**POV Nathan**
"Okay, Kairon. You ready to eat your first soul?" We all stood outside our bunk house at half past six in the morning. The Captain held the Kishin Egg in front of Kairon as the drowsy sun slowly ascended. Sal wore a red tank top with a human soul on the front. His knee level shorts were black with a small red Shinigami mask at the base of his right leg accompanied by his black Doc Martin boots. Kairon was wearing one of the Captain's old Slayer shirts, the sleeves were torn during a mosh pit, with three-quarter length torn denim shorts a pair of black high top sneakers. The Captain wore Multi-cam tank top and three-quarter length cargo shorts. His dog tags were matte black and he had black converse. Hannah had her hair tied back with a black scrunchy with a black sports top that hugged her hour-glass figure. Her bottom half was covered by woodland camouflage cargo shorts and black converse sneakers. I wore a grey v-neck tank top with blue cargo shorts and a pair of black high top sneakers. Our raven haired demo girl was wearing a bright yellow tank top, unusual colour choice, black sports shorts and dark yellow high top sneakers.
Kairon stared at the soul with determination. "Yes." He stated enthusiastically, taking to Kishin Egg from the Captain's hands. He then stared blankly. "So I eat this like food right?" An awkward silence fell upon us until Hannah started to struggle suppressing her laughter, triggering Sal to start laughing. To which all of us but Kairon began laughing heartily.
"Oh god, I'm sorry Kairon but that's just to funny." Alex declared as she placed her right hand on his left shoulder. "Yes Kairon, pretend its a burger if that helps." She jested with a wink.
Kairon laughed a little embarrassed by the ordeal. "Okay." He quickly got serious and closed his eyes as he put the whole soul in his mouth at once. A loud gulp split the silence. A few moments passed and nothing happened. Kairon then opened his now electric blue eyes. The air became lighter, like it was easier to move and breath. Hannah, Sal and Frost stared in wonder while me and sis were left in suspense. A shock wave thundered through us as a large cluster of bladed weapons erupted form the ground around Kairon. His Witchblade, a scythe and a combat Axe. His eyes returned to normal as he pulled a Witchblade from the ground. The rest of the weapons shattered as he sheathed his blade. A second blade, much shorter blade appeared on the opposite side of him. Both swords then split into black shards starting at the tip and slowly working its way up the the grip.
A moment of silence fell upon the group again. "So, how d'ya feel?" Alex chirped from the back of the squad.
"Pretty good." Kairon just seemed to play of his weapons increase in strength. It wasn't a lot, but enough to be noticed. I'm fairly sure he isn't that dense. "You guys ready to go?"
"Y..Yeah, Let's go." As the Meisters came back to their senses, the boss took the lead.
**Ten Minutes Later**
"Okay Skrubs, now we've stretched off its about time to start building your core strength." Blackstar stood before us. It seemed we were getting special treatment as the other classes strolled by. Crona was leading one class to the Gauntlet and Stein lead another to the sparring arena. "First, one hour circuit training. Starting with press-ups, then Knee to chest's, squats will be next, followed by pull-ups, after will be Alternate elbow to knee sit-ups, then box jumps, Tricep dips, half sits and then finally lunges. You will do each one for six minutes and forty two seconds doing before changing." A trickle of sweat runs from my forehead down to my jaw as I nervously swallow. I brace myself for the up coming assault on my muscles. "Next, you will each pick up a back pack containing fifty kilogram weights and take a one hour jog on the track around the boot camp. Then lunch followed by you do the whole thing again. Any questions?"
We all obviously knew better to fall for tha... "Yeah, isn't seven minutes a little... ugh!" I look to my right in horror as Blackstar slammed his fist into Kairon's gut. Kairon coughed black blood as he was launched into the building behind him. As the rumble finished collapsing, the winded Kairon dug his way out. "Never mind, I'm good."
"Good, come join your team so we can start." Blackstar is always merciless in the boot camp but how can Kairon do anything after taking a punch like that.
"Blackstar, I don't think..."
"Relax Frost, I'm good. I won't let you down." Kairon's eyes burn with a fire I haven't seen from him before. He walked to join my side once more, still coughing softly. "Sorry I took so long, but I'm ready now." Kairon's voice held a mild level of aggression with an overall feel of determination.
