Bonus Chapter II – “Strength of the Body”

  Three Weeks Later — War Rabbit Guild, Proving Fields

  Frost shimmered across the morning sky, the air sharp enough to sting. After three brutal weeks of cardio drills and cold endurance runs under Erik’s merciless command, the initiates had been granted two rare days of rest. But rest never lasted long in the War Rabbit Guild.

  Now, they stood gathered in a loose semicircle, boots crunching over the frozen dirt as Ripper and Raven faced them.

  Seven stood among the recruits, still leaner than he wanted to be. The weeks of training had restored some of his strength, but not his prime. His missing arm still throbbed when the air turned cold, a phantom ache that pulsed with every heartbeat. He ignored it. The others did too — respect had begun to replace pity.

  Ripper’s gravelly voice broke through the morning air.

  “Endurance builds lungs. Stamina builds heart.”

  He paused, gaze sweeping the recruits.

  “Now we build strength — the kind that keeps you hanging on when the world’s trying to throw you off a cliff.”

  Beside him, Raven stood silent, crossbow strapped across her back. Her posture was perfect, her gaze sharp.

  “Upper body training,” she added, her tone calm but cutting. “You’ll use everything from your shoulders to your grip. When we’re done, you’ll hate the word climb.”

  Some recruits exchanged uneasy glances.

  Fluffy leaned close to Seven and whispered, “Did she say climb? Please tell me we’re climbing stairs.”

  Seven muttered, “You’ll wish it was stairs.”

  Ripper’s lips twitched faintly. “No stairs today.”

  He raised one massive hand — and the ground beneath them started to hum.

  A wide, glowing sigil spread across the Proving Field, ancient runes spiraling outward in blue-white light.

  “Uh,” Hopper said nervously, ears twitching, “That’s not a training circle, is it?”

  The runes pulsed once — twice — and then vanished with a boom of displaced air.

  The earth dropped out from beneath their feet.

  The Pit

  Dozens of recruits screamed as they plummeted into a massive shaft — a perfectly round pit lined with jagged grip points, frozen stones, and mana-carved ledges. They landed hard, the fall cushioned by a glowing rune at the bottom that fizzled out on impact. Dust and snow filled the air.

  Hopper groaned, rubbing his head. “A hundred feet down. That’s not a training course — that’s a death trap!”

  Ripper’s voice echoed from above, sounding far too amused.

  “Welcome to lesson two, initiates! The only way out is up!”

  A murmur swept the pit.

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  Kael, a broad-shouldered recruit, shouted, “Wait — climb what, exactly?!”

  Ripper grinned from the edge. “The wall, genius. You’ve got three hours to reach the top.”

  The recruits blinked.

  Raven stepped beside him, unhurriedly loading her crossbow. The faint metallic click drew everyone’s eyes.

  Kael pointed up, panic in his voice. “Wait—what are you doing with that thing?!”

  Without answering, Raven loosed a bolt.

  It struck Kael square in the forehead — a puff of blue smoke and a glowing rune mark left behind as he yelped and fell backward into the pile of recruits below.

  “Non-lethal,” Raven said calmly, lowering the weapon. “Mostly.”

  The pit erupted in shouts.

  Fluffy giggled uncontrollably. “Oh, this is going to be fun!”

  Ripper barked, “Climb or get shot! Your choice!”

  The Ascent

  The first few minutes were chaos — boots scraping against stone, curses echoing as hands slipped on icy grips. The walls weren’t smooth, but they weren’t generous either. Dozens of small ledges jutted out unevenly, forcing them to balance strength and precision. Every slip meant a twenty-foot drop — and a glowing bolt from Raven’s “non-lethal” crossbow.

  Raven’s calm voice echoed down.

  “Don’t rush. Use your core. Climbing is balance, not panic.”

  “Easy for you to say!” Hopper shouted, dangling by one foot.

  “Observation noted,” Raven replied flatly — and fired another bolt that brushed his ear, making him scramble faster.

  Fluffy, of course, treated it like a game.

  She bounded upward, ears flapping, springing from ledge to ledge like the pit was a playground. “C’mon, rookies! I’ll save you a spot at the top!”

  Seven exhaled slowly, glancing up the hundred-foot climb. “Of course she’s enjoying this.”

