piece. I watch closely, trying to commit each motion to memory—the way he slides the power pack out, unscrews the barrel, and separates the grip from the main body.

  As I mimic his actions, I feel a mix of nervousness and focus. This is all so new to me, and the last thing I want is to mess up or break something. Apollo seems to sense my hesitation, offering quiet reassurances as he guides me through the process.

  "This tool," he says, holding up a small brush, "is for cleaning the barrel. Carbon scoring can build up over time, which affects accuracy and performance. Make sure to clear it out regularly."

  I nod, carefully running the brush through the barrel as he instructed, trying to be as thorough as possible. The task feels almost therapeutic in a way—like I'm learning something essential, something that connects me more deeply to these weapons that have quickly become a vital part of my life.

  Nikko and Talia work alongside us, their movements smooth and confident. Talia glances over at me from time to time, offering encouraging smiles, while Nikko hums quietly to herself as she meticulously cleans her blaster. The atmosphere is calm, almost serene, despite the seriousness of our task.

  As we reassemble our blasters, Apollo emphasizes the importance of each step, ensuring that everything is securely in place before moving on to the next. "Proper maintenance ensures your blasters will function when you need them the most," he says. "It's one of the most important skills a warrior can have."

  When we're done, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I've managed to take apart, clean, and reassemble my blasters without breaking anything—something that seemed daunting just a short while ago. The weight of the weapons feels different in my hands now, more familiar, as if I'm beginning to understand them better.

  By the time the training finally concludes, the sun has begun to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. I'm exhausted, my body aching from the hours of practice, but there's a new confidence in me that wasn't there before. I may not be as good a fighter as Apollo, Ryu, or even Talia, but I feel like I can hold my own. I'm not just an archaeologist anymore—I'm becoming something more.