Zeus stood at the edge of the training grounds, his imposing figure framed against the backdrop of Olympus' grand vistas. His eyes narrowed as Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito took their positions. The atmosphere was thick with expectation as the clouds overhead swirled, almost sensing the storm that was about to unfold. Zeus raised his hand, his voice booming with authority.
"First lesson—you must learn to fight together. The enemies you face are not weak, nor are they few. If you think you can survive this war alone, you've already lost. There will be three waves of enemies, each one more difficult than the last. You'll need to strategize, rely on each other's strengths, and above all, stay focused."
The three boys nodded, adjusting their armor. Raiden's fists crackled with electric anticipation, Zohar's vision sharpened, and Kaito could feel the familiar tug of the water beneath his feet. They were ready—or at least, they thought they were.
"Begin!" Zeus shouted.
The first wave appeared like shadows out of the mist, a horde of snarling beasts with blazing eyes and jagged teeth. They rushed forward, their growls echoing across the field. Without hesitation, Raiden charged, lightning sparking in his hands. He struck down one, then another, his movements swift and precise.
Zohar darted between enemies, his speed blinding, as he slashed through the monsters with calculated strikes. Kaito, surrounded by a ring of water, conjured massive waves to sweep the beasts away, his power keeping the battlefield under control.
The first wave fell quickly. The three exchanged confident glances, their movements in sync, their powers flowing effortlessly.
"That was almost too easy," Raiden said, smirking as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Don't get cocky," Kaito warned, though a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "We've still got two more waves to go."
The second wave arrived, more fearsome than the last—hulking creatures with thick armor, wielding massive weapons. The boys leaped into action again, but their earlier confidence had gotten the better of them. They moved with less urgency, assuming victory was a given.
Raiden lashed out with bolts of lightning, but missed several targets, his mind already anticipating a win. Zohar danced between the creatures, but his strikes lacked the precision of before. Kaito sent water spears flying, but his concentration wavered, and some of the beasts broke through his defenses.
Despite their mistakes, they managed to take down the second wave, though not without effort. Panting slightly, Raiden glanced at the others, a cocky grin spreading across his face.
"See? Piece of cake," he said, his voice dripping with overconfidence.
Zohar chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe we're better than we thought."
But Zeus's eyes were sharp, his expression hardening as he watched them from his throne. He could sense their growing arrogance, the way they moved with a dangerous lack of caution.
The third wave emerged from the shadows—fierce warriors, much larger than anything they'd faced before, their eyes burning with fury. These were no mere beasts. These were enemies forged in battle, hardened by war, and they came for blood.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito charged forward, still riding the high of their previous successes. But this time, the enemies were prepared.
Raiden was the first to make a misstep. His lightning flashed, but one of the warriors blocked it with a shield, countering with a massive blow to Raiden's side. Raiden stumbled, and before he could react, a second warrior struck him across the face, leaving a deep cut just above his cheek.
Raiden cried out, stumbling back, blood dripping from the wound. His eyes flared with rage as he struggled to regain his footing. "You're dead!" he roared, preparing to unleash another storm of lightning.
Before he could strike, Zeus's voice rang out, halting the trial.
"Enough!"
The battlefield fell silent. The warriors disappeared as quickly as they had come, leaving the three boys standing, battered and bruised. Raiden, still seething, wiped the blood from his face, glaring at the spot where his enemy had stood.
Zeus descended from his throne, his face twisted with frustration. His footsteps echoed ominously as he approached the trio.
"What was that?" Zeus barked, his voice a thunderclap. "You let your guard down. You became arrogant, thinking that a couple of easy victories meant you were invincible."
Raiden, still clutching his injured face, opened his mouth to protest, but Zeus silenced him with a look.
"You're supposed to be training for war. Do you think Lucifer's forces will go easy on you? That they'll back off because you won a couple of skirmishes?" Zeus's voice was low, dangerous. "This is no game. The moment you stop treating it like one is the moment you survive."
