With 21 days left until the Thunder Tournament, the group knew they had to make every moment count. But before jumping straight into intense training, they decided to take Day 1 to analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and battle strategies.
Morning - Strategy & Role Assignments
The team gathered in their sky lodge's main hall, where Raidon had already set up a floating board of storm glass that projected battle diagrams using lightning-infused ink.
"Before we start training like crazy, we need to figure out what we're actually preparing for," Raidon said, tapping the board. "We're not just fighting random people—we're facing warriors from the Thunder Skies. That means they're fast, powerful, and experienced in aerial combat."
He turned to the others. "So, let's go over what we each bring to the table."
Ren: The backbone of the group with his shadow mastery, unpredictable combat style, and high adaptability. He also had instinct-based abilities, allowing him to react without thinking. Sakayanagi: The raw damage dealer with her flame power. Her challenge would be controlling her energy output without exhausting herself too quickly. Shigan: The balanced fighter, using ki techniques to enhance both attack and defense. He needed to sharpen his reaction speed since Thunder users were incredibly fast. Kaelen: The strategic support, using his nature energy for healing, enhancing stamina, and controlling the battlefield. Raidon: The experienced guide who knew Thunder Skies combat techniques. Even though he wasn't competing, he'd help them understand how thunder warriors fought. Midday - Testing the Battlefield Conditions
After their discussion, Raidon took them to one of the Thunder Skies' training grounds—a massive floating coliseum made of storm-forged stone. Unlike regular arenas, this battlefield was filled with air currents, lightning zones, and unstable platforms that shifted in midair.
"If you can't handle fighting in unstable terrain, you'll lose before the match even starts," Raidon warned. "Get used to it now."
To simulate real fights, they split into 1v1 sparring matches:
Ren vs. SakayanagiShigan vs. Kaelen
Ren and Sakayanagi's fight was chaotic—shadows clashed against flames, with Ren using his clones and Sakayanagi overwhelming him with her attacks. Sakayanagi struggled to keep her balance in midair, while Ren's shadows allowed him to move more fluidly.
Meanwhile, Shigan and Kaelen's fight was more about strategy. Kaelen used his nature energy to create obstacles, while Shigan tried to predict his movements using ki sensing. It was a test of who could control the battlefield better.
In the end, nobody won—the goal wasn't to beat each other but to adapt to the unpredictable terrain.
Evening - First Training Session Begins
After the sparring, they took a short break, eating light meals from Raidon's table carpet, then moved into individual training:
Ren worked on enhancing his shadow teleportation, trying to create multiple afterimages to confuse opponents. Sakayanagi focused on controlling her energy output, ensuring she didn't waste stamina on unnecessary fire bursts. Shigan refined his counterattacks, using ki reinforcement to block and redirect powerful attacks. Kaelen practiced battlefield control, making vines and roots appear even in midair.
Raidon supervised, occasionally offering advice based on real battle experience.
As the first day ended, they returned to their lodge, exhausted but excited. The Thunder Tournament was getting closer, but they had 20 more days to prepare.
To be continued…