Reborn in The Legendary Mechanic

The training hall greeted me with its usual noise, but today felt different. The air seemed even denser. Triple gravity made each step feel like a monumental effort.

An additional challenge came in the form of the training armor I wore at Garth's insistence. This suit mimicked the weight and limitations of powered armor, adding restrictions without providing any advantages. In this metallic cocoon, I felt clumsy and uncoordinated, and every movement caused my muscles to protest.

- Well, Ellarion, - began Diakon, with a lazy smirk, leaning on the training staff. - Try not to disappoint me. I'm just starting to get used to your failures. 

Lara giggled, winking at me.

- Oh, boys. Don't be scared too much, okay? Although... it might even be fun. 

Torg merely nodded slightly, lifting his hammer and taking a combat stance. His silence weighed more than the words of the others.

- Begin! - shouted Brann, and the timer started.

Torg attacked first. The hammer rose with incredible ease despite its colossal size. I barely managed to dodge aside as the weapon struck the ground with a deafening thud. The shockwave rippled through the arena, causing me to lose balance.

- Hey, don't just stand there, - I heard Rikard's voice from the platform. His voice was like a drop of water in silence, urging me to action.

Lara immediately took advantage of my confusion. She darted forward, her dagger flashing as it aimed for my side. I raised my claws to parry the strike, and the metallic sound sliced through the air. Lara stepped back, her grin widening.

- You're not as slow as you seem, - she taunted, attacking again.

Diakon, meanwhile, actively controlled his spheres, and one of them detached from its orbit and headed toward me. I dodged, but the sphere unexpectedly changed course and struck my shoulder, causing me to stagger.

- Learn to anticipate, - he coldly remarked.

I found myself trapped between them. Torg attacked again — the hammer whistled with such force that it seemed capable of breaking through walls. Lora circled around me like a predator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Diakon kept me on edge, his spheres never giving me a moment's rest.

- Focus! - shouted Rikard.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to concentrate. Lora relied on speed, Torg on power, and Diakon controlled the battlefield. I needed to disrupt their synchronized teamwork, and for that, I needed to make a few decisive moves.

I feigned concentration solely on Lara, retreating and dodging her dagger. She didn't relent, her movements becoming faster and more precise.

- Torg, pin him down! - she shouted, pushing him to action.

At that moment, Torg unleashed the hammer with such force that the ground trembled, and the air vibrated from the impact. I managed to dodge, slipping under his attack, and turned toward Diakon.

- Mistake, - he calmly noted, directing two spheres toward me simultaneously.

I deflected one with my sword, but the second still grazed my armor, forcing me to roll backward. However, I was already close. My claws pierced Diakon's protective barrier, causing sparks to fly, and he stumbled.

- This is interesting, - he breathed, stepping back.

Now only Lara and Torg remained.

Lora darted forward again, her dagger aimed directly at my neck. I dodged, instantly using my claws to break her weapon. She clenched her teeth, stepping back, but her attention was diverted by Torg's approach.

- Be careful, girl, - he growled, raising his hammer.

This moment became crucial. Torg lunged at me, his hammer rising for a decisive blow, but I managed to dodge, slipping under his powerful strike. My sword and claws worked in tandem, and I suddenly struck his leg. This slowed him down but did not stop him. He continued advancing, but I was ready.

- You're better than I thought, - he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

I made another lunge, aiming my claws at his shoulder. Torg blocked the strike, but I managed to retreat. At that moment, the timer stopped.

When I stood up, barely holding myself on my feet, breathing heavily, Lora was already sitting on the floor, inspecting her broken dagger. Torg nodded, acknowledging my resilience, while Diakon, despite his carefree demeanor, showed a small sign of respect.

- You surprise me, - Rikard said, descending from the platform. - But you still have room to grow. 

- Tomorrow will be worse, - added Lara, her gaze full of fiery anticipation.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at them. Tomorrow... it means tomorrow.

And then came another round of training.

Garth immediately began demonstrating the basics. He was not just a master of strength; he was the embodiment of strength itself. His approach was straightforward: if you can't block a strike, absorb it with your defense. From the very first seconds, I understood that his training would be intense.

- Strong blows require strong defenses, - Garth said, approaching me with silent resolve. - You must learn to meet the strike like a rock meets a wave. Break and you die.

His approach was brutal and direct, like Garth himself. He led me through basic stances, demanding that I stand like a rock. Every move was a test of endurance. I didn't just parry; I held the hammer's blow in my stance. Garth emphasized the importance of the - ground center of gravity. - I had to keep my torso rigid and my legs in a deep stance, as if they themselves were part of the arena. The most important lesson: never retreat.