"If your all ready then go on my mark. GO!" Blackstar' signal was clear and startling as we dropped and began with the press-ups. My palms slammed the floor as we lowered ourselves in syncronisity. Kairon seemed to struggle at first but recovered steadily as time went on. I stare at the floor as my dangling tags hit the floor. I start to feel a strain in my arms. I force myself through the pain as the sweat begins to build on my forehead. Kairon now fully recovered seemed to be unstoppable, staying on par with Alex and Sal. Frost seemed to have a level of strain but remained totally cool as he powered on. I quickly begin to remember that I'm the weakest link in the team, but I won't let it stop me. Time has become a blur to me at this point. All I know is, I wont let my team down.
"Don't give up Nath." Kairon's voice sounded like a bastion of hope at this point. "I know we can do this together." Kairon said exactly what I needed to hear. My team quickly became my pillars of strength, helping my fight on. Before I knew it, we we're half way through our knee to chest's. I felt the sweat run off of my forehead. The strain quickly set into my legs, tearing my endurance apart.
"Switch! Squats!" Blackstar's shout was clear and deafening, how did I miss it the first time. The pain in my legs quickly amplified as I took my first squat. I herd myself grunt in pain as I winced from the intensity. It took all I had to haul myself up and going back for another one at this point felt like an impossibility. As my weakened limbs returned to its resting point, a spark of adrenaline forced me on. My heart pounded in my chest. My rib cage strained as I drew in as much air as I can. I feel Blackstar staring at me. I glance up to see a proud smile on his face, acknowledging my strength. I spurred on. Not for him. Not for my team! But for ME! "Switch! Pull-ups!" A metal frame appeared above each of us. Each frame was roughly seventy centimeters taller and five centimeters wider. We each gripped the bar above us and began to haul ourselves up. I finally get my chin over the bar and I lower myself down, building a rhythm. The familiar pain in my arms returned while the agony in my legs slowly faded. The captain's and Hannah's struggle started to show as they winced with every rep while the power houses tanked on. I did my best to do the same, but I'm not as strong as the others. "Come on Nathan! Don't surrender! Thirty seconds till switch!" Blackstar's shout pushed me through, giving me another second wind. Sal and sis seemed shocked as I powered on to catch up with them.
"That's it Nath! Don't you break on me!" Kairon's cheer pushed me through the final ten seconds.
"Switch! Alternate elbow sit-ups!" I quickly release the bar at the end of my final rep and the frame disappears. My feet hit the floor and intense spikes agony rocket through my muscles. I lay back as fast and gentle as possible while clasping my hands behind my head. My collective pain beginning to fade as new ones began to form as we began my sit-ups. I feel my will eroding slowly, my thoughts begin to overtake me. Whispers telling me I can't go on. That I'm too week. I'll show them. I can do this. I might not be strong enough now, but I will be by the time I'm finished! "Switch! Box jumps!" Struggling to my feet, a box appears in front of my on the floor. I collect all the strength I can muster. Forcing my limbs into action, I jump onto the box and off again. My steady rhythm comes under threat of being slowed as the agony in my legs return. The devastating pain demanding me to stop and rest. My muscles collective plea for mercy is ignored as I push on, my weary legs pounding the floor. "Switch! Tricep dips!" As I land on the box, I hop forward off the box and place my hands on top, stretching my legs in front of me. I then lower myself till my arms make right-angles, then quickly lift myself up to maintain pace with the team. I began sweating bullets while the fatigue continued to sap my strength. I almost felt like I could just fall apart at anytime, but I have to keep going. "Switch! Half-sits!" I quickly lower myself to sit on the floor. The box disappears after I take my hands off the box, allowing me to lay back as I place my hands on my legs about half way up my thighs. Acidic agony ripped through my abdomen as I lifted myself from the floor. I finally start to see signs of fatigue as Kairon and Alex begins to wince from the strain. However, I've noticed when Kairon is near his limits he pushes himself further with a deep inner strength, Alex on the other hand has a nasty competitive streak and wont allow herself to be outdone. The only thing that kept me going was that after this was just lunges and I'm half way home. "Switch! Lunges!" I quickly stumble to my feet, struggling to keep my balance as we start our lunges. My bones feel like there starting to creak and my heart feels like it could explode at any moment. But I'm almost there. I can't quit now! I've come too far! Everything started getting darker around me. The only think I continued to be conscious of, was Blackstar. The slightest sign of pride at my determination. He began watching me since we were doing pull ups. Making sure I know he believes in me. I have to keep going. "Alright! Circuit training is over. Grab a bag and start running. Run as a unit! No one is left behind!" By the time Blackstar laid out the rules, we all had grabbed a bag and started running, which were FUCKING HEAVY!. My stamina had already been ripped apart. The one hour run felt like being thrown in front of a firing squad. I quickly began to stumble under the intense weight. Just as my legs gave out, I felt a hand catch me. I quickly find my footing as my backpack is lifted from me. I recompose myself and see Frost holding me up. I give him a nod of thanks and look forward to see Kairon carrying two bags. That's gotta be a hundred kilos he's carrying at least. I suddenly feel a flicker of fear. I begin to focus on him and try to make a telepathic connection. I feel time slow to a crawl as I close my eyes.
