The morning sun warmed the back of his neck as Raze corrected Arian's stance. The wind whispered through the long grass, but Arian’s focus was only on the feel of her body.

  "That's it," Raze said, nodding. "The key to warrior technique isn't just strength—it's correct breathing. With warrior divinity, your attacks become destructive, but the true art is pushing your body's limits. Even without divinity, a dedicated warrior can become stronger than a weaker divinant."

  "That's a good form. Now breathe and kick," Raze commanded.

  "Phew, this is hard, but I can feel it," Arian replied. "Come to think of it, where's Emmet? Why isn't he training with us?"

  "Oh, don’t worry. He already knows these basic warrior techniques," Raze said. "I've been training him since we were traveling, before we met you. In fact, Emmet doesn’t really need it." (In Raze's mind, Emmet is too strong to even need it).

  "Right, because he only depends on his totem, and he doesn't seem fit enough to do the fighting," Arian said.

  "I wouldn't put it that way," Raze said.

  Arian interrupted, "Right. Well, I'm sure he's doing something with those vulcanite crystals. Knowing him, he probably wouldn't be focused on this training if he's so hooked on learning more about those crystals."

  "Well, you are probably right," Raze agreed. While Julian was searing meat on a scorched rock, Eanne watched with wide, hungry eyes, practically drooling as he waited for Julian's cooking.

  Emmet sat by the waterfall, staring at the vulcanite crystal. "I made this," he thought, turning the dark stone over in his hand. "Me, and my core. And Eanne, of course. But the energy… it came from inside me." He felt a strange new power, a mystery he didn't understand. The break from their travels was a chance to figure it out.

  He entered his inner world, a space of pure thought. The fire totem was there, and the earth totem. Eanne's essence felt like a separate point, connected but not a part of him. It was a new presence that caught his attention, something that had formed when he created the vulcanite. It was the demonic forge. It didn’t absorb the demonic energy; it processed it. It took the raw power and compressed it, turning it into the crystals he held. "This is what I am," he realized. "A living altar. The cult uses their altars to create these seeds, but I create them with my own body. I'm a different kind of weapon."

  He needed to be careful. The area was safe, but he couldn't do this when the others were here. It would definitely corrupt them. He, however, was unaffected. He had discovered a while ago that he was immune to demonic corruption. It just passed through him, flowing and processing into this demonic forge, tempering the energy. He guided its form, creating a new demon crystal.

  "The reason a totem doesn't work is that the demonic energy is not an external force you're borrowing; it's a raw material you're processing internally into a new product."

  He knew the demon altar's purpose was to create a similar crystal, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than that. The demon the altar summoned had been shrieking in pain. "It can't be... they're using the demons as material to complete their crystal?" He'd rather stop them than see their ritual completed.

  For now, his focus was on his own ability, not the cult. The demon crystal he produced had no trace of life or soul, just pure energy. If his body converted it, it was safe to assume he could use it. He tried implanting it into his hand, forcing it to puncture his skin. His body didn't react at all apart from the wound it created. It was just a normal crystal to him.

  What about his elemental energy? He summoned a fire totem. It floated in front of him, and he infused it with the demon crystal. The totem was corrupted and began transforming. Its property was dimming, and the fire slowly turned into a black flame. A chilling cold emanated from the flame, a cold that didn't just touch his skin but seemed to seep into his very bones. He touched it, and it didn't hurt him. He was immune to it, but when he lowered it, he watched as the blades didn't burn. They simply shriveled, turning to a fine, black ash that crumbled to dust at the slightest touch. It wasn't fire; it was pure, cold annihilation. He shut it off and unsummoned the totem.

  "This is an amazing discovery," he whispered to himself. He knew he had to keep it a secret from his friends. He summoned two fire totems and infused one with the demon crystal. It only affected the one he infused. It couldn't affect them all at once. He couldn't use this when Eanne was around, since the demon energy could corrupt her. "I must not use this," he decided. "This requires more extensive study." He pulled the demon crystal from the totem, relieved it wasn't a one-time use thing.

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  Now for the earth totem. He summoned an earth totem almost the same height as him and infused the demon crystal into it. The totem slowly turned dark and became an obsidian earth crystal. "What the?" It no longer altered the terrain but instead created spiky crystals. He tried to control it, and it summoned a spiky crystal from the ground. It almost hit him, but he controlled it. It was a dark obsidian crystal. He summoned the black flame again and tried hitting the crystal with the cold flame, but nothing happened. They didn't seem to affect each other. But he noticed he could control the black flame, altering its effect by removing the burning property. "I feel like it doesn't burn physical things if I will it," he surmised. "But I'm not sure what effect it has on a living being. No, I don't want to go that far."

  He could create pikes with the obsidian crystal. If he could create the vulcanite crystal by processing the demon crystal with the earth and fire totems, what kind of crystal could he create with the black flame and obsidian crystal?