When he demonstrated strikes to me, I realized the importance of strength in defense. His strikes were harsh and sharp, and I had to learn to redirect them, using my entire mass as an unbreakable wall.

- Don't just block, - he said when I failed to parry his first strike. - Use the enemy's weakness, not your own. When the enemy attacks, don't just be a wall. Be a gate, letting through but with reinforced resolve. 

His philosophy was completely different from Rikard's. He taught me not just to avoid the strike but to turn it into my own advantage. I shouldn't just evade; I should counterattack the moment the opponent hasn't recovered.

- As soon as you sense the strike, you must transition to offense, - Rikard said, as if ignoring my fatigue. - Your hand, your sword, your claws — they all must work toward one goal: turning defense into counterattack. 

His style was so quick and precise that I couldn't even notice how he used his defensive movements to create space for attack. Soon, I understood: all defense is preparation for attack. Rikard taught me to wait for the moment when the opponent becomes vulnerable and strike then. Counterattack was his key word.

Lara was entirely different. She didn't rely on brute force like Garth, nor on swift counterattacks like Rikard. She taught me agility and finesse. Her movements were fluid—like water, she glided without leaving a trace. Each of her moves was calculated, and each of her attacks was a skillful maneuver. She taught me not just to avoid strikes but to make them pass by, using their own force against them.

- Speed, Ellarion, speed and agility, - she said when I failed to avoid her strike again. - Your task is not to 'stand' in place. You must be like the wind: always moving, but never where they expect you. 

Lara taught me to 'play' with movement. As soon as I dodged, I had to immediately change position so that the opponent wouldn't know where the next attack would come from. I shouldn't be predictable. Every step should be unexpected to the opponent. Not just to dodge — vanish from the line of attack and reappear where the opponent cannot anticipate.

She showed me how to use natural cover, even when there was none. Every move was a precursor to the next. She taught me evasion techniques, which allowed me to avoid attacks and immediately transition to the next counterattack position.

***

Quintuple gravity. Even the word itself seemed like a sentence, let alone its sensation. The air became thicker, as if turning into a viscous substance, and my body resisted every movement. Each step required the effort previously needed for running.

On the arena, three figures already stood, each seemingly unaffected by the gravitational pressure.

Karg. His tall and slender silhouette seemed like a shadow, but this illusion was deceptive. His mechanical prosthetics, thin and elegant, appeared too delicate for combat. Yet, a glance at the long sniper rifle in his hands revealed no doubts: before me stood a master of long-range destruction.

Mira. She was the complete opposite of Karg: lively, energetic, embodying chaos itself. Explosive charges danced in her hands as she effortlessly tossed them from one palm to another. Her graceful movements irritated me, reminding me that in this hall, I was a clumsy, heavy outsider.

Kate. Her icy aura could be felt even from a distance. A cold wind seemed to penetrate my skin and immobilize my body. She stood with her arms crossed, her eyes filled with calm and hidden threat.

The training armor I wore added weight. It was designed to mimic the weight and limitations of powered armor, adding restrictions without offering any advantages. In this metallic cocoon, I felt clumsy and uncoordinated, and every movement elicited a protest from my muscles.

- Well, Ellarion, ready to feel even slower? - smirked Karg, his voice steady but with a hint of mockery.

I checked the grip on my training sword and the claws on my left hand, feeling my palms start to sweat.

- Gravity, armor, explosions, ice, and bullets? Add a shark, and you'd have quite the spectacle, - I muttered, trying not to reveal my tension.

Kate looked at me with a slight, icy smile.

- Sharks are too merciful, - her voice cut through the air like a cold wind.

Karg raised his sniper rifle with mechanical precision, and the faint hum of the charging shot echoed through the arena. A bright, scorching beam shot out — just missing my head by a centimeter. The dull, drawn-out sound stayed in my ears long after the shot had passed.

- Too slow, - Karg commented, reloading his weapon with cold certainty. His movements were calculated, like those of a professional predator.

Mira took the initiative next, almost like a dancer on stage. Her first charge fell beside me, knocking me off balance. I took a step back to regain control, but she didn't give me a moment's rest. Another charge exploded under my feet, sending me flying to the side.

- You should run rather than fight, - she said with mocking lightness, stepping back as if already celebrating her victory.