  He reached for the first grip point — his single hand straining as his legs pressed against the icy wall. His shoulder burned instantly. Balance was harder without a second arm. He used his knees, his elbow, even the side of his forearm to compensate. Every inch was agony.

  Ripper’s voice rumbled above. “Don’t you dare use mana, human! This is raw strength day!”

  Seven gritted his teeth. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

  He pulled himself higher, breath ragged. The others were faster, but few could sustain their rhythm. He slipped twice — once catching himself by wedging his wrist into a crevice, another time falling thirty feet before slamming into a lower ledge.

  Fluffy’s voice called down cheerfully, “You alive down there, rookie?”

  “Define alive,” Seven growled, dragging himself up again.

  From her vantage point, Raven calmly reloaded her crossbow. Another bolt sailed downward, tagging a recruit who had been cheating by using minor levitation magic.

  “No magic,” she said, deadpan. “You fly, you fall.”

  Kael groaned from below. “She’s a demon with ears!”

  Ripper chuckled. “And she’s your judge. Keep moving.”

  Halfway Point

  After nearly an hour, only a handful of initiates had reached halfway. Most clung to the wall, gasping. Sweat mixed with frost on their skin. Hands bled. Muscles shook.

  Seven stopped briefly to rest against a narrow ledge, chest heaving. Fluffy was perched above him, tail flicking as she caught her breath.

  “Not bad, human,” she said between breaths. “Most would’ve quit by now.”

  “Most didn’t have a drill sergeant like Ripper,” Seven muttered. “I’ve had worse.”

  Fluffy tilted her head. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

  He didn’t answer. Just looked up again — and started climbing.

  Observation – Miss Hopps’ Office

  High above the training pit, Miss Hopps stood near her office window, arms crossed. Steam from her mug curled around her face as she watched the initiates struggle far below.

  Lola leaned beside her, scanning through a mana viewer. “You think this is a little much? Half of them can barely move their arms.”

  Hopps’ crimson eyes tracked the human scaling the wall, slow but unyielding. He slipped again, caught himself, and kept going.

  She took a sip of tea before answering.

  “Maybe. But he hasn’t given up once.”

  Lola smiled faintly. “You’re starting to like him.”

  “I don’t like anyone,” Hopps said dryly. “I respect survivors.”

  The Final Climb

  Two hours later, the last stretch loomed. Fluffy had already reached the rim, waving encouragement down. Hopper was close behind, wheezing with every pull. Seven was the last — his arm shaking violently, grip raw and bloodied.

  Raven watched him closely. For the first time, her expression softened.

  “Hold on,” she called down.

  “I’ve been doing that all morning,” he shot back, breathless.

  She allowed herself a small smirk. “Then keep doing it.”

  The final ledge was just out of reach. He gathered what strength remained, pressing his legs against the wall, pushing upward — and grabbed the edge with his left hand.

  For a moment, his body hung suspended in the biting wind. Then Fluffy leaned over, grabbed his wrist, and hauled him up with a grin.

  “See?” she said between panting breaths. “You’re getting good at not dying.”

  Seven dropped onto the frost, staring at the sky. “That’s… high praise, coming from you.”

  Ripper approached, arms crossed. “Not bad, all of you. Strength isn’t built by comfort — it’s carved out of pain. Remember that.”

  Raven added quietly, “And next time, try not to scream so much when you fall.”

  Kael groaned from below, still sprawled at the bottom of the pit. “Can someone tell the demon lady I’m not climbing again?!”

  Raven loaded another bolt without comment.

  The recruits scattered immediately.

  Closing Scene

  As the initiates limped back to the barracks, Seven walked a little slower. Every muscle ached. His hand was torn, his arm felt like fire. But there was something else too — pride.

  He’d climbed.

  He hadn’t cheated.

  And he’d finished.

  Fluffy fell into step beside him, smiling through exhaustion. “So, how’s the one-arm thing holding up?”

  He smirked faintly. “Still attached.”

  She laughed. “Good. Because next week’s gonna be worse.”

  “Worse than this?”

  “Ripper said something about water training.”

  Seven groaned. “Perfect. From frostbite to drowning.”

  Fluffy winked. “Welcome to the Guild, rookie.”