The scene shifts to a training ground far from the palace, where ten young heroes - the chosen 10 Virtues - were engaged in various activities. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the dusty arena.
One group was gathered around a training dummy, practicing their sword techniques. The clang of metal against wood echoed through the air as they struck precise hits, trying to level up their skills and accuracy.
Another group was engaged in sparring matches, their movements fluid and intense. Sweat glistened on their brows as they tested their reflexes and combat abilities.
A young man with striking blue hair - who was the chosen successor of Hope - paused mid-swing to watch his fellow heroes. His eyes scanned the training grounds, noting how everyone was focused on improving themselves.
A red-haired girl—the chosen successor of Love—approached him with a determined look. "Yo, Jin, want to spar? I need to work on my defensive stance. Everyone else has a partner except you!"
Jin, quite exhausted, nodded at his friend's request. "Sure, Isabel, just take it easy, alright? My body's killing me…" He adjusted his grip on his sword and took a fighting stance.
The other heroes paused their training to watch the sparring match as a long haired blonde girl stepped forward. "Ah, look, Jin is about to go at it again, this time with Isabel." The air vibrated with anticipation as Jin and the Isabel circled each other, their movements calculated and precise.
Jin was the Virtue of Hope and by far the strongest of the Ten Heroes. His Heroic Skill surpassed everyone's, including his technique in the arts of swordsmanship.
"Let us begin!" Shouted Jin as he rushed forward.
The sound of steel meeting steel rang out as they began their exchange. Jin's strikes were swift and precise, while Isabel focused on blocking and countering.
A tall young man with dark hair, going by the name Daiki, who was also the hero of Justice—called out from the sidelines. "Don't hold back, Jin! We need to test our limits if we want to defeat Azathoth!"
Jin smirked at his friend's encouragement, increasing the intensity of his attacks. Isabel gritted her teeth, struggling to keep up with his speed.
"Grrrgh… darn!" Isabel grunted as Jin's blade grazed her shoulder, leaving a thin cut through her training armor. She quickly jumped away, creating distance between them.
Jin pressed his advantage, moving with a fluid grace that belied his strength. His strikes were lightning-fast, each one aimed with deadly precision at Isabel's weak spots.
"Uwaaah!" Isabel screamed as she danced around him, her movements more fluid than before. The chosen successor of Love was known for her agility and speed, but Jin's attacks were making it difficult to maintain her defensive stance.
The other heroes watched intently as the battle unfolded. Jin's technique was flawless, each movement was calculated to maximize his power while minimizing his opponent's chances of counterattack.
Daiki called out again, his voice filled with admiration. "That's it, Jin! Keep the pressure on! Don't let her recover! If Isabel wants to get better then she needs to suffer a bit! Bwa ha ha!" He laughed sarcastically, making Isabel frown.
"Grrr… seriously, Daiki? What's with you?!" Isabel's breathing became labored as Jin continued his relentless assault. She could feel her muscles burning with exertion, her stamina dwindling.
Jin noticed her growing fatigue and adjusted his strategy. Instead of attacking directly, he began circling her, waiting for an opening.
"Huh?" Isabel widened her eyes as she tried taking another defensive stance, the other heroes leaned forward, sensing that the battle was reaching its climax. Daiki whispered to a nearby companion. "He's going for the final strike. Isabel stands no chance."
Sure enough, Jin suddenly lunged forward with blinding speed, his sword aimed straight for Isabel's chest. The chosen hero of Love barely had any time to react.
"Aiyeeee!" Isabel screamed as his blade stopped mere inches away from her chest, the tip hovering just above her heart.
"Ahaha…" Jin lowered his sword and stepped back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "That's enough for today, Isabel. You're improving, but you still need to work on your defensive timing. I'm sure you can get to my level in no time."
Isabel let out a shaky breath, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Thanks, Jin. I'll keep practicing."
The other heroes applauded as Jin sheathed his sword. Daiki walked over, clapping Jin on the shoulder. "That was goddamn impressive, bro! Who would've thought you mastered the way of the blade this good."
