The Training

It was raining.

Not a storm—just that steady drizzle that soaked everything in silence.

Eleo stood motionless in the field behind Master Kuma's dojo, completely drenched. His soaked fur clung to his tiny body, ears drooping like wet socks. In front of him stood a wooden training dummy, staring back in the most taunting, lifeless way possible.

And still... Eleo didn't move. Not yet.

Up in the trees, under a wide leafy branch, Abby sat reading a thick spellbook titled Basic Runescript Vol. 1: Beginner-Level Boom Booms. She flipped a page lazily, then peeked down at the soaked bunny below.

"...What is that idiot up to now?" she muttered. "He's been standing there like a statue. A really dumb, wet statue."

Finally, Eleo's muscles tensed. His eyes sharpened. He roared:

"RRRAAAHHH!!"

He launched forward with a flurry of punches, fists slamming into the wooden dummy over and over.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

And then—he stopped.

"...DANG IT!!"

He flopped onto the grass like a collapsed folding chair, arms spread, face tilted to the gray sky. Raindrops dripped steadily on his fur. But for a moment, as he breathed slowly, it felt... peaceful. Like the rain was washing away all the pressure in his head.

Of course, it didn't last.

Squish. Squish.

Wet footsteps approached. Abby stood over him, umbrella in one hand, spellbook in the other.

"Eleo," she said flatly, "what exactly are you trying to do?"

Eleo sighed dramatically. "I'm trying to bring out my S-Orb power. It's not working! I've been punching for two days straight and nothing's happened! My powers just won't come out!"

Abby exhaled, sat beside him, and hugged her knees. "Maybe you need to try harder."

"I am trying," Eleo groaned. "I've been yelling and punching and meditating and eating spicy noodles and NOTHING is working!"

Abby rolled her eyes. "That's not how you unlock powers, you moron."

Eleo huffed. "I was desperate!"

There was a short pause before Abby asked seriously, "Once you leave to fight the strongest... how are you even going to find him?"

Eleo blinked. "Find him?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Nobody knows where he is. They say he's hidden somewhere on a dangerous island."

Eleo's eyes lit up. "OHHHHHH! So he's on that island for sure!"

He sprang to his feet and started dancing in the mud.

"YEH YEH YEH YEH YEH YEEEEH!!"

Abby chuckled despite herself. "He's so dumb, it's almost cute..."

Eleo grinned and pointed dramatically at the sky. "I'm gonna track him down! I'll smash through anything with my SUPER ULTRA BUNNY PUNCH and defeat the strongest and become a LEGEND!!"

Abby stood up, brushing mud off her cloak. "Yeah, about that... You know you'll have to train a ton, right? He's got a really powerful S-Orb. I heard he's also a top-level Fist User, Sword User, and Magic User."

Eleo tilted his head. "Huh? What are those?"

Abby froze. "...HUH?! You don't know what they are?!"

Eleo shook his head innocently. "Nope."

Abby facepalmed so hard it echoed.

"Okay, okay, I'll explain. Just—ugh—try not to forget this time."

Eleo nodded, ears twitching. "Got it!"

Abby cleared her throat, flipping her book to a blank page and pretending it was a lecture scroll.

1. Fist Users

"These are martial artists who fight with their fists and feet. No magic, just technique, strength, and crazy training that makes their punches hit like meteors."

2. S-Orb Users

"You sorta know this, but let me make it clear. S-Orbs are magical relics you absorb. Each one gives you a unique, powerful supernatural ability based on the soul it was forged from. Once it fuses with you, that power becomes yours permanently."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Note: You don't need to train magic to use an S-Orb—but you do need to learn how to control it."

3. Sword Users

"These are blade experts. Some are so good, they can cut through lightning. Others channel energy or aura into their swords. It's flashy, dangerous, and super cool."

4. Magic Users

"People who use spells. Duh. They study Runescript, use staffs, incantations, magic circles—some are born with it, others learn it. They're brainy and dangerous."

Eleo stared at her blankly. Then he nodded.

"Ohhhhh. Oookaaay. That makes sense. Thanks!"

Abby smiled slightly. "Anytime."

Eleo turned back to the dummy, fists clenched. The rain hadn't stopped. But neither had his determination.

He threw another series of punches.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Still no glow. No shockwave. No power.

Eleo grabbed his floppy ears and screamed:

"DANG IT!!"

Abby frowned. "Are you trying to infuse your fists with your S-Orb power?"

"YES, actually!" Eleo snapped. "I feel it inside me, like it's THERE... but it just won't come out!"

Abby tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe you're thinking too hard about it. Try feeling it instead."

"...Feeling it?"

"Yeah. Don't just try to use it. Try to be it."

Eleo blinked.

"...What does that mean?"

Abby smirked. "Figure it out, Bunny Boy. That's what training is for."

Eleo clenched his fists tighter.

The rain still hadn't let up. Eleo stared at the dummy with sharp, focused eyes—determined not to leave the field empty-handed.

Then—he charged.

"RAAAAHH!!"

He sprinted forward, fists clenched, ears bouncing wildly as he picked up speed. And then—

SMACK!!

His fist slammed directly into the dummy's wooden face.

There was a strange sound. Not just impact—but something else...

SPLAT.

Black ink exploded from his knuckles, splashing across the dummy's face—and his own.

"Wha—huh—BLAUGH!!"

Ink dripped from his cheeks, matting his fur. He blinked rapidly, stunned.

Up in the trees, Abby burst out laughing.

"PFFFT—HAHAHAHA!! What even was that?! You look like a squirted squid!!"

Eleo froze for a second, eyes wide.

Then he threw both fists into the air.

"YAHOO!!! I DID IT!! I DID IT!!!"

He spun around in the mud, doing a ridiculous bunny dance that flung more ink everywhere.

"I GOT POWERS!!! I'M NOT USELESS!!!"

He slipped and fell flat on his back.

"...Ow."

Abby just shook her head, still giggling.

"You're still an idiot... but hey. You've officially got an S-Orb ability."

The rain had stopped, leaving behind the fresh smell of wet leaves and clean air.

Inside Abby's room at the Iron Fang bar, things were peaceful. Abby lay on her bed, reading a magic scroll by candlelight. Eleo snored softly on the floor, curled up in a blanket like a fluffy rug.

Creak.

The door opened slowly. Lucy, Abby's mom, peeked inside.

"Good night, sweetie. And good night, Eleo," she whispered. "I'll make you both breakfast tomorrow."

Abby smiled sleepily. "Night, Mom."

Eleo peeked one eye open. "Night, Miss Abby's Mom..."

Lucy chuckled quietly and closed the door.

The room was silent again—until Eleo sat up a little, whispering:

"I can't believe I did it... I actually used my powers. My ink powers..."

Abby, still lying on her back, smiled without opening her eyes. "Yeah... and now you've gotta come up with cool abilities. You're gonna need 'em."

Eleo grinned. "I already got one in mind."

Abby yawned. "Mmm... save it for tomorrow..."

Eleo lay back down. "'Kay... good night, Abby."