It took a whole day. A whole day of pain and unimaginable fatigue before any of the students managed to scratch Sir Orion. They targeted the side of his neck, just at the back of the ear.
The strength difference was unimaginable. The scary part was that he didn't use his Archaic Dominion, he was just toying with them. Some of the prisoners who were no strangers to violence couldn't even bare to watch.
These were little kids getting pummeled.
" Finally ", he held the slight red cut at the side of his neck, it healed immediately.
" I was getting bored ".
" Is it over?", Some of the trainees were already unconscious. The rest just slumped to the floor in exhaustion.
Sir Orion turned to the exit, that ridiculously white hair falling just behind his massive back.
" We will repeat this session every day ", He paused taking pleasure in the hopeless expressions on the boys faces. He knew they were starting to realise what they got themselves into
" If you're frail and can't handle it then go now. Don't waste my time or hold your fellow man back, with your half hearted conviction!"
Half of the trainees kept their heads down. They now realised that if this was what it took to become a superhero, then they never had a chance. These were likely the boys who would give up and leave, yet they were also the ones who would live longer.
Heroes never lived long anyway.
' What? this wasn't over?", Guile thought.
' What now?'
This feeling of helplessness was something he'd never thought existed. He walked in the opposite direction. He could barely feel any part of his body. It was sore all around. Each step he took sent a sharp jolt of pain all through his tired body.
Ghazul was motionless on the floor. From one hit.
" Hey ", He kicked his almost lifeless body.
" Wake up men, it's over ".
Ghazul didn't answer. He was out.
" Those who can stand, I commend you. ", He walked towards the exit, that ridiculously white hair trailing on his massive white clad back.
" Take the injured to healing section ".
Then he left disappearing into those grim walls. Walls the students now saw to be synonymous with pain and suffering.
The cold, the smell of fiend blood. It was all so saddening. All the comfort they knew was gone.
" Ptff ", Guile spat away blood from his mouth, along with a few teeth.
" Aghhhhh Agrrrrr ".
He was regenerating them. The damage was so grave. Did he hit him harder cause he knew he was stronger than the other students.
After his teeth were back, Guile picked up Ghazul and took the liberty of carrying most of the other students.
The rest could barely carry themselves.
The Purple Arcane engulfed them lifting them metres into the air.
Damaged bodies of children, bleeding, unconscious, crying. It was grim and could make anyone churn.
But this was the job.
The other trainees eyes were fixated on Guile. A quiet gratitude cause they knew they wouldn't be able to carry anything but themselves.
Even they were headed to the healing section.
Wherever it was.
As Guile walked through the small door he exchanged one last glance with the inmate. The girl who wasn't supposed to be here.
Getting her out of here would be the first message he sends, he's here to change everything.
10 minutes of searching
" Where the hell is the healing centre ".
They've been walking for so long.
Though it was barely ten minutes, it felt like an hour. Everyone was in pain and on the glimpse of collapsing.
Guile kept on walking, the rest of the injured trainees floating on air, he even carried some that were conscious and couldn't walk themselves.
It's hard to imagine what it's like for him. Whatever Arcane he had left he's using it to carry his comrades.
They kept on walking through the seemingly endless gray wet cement walls. This place was more akin to a prison or a torture centre than anything else.
Until finally the endless mirage of walls was stained. By a door.
A large brown door to the left.
It was open.
They saw people crying and bleeding in a grey wide space.
Baileer came out covered in blood, her expression like a soldier doing something they weren't proud of. Seems they just managed to injure her.
" My god ",
Guile just paused there staring at the sentinel with eyes of defiance.
" You all did well ", She said taking her eyes and looking off to the floating motionless bodies. She had a cut on the side of her stomach.
That was probably the scratch.
Her clothes were torn and though Guile tried not to look, he got the glimpse of the injury. It was a pretty deep cut.
" Most times it took many days before we could receive the scratch, Sir Orion is veryproud of you ".
The boys at the back couldn't bear to look at the horrible sight in the girls Training room. It's as if the girls got the worst of it.
Guile had disgust and anger in his face. His Arcane flaring, he was mad.
Baileer? She just stared at him waiting to see what he would do.
" This is what you signed up for", She looked down at the floor. Guile didn't know if she was faking it or just genuinely felt bad. Her tone was almost sad.
" Just hold out. It may seem bad but if you hold out and go through this ", She raised her head back up feigning optimism, " you'll be ready for whatever the world throws at you ".
She snapped her fingers faster than Guile could react.
She teleported them.
To the healing centre.