Jin chuckled modestly, his blue hair falling over his eyes as he shook his head. "I've had more experience with a sword than most. Anyone could have done what I did if they were in my position of experience."
Daiki chuckled at Jin's humility, knowing his friend was being modest again. "Don't sell yourself short, Jin. You're one of the strongest heroes here."
Jin ran a hand through his hair, a gentle smile on his face. "Maybe. But strength isn't everything. We all have our roles to play in this fight against Azathoth."
Isabel joined the group, still catching her breath from the intense sparring session. She listened as Jin and Daiki continued their conversation.
Daiki nodded in agreement with Jin's words. "Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right." He said crossing his arms. "Our teamwork is what makes us strong. Azathoth won't know what hit him when we're all at our best."
Jin glanced around at the other heroes who were still training, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Speaking of which, we should rotate partners for sparring matches. Everyone needs to learn how to adapt to different fighting styles." Isabel perked up at this suggestion, grateful for the opportunity to face different opponents and improve her skills.
"That sounds like a great idea, Jin. I'd love to spar with someone else."
Jin noticed Isabel's eagerness but shook his head gently. "Actually, Isabel, you should take a break first. You've been training hard today, and your body needs rest to recover."
Isabel opened her mouth to protest, but Jin held up a hand. "I know you want to keep going, but pushing yourself too hard won't help. Trust me, I've made that mistake before."
Daiki smirked at the memory of Jin collapsing from exhaustion during training back in their home world which was sadly consumed. "Yeah, remember when you tried to spar with the entire Kendo Dojo back-to-back? You were out for a whole day."
Jin chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was... a learning experience. But it taught me the importance of proper rest, ahaha!"
Isabel sighed, knowing Jin was right but feeling restless. "I just don't want to fall behind. We don't know how much time we have before Azathoth makes his move."
Jin's expression turned serious, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding of their situation. "I get it, Isabel. We all want to be ready. But we won't be any good to each other if we're all exhausted and injured."
Daiki chimed in, crossing his arms. "Besides, we've got plenty of time for more training. Have you ever read any of Lovecraft's stories? Azathoth isn't exactly known for being smart! Pwa ha ha!"
Isabel frowned, leaning forward. "You two make it sound like you know more about this situation than you're letting on."
All of a sudden, one more person decided to join the training grounds. It was none other than Tanimoto. The other heroes tensed slightly at his arrival, but Jin maintained his calm demeanor. Tanimoto approached their group, his confident stride drawing everyone's attention. He had been watching the training session from a distance, a smirk playing on his face.
"Looks like everyone's eager to improve today. Care to join us?" Asked Jin, smiling.
Tanimoto's smirk widened as he looked around at the other heroes. "Sure thing. I could use some real competition."
Daiki exchanged a knowing glance with Jin, both of them aware of Tanimoto's reputation for being arrogant and aggressive. It's only been an entire day and he was by far the most disliked hero among the ten virtues.
Isabel shifted uncomfortably, remembering how Tanimoto had often picked on Yuto in their previous world—evidently coming from the same school.
"Crud…" She exchanged a concerned look with Daiki, who subtly shook his head.
Tanimoto seemed to notice the tension but didn't seem bothered by it. He picked up a training sword and faced Jin with a challenging grin. "Let's see what you've got, Jin. I hear you're quite the skilled fighter, and watching your bout just a second ago, I'm pretty curious myself."
Jin took his stance, his expression neutral. He knew he had to be careful - Tanimoto's competitive nature could easily turn into aggression during a sparring match. "I'll do my best. Ready when you are."
The other heroes formed a loose circle around the sparring area, their eyes darting between Tanimoto and Jin. The atmosphere was tense, charged with anticipation.
Daiki whispered to Isabel, keeping his voice low. "This should be interesting. Tanimoto's always looking for an excuse to show off."
Isabel nodded, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her training uniform. "I just hope Jin can handle him without things getting out of hand."