  It didn't tire him at all, nor did it deplete his divinity. He had to keep this a secret from his friends for their own safety. He was afraid of its negative effects and wouldn't risk it with them.

  Emmet let out a contented sigh. "This is enough for today. My mind's buzzing with what I've discovered." He got up and stretched, heading back toward the others. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and pink. He could smell the tantalizing aroma of cooked meat drifting on the breeze, a welcome change from the strange energies he had just been experimenting with.

  As he neared the camp, he saw the group gathered in a small clearing. Julian, ever the meticulous one, was acting like a doting mother or a butler, despite being a man. He had planned this entire break, from the location to the food, making sure it was perfect for everyone.

  "Alright, guys, Eanne and I have prepared some great meals for you," Julian announced with a proud smile.

  Eanne, holding up a large piece of meat with a fork, added, "Yes! That's why I'm getting the best part of the meat." Everyone nodded in agreement, knowing better than to argue with Eanne when it came to food.

  Julian continued, "And for dessert, I made apple pie. And no more booze for you, Arian!" He chuckled, remembering Arian's wild temper whenever she was drunk.

  Arian groaned, stretching out her sore legs. "Good thing I can heal myself so easily."

  "Let's step up the training starting tomorrow," Raze said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'll teach you some advanced techniques for kicks and jumping. I'll even show you a secret technique."

  "Oh, in that case, I'll join in on training you too, Arian," Julian chimed in. "I know a thing or two about shadow movements. I'm sure it will help you as our range fighter and support."

  Arian's eyes lit up. She felt like the weakest member because she lacked combat knowledge. She knew she needed these acrobatic skills for evasion and positioning herself in battle, which was why she had begged Raze to teach her leg-related techniques.

  Meanwhile, Emmet was just spacing out, still lost in thought about his discovery. Eanne, noticing his inattentiveness, poked him with a fork full of meat. Emmet's mouth instinctively opened, and he began to chew what Eanne gave him, but his mind was a million miles away.

  Emmet snapped out of his trance, looking around at his friends. "Arian, continue with your training. By the fourth day, we'll create a team strategy, showcase all our skills, and see what we can come up with." He looked at the group, his expression serious. "Everyone, I propose we make Arian our team captain in battle. Also, I propose we appoint Raze as our overall team leader."

  He continued, "This is to avoid any discord among us. I value all your opinions, but I lack the ability to see things from other people's points of view, so I opt out of being a captain or leader. I am happy to fill in as a sub, though."

  Julian praised Emmet, "You probably thought this through, Emmet. Good job for saying it. I fully support it, and my vote is yes to both. My main role is distraction, and I can be a sub fighter if Raze is not around or needs to rest."

  Arian was dumbstruck. "You can fight?" she asked.

  Julian giggled. "Well, I'll do my best if needed."

  A faint flush colored Raze's cheeks as he looked at the group. He'd never sought a leadership role, but the quiet, unanimous support in their eyes was undeniable. "Alright," he said, his voice a little softer than usual. "But I'll need all of your help. That's a big responsibility for me."

  The next day, Arian's training continued with Raze, who focused on breathing techniques and warrior arts. But Julian also joined in, and to Arian's surprise, he proved to be a masterful teacher. Julian didn't just teach her the steps; he helped her understand the why behind each movement, explaining how a slight shift in her balance could throw an opponent off guard, or how a simple duck-and-roll could be a powerful attack. This put Julian in a new light in Arian's eyes.

  Meanwhile, Emmet had secluded himself again. He was busy creating different possible team strategies and plans, intending to present them to the group later.

  The same routine became a daily rhythm. The weeks that followed were a blur of motion and focus. Arian's training with Raze and Julian intensified. She absorbed the intricate shadow movements and acrobatic maneuvers Julian taught her, while also mastering the powerful breathing techniques from Raze. Julian's guidance was a revelation; his ability to break down complex skills made Arian's progress rapid and tangible. She moved with a newfound grace and confidence, her body learning to flow seamlessly between offense and defense.

  Each day, the air would fill with shouts and the soft thud of bodies hitting the ground as they put the new strategies into practice. They learned to move as one unit, Julian's shadow steps creating diversions while Arian's healing divinity covered a temporary blind spot, all while Raze’s formidable presence held the front lines. Emmet’s strategies, once just lines on a map, became a living, breathing part of their team. While the others trained their bodies, Eanne quietly continued her own growth within Emmet's inner world.

  Days bled into weeks, and two months passed. The group's aura had changed completely. Their movements were sharp and synchronized, their communication was flawless, and a quiet confidence settled over them. They were no longer just a group of individuals; they were a cohesive and polished force. The Demoncrusher was now ready and better than ever, its members fully prepared to continue their journey.