Training Field
Tension hung in the air.
We stood in three rows of five.
Today we would undergo the hunting trial, one that would determine whether we could continue on the path of a warrior.
Some who fail the trial give up.
Others persevere and try again the following year.
But one thing is certain: this is the first great obstacle in each of our lives.
I remained calm, just like my companions.
We had all trained enough to pass the trial.
The only thing that truly concerned us was placing among the top three so we could earn entry to the Wolf Cave.
The silence was absolute.
No one spoke.
Standing before us was my aunt in her distinctive Mandalorian armor.
However, hers bore a special pattern: a wolf on the right shoulder plate and symbols of stars and moons on the helmet, all emblems of our clan.
She carried a black spear on her back engraved with the same patterns.
The weapon radiated mystery, but also a sense of danger.
Its blade looked capable of splitting an enemy in two.
Beside her rested her wolf.
It wore silver-colored metal armor with blue details and watched us carefully, as if analyzing every one of our movements, just like its mistress.
As time passed, more people began to arrive.
Relatives of the Blood Cubs, villagers, Fierce Fang warriors, and several Dark Wolf Guardians, each wearing their distinctive armor and carrying their chosen weapon.
Some carried spears, others bows.
Only a few carried blasters.
Most preferred energy bows or spears, weapons that required greater skill.
My clan was not known for using those weapons.
They believed such weapons did not represent a true challenge.
Even so, everyone carried daggers for close combat.
One warrior caught my attention.
She was Efi’s mother.
She held the rank of Dark Wolf Guardian and served as the captain of one of the modified light gunship escort vessels responsible for protecting the cargo ships.
I had never seen her before.
She wore no helmet and looked very similar to Efi.
Her armor was covered in battle scars, signs of countless battles.
But what drew my attention the most was her wolf.
It stood proudly at her side.
One of its legs was mechanical, and it had lost an eye.
Without a doubt, it had survived many battles.
My mother also arrived.
I was surprised to see her wearing her armor, since she rarely used it.
Unlike my aunt’s, hers bore the image of a wolf on both shoulders.
She also carried a black spear with silver edges.
It was a beautiful weapon.
But its blade could pierce metal as if it were butter.
Finally, my aunt spoke.
Her voice rang out with authority.
—With the presence of the clan leader, our strongest warriors, and the villagers, we will begin the hunting trial.
She paused briefly before continuing.
—This trial will take place in the Hunting Forest, beyond the borders of our clan’s territory.
Each of you must hunt a single prey.
She looked at us one by one.
—We do not hunt for sport.
We hunt for survival.
—Depending on the prey you bring down, you will be ranked.
The best among you will earn the opportunity to enter the Wolf Cave.
—If you are recognized there, you may be named a Great Fierce Fang.
Her gaze hardened.
—If you complete the trial, you will be named a Fierce Fang.
—If you fail to catch a prey before the end of the day, you must decide whether to continue on this path next year or serve the clan in another way.
The fifteen Blood Cubs listened to every word.
—Good.
Follow me to the clan gate.
From there, you will depart.
We moved in an orderly manner while the entire clan watched us.
We arrived at the great gate.
The forest stood a few hundred meters away.
It was dense and dark, filled with giant trees that blocked much of the sunlight.
—This is the beginning of the trial.
Then she said solemnly:
—I will give you only one final piece of advice…
May destiny be.
—May destiny be, —we all answered in unison.
And we sprinted toward the forest.
Each of us chose a different path.
This was an individual trial.
We could not help one another.
Even so, I trusted my companions.
Although the forest was dangerous, my aunt had told me that a group of Fierce Fangs, led by a Dark Wolf Guardian, would be overseeing the trial.
If they had to intervene to save someone, that participant would automatically fail.
According to what I had learned, the forest contained several types of prey.
White deer, swift and agile, capable of sensing danger.
Red-eyed hares, twice the size of normal rabbits, incredibly fast and experts at hiding underground.
Birds of prey that hunted in groups and whose talons secreted a paralyzing toxin.
But those were not the most dangerous creatures.
The true predators of the forest were the red-striped tigers.