I gritted my teeth, exhaled, and tried to focus. But ice spikes grew from nowhere, blocking my path. Kate, tilting her head back, seemed to conduct this whirlwind of ice.

- Not today, Ellarion, - she said almost regretfully.

An ice projectile whizzed toward my chest. I managed to deflect it with my claws, but it added to my pain. The impact reverberated in my shoulder, nearly making me fall.

- Focus, Ellarion, - Kate coldly commanded, her voice as relentless as the arena itself.

I held my breath, gathering the last of my strength, and lunged toward Mira. My claws flashed in motion, but she was already far away. Her steps were quick and precise, easily outpacing my sluggish body. I swung, but her next explosion sent me reeling backward.

Karg, without wasting a second, fired again. The beam narrowly missed my head, and the dull, drawn-out sound lingered in my ears long after the shot had passed.

- We're not even straining, - Karg remarked calmly, aiming his weapon for another shot.

The world began to tighten like a vice. Karg kept me at bay, forcing me to circle the arena. Mira's explosions kept me from stopping, while Kate's ice traps transformed every move into a laborious ordeal.

Gravity was merciless. Each movement required a struggle, each attempt to evade or attack left me closer to exhaustion. My lungs wheezed, my muscles burned.

- You're too tense, - Kate taunted with a mocking ease. - Relax and move faster! 

Relax? That was impossible. I knew they were playing with me. But I continued to fight. My claws aimed for their targets, but every time I hit an invisible barrier: Karg maintained distance, Mira struck accurately, and Kate controlled the battlefield.

The world began to tighten like a ring — each step became heavier, each breath a struggle. Karg, Mira, and Kate controlled the arena with the ease of predators playing with their prey. But I no longer wanted to be the prey.

Gravity seemed like an enemy, but it was precisely this that gave me the first clue. I remembered Rikard's words: "Use the enemy's weakness, not your own".

Karg was focused on distance, and his shots depended on reload times. Mira, despite her chaotic style, needed preparation for each throw. Kate, controlling the battlefield, expended energy on her magic.

I clenched my teeth and steadied my breathing. If I wanted to survive, I needed to not just react but force them to play by my rules.

My first move was Karg. I made a sharp maneuver, moving toward the right flank. His beam missed, leaving a mark on the arena wall. While he reloaded, I dashed forward, forcing him to change position.

— Playing the runner? — he jeered, but there was a hint of tension in his voice.

I lunged to the side, hoping he would make a mistake, and it didn't take long. Karg raised his sniper rifle, aiming at a predictable trajectory, but I abruptly changed direction, using a nearby ice spike as a point of support. My body slid across the icy surface, and I found myself right next to him.

— What?! — he gasped.

My claws met his rifle. Metal flashed as the weapon flew out of his hands. Before Karg could recover, I struck his side shield with my sword, activating the defeat signal.

— One, — I rasped, turning away.

Now it was Mira. Her explosive charges circled in the air like a pack of hungry wolves. She threw one, but I had already anticipated her rhythm. I didn't dodge; instead, I lunged straight at her. The explosion went off behind me, knocking me off balance, but inertia helped me reach her faster than expected. My claws hit her shield, which flashed red, signaling defeat.

— Two, — I exhaled, feeling my lungs burn.

Only Kate remained. Her ice spikes rose again, encircling me in a deadly trap.

— You won't get through, — she coldly stated.

But I knew her weakness. Her magic depended on her control over the battlefield. The more space she controlled, the harder it was for her to concentrate.

I started moving, forcing her to concentrate the ice in specific areas. Traps rose and collapsed, until I was right in front of her.

— Don't think it's that easy, — she said, creating an ice barrier.

But I was already expecting this. My claws struck the ice, shattering it into pieces. She didn't have time to retreat when my sword stopped just centimeters from her neck.

Her shield flashed, indicating defeat.

I stood on the arena, barely holding myself upright. My body screamed in pain, but inside it was quiet.

— Victory, — Rikard's voice echoed.

Kate lowered her gaze, her face remaining expressionless, but a flicker of respect and... fear appeared in her eyes.

— Well done, — she said, walking past me.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the trembling in my hands. This was my first real victory, but I knew tomorrow would be even harder.

***

The next day gravity in the training hall no longer seemed unbearable. It still pressed on muscles and joints like a heavy stone on shoulders, but I began to get accustomed to it. Each movement required effort that was previously unimaginable, but now it became part of my ritual. The air was dense, like a viscous liquid filling my lungs with every breath, but even this couldn't stop me.