Zohar and Kaito stood silently, both of them realizing the truth in Zeus's words. Their arrogance had gotten the better of them, and it had cost them.
Zeus continued, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're strong, yes. But strength without focus, without discipline, is worthless. Do you understand?"
The boys nodded, their earlier confidence shattered. They could feel the weight of their failure sinking in.
"You'll be facing enemies far worse than what you saw today," Zeus said, his tone softening just a fraction. "And if you want to survive—if you want to protect the ones you love—you'll have to be better. You'll have to be smarter. Because one mistake...one moment of carelessness, and it's over."
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood there, bruised, bloodied, and humbled. They knew Zeus was right. They had been reckless, and they had paid the price.
"Now," Zeus said, his voice cold but steady, "take a moment to recover. But don't forget this lesson. Next time, there will be no stopping the trial. You either fight, or you die."
With that, Zeus turned and strode back to his throne, leaving the boys to grapple with the gravity of his words. This wasn't just training anymore. This was survival.
And they still had a long way to go.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood there, taking deep, shaky breaths as they tried to steady themselves after Zeus's harsh words. The weight of their mistakes hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, none of them spoke. The pain from their injuries was nothing compared to the realization that they had let their overconfidence get the better of them. They had let their guard down—and it almost cost them.
Just as the silence between them became unbearable, a booming voice broke through the tension. Hercules, the legendary hero himself, strode into the training grounds, his massive frame exuding both power and warmth.
"Hey, don't be too hard on yourselves," Hercules said, his deep voice carrying a strange sense of reassurance. He clapped a heavy hand on Raiden's shoulder, making him wince but also grounding him in the moment. "Training like this isn't easy. It takes time. Patience."
The boys looked up at him, seeing both a hero and a warrior who had clearly endured his own trials.
"But," Hercules added, his voice growing serious, "never, and I mean never, let your guard down. That's how you die."
The words hit them hard. Coming from Hercules, a warrior who had fought countless battles, they carried an extra weight. There was no room for complacency. In the battlefield, every second mattered.
Zohar nodded, still catching his breath, "We got cocky."
Kaito sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "Yeah. And now Zeus probably thinks we're amateurs."
Hercules chuckled, though it wasn't unkind. "Zeus is tough, but he's been around long enough to know that everyone starts somewhere. What matters is how you respond now. You can either learn from this or make the same mistake twice."
Raiden, who had been nursing the cut on his cheek, finally let out a slow breath and nodded. "We're not making that mistake again."
Hercules smiled, his expression one of approval. "Good. You've got potential. I can see it. But potential doesn't mean anything if you don't work for it."
The boys exchanged glances, their earlier frustration starting to shift into determination.
"You'll get there," Hercules continued, crossing his arms as he stood before them. "But remember—there's no victory without struggle. The greatest warriors were once in your position, questioning themselves, doubting their strength. But they pushed through it."
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito absorbed his words, their resolve hardening. They knew they had a long road ahead, but this was just the beginning of their journey to becoming the warriors they were destined to be.
"Thanks, Hercules," Raiden said finally, a small smile returning to his face.
"Yeah, we needed that," Zohar added.
Kaito grinned, "We'll be ready for the next round."
Hercules clapped his hands together, his grin wide. "That's the spirit! Now get back out there and show Zeus you're not here to waste time."
As Hercules turned to leave, the boys stood a little taller, their confidence shaken but not broken. They knew they had a long way to go, but they also knew they wouldn't face it alone.
With renewed determination, they prepared themselves for the next stage of their training, knowing that this was just the beginning of their path to greatness.
Zeus stood at the edge of the arena, watching Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito with an intense gaze. His question hung in the air for a moment before he spoke again.
"Are you ready?"
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito, now feeling the weight of what was to come, nodded firmly in unison. They stepped into position, their movements synchronized without a word needing to be spoken. This time, there would be no room for mistakes. They had learned from their earlier failures and knew they had to fight not only for themselves but for the families who had been torn apart by Lucifer's cruelty.
