"Huff…huff…Two more to go" Aric muttered to himself.


    Just as he was about to attack, stumbling a couple of steps, Aric lost control of one of his legs and took a knee to the ground.


    "Akhhh…damn it, not yet!"


    Screaming, Aric cursed as he felt all the muscles in his body spasm uncontrobly.


    An electrifying pain coursed through his body, threatening to ruin his sanity.


    It was so painful that he could barely scream in pain.


    His body was riddled with cuts, and his clothes were dyed red in blood.


    …but that wasn''t the only reason why he was suffering so much. The muscles within his body were in even worse shape as they continuously spasmed and shook.


    "N-o!"


    Clenching his teeth and suppressing the pain coursing through his body, Aric couldn''t help but be reminded of his most recent days when he trained every day.


    Because of how much he wanted to catch up to Adrian, Aric increased the intensity of his workout.


    …in the end, all of his excessive training resulted in his body bing more fatigued and sluggishpared to when he was in his prime.


    Even though he consumed potions continuously, potions couldn''t fully heal the micro-tears in his muscles that came from overworking himself.


    The only cure for that was rest.


    But because Aric was blinded by power, he neglected that and as such resulted in his current conditions.


    His every movement hurt like hell, and despite trying his best to not think about it and ignore it, the pain was slowly bing sharper and more acute with each passing second.


    "Hey, are you okay-" Lucas could notplete what he wanted to say, because one of the ck-d individuals attacked him.


    An image flickered beside him.


    BAM!


    A bright light exploded before him. With a thump, a piercing sound of metal hitting against soft flesh resounded.


    Lucas''s eyes popped out, and his lips opened wide as out of nowhere, the person with the metallic gauntlet hit him in his gut.


    His eyesight blurred, and before he could recover, a punch thrashed his face with a loud bang.


    As his body slumped down on the ground, the enemy pulled him up by grabbing his hair.


    Swaying his knee backwards, he then mmed it against Lucas''s stomach.


    BAM!


    A strong gust emerged due to the hit.


    BLUERGHH!


    His stomach churned, emptying the digestive juices coupled with blood as his body fell to the ground.


    As he fell, his, head became nk and his vision turned bloody.


    The man clicked his tongue in displeasure and stared at his partner walking over to Aric.


    Meanwhile, the other ck-d individual nudged Aric by kicking him.


    "Yooooo Big shot!"


    "How dare you to kill ourrades?"


    "Now what are you going to do? I will slowly kill, right here." Mocking Aric, he kicked his chest, seeing him losing consciousness.


    "Kyakkkkkkk!"


    Aric wailed, trying to move away from the feet pressing him down but was too weak to muster his strength.


    "You will not end up well."


    "My father will kill you." Aric treated him with bloodshot eyes.


    "Before that, I will kill you, bastard. Your status doesn''t mean a damn thing when you are at the door of death."


    The man spat on Aric, only to see him biting his lips angrily. It was easy to feel the wavering eyes filled with fear, and he liked it.


    Aric''s struggle against pain and the relentless assault intensified. The ck-d assant revelled at the moment, eager to break the spirit of their incapacitated foe.


    "N-no…" Aric stuttered weakly, his vision blurred and his body battered. Every attempt to resist seemed futile as his strength waned.


    The ck-d individual, revelling in the upper hand, continued the merciless assault. The metallic gauntlet gleamed ominously as it prepared for another strike against the defenceless Aric.


    -Smack!


    The gauntlet descended with brutal force, striking Aric''s face and eliciting a pained groan. His body convulsed with the impact, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.


    "Is this all you''ve got, big shot?" the assant taunted, a sadistic grin stretching across their face. The arrogance and malice in their eyes reflected the darkness within.


    Meanwhile, the other ck-d individual focused on tormenting Lucas, whose battered formy on the ground. Each blow carried a sadistic pleasure, and the assant revelled in the satisfaction of breaking their opponent.


    In a cruel twist, the assant threatened to disfigure Aric, escting the torment with sinister words. Aric, weakened and battered, could only re defiantly, his resilience thest ember of resistance against the encroaching darkness.


    The onught continued a dance of cruelty and desperation in the narrow corridor. The echoes of pain and defiance reverberated in the confined space, creating an oppressive atmosphere.


