April sat on the cold training mat, staring at her hands.
The claws had retracted, but the sensation lingered—a faint, sharp energy in her fingertips.
Jax crouched beside her. "Feels weird, doesn't it?"
April flexed her fingers. "Like something's trying to break out."
Dante chuckled from across the room.
"That's because it is. Your body's still adjusting to the Gear. Since you haven't fully awakened your sigil."
April looked up at him. "How do I control it