The EOS training grounds were silent under the moonlight, but the air was thick with the heat of exhaustion and ambition. Renji Kurogami stood alone on the pitch, his breathing heavy, his muscles burning — and his eyes fixed forward with an unyielding fire.
He wasn't alone for long.
Seiji Nakamura and Eiji Kobayashi approached from the shadows, their presence commanding even in the stillness. The two legends exchanged glances before Nakamura spoke.
"You're pushing yourself hard," Nakamura said, his tone even but sharp. "But just pushing won't take you to the top. You need control — and refinement."
Renji wiped the sweat from his brow. "That's why I'm here."
Kobayashi grinned. "Then let's see how much you can take."
The training began with an immediate intensity. Kobayashi fired long passes with brutal force, each ball demanding perfect control. Renji activated Vision, his enhanced field awareness helping him predict the ball's trajectory — but it still wasn't enough.
"Too slow," Kobayashi taunted as the ball sailed past Renji.
Renji gritted his teeth. He adjusted, refining his reactions, and soon he was intercepting every pass. But that was just the start.
Nakamura stepped in next. "Your Void Strike has power — but power without precision is wasted."
He set up a series of moving targets around the field. "Hit them — from outside the box. No misses."
Renji nodded and unleashed his first shot. The ball blazed forward — but missed the target by inches.
"Again," Nakamura ordered.
For the next hour, Renji honed his strike, adjusting his balance, his posture, his timing. And slowly, the misses became hits.
But Nakamura wasn't done.
"Now, hit them while moving."
Renji's body protested — but his ego pushed him forward. He activated Specter Drive, his movement becoming a blur as he fired shot after shot.
And when he finally nailed every target without slowing down, Nakamura's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
The final challenge came from Kobayashi.
"Time to tie it all together," he said, tossing two balls onto the field.
Renji's brow furrowed. "Two?"
"You've got Vision, don't you? Let's see if you can use it properly."
Kobayashi and Nakamura attacked simultaneously, sending both balls in unpredictable patterns. Renji's mind spun as he tracked their movements, his body moving on instinct. He used Phantom Step to evade one, Specter Drive to close in on the other — and when he finally managed to control both, his lungs burned with exertion.
But he wasn't done. He lined up his shot — and with a surge of determination, unleashed Void Strike.
The ball ripped through the air and struck the target dead center.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then Kobayashi whistled.
"Looks like you're getting there."
As Renji collapsed to the grass, his body spent, Nakamura crouched beside him.
"You're evolving fast," he said quietly. "But remember — speed isn't everything. The higher you rise, the harder you'll have to fight to stay there."
Renji's eyes flickered with determination. "Then I'll keep fighting."
Nakamura smiled. "Good. Because your real battles haven't even started."
The night ended with Renji's mind and body pushed to their limits — but his hunger for the top burned brighter than ever.
And tomorrow… the next legend awaited.