    Just as the ck-d assant raised their gauntlet for another brutal strike against the defenceless Aric, a sudden surge of energy coursed through Aric''s battered body. Unleashing a primal roar, Aric''s eyes glowed with newfound determination.


    Driven by an indomitable will to survive, Aric''s muscles tensed, and a burst of strength surged through him. With an abrupt lunge, he evaded the impending strike, narrowly escaping the metallic gauntlet.


    "Wha-" The assant couldn''tplete their sentence as Aric, fueled by newfound resilience, retaliated. A swift, unexpected blownded squarely on the assant''s jaw, staggering them backwards.


    Aric''s battered form seemed to transform into a force of unwavering resolve. Ignoring the searing pain that coursed through his body, he pressed forward, delivering a series of ferocious strikes that caught the assant off guard.


    Meanwhile, Lucas, who had endured a relentless barrage, summoned the remnants of his strength. Shaking off the disorientation, he eyed the ck-d individual with a renewed focus. The chaotic dance ofbat resumed as Lucas fought against the odds.


    The assants, initially revelling in their perceived dominance, now faced resilient adversaries who refused to sumb to despair. Aric''s resurgence had turned the tide, creating a gripping climax to the confrontation.


    The corridor became a battleground, echoing the sh of wills and the determination to defy tormentors. As the struggle intensified, a glimmer of hope emerged in the hearts of Aric and Lucas, challenging the darkness that sought to consume them.


    Write the next part, detailing the fierce battle that ensues as Aric and Lucas, against all odds, confront their assants with newfound strength and determination.


    With renewed vigour, Aric and Lucas faced their assants head-on, the corridor transforming into a battleground where the echoes of defiance drowned out the earlier cries of despair.


    Aric, his muscles ignited with an unyielding me, executed precise strikes, countering each move with unwavering determination. The assant, caught off guard by Aric''s sudden resurgence, struggled to regain control of the situation.


    -Smash! -ng!


    Aric''s broadsword collided with the assant''s metallic gauntlet, creating sparks that illuminated the grim surroundings. The relentless dance of des and gauntlets intensified as if the corridor itself bore witness to the sh between unbroken spirits.


    ***


    Other ck-d individuals did not notice a sudden change in Aric, as his full focus was on Lucas.


    TASH!


    The man before him pped his cheek and then kicked him to the ground.


    "Boyy low."


    "You should know your ce."


    Hemanded like a haughty Lord but seeing Lucasshing his hands and feet like fish who had just been taken out of the water, his anger red up.


    Lowering himself, he pulled Lucas''s hair.


    "Ahhh!"


    A burning sensation coursed through his scalp, which was followed by another p.


    SLAP!


    "Wait until we get you back to our base, I don''t why we have to take this shitty mission but because of you, many of us died." He said with anger in his voice.


    SLAP!


    Lucas''s cheeks swell and he even felt one of his teeth loosened in his socket.


    "You are nothing."


    Lucas, who was groaning, clenched his fist and bit his lips.


    Anger surged in his heart.


    At that moment…


    He felt something.


    Lucas felt an intense amount of hatred for this man!


    The man was about to p again Lucas, but he stopped himself and jumped back from Lucas.


    -Swoosh!


    Lucas instantly appeared next to the man, his sword aimed at his neck but the man was able to evade in time.


    Then round two began!


    Lucas fought with a tenacity born from the brink of defeat. Despite the odds stacked against him, he evaded the calcted strikes of his opponent, his reflexes sharpened by the urgency of survival. Each parry and counterattack carried the weight of resilience and a desire to ovee adversity.


    -Thwack! -Crash!


    The sounds ofbat resonated through the confined space, a testament to the unyielding spirit that refused to bow before torment. Aric and Lucas, driven by newfound strength and determination, transformed their plight into a fierce confrontation against those who sought to crush their spirits.


    Aric''s eyes, filled with unwavering resolve, met the gaze of his assant. In that exchange, an unspoken deration of defiance echoed—a promation that they would not be broken. The assant, no longer revealing in sadistic pleasure, found themselves facing adversaries who had discovered a wellspring of strength within.


    As the battle unfolded, the tide began to turn, and the assants found themselves on the defensive. The momentum shifted, and the corridor became a stage for the sh between the unbroken and those who had underestimated the resilience of the human spirit.