Raiden's mind flashed back to that fateful day—the day Lucifer had attacked. His words echoed in his mind, haunting him. "You'll never stop me. You'll fall like the rest, and everything you love will burn." The memory filled him with a fire, a deep-rooted determination to prove the fallen angel wrong. They would defeat him, no matter the cost.
Kaito clenched his fists as he thought of his siblings. He hadn't seen them in what felt like an eternity, and the thought of them being caught in Lucifer's wrath filled him with rage. He wouldn't let that happen. He would fight for them, protect them, and bring them back together, no matter how long it took.
Zohar, meanwhile, thought of his parents. Every day, the thought of reuniting with them drove him forward. Lucifer's darkness had touched every corner of the realms, and he would fight to undo the damage, for himself and for those who had lost everything. He had to be fast—faster than anyone. That was how he would win.
The arena rumbled as the trial began, a deep, thunderous sound echoing through the chamber. Before them, the first wave of enemies emerged from the shadows—hulking beasts with snarling jaws and weapons drawn. These creatures, molded from darkness and wrath, were relentless, but Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito didn't flinch.
"Stick to the plan," Raiden muttered under his breath. His eyes crackled with lightning as he charged his power, preparing for the assault. "We can't let them overwhelm us."
Kaito nodded, his hands already beginning to swirl with water as he prepared to bend it to his will. Zohar's eyes sharpened, his hyper-vision already analyzing the battlefield with precision, mapping out each enemy's movement before they made it.
The first wave struck, charging toward them with a speed that belied their monstrous size. Raiden was the first to move, his body flickering with electricity as he zipped through the battlefield, dodging strikes and landing blows with precision. He was a blur of motion, his lightning keeping him grounded as he slipped past an enemy's blade and countered with a lightning-infused punch.
Zohar wasn't far behind, moving with lightning speed as he darted around the battlefield. His eyes locked onto the weak points of each enemy, finding their vulnerabilities in seconds. He slipped behind one of the larger beasts, slicing through its Achilles' tendon with a swift, precise strike, bringing it to its knees. Before it could react, Zohar was already gone, moving on to the next target.
Kaito, meanwhile, stood his ground, his hands raised as he summoned a massive vortex of water that surged toward the enemies. The force of the water was enough to knock several of the beasts off their feet, but Kaito didn't stop there. He froze the water mid-air, creating icy spikes that slammed into the creatures, pinning them to the ground. One of the beasts managed to break free, charging at Kaito with a roar, but Kaito quickly reacted, conjuring a cyclone of water around himself and spinning the beast away with a forceful push.
The boys moved in perfect harmony, each of their movements precise and calculated. They slipped past the enemies' attacks with ease, dodging blades and claws with the grace of seasoned warriors. But this time, they weren't just reacting. They were working together, combining their powers in ways they hadn't before.
"Zohar, now!" Raiden called out, zipping toward the center of the battlefield, lightning coursing through his veins. Zohar responded immediately, his speed unmatched as he darted toward Raiden's side. They nodded at each other, knowing exactly what they needed to do.
With Raiden's lightning anchoring him, Zohar leaped into the air, spinning through the sky with a somersault, his sword gleaming as it caught the light. Raiden launched a bolt of lightning toward Zohar, and Zohar caught it mid-air, channeling the power into his blade as he came crashing down on one of the larger beasts with a devastating strike. The creature let out a roar before collapsing, the lightning-infused attack too much for it to bear.
Meanwhile, Kaito used the opportunity to trap several more enemies in a massive vortex of water, swirling them around in a deadly cyclone. He knew he had to keep his head, not relying on his ice too soon. But as the battle raged on, he saw an opportunity.
"Raiden, Zohar, get clear!" Kaito shouted. The two boys darted out of the way just as Kaito froze the vortex in an instant, the enemies trapped inside turned to ice statues, motionless and defeated.