Kate, Lara, Mira, and Rikard were already waiting for me on the arena. Their faces were focused, each of them preparing for a new trial. They knew today would be especially hard, and their gazes spoke volumes without unnecessary words.

- We'll exhaust you, Ellarion, - Lara said with a smirk, her movements resembling a predator's dance before a decisive strike. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, brimming with determination to show me who was in charge.

- Only if you manage, - I replied, gripping my sword in my right hand and feeling the cold claws on my left. My body was ready for battle, though every muscle protested against the load.

From the very beginning, the fight was uneven. Lara darted forward, her movements so swift that it seemed she vanished and reappeared in different parts of the arena. Mira simultaneously tossed training explosives, creating chaos on the battlefield. Each explosion knocked the air out of my lungs, forcing me to move faster and more accurately. Kate used ice magic, creating ice spikes that made the arena surface slippery like a frozen lake. Rikard, as always, methodically struck with his sword, forcing me to defend and lose control of the situation.

Every movement required utmost concentration. The sword blades deflected Lara's strike, and the claws barely managed to handle Mira's charge, which almost knocked me off my feet. I could feel the sweat trickling down my face, mixing with blood from cuts on my arms, but it didn't matter. The main thing was to keep going.

- You won't last, - Kate said, her voice cold as the ice she controlled. She threw an ice spike right under my feet, and I barely managed to roll aside.

But I began to notice their patterns. Lara relied too much on speed, and Mira on chaos. I decided to bet on a sudden counterattack. I feigned exhaustion, slowing down my movements. This gave them a false sense of superiority.

Lara made a sudden thrust, aiming at my left side. That's exactly what I expected. At the moment of her attack, I shifted sharply, using my claws to strike. The blades met her shield, which flared up brightly, signaling defeat. She retreated, her face expressing confusion and irritation.

- This was a mistake, Lara, - I said, seizing the sword for the next strike. But I couldn't relax yet. Mira tried to take advantage of the moment, tossing an explosive device right under my feet. I jumped aside, using the slippery ice to gain momentum, and the claws worked perfectly. Her training shield flared up crimson, indicating defeat.

- Two, - I noted, observing as her shield faded.

Only two opponents remained: Kate and Rikard.

- Well, it seems you surprised us, - Kate said, her tone strangely serious. She stood calmly, almostdetached, as if she already knew the outcome.

Now I faced two completely different fighters: an experienced swordsman and a mage capable of controlling the battlefield. Each of their actions was calculated to the millimeter, and my energy was almost depleted. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my strength. Kate and Rikard stood before me, both focused, but with different expressions on their faces. Kate looked calm, almost detached, as if she already knew the outcome. Rikard was tense, his gaze never leaving me, every step perfectly measured.

Rikard said nothing, simply preparing for the continuation of the fight. His sword was raised, and his movements were coldly precise.

I gripped the sword in my right hand and adjusted the claws on my left. Energy was waning, muscles humming with fatigue, but I wasn't about to give up. In my mind, 

Kate attacked first. Her hands shot up, and ice spikes scattered across the arena, blocking paths for maneuvers. The floor started to be covered with a thin layer of ice, making every move dangerous. I slid to the side, trying to avoid the strikes, but Kate continued to cover the field with her magic, not giving me a moment's rest. Rikard, meanwhile, held his ground in the center, his sword raised, waiting for the moment to strike.

- We won't give you a chance, - he said quietly, and this wasn't a threat, but rather a fact. His confidence was bolstered by experience and mastery, which I was still learning.

I lunged toward Kate, understanding that I needed to neutralize the mage first. The claws slashed at her shield, which flared up brightly, but the ice flow knocked me off my feet. The floor was slippery, like a frozen lake, and I barely managed to roll aside to avoid an ice spike that embedded itself in the ground next to me. Rikard seized the moment. His sword flashed in the air, and I barely managed to parry his strike with my own blade. The blow was so powerful that it hurt my shoulders, and my arm went numb.

- You won't hold on, - he said, continuing his series of attacks. I barely managed to react. Each of his strikes was accurate, each step perfectly measured. I tried to counter with my claws, but Rikard easily avoided them, forcing me to make mistakes.

Kate intensified the pressure. Ice boulders flew from all sides, and I realized she was coordinating her attacks with Rikard, forcing me to move where he was ready to strike. I tried to change tactics, making a false move toward Rikard and then rushing at Kate. This worked halfway: the claws struck her shield, leaving a crack, but an ice wall rose between us, and I found myself under renewed attacks.

