The clones engaged them while the real Satou observed, using the technique to study his opponents' fighting styles. Each clone had a portion of his capabilities, enough to hold off a skilled warrior but not enough to overpower them completely.

It was the perfect training tool.

"Don't focus on which is real!" Urgak commanded, having recovered from being smashed into his fellow orc. "Fight the one in front of you!"

Good advice. The warriors refocused, engaging the clones with renewed determination. But every time they seemed to gain the upper hand, the clones would use a new technique—Shadow Step to dodge, Shadow Armor to block, Void Strike to bypass their guards.

After two minutes of intense combat, Satou dismissed the clones. The warriors, breathing hard and showing signs of fatigue, faced the real him once more.

"You've all improved significantly," Satou said genuinely. "Your coordination is excellent, your individual skills are solid, and you adapt quickly to new threats. I'm impressed."

"But it wasn't enough," Kelvin said, frustration evident in his voice as he struggled to his feet. "You're so much stronger now. How are we supposed to catch up?"

"By doing exactly what you're doing," Satou replied. "Training. Improving. Learning. I had unique advantages—my Devouring skill, consuming Vegeta, the transformation that nearly killed me. You won't have those. But you have something else."

He looked around at all of them. "You have each other. You train together, fight together, grow together. That's a strength I can't replicate alone. Keep training as a unit, keep pushing each other, and eventually you'll reach a level where even I would struggle against you as a group."

Urgak laughed, his booming voice echoing across the training ground. "Well said, Chieftain! You hear that, warriors? We just need to become strong enough that even our leader struggles! That's our new goal!"

The others laughed too, the tension broken. They'd lost the spar, but they'd learned valuable lessons and seen firsthand what was possible with enough growth.

"Again tomorrow?" Ragar asked hopefully.

"Again tomorrow," Satou confirmed. "But next time, I want to see new tactics. Surprise me."

As the warriors began discussing strategies for their next bout, a slow clapping sound drew everyone's attention.

Cassius emerged from the shadows at the edge of the training ground. The vampire had been so still, so perfectly concealed, that even Satou hadn't noticed his presence. That alone was impressive and slightly concerning.

"Magnificent display," Cassius said, his red eyes gleaming with approval. "The way you utilized your shadow abilities was quite skilled. Not perfect, but skilled. Especially for someone who's only had those powers for a month."

He walked forward with that predatory grace all vampires seemed to possess. His hand rested on the rapier at his side, and his smile showed just a hint of fang.

"I've been watching your training for the past week while you slept," Cassius continued. "These warriors are competent. Well-trained. They work together effectively. But they're not enough to truly test you now, are they?"

"What are you suggesting?" Satou asked, though he had a feeling he already knew.

Cassius stopped a few feet away, his smile widening. "Can I have the honor of sparring with you, Sir Satou? I've been quite curious about the goblin who killed a hero. And I think you could benefit from facing someone who's mastered the techniques you're still learning to use."

Satou felt a thrill of anticipation run through him. Cassius was a vampire, one of Loki's most trusted subordinates. His power would be on a completely different level than the warriors he'd just faced.

This would be a real challenge.

"It would be my honor," Satou replied. "I would love to fight someone stronger. To really see where my limits are."

"Excellent!" Cassius drew his rapier in one smooth motion. The blade was thin and elegant, looking almost too delicate to be an effective weapon. But the way the vampire held it, the way it seemed to drink in the light around it, suggested otherwise.

The warriors quickly cleared the sparring ring, giving them space. They gathered at the edges, eager to watch this bout.

Cassius took a formal fencing stance, rapier extended, his free hand held behind his back. "Standard sparring rules? First blood or yield?"

"First blood," Satou agreed, falling into his own combat stance.

"Perfect." Cassius's smile became almost predatory. "Then let us begin. Show me what the hero's skills look like in goblin hands."

For a moment, neither moved. They circled slowly, each assessing the other, looking for openings, weaknesses, anything that could provide an advantage.

Then Cassius struck.

The rapier moved like a striking snake, impossibly fast, aimed directly at Satou's throat. Satou barely managed to dodge, the blade passing close enough to kiss his skin.

He countered immediately with Stone Spit, three shards aimed at Cassius's center mass.

The vampire didn't dodge. His free hand came up, and blood red energy materialized around it like a glove. The shards struck the energy and simply stopped, hovering in midair for a moment before falling harmlessly to the ground.

"Blood Shield," Cassius explained casually. "One of the fundamental techniques of Blood Magic. Now, my turn."

He thrust his hand forward, and the blood red energy shot out in a wave. Satou activated Shadow Armor, darkness coalescing around his body. The blood magic struck the armor and there was a brief contest of powers—shadow versus blood—before both dissipated.

"Good instinct," Cassius said. "But your armor is too thin. You're spreading the shadow too wide. Concentrate it where the attack will land, make it denser. Like this."

He demonstrated, his own shadow thickening around his torso to form what looked like actual plate armor made of darkness.

"See? Quality over quantity. Your total amount of shadow is limited by your mana. Make every bit count."

Satou absorbed the lesson, adjusting his technique. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We're still fighting." said Cassius

AUTHOR NOTE:

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