Caden stepped into the STF gym and immediately felt the difference.
This wasn't just a gym, it was a battlefield disguised as one.
The space stretched endlessly: an indoor field, a full 400-meter track circling it, towering climbing walls, and a weight room packed with equipment he didn't even recognize. And scattered across all of it…
The Vanguard.
Everywhere he looked, Greats, legends, warriors who carried entire wars on their backs, training like it was just another day.
Ian and Optimus stood at the center.
Ian clapped his hands once. "Upper body first. Sparring after."
Caden let out a quiet sigh under his breath.
Ice King slid up next to him, casual as ever. "Relax, rookie. This only happens like once a week. Just making sure we don't get rusty."
Caden nodded. "Yeah… that actually helps."
The lift started.
And it wasn't normal.
Weights slammed. Metal clanged. People were pushing insane numbers like it was nothing. Caden found himself struggling just to keep up, sweat already dripping before they were even halfway through.
By the end of it, his arms felt like they might fall off.
Then Ian's voice cut through.
"Field. Now."
They moved onto the indoor field.
Ian scanned the group. "Pair up."
Before Caden could even think, someone stepped in front of him.
Twin Blade Scarlet.
"You wanna partner?" she asked, calm but confident.
Caden blinked. "Yeah, yeah, sure."
Blade walked past them, not even stopping. "Don't underestimate her."
Caden gave a small laugh. "Got it."
The matches started.
Steel vs Blue Riot.
The moment they clashed, the entire field shook. Every hit echoed, power meeting power in a way that made it clear, this was a different level.
Then,
Ian vs Blade.
Speed vs speed.
Caden tried to follow it… and couldn't.
They were moving too fast. Blurs. Sparks. Sound without clear motion.
"…How am I supposed to reach that?" he muttered.
"Your turn."
Scarlet stepped forward.
Caden tightened his stance.
They moved.
And within seconds,
He was on the ground.
Flat.
Caden stared up at the ceiling, blinking. "…That was fast."
Scarlet offered him a hand, a small smirk on her face. "You'll get there."
After sparring, they didn't stop.
They moved into the demon training room.
Shadow was already waiting.
"Alright," he said, arms crossed. "You wanna survive with us? You need to see what we see."
Caden frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Speed isn't just physical," Shadow said. "It's perception."
He stepped closer.
"Focus your Kia… into your eyes."
At first, Caden couldn't do it.
Everything stayed normal. Blurry. Too fast.
But Shadow kept guiding him—step by step.
"Don't force it. Feel it."
Caden closed his eyes.
Breathed.
Then,
Opened them again.
For a split second…
The world slowed.
Not fully, but enough.
Enough to notice.
Caden blinked, surprised. "I saw it…"
Shadow gave a small nod. "Good. That's your starting point."
By the end of the day, Caden was completely drained.
Every muscle hurt. His head felt heavy. But underneath all of it—
He was improving.
Even if just a little.
Later, he sat in the common room, barely moving, just trying to recover.
That's when someone dropped down beside him.
Red Riot.
Bright red skin, wild hair, energy that didn't match how tired Caden felt.
"Hey," Red Riot said, grinning. "You're the new guy, right?"
Caden nodded. "Yeah."
"I saw you in the gym," Red Riot continued. "You held your own."
Caden raised an eyebrow. "I got dropped in like two seconds."
Red Riot laughed. "That's normal here."
He leaned back, more relaxed now.
"Look… Vanguard isn't just a title. It's a family."
Caden listened.
"We fight together. Train together. Go through things most people don't even understand."
Red Riot glanced at him.
"It'll take time… but you'll get used to it."
A small pause.
"Then one day, you'll realize you belong here."
Caden leaned back slightly, still tired—but thinking.
For the first time since joining,
He wasn't just trying to survive it.
He was starting to be part of it.