Author's note: For full effect, if your into death metal, listen to Dethklok The Doomstar Requiem soundtrack and skip to 40:14 Then pause after the last scream.
I open them again to see all the whole team running fearfully through a blackened abyss. I look back to see a silver faced demon chasing us with a glowing blood red Great Sword. His screams echoed in the endless void around us. His thunderous steps shook the long grey bridge before us. The fear made my legs heavy and my breath weak. "We can't out run it! Keep running and don't look back!" Suddenly, Kairon turned around and threw a fire ball at our pursuer. I look back to see him creating a ball of lightning in his hand and casting it in the air. "I said don't look back keep going!" The explosive inferno bought him enough time to stop break the bridge with a huge lightning bolt. Allowing us to run on without him. The demon laid eyes on Kairon standing alone with the destroyed bridge before him.
I stopped to watch while the others ran on. "You, let them get away!" The demons screams were terrifying alone, but the cold rage from his red eyes could paralyze the toughest of veterans. What ever it was, it wasn't supposed to be inside Kairon.
Kairon stared him in the eyes. "I do not fear you." He stood before his executioner calm and collected.
"Then you are a fool! And you will die!" The demon raised his enormous blade and with a monstrous guttural scream cut Kairon in half.
His halved corpse lay in a pool of blood as the world around me broke apart.
I snap back into reality to see Kairon clutching his head in pain. I catch up to him and take my backpack from him. "Sorry, Kairon. Just needed to catch my breath. Thanks for the help." I lightly tap his shoulder on my way past to let him know I'm there for him. I don't know if he picked up on but i'll make sure later.
*Fifty minutes later*
"Come on! Two minutes to go!" Blackstar roared across the training ground. I felt like it was a miracle that I was still standing at this point I can't remember how many times I wanted to give up.
"Guys... I can't." I begin slowing down as I saw Kairon almost adopt a meditative state. His speed slowly increased and as he came level to each of us we all felt it. Our legs get lighter. A sudden burst of energy flowed into me as Kairon split his remaining energy among us. We broke into a rapid sprint at speeds I never though I'd reach. "I didn't know you could do that Kairon! Let's see if you can carry your team home!" Realizing Kairon had set up a resonance link, I try to amplify and send back his energy but I don't have enough of my own to work with. The telepathy must have taken more of my energy than I thought. Kairon somehow summoned more power just as we were running low. He must have been past his limit already. "Thirty seconds!" Blackstar's shout caught Kairon's attention as he prepared his last ditch effort. Frost, Hannah, Sal and Blackstar seemed to stare in horror at Kairon. He winced, slamming his eyes shut as he screamed slamming his fist's together. His eyes snapped open with a burning fury. I feel his rage brewing but somehow he's keeping it suppressed.
The link began to fade as his blood red eyes faded to a dull violet. A huge shattering sound filled my mind as our resonance was broken. Kairon once again clutched his head in agony but persisted on running. "Sorry guys. That's all I have left." Kairon's legs were weak, but Sal and Alex had enough energy to carry him the rest of the way.
