Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 126 - 125 Training

Chapter 126: Chapter 125 Training

(Lucian’s POV)

Lucian leaned against the far end of the training ground, arms crossed, his golden eyes following Olivia closely.

She looked steady on her feet, but he could tell she was still tired. Even after healing, the exhaustion of everything she had endured clung to her like a second skin.

Stefan stood in the center of the field, looking as cold and merciless as ever.

"You think you’re strong because you survived a few battles?" Stefan’s voice cut through the air sharply. "Survival isn’t strength. Strength is surviving again, and again, and again—until you can no longer be broken."

Lucian’s fists tightened at his sides. His instincts screamed to protect Olivia, but he stayed still. If he interfered now, she would hate him for it. She needed to fight her own battles.

Stefan paced in front of the small group gathered — Olivia, Lucian himself, Tyler, Freya, Liam, Ellie, Henrik, Bella, and Klaus.

All chosen for their potential. Or maybe, Lucian thought bitterly, for how broken they were inside.

"Today’s first task is simple," Stefan continued. "Run the full length of the training field. Barefoot. No powers. No system boosts. If you fall, you start over. Again and again until you finish."

Lucian’s jaw clenched.

He hated the look in Stefan’s eyes — that cold, detached look that saw them all as pieces on a chessboard, not people.

But rules were rules. And Olivia... she wouldn’t back down.

One by one, the students started their run.

Tyler went first, his pace fast and intimidating. Freya followed, twirling her dagger with a smirk before tossing it aside. Liam, Ellie, Henrik, and Bella moved together, each at their own rhythm.

Klaus strode forward stiffly, his every step radiating controlled anger.

Then Olivia.

Lucian watched as she took a deep breath and started running. Her steps were steady at first. Focused. Determined.

She was not limping — her wounds had healed — but her body was still drained. Her muscles protested the exertion, and her breath grew shallow faster than it should have.

Lucian’s heart twisted as he watched.

’You’re tired, but you’re still pushing,’ he thought. ’You stubborn idiot.’

The sharp stones beneath their bare feet cut into everyone, but Olivia didn’t even flinch. She kept going, even when her arms trembled and her legs felt like lead.

Halfway through the course, she stumbled slightly, catching herself just in time.

"Start over!" Stefan barked.

Olivia gritted her teeth and returned to the starting line without a word.

Lucian’s chest ached as he watched her. Every step she took looked heavier than the last, but she refused to collapse. She refused to show weakness.

By the time the others had finished and slumped onto the sidelines, only Olivia remained on the field.

Again and again, she tried. And every time she stumbled, she picked herself back up.

The sun beat down mercilessly. Sweat dripped from her brow, her breathing ragged. Her face was pale, but her green eyes burned with something fiercer than exhaustion — a refusal to give up.

Lucian barely noticed when the rain started. The drizzle turned heavier, soaking everyone to the bone, but Olivia didn’t stop.

Stefan watched quietly, arms crossed, saying nothing.

Lucian forced himself to stay where he was, even though every instinct in him screamed to run to her.

’If you step in now, you’ll take away everything she’s fighting for.’ He thought inwardly.

Olivia finally stumbled across the finish line after what felt like an eternity.

Her body swayed dangerously, but she stayed upright.

Stefan nodded once. "Good. That’s enough for today."

Olivia didn’t say anything. She simply collapsed onto her knees, her hands resting on the ground.

Lucian was beside her in two strides, crouching next to her.

She tried to brush him off, weakly pushing his hand away.

"I’m fine," she croaked.

"You’re not fine," he said quietly, pulling a clean cloth from his pocket and dabbing it against her face.

She let him, too tired to argue anymore.

"You did good," he whispered so only she could hear.

Olivia’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Lucian felt something twist painfully in his chest.

He wanted to take all her burdens, all her pain, but he knew she wouldn’t let him.

And maybe... just maybe... that was what made her who she was.

A fighter. A survivor.

...

Training ended for the day, but Stefan made it clear that it was only the beginning.

"Tomorrow," Stefan said, "the real hell begins. If you can’t endure today, you won’t survive tomorrow."

Everyone scattered after that, seeking shelter from the pouring rain.

Lucian helped Olivia to her feet gently, keeping his hand light so she wouldn’t feel like he was coddling her.

They walked back toward the dormitory side by side in silence, the rain soaking their clothes.

Halfway there, Olivia spoke. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible over the rain.

Lucian turned his head slightly to look at her. "You don’t have to thank me," he said simply. "I’m always going to be here."

Olivia didn’t answer. But she didn’t pull away either. And that was enough.

...

Later that evening, Lucian stood outside his own dorm, leaning against the cold wall.

He watched the dark clouds roll over the fortress, thunder rumbling in the distance.

He thought about everything — Stefan’s brutal training, Olivia’s stubbornness, the growing danger inside the fortress.

Something dark was coming. And he still needed to help her get her revenge against Gauss, and they also needed to find the school’s secret. All of this was all dangerous, but he wouldn’t let a hair on head get hurt.

Lucian closed his eyes for a moment, letting the rain wash over him.

’No matter what comes... I’ll protect you.’ It was a silent promise. One he would never break, because Olivia wasn’t just another person to him.

She was the reason he was still fighting. The reason he was still alive. And this time, he wouldn’t lose her, no matter what.

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