The sun was just rising on the horizon, bathing the training field in a golden glow. Strax was already there, sweating and panting, his longsword in hand, muscles tense in preparation for what was to come.
The events of the previous day were continuing, and at least now, he felt more in control. Since it was time to train... they would train together. He was at his peak, with pestering thoughts advancing again, but there was a wall in front of him that he couldn't see how to overcome.
Then, his wives offered to help him with this nagging problem.
Samira, Beatrice, Monica, and Cristine arrived together, each armed with their usual weapons.
Samira wielded a katana, her gaze focused and determined as she sought to learn a new weapon that wasn't a massive broadsword.
Beatrice held a short sword, quick and lethal, while Monica had a spear, using it with grace and agility.
Cristine, on the other hand, brandished a dagger, her serene expression hiding the excitement of a challenge in her sparkling eyes. A training session needed to have some challenge, right? And she took on that role, using the weapon she was most skilled with.
"Ready?" Strax asked, his voice firm but carrying a hint of concern. He didn't underestimate his wives; he knew each of them had unique skills that could easily surprise him.
"We're ready," Beatrice replied with a confident smile, positioning herself in a circle around Strax. They were determined to show him that strength wasn't everything.
The fight began with a war cry from Samira, who attacked first. She charged at Strax with her katana, the blade glinting in the sunlight. Strax quickly sidestepped to the left, feeling the rush of air to his right as Samira's sword passed just inches from his face. He retaliated, swinging his sword at her, but she was quick enough to evade and reposition herself.
"You can't let your emotions take over, Strax!" Samira shouted as she executed a spinning move, launching a low strike.
Strax had to jump back to avoid the blow. He found himself surrounded, the other women taking their attacking positions. Monica lunged with her spear, trying to pierce him from below while Beatrice made a series of rapid slashes with her short sword. Cristine, always cunning, attempted to sneak in from behind, ready to strike with her dagger.
He was in a true siege. Dodging, blocking attacks, and trying to understand their patterns, Strax quickly realized that it wasn't just a physical fight; it was a dance of strategies and movements.
"What are you doing?" Cristine shouted, seeing Strax retreat instead of attacking. "We're not here to hurt you!"
"I know!" he replied, trying to stay focused. "But it's hard to fight all of you at once!"
"Then start thinking," Beatrice yelled, charging again with her short sword. "Use what you've learned!"
And so, with each attack he dodged, Strax began to notice the patterns in their approaches. Samira was the most aggressive, always at the forefront, looking for openings. Beatrice was quick and clever, aiming for a strike when he least expected it.
Monica, with her spear, had a reach that allowed her to attack from a distance, while Cristine was silent and calculating, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Strax felt his confidence growing, even under pressure. He took a deep breath and focused. Instead of passively defending, he began to move on the offensive.
"He's losing focus!" Cristine shouted.
"No, I'm not!" Strax retorted, but his voice carried a hint of frustration. He took a deep breath and tried to concentrate again. Now, he needed a new plan.
He took a step back, observing the women, trying to understand their patterns again. Samira was focused and determined, Monica was quick and precise, while Cristine still moved with an unshakeable calm.
The rhythm of the fight intensified again, and Strax, finally grasping the essence of what was happening, began to circle Samira, staying close to her while attacking simultaneously. He dodged a strike from her katana, and with a swift move, he seized the opening he created and disarmed her, sending the katana flying away.
"Two to one!" he shouted, his heart racing with adrenaline.
But there was no time to celebrate. Monica and Cristine were on him again. They attacked in sync, and Strax had to move quickly, using all his agility. He dodged one strike, and in a bold move, he spun, grabbing Cristine by the waist and tossing her aside, causing her to lose her balance.
"Three to one!" he exclaimed.
The expression on Monica's face shifted to one of determination. She launched a quick strike, trying to take him down with her spear. Strax dodged, but the spear came too close, forcing him to evade and slide backward. He knew he needed to finish this quickly.
With a precise move, he lunged at Monica, using all his strength to knock the spear from her hands. He succeeded, and then quickly turned to Cristine, who was trying to recover. In a decisive motion, he advanced, caught her, and brought her down, holding her to the ground.
"Four to one!" Strax shouted, his heart racing with victory.
He stood up, panting, adrenaline still coursing through his body. The women surrounded him, looking at him with a mix of surprise and respect.
"Impressive," Samira commented, breathing heavily. "You really improved."
"Yeah, well done," Beatrice added, smiling. "Just a bit more practice."
"And now, what are you going to do with your victory?" Monica asked, winking at him mischievously...
But before he could respond, a new presence manifested in the training field. An elegant figure appeared between the trees, her steps agile and silent, almost as if she were floating.
"Looks like I'm missing the party," she commented, a curious smile on her lips. The bronzed woman they hadn't seen in two weeks appeared...
"Damn... what are you doing here?!?" Samira shouted, looking at Rogue.
"You tricked me! You didn't say goodbye and just left. What did you think I was going to do?" she shouted at Samira, who turned her face away as she saw Strax looking at her.
"You said you had already resolved things and that Rogue sent a quick goodbye because she had things to take care of," Strax said, looking at Samira, who started whistling.