But the third wave came crashing down on them harder than the first two. These enemies were faster, more coordinated, and they weren't holding back. Raiden was caught off guard by a massive beast that slammed him into the ground, claws ripping across his face. Blood trickled down his cheek, and for a moment, Raiden felt the familiar sting of frustration.
No. Not this time.
He gritted his teeth, using his lightning to force himself back to his feet. His face stung from the cut, but the pain only fueled him further. "We're not done yet!"
The three of them regrouped, their hearts pounding, but their focus unwavering. Together, they formed a plan—Raiden's lightning would keep them grounded, Zohar's speed would disorient the enemies, and Kaito's water would create openings.
They moved in unison, their attacks flowing seamlessly together. Raiden unleashed bolts of lightning that forced the enemies back, while Zohar darted between them, slicing through their defenses with precision. Kaito's water surged across the battlefield, creating barriers and traps that ensnared their enemies, giving them the upper hand.
With a final, powerful strike, the three of them combined their powers, Raiden's lightning, Zohar's speed, and Kaito's water merging into one devastating attack. They zoomed around the enemies in perfect sync, performing somersaults and flips to dodge attacks, their movements a deadly dance of power and precision.
One by one, the enemies fell, unable to keep up with the combined force of the boys' powers. As the last enemy crumbled to the ground, Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood victorious, breathing heavily but triumphant. They had done it. They had fought together, and for the first time, they truly understood what they were capable of.
The trial was over—but their journey was just beginning.
As the final enemy collapsed into the ground, dust settling around the arena, Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood panting, their bodies worn but triumphant. They had done it—finally working as a unit, each contributing their strengths and covering for each other's weaknesses. The silence that followed was only broken by the echoing sound of slow, deliberate clapping.
Zeus stood tall at the edge of the battlefield, a wide grin spreading across his face. His hands came together in a slow, thunderous clap that reverberated through the arena. His powerful voice followed soon after.
"Yes!" he roared. "This... this is what Odin was talking about!" His laughter boomed across the space as his clapping grew louder, his pride evident. "You fought like gods out there!"
The three boys looked at one another, still catching their breath, but a feeling of accomplishment filled the air between them. They had done it. Raiden wiped the blood from his face, wincing slightly but wearing a smirk. Kaito cracked his neck, and Zohar simply nodded in approval, his sharp eyes focused ahead.
Zeus approached them, his massive figure looming over them but his expression one of admiration. "Let me explain something to you—this training was more than just learning how to fight. It was about understanding yourselves. Learning to control your power isn't just about brute strength; it's about knowing when to strike and when to fall back, knowing how to think like warriors, not just mortals."
He paused, his eyes flickering with energy. "What you did here today shows that you're beginning to understand that. But this is just the beginning, and there is so much more to come. You'll need to stay sharp because the challenges you'll face ahead will make this trial seem like child's play."
Zeus glanced up at the sky, as if sensing something in the distance, and his grin faded into a more serious expression. "Soon, other Chosen will be arriving here at Olympus. They've been training in different realms of the heavens, under the guidance of other gods. Some will be your allies, others... may be rivals. But you will all meet soon."
He returned his gaze to Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito. "There will be a meeting, a briefing on your missions. You will get to know them, and they will get to know you. But for now, take a breath. Relax. You've earned it."
Zeus gestured broadly to the magnificent palace around them. "Take in Olympus. Explore, learn, and understand where you are. The strength of this place is yours for the taking. But remember—you are Chosen for a reason. Every minute you spend here should be to make yourself better, stronger."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly with a knowing look. "Enjoy the moment, but don't ever let your guard down. We've seen what happens when you do."
Zeus gave them one last nod before turning on his heel and walking back toward his throne, his heavy footsteps echoing as he left the arena. The boys stood there, feeling the weight of his words sink in.
For now, they could relax. But the real trials were still ahead.