' So now he's supposed to be great full '.
The healing centre was very much different from the rest of the facility. It had white walls and rows of beds lined up against the walls. Another set in the middle of the large hall like room dividing it into two.
Many nurses and doctors were there ready to work.
She teleported them along with the girls.
Thousands of kids injured, bloody and ready to get the hell out of this place. Less than half would remain.
The health workers knew they had their work cut out for them.
Guile set down his new friend Ghazul on one of the beds.
" Puuh", Guile spat out blood as he retired to the small mattress lowering the injured trainees down to the floor as gently as he could.
He'd never been this tired and weak in a long time.
' This, every day '.
He put his hand over his cold sweating forehead.
The image of the prisoner girl flashed in his eyes once more.
He needs to get her out of here. That's the first thing he has to do.
Before Guile knew it he fell to the dream land. Sleeping deeply as the nurses ( all having healing dominions ) got to work.
Offcourse the training program couldn't spare any effort in keeping their healing sector in tip top performance.
They needed the trainees to be healed as quickly and effectively as possible, so they could be broken harder than before.
" Huuuh ", a gasp. Guile found himself at the bottom of a bunk bed in a dark room.
" Where am I ", he asked Ghazul. You could pick out Ghazuls Arcane in a crowd of millions
" Yore finally up sleeper ", He said turning on the lights to the room.
It was rather bright and revealed Ghazuls completely healed body. As if his ribs weren't broken or his organs weren't crushed when Sir Orion punched him.
" This is where we sleep. It's two people par room ". He said walking to his own bed.
' you'd wonder why they put two bunk beds in a room that houses only two trainees '.
" So now are you happy ", Guile fell back down to his bed tired but not a shard of sleep in his purple eyes, " We've met out heroes ".
" I never expected perfection. This isn't all necessary but it is effective ", Guile replied falling to his own bed.
Guile didn't say anything. He knew Ghazul was right. It was effective.
" It's better to show hell to us than train us loosely and have us die at the hands of some fiend ".
He scratched his legs as he turned to Guile knowing full well he was planning something. " This way nobody gets to die ".
Guile didn't say anything. That female prisoner, those dark Asian eyes, that scared innocent face.
That's all he could think of.
" Check this out comrade", Ghazul said tiredly as he clicked a button on a white remote.
' How did I not see that ', Guile said now staring at the hologram on the screen.
It was a ranking of all the trainees. The ranking would change all through the training program. The final ranking deciding your scores and the hero rank you'd be assigned to.
Currently Guile was number 1.
" You're number One comrade. I'm," Ghazul scrolled down the list, " I'm number 7. I killed the most Fiends but ehh. Got knocked out with one punch ".
Guile pretended to be interested.
" He hit you harder cause you commented on his tie ".
Guile went back to his bed.
" Mother did always say my bug mouth will be the end of me ". Ghazul replied smiling.
A smile that eventually turned to that sadistic excitement.
" I am going to take your spot though ".
For a second Guile felt fear. This was probably the most lethal fighter he'd ever met. Having someone this ready for a fight win or lose, targeting his back was not the calmest situation.
" Will you now?"
Guile was faking confidence.
There was a silence. Both of them tired but not ready to sleep. They'd already been out for the most of the day.
" Are you planning something?", Ghazul asked tilting his head to his roommate.
' Offcourse he caught up ', Guile tried acting calm.
" What made you ask?"
Ghazul smirked. " Your fists were curled even while you were asleep?", He said pointing at Guiles clenched hands.
He didn't even notice.
There was no hiding it. Guile was anticipating something.
Guile took in a deep breath ready to talk.
" I need your help Ghazul ".
Ghazul sat up as if Guile had just said what he was hoping for. He rested his head on his battle hardened fists, that maniacal grin widening.
" Now what do you need me to do exactly ".
' What am I even doing. This is a terrible idea '.
" There's this prisoner. Among the emm training experience people. She's innocent. I'm planning on saving her ".
Guiles eyes drifted up, the resolution and resolve clear on his still youthful face.
" Its my first message".
Guile almost laughed.
" Well look at you Comrade. I knew you were interesting ".
Ghazul launched off his bed.
" Personally I'm ready to take on the world. But what about you. What's the hold up ".
" What do you mean?" Guile asked looking up to his excited friend.
" We're fully healed. No time like now ".
" Wait you want to go now?"
" What's the point in waiting here? We clearly can't sleep ".
A smile perched itself on Ghazul's face as his eyes and body were flooded with that surreal Purple Arcane.
" All right!"