Leon shook his head. "That’s where you’re wrong. I do have to go this far—because you matter to me."
Naval smirked. "Wow, that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard from you," she said, eyeing Leon as Millim’s face flushed red. She just nestled into his arms while Liliana simply nodded.
Leon gently held Millim as she buried her face in his chest, her grip tightening around his cloak. He could feel the weight of her emotions—the pain of being trapped, the fear of losing everything, and the relief of finally having someone who wouldn’t abandon her.
Naval playfully nudged Liliana. "Looks like our lady finally found someone who can handle her."
Liliana gave a small smile but remained silent, her usual composed demeanor unchanged.
After a moment, Millim pulled away slightly, her blue eyes meeting Leon’s. "You really think we can win this?"
Leon smirked. "No, I know we will. I’ve already come this far. There’s no turning back now."
Millim let out a shaky breath before nodding. "Then… I’ll trust you."
Leon turned to the others. "First things first—we need to figure out how to break that barrier. We can’t afford to let the tournament rules trap us inside."
"The barrier will only be activated after the tournament begins," she said, and Leon nodded.
The tournament was still a month away, giving them time to work on their teamwork for now.
"Guess that means we should focus on improving our coordination," Ken (Dark Pope) said. He then added, "Also, let’s bring Roselia and Roman in. They’re part of this too, and we’re supposed to fight together as a team."
Leon agreed. "Good idea."
Millim nodded and gestured to Naval, who went to get Roselia and Roman inside as well.
Naval disappeared briefly and returned with Roselia and Roman. Roselia’s sharp eyes immediately scanned the room, picking up on the tense atmosphere. Roman, his sword casually slung over his shoulder, followed close behind with a relaxed demeanor.
"Looks like the gang’s all here," Roman said with a grin. "What’s the plan, boss?"
Leon gestured for everyone to gather around. "The tournament is going to be a test of more than just strength. We’re up against teams that know how to work together, and we can’t afford to be outdone."
Roselia crossed her arms, her voice cold but practical. "Coordination has always been our weakness. If we’re going to fix that, we’ll need to train hard—and smart."
Roman nodded in agreement. "So, where do we start?"
Leon turned to Millim, his voice calm yet firm. "You’ve been in tournaments like this before. What kind of challenges can we expect?"
Millim looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke. "It won’t just be battles. There will be puzzles, traps, and scenarios designed to test our teamwork and strategic thinking. The organizers love throwing in surprises to keep everyone on edge."
"Perfect," Leon said with a smirk. "Then we’ll train for the unexpected."
Ken spoke up. "We’ll need to run drills, practice combos, and figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses. If we can anticipate what the others are going to do, we’ll have an edge."
Naval chimed in, her tone light but serious. "I’ll work with Millim on her close combat. She’s strong, but she needs to refine her technique."
Millim shot her a mock glare but didn’t argue.
Leon nodded. "Good. Roselia, you’re our strategist. I want you to study the tournament’s history and predict possible scenarios."
Roselia inclined her head. "Consider it done."
"Roman," Leon continued, "you’ll work with Ken on setting up counters and defenses. If the enemy wants to overwhelm us, they’ll have to get through you two first."
Roman grinned, patting Ken on the back. "Guess we’re the wall, huh? Let’s make it impenetrable."
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"And me?" Liliana asked quietly, her voice steady but curious.
Leon turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "You’re our healer, but you’re also more than that. I want you to work on enhancing our abilities during fights. If you can boost our strengths and cover our weaknesses, we’ll be unstoppable."
Liliana nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. "Understood."
Leon looked at the group, his voice filled with resolve. "We have a month. It’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough if we push ourselves. We’re not just here to compete—we’re here to win. Let’s get to work."
The room filled with a collective sense of purpose as the group began discussing their roles in more detail.
The following days were grueling. Training started at dawn and lasted well into the night. Each member of the team focused on refining their individual strengths while integrating their skills into seamless coordination.
"You’re relying too much on brute force," Naval pointed out as she ducked under one of Millim’s punches, countering with a precise jab to her ribs. "Power’s great, but against experienced fighters, it won’t be enough."
Millim gritted her teeth, stepping back. "Then I’ll just have to get faster."
Naval smirked. "Now you’re getting it."
They continued sparring, Millim gradually adapting, using feints and reading Naval’s movements more carefully.
Leon clashed blades with Roman, their swords sparking as they met. Ken stood behind Roman, watching their movements closely before stepping in, using his shield to redirect a strike aimed at Roman’s side.
"Good," Leon said, pulling back. "Ken, you’re our anchor. If you hold the line, Roman and I can take the offensive when needed."
Roman wiped sweat from his brow. "We should also practice counterattacks. If someone gets past Ken, we can’t just react—we need to strike back immediately."
Leon nodded. "Then let’s drill that next."
Roselia sat with several maps and documents spread out before her, analyzing past tournaments. "This year’s format hasn’t been announced yet, but based on previous years, the final round is almost always a battle royale."
Liliana, who had been practicing her healing spells, looked up. "That means conserving energy early on will be crucial."
"Exactly." Roselia traced a path on one of the maps. "We should also prepare for environmental hazards—like magical storms or shifting terrain."
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Liliana nodded, gripping her staff. "I’ll work on faster spellcasting and aura reinforcement. If I can keep everyone at peak condition, we’ll have a better chance of enduring longer fights."