They could camouflage themselves perfectly among the vegetation.
They were as large as bulls, and their fangs could pierce armor.
And finally, there were the Acklays, gigantic creatures similar to mantises.
They lived in the deepest parts of the forest.
Their legs were like blades, and they could grow up to three meters tall.
They were the deadliest predators in the forest.
My objective was clear.
To hunt a red-striped tiger.
I had to prove my worth to the clan.
And as its future leader, prove that I was worthy of the role.
I had to do it before nightfall.
Although the trial lasted an entire day, the truth was that we only had half a day of useful time.
At night, the forest became far more dangerous.
The predators ruled the darkness.
I activated my Observation Haki.
I could sense presences within a radius of 250 meters, but maintaining that range consumed too much mental energy.
So I reduced it to 50 meters.
At first, I found only red-eyed hares.
I could have hunted them easily.
But it was not worth it.
Then an idea came to me.
I would use one as bait to lure in a tiger.
Thanks to my Haki, I located one.
I slowly approached from behind while it grazed on grass.
I had to get it right on the first try.
When I was only a few meters away, I leaped forward and struck its head with the butt of my spear.
It was stunned instantly.
Now I had my bait.
I ventured deeper into the forest, toward the middle region where red-striped tigers usually hunted.
I tied the hare to a tree and made a small cut on its body.
—Sorry, little one…
nothing personal.
Once I hunt the tiger, I’ll set you free.
Then I hid among some bushes.
And waited.
My Haki remained active, and I was beginning to feel the strain.
Fortunately, I did not have to wait long.
I sensed its presence.
It was enormous.
It moved through the undergrowth with incredible agility.
Its dark fur blended perfectly with the forest, but its face was marked by distinctive red stripes.
Without my Haki, detecting it would have been nearly impossible.
As it approached the hare, I prepared my spear.
The moment it was about to strike, I jumped.
I aimed directly for its eyes.
My spear plunged deep into one of them.
I retreated through the trees.
Its claws shredded everything in their path.
I waited for my opportunity.
The blood pouring from its eye began to weaken it.
Then I counterattacked.
I used the First Spear Form to deflect its attacks.
I could feel its tremendous strength in every clash.
I targeted its joints.
I moved while anticipating every attack through my Haki.
Eventually, its legs gave way.
The beast collapsed.
I approached slowly.
In its remaining eye, I saw something unexpected.
Fear.
—Your end has come, —I murmured.— Accept your destiny.
And I drove my spear through its last eye.
—Clap…
clap…
A female voice came from the top of a nearby tree.
I looked up.
It was Efi’s mother.
—As expected from the future leader of the clan, —she said.— You hunted a worthy prey.
Her wolf stood at the base of the tree.
And it was eating the hare.
I had forgotten about it.
—Thank you for the compliment, Guardian, —I replied.— I hope you’ll help me transport my prey…
I didn’t think that part through.
She smiled.
—Some Fierce Fangs are already on their way.
They’ll take care of it.
A few minutes later, the warriors arrived.
We returned to the clan.
The sun was beginning to set.
The tiger was being carried on a floating trailer.
I was exhausted.
But I was smiling.
I had defeated a beast that normally required three hunters to bring down.
When I arrived, I saw my mother and my aunt.
Both appeared serious.
But a faint smile hid at the corners of their lips.
—You are the last to return, Azmar, —my aunt said.— I see things went well for you.
After evaluating the results, she announced:
—Ten passed the trial.
—Five failed.
—One was injured while fighting a group of birds of prey.
We gathered while waiting for the final results.
—From this moment onward, you shall be known as Fierce Fangs.
—May destiny be, —we answered.
—Now…
the top three positions.
—Efi, step forward.
You showed courage and intelligence.
You take third place.
—Val, step forward.
You faced your fears and adapted.
You take second place.
Finally, my aunt looked at me.
—And in first place…
—Azmar.
—You demonstrated calm under pressure and skill in combat.
You will become a great warrior.
Then she added:
—Tomorrow, we will go to the Wolf’s Den.
—Prepare yourselves.
—This…
is only the beginning.