"Don't sweat it Kairon. You did awesome" The Captain's words were soft and kind. "I doubt we would have made it this far without your help."
"Time! Stop running and fall in!" We gradually slowed down as we mad our way over to Blackstar. We had to carry Kairon all the way to Blackstar, poor guy could barely move his legs. If I'm entirely honest though, I don't know how I'm still standing.
"D..Did we make it." Kairon's faint voice almost made him sound like he was on his death bed.
"Yes Kairon, but you shouldn't have been so reckless. You almost literally tore your soul in two." Hannah seemed to be seriously concerned about him.
"I know, I..." A slap echoed out across the boot camp.
Hannah stood there enraged with Kairon's answer. "You knew that would happen and you did it anyway!"
"Hannah's right. There is no need to take such risks in training, dumb arse." Sal chimed in, trying to bring Hannah's anger down.
"You guys better get going or you'll run out of grub time." Blackstar diffused the situation by giving us a new one, cleaver bastard.
Kairon's stomach roared at the mention of food. "OH SHIT! I'm not doing the second part of this on an empty stomach!" And with that he bolted to the mess hall, leaving a large cloud of dust behind.
"HAH! Get's somebody every time." Blackstar's triumphant laugh bellowed out behind us. "Don't sweat part two. That was a test and you all passed, your reward is the rest of the day to yourselves. Ill cya next week." Blackstar shot us a sinister grin as he turned around and walked away. "Make sure you tell Kairon only to use that ability as a last resort and take him to Stein see if there is any determinant damage or long term effects. Later" He casually waved without looking as he turned the corner. We quickly left to catch up with Kairon.
After asking if we could have tea and coffee making facilities, I went home to grab my mini-fridge and to buy milk, tea, coffee and sugar. When I got back to the bunk house, I noticed Kairon was missing. "Hey, Frost? You seen Kairon around?" I put the mini-fridge next to Sal's kettle which he brought from home. My mini-fridge was black with a red accent and spikes protruding from the top four corners. The handle looked similar to the spikes in design. All this and still able to hold a two liter bottle of milk, so convenient! Sal's Kettle was pretty snazzy too. The body was a transparent materiel almost resembling the minimalist black plastic handle, lid, spout and base holding it all together. As I set the kettle to boil, the inside was illuminated with a deep shade of red while Sal brought the cups over and took over the drinks.
"He's on the roof mediating." Frost was polishing his boots with an earphone in one ear.
"Thanks, I'm gunna go check on him. Did we hear anything from Stein?" Concern began to creep into my voice.
"We're not gunna no till tomorrow, sorry dude." On the surface, He doesn't seem to care about the results but I know he is just trying not to focus on it himself. He seems pretty shaken up by what he saw. Same goes for Hannah and Sal.
I begin walking to leave the bunk house. "Alright no worries, I'll tell him your brewing up!" I closed the door behind and turned left to climb the ladder next to the door. I see Kairon Relaxed with his eyes closed and his legs crossed. He had his elbows rested on his thighs while making a circle with his entwined fingers pointing down and relaxed.
"Hey Nath." Kairon's tone was soft and friendly but had an odd chill.
"Hey dude. Are you alright." I sat down next to him as he opened his eyes and sat back to stare at the night sky.
"Yeah I'm alright now I've rested up. you?" I know he is hiding his struggle for control, but I'm not going to force it out of him.
"Yeah man, I'm alright. Just a little worried about you." Kairon looked towards me a little concerned. "I know your struggle, and you don't have to fight alone." I rest my hand on his shoulder and shoot him a smile before getting up to leave. "Sal's brewing up, you look like you need one. Come down we're about to play some poker."
"Alright I be down soon. And Nath." I stop descending down the ladder so just my head is showing. "Thanks." Kairon Then showed me a genuine smile that set me at ease.
"Don't mention it. Your family dude." I give him another warm smile before continuing down the ladder and into the bunk house.
Thanks for reading guys, hope you enjoyed.
Ive not got any criticisms so far so your either polite or enjoying it, either way thanks :D.
sorry its taking me a while to get these chapters done but i hope to start building some momentum :)
cya next time guys :D.