- Not bad, but not enough, - Rikard noted, approaching closer. - You need to be better. 

I panted heavily, but inside me burned a fire. I decided to take risks and use new techniques I had learned over the past few days.

- We'll see, - I replied, taking several short steps forward.

Rikard resumed his attack, but I could now predict his movements. His first strike I parried with my sword, the second I deflected with my claws. Each of his actions was now an open book to me. I began to act more confidently, each step and each strike meticulously calculated.

When he made another lunge, I used all my speed and strength to rush forward, knocking him off his feet. He quickly got up, his eyes now showing genuine interest.

- You've really improved, - he admitted, adopting a new stance.

Kate continued creating ice traps, but I had learned to use them to my advantage. Sliding on the ice, I approached her, dodging her ice spikes. My claws struck her shield, leaving deep scratches.

- You held your own well, Ellarion, - she said, retreating. - But this isn't the end. 

I turned sharply towards Rikard. His sword rose again, but this time I was ready. I pretended to attack, then suddenly changed direction and slashed at his arm, disarming him. He attempted to counterattack bare-handed, but I was already too close.

- That was a mistake, - I said, delivering the final blow with my sword, which stopped just inches from his neck. His shield flashed red, indicating defeat.

Now only Kate was left. She launched herself into an attack, her hands rising to summon more ice spikes, blocking paths for maneuvers. The floor once again started to ice over, making every movement treacherous. I slid to the side, trying to avoid the strikes, but Kate continued to cover the field with her magic, giving no respite.

- Not today, - I muttered, feeling my plan beginning to work. I rushed forward, using the ice for acceleration, and plunged my claws into her shield. The ice spikes couldn't stop me, and I delivered a strike with my sword, hitting its mark.

Kate retreated, her shield flashing red, signaling defeat.

- You've come a long way, Ellarion, - she observed, looking at me. - Perhaps too far. 

I watched her walk away, then turned my attention to Rikard, who was already getting up from the floor.

- You're not just a good student, Ellarion, - he said. - You can now give us a real fight. But tomorrow will be harder. 

I nodded, feeling confidence growing within me.

***

After Ellarion left the arena, the mercenaries gathered in the center of the training hall. The dim lighting created an atmosphere of mystery and tension. Kate, Lora, Mira, and Rikard stood in a circle, discussing his unusual progress.

- Did you notice how he fought today? - Lora broke the silence first, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. - He really started to understand how to use his weapons. 

Rikard nodded, his face focused.

- Yes, he became faster and more precise. But that's not all. He somehow anticipates our moves, even when we ourselves don't know what we'll do next. 

- That's strange, - added Mira, her voice filled with concern. - He's not even a super, but his reaction and tactics are getting better. It's like he reads our minds. 

Kate, usually calm, now looked thoughtful.

- Do you remember how he fought with us on the first day? He was slow and clumsy. But now... he has become a real opponent. I can't figure out how he managed to improve so quickly. 

Garth, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His massive figure seemed even more imposing in the quiet hall.

- Did you notice how he used the ice? - Garth pointed to the floor where traces of ice spikes still lingered. - He utilized the environment against us as if it was an extension of himself. 

Rikard agreed.

- Yes, it was impressive. He pretended to tire out, and we believed him. That gave him the chance to counterattack. And he did. Too fast, too precisely. 

- But that's not all, - interjected Mira, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. - He doesn't just learn from his mistakes. He uses our mistakes against us. As if he already knows how we will act. 

Kate rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

- I think he's starting to understand how we think. His tactics have become more strategic. He uses our strengths against us and turns our weaknesses into opportunities for attack. 

Lora smiled, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

- And he's not afraid to take risks. He makes unexpected maneuvers, uses false attacks, and even ice spikes against us. It makes him unpredictable. 

Rikard nodded, agreeing with her.

- Yes, he's not afraid to take risks. But it's not just bravery. It's something more. He somehow understands how to use every moment to achieve his goal. 

- What do we do next? - asked Mira, her voice sounding almost frightened. - If he continues to progress like this, he might become dangerous. 

- Let's think about it, - began Rikard, his gaze sharp. - We know he's not a super, but his ability to adapt and learn is incredible. He seems to constantly evolve, becoming stronger with every passing second. 

- And those strange facial features, - added Garth, his massive figure appearing particularly threatening in the dim light. - Those purple pupils... I've seen them only in creatures living near the Dark Storm at the other end of the universe. Humans shouldn't have such eyes. 

- Maybe he's not a super, - pondered Kate, - but something about him is definitely off. His body... it seems to have adapted, capable of handling loads that ordinary humans can't. 

- And that ship, - muttered Karg, - it seems to operate on its own. I saw how he controls it, as if it's a second skin. No one flies like that. 

- And what is he doing here? - asked Mira, her gaze falling on the holographic map displaying the routes of the Eridian. - Where did he come from? Why did he choose us? 

- That's a question we need to ask him, - answered Rikard, his voice firm. - But for now, let's just observe. He could become a valuable ally if we guide him correctly. 

- Not possible, - corrected Garthh, approaching closer. - He's not just fighting. He's transforming. Without any preparation, he destroyed three hundred beasts on Kama-6, which is impossible for an ordinary human, even in the most powerful armor. Even I wouldn't have managed such a mission. 

- Maybe it's his ship? - speculated Mira, narrowing her eyes. - He said it's his own ship. And that ship... it looks too advanced for a simple mercenary. 

- Yes, - nodded Garth. - When he first arrived at the station, no one believed he'd survive. We even placed bets! And here he is, defeating all of us. 

- And don't forget his sword, - added Lora, her voice trembling slightly. - That Drah'niin... or how it is? It seems to have a life of its own. I feel it every night in my dreams. It scares me. 

- Not just you, - murmured Rikard, his gaze falling on the hologram of the 'Eridian'. - Even in training, he barely lets go of it. This blade... it's something entirely different. 

- And one more thing, - interjected Karg, coming closer. - He never seems to get tired. I saw him spend an entire day in the training hall and then go to work on his projects. A person simply can't function like that without rest. 

- Maybe it's his biology? - suggested Mira, her face serious. - Perhaps he underwent some modification or experiment we don't know about. 

- But where from? - asked Garthh, rubbing his mechanical arm. - He said he was never a mercenary. Just some engineer who happened to be here. 

- And the story with Kama-6 is also strange, - noted Diacon, crossing his arms. - According to the report, he completed the mission in three days, but those beasts were formidable. He survived and returned. 

- And there's his recovery after injuries, - added Rikard, his face tense. - He came back from Kama-6 practically unscathed, although he should have been on the brink of death. This isn't just medical technology. It's something more. 

- Exactly, - confirmed Rikard. - He should have died. But he's alive and well. Though his presence has changed. Before, I sensed him as a mere mortal, but now I have no idea what he is. 

- Do you remember how he first appeared here? - asked Brann, his voice filled with disbelief. - He was just an ordinary man who could barely stand. Now he moves like a machine. As if every move is calculated to the millimeter. 

- And what do we do? - asked Mira, her voice strained. - If he keeps progressing like this, he could become something bigger than just a rookie. 

- We'll keep an eye on him, - replied Rikard, his gaze confident. - His learning speed and adaptability are extraordinary. But for now, he remains one of us. Having his own ship already makes him a valuable ally. And if he can grow even without super genes, I'll guide him on the right path. 

- And if not? - questioned Kate, her face showing doubt. - What then? 

- Then we'll take measures, - coldly responded Garth. - We have means to control the situation. 

- And yet, - added Rikard, - he could become our greatest asset. If we can trust him. If he can trust us. 

- But how do you trust someone who changes so quickly? - asked Kate, her voice filled with skepticism. - He seems like an alien from another world who suddenly decided to play by our rules. 

- Or maybe he's just very smart, - suggested Brann, - someone who knows how to exploit every opportunity. Maybe it's not transformation, but sheer genius. 

- Genius that frightens, - noted Rikard, his gaze directed at the door through which Ellarian had left.

- He doesn't just fight, - repeated Rikard, - he creates new rules. And we must learn to follow them. - Or become part of this strange game, - concluded Kate, her eyes full of determination. - We need to be prepared for anything. He could be our most valuable ally or our worst nightmare. 

The mercenaries fell silent, each lost in their thoughts. Ellarian wasn't just a rookie; he was something more, and they needed to be ready for any of his actions. His rapid progress, unique weaponry, and inexplicable connection to his ship and sword — all these evoked a mix of respect and fear. 

- Maybe he's not a super, - whispered Mira, - but he's definitely something special. We need to be ready for any of his actions. 

- Exactly, - agreed Rikard, his gaze fixed on the hologram of the 'Eridian'. - He could be our ticket to greatness. Or just another remarkable phenomenon. 

- And remember, - added Rikard, - tomorrow will be a decisive day. All of us will face him. And if he manages to win... then the game will be worth the candle.