Every night and day was devoted to Tristan's training. As time passed, he gradually learned to restrain the energy that leaked from his body. Due to the blessing of the God of War, he could recognize his shortcomings and advance faster than any ordinary person. He did, however, take time to enhance his combat prowess and refine his Star Body, yet he did not spend much time on those aspects, for his improvements in those areas depended on his ability to control the flow of his Star Energy.
Each day revealed greater progress—not only in his mastery of Star Energy but in his combat skill as well. Tristan was slowly beginning to make Killington's fighting style his own, though there were still details he needed to perfect before it was ready for live battle.
The fifth day of their week-long training came to an end, and it was time to determine whether Tristan had achieved full control over his energy. He sat with his legs crossed, eyes closed, and the glass cup resting gently in his hands. The air around him was cool and calm, the faint hum of flowing energy resonating like a distant song.
"Begin," Ruben instructed.
Tristan released his energy into the glass cup, the radiant flow moving like liquid starlight as it filled the vessel, taking the shape of its confines. The energy rose steadily; soon the cup was half full, and it continued to climb. Tristan steadied himself, his breathing slow yet deliberate, his heartbeat measured and constant. This time, he would not fail. As his energy neared the top of the cup, he halted the flow—yet faint drops still trickled out, creeping closer and closer to the translucent seal that glimmered like a veil of glass.
Tristan drew in a deep breath, then envisioned his energy as a flowing river. Within his mind, he constructed a dam to contain it—but a small crack remained, one he needed to mend. As his breathing steadied, he sealed that imperfection. The stillness around him deepened. His energy ceased entirely, and at last, he succeeded in filling the cup without shattering the delicate, translucent seal.
Tristan slowly opened his eyes to the sound of applause. Ruben stood before him, his expression one of deep pride—a father's pride upon seeing his son take his first steps. Amelia and Garfield joined in, their smiles radiant as the golden rays of the setting sun.
"Well done. But now it's time to see how much your training has truly changed you," Ruben said, gesturing toward the lake, his voice warm yet commanding.
Tristan walked to the water's edge and removed his top, revealing a physique transformed—his once-lean frame now sculpted with defined muscle, the faint sheen of sweat glistening beneath the sunlight.
He inhaled deeply, the air crisp against his skin, then dove into the lake. The water embraced him with cold clarity, and he cloaked his body in translucent energy that shimmered like crystal beneath the surface. As he had practiced during his control training, he quieted his thoughts, silencing every distraction. Once, he had lasted only twenty seconds; now, he surpassed that effortlessly—twenty-five seconds.
Twenty-eight.
Thirty.
Thirty-two.
Time passed like a heartbeat in eternity, and still Tristan showed no sign of fatigue. His goal was to surpass one minute and thirty seconds—Amelia's record—and he was closing in, nearing the one-minute mark.
Fatigue began to settle over him, a dull ache spreading through his limbs, yet he refused to yield. Twenty more seconds. The moments slipped away, and soon the armor began to waver, the translucent glow flickering as his strength faltered. He swam to the surface, the rush of air sharp and freeing as he gasped for breath, waiting for Ruben's judgment.
Ruben remained silent for a moment, observing him with pride gleaming in his eyes like molten gold. Then, with a voice that carried the weight of approval, he said, "One minute and twenty seconds—the second highest."
Tristan felt a pang of disappointment, yet pride outweighed it. He had come far—further than he'd ever imagined he could.
He climbed ashore, droplets of water cascading down his body, and took the towel Amelia offered, her soft smile matching the warmth in her eyes.
"Well done, brother," Garfield said, approaching with a grin.
"Thanks," Tristan replied with a faint laugh, "but I really wanted the highest time."
Ruben approached with his usual composed smile, the tails of his coat swaying lightly in the wind.
"You may not have achieved the highest, but you should be proud nonetheless. Day after day, you've advanced, and I couldn't be prouder as an instructor to have guided your growth."
The three looked at Ruben with genuine admiration. Their progress, their strength, even their restored bond—all of it could be traced back to him. He had taught them control over Star Energy, mastery of the Star Body, and the courage to trust one another again. Without Ruben, they would not have come this far.
"Thank you, Ruben," Tristan said, his tone heavy with sincerity.
"Don't thank me just yet," Ruben replied, his gaze lifting toward the faint shimmer of the translucent barrier. "You still have one last task. You must shatter that."
He led the trio to the center of the barrier, where he gestured for them to sit.
"I need the three of you to be on the same wavelength. For this to work, your energies must flow in perfect harmony."
No further explanation was needed. As they had during their Star Body training, the three closed their eyes, steadied their breathing, and aligned their focus. The song of birds faded. The rustle of wind softened. They could see the barrier's energy pulsing faintly—a living rhythm—and they knew they had to match it, then surpass it.
Amelia gave the signal. She began to gather energy, her aura blooming like frost in moonlight, and the others followed her lead. After thirty seconds, she fluctuated her energy slightly—a silent cue for them to unleash their power.
"Three… two… one!" Amelia shouted.
Three radiant beams erupted from their bodies, cascading into the barrier in a blinding fusion of light and color. Their energies intertwined, weaving together like threads of starlight, merging with the barrier's pulse and overwhelming its flow from within.
Ruben watched, his face illuminated by the glow, pride gleaming in his eyes like a dawn breaking across storm clouds.
Moments later, the barrier fractured with a resonant hum, shattering into a thousand glimmering shards of energy that scattered through the air like fragments of a dying star. The three collapsed onto their backs, their bodies trembling, breaths shallow yet triumphant.
Though they were exhausted, they laughed—a sound bright and unrestrained, echoing through the still air.
Ruben clapped his hands together and said in a voice rich with pride, "You three have done well. And I can say, with certainty… you are ready."