"And even though it's not the course of action I would take, it does seem like the only viable path—one fraught with high risks and devoid of rewards."
"That it is," William acknowledged, and both of them lapsed into silence as they went their separate ways.
[ Three Days Later ]
William and Adam found themselves in their usual training room, engaging in their regular sparring session. William struck with relentless precision, while Adam deftly evaded each blow, retaliating with counterattacks that William narrowly dodged at the last possible moment.
Clawdia observed them from a distance, feeling herself being drawn into the mesmerizing rhythm of their movements. To her, it resembled a dance of blades—a graceful yet deadly ballet. The swords moved with breathtaking speed as the two men experimented with new techniques, each striving to surpass the other with inventive and fluid motions.
What made the spectacle even more captivating was the occasional burst of color that erupted when the blades clashed—or nearly clashed—representing the different elemental forces that the combatants wielded to gain an advantage.
In the midst of this intricate dance, one of the swords suddenly moved with a flourish, and a great flame erupted, surging toward the opposing blade.
Adam, wielding the other sword, reacted swiftly, invoking his water element to summon a torrent that collided with the flames, generating a dense mist that enveloped much of the room.
Clawdia struggled to see through the fog with her natural vision, so she switched to her mana sight. Through this heightened perception, she could discern that even within the obscuring mist, William and Adam continued their fierce battle with undiminished vigor.
They fought on, neither willing to yield, until Adam finally called a halt to the bout. Both men collapsed to the floor, with William being the more thoroughly exhausted of the two.
Though Adam's breath came in heavy gasps, he was in a far better state than William, who was drenched in sweat. Adam glanced over at William, the image of the fire attack replaying in his mind as he mused, 'Who would have guessed that he could also wield the dragon attribute?'
Indeed, William had already confided in him about the dragon attribute. He could have kept it concealed, but he deemed it necessary to reveal it. For one thing, he was struggling to keep pace with Adam as the training intensity escalated. For another, concealing his most potent attribute from his mentor would only hinder his progress.
Adam vividly recalled the moment when William first disclosed his third attribute.
[ Adam's Flashback ]
William and Adam were in the same room, engaged in their customary training session. This time, William, who usually evaded Adam's attacks and countered with ease, found himself struggling. Adam had subtly raised the difficulty level, but that slight increase was enough to throw William off balance, causing him to take several hits.
As they sparred, William suddenly halted his attack and motioned for Adam to stop as well. Adam, pausing mid-strike, asked, "What's the matter? Are you finally ready to throw in the towel?" He said this with a teasing grin.
"Not a chance," William responded, matching his grin and taking a few deep breaths. "I was just thinking—you've upped the ante, haven't you?"
William considered for a moment and replied, "Besides you... only Delmar."
"Well, even though that guy can be obnoxious, he's trustworthy when it comes to keeping a secret," Adam said, his tone becoming grave. "But don't ever tell anyone else, got it? No one."
"Not only is this extraordinary, but if the wrong person found out... our already bad situation could become worse."
William frowned. "You think someone would try to capture me and experiment on my body?"
"It's not outside the realm of possibility. So you'd better be as vigilant as possible."
William nodded. "Of course, I'll be vigilant. That's why I've only told you and Delmar. And I told you because you're the only ones I trust with this secret."
As he spoke, the room's temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. After a moment, Adam smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "So, why don't you show me this new attribute?"
William put the previous conversation behind him and took a deep breath. When he exhaled, a torrent of flame erupted from his mouth, forming a massive fireball. Even standing several steps away, Adam could feel the intense heat emanating from it.
Gazing at the enormous flame, Adam said, "Incredible... this flame is so intense that anyone would say it's a dragon's fire."
"Because it is," William replied.
Adam, not fully registering William's words, asked, "What did you say?"
"I said this is a dragon's flame."
"But that would mean..." Adam's confused expression turned to shock. "Your third attribute is the legendary dragon attribute?"
William nodded, confirming Adam's realization. Adam fell silent, staring at the triumphant smirk on William's face.
[ Flashback Ends ]
Adam looked at William's exhausted face, and one thought crossed his mind: 'It seems the future will be quite interesting for him.'
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sudden burst of the door opening. He saw Delmar rush in, and before they could say anything, Delmar declared, "He's ready."