The Awakening Of The Last Knight.

Chapter 8, Training.

When Ali and Laith arrived at the headquarter of the Knights of Askalan group he was expecting a hall or luxurious fancy building. Instead they were hanging out in a normal building, it looked more like an office than a headquarter.

Laith gathered everyone to introduce them to Ali.

Hazim their leader was tall, broad-shouldered, with piercing amber eyes and a mane of dark red hair—stepped forward first. His presence commanded attention, and a faint smirk played on his lips as he extended a gauntleted hand. 

"Welcome, Ali," Hazim said, his voice deep and steady. "I am Hazim, leader of the Knights of Askalan. I'm also known as The Red Phoenix." 

Ali clasped his forearm firmly. "It’s an honor." 

Next came Haitham, a mountain of a man with scars tracing his arms and a battle-worn face. He crossed his arms, his voice a low rumble. "I'm Haitham. The Fearless Knight as they call me" He gave a single nod. "Prove yourself, and you’ll have no fiercer ally." 

Ali met his gaze. "I intend to." 

A lean figure with sharp, calculating eyes stepped forward—Hadi. His voice was quiet but carried weight. "I'm Hadi. The Sharp Knight" He studied Ali for a moment before adding, "Strategy wins battles as much as strength. Remember that." 

Malik, the blue-armored knight who had saved Ali, smirked and clapped him on the shoulder. "You already know me, I'm Malik, The Blue Knight. Glad you made it" 

Laith, the youngest, darted forward with a flash of yellow armor. "And I’m Laith, I'm known as the Yellow Lightning Knight!" he declared, grinning. "Fastest in Askalan. Try to keep up!" 

Ali chuckled. "I’ll do my best." 

Last came Marwan, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief beneath his hood. He leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. "I'm Marwan. The Unpredictable Knight," he said. "Former thief, current headache, or so they tell me." He smirked. "But I’ve got a knack for surviving. You’ll learn a thing or two from me." 

Hazim raised his voice, addressing the group. "From this day forward, Ali is one of us. With his white armor and unyielding spirit, he shall be known as The White-Armored Knight!" 

The knights cheered, raising their fists in unison. Ali felt the weight of the moment, the beginning of a new chapter, a brotherhood forged in battle and purpose. 

Malik leaned in with a grin. "Ready to make history, White Knight?" 

Ali smiled, gripping the hilt of his sword. "More than ready."

___

After the meeting, Laith and Malik led Ali to the training grounds—a high-tech facility filled with holographic combat simulations, agility courses, and strength-testing equipment. The walls were lined with sleek monitors displaying performance metrics, and the air hummed with energy.

“This is where we push our limits,” Laith said, gesturing to the expansive space. “Everyone trains here to hone their skills.”

Ali’s eyes widened as he took it all in. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Malik smirked. “You’ll get used to it. Come on, let’s see what you’ve got.”

They started with basic combat drills, Malik demonstrating how to activate the holographic opponents. Ali watched closely as a digital warrior materialized in front of him, poised to strike.

“Just like in a real fight,” Malik instructed. “But here, the system tracks your speed, power, and reaction time.”

Ali nodded, rolling his shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

The first few rounds were rough, Ali took hits, stumbled, and overextended. But with each attempt, he adjusted, his movements becoming sharper. Laith offered pointers while Malik pushed him harder, increasing the difficulty.

“Good,” Laith said as Ali dodged a swift kick from the hologram. “You’re adapting fast.”

“Faster than most,” Malik admitted, arms crossed. “But let’s see how you handle endurance.”

They switched to a grueling obstacle course, testing Ali’s stamina. He pushed through, lungs burning, muscles protesting, but he didn’t stop. When he finally crossed the finish line, sweat-drenched and panting, the screen flashed with his updated stats.

[Durability: +5]

[Speed: +4 ]

[Endurance: +6 ]

[You've Level Up!]

Ali grinned, catching his breath. “Not bad, huh?”

Laith clapped him on the back. “Not bad at all. You’ve got potential.”

Malik gave an approving nod. “Keep training like this, and you’ll be ready for anything.”

As Ali studied his improved stats, he felt a surge of confidence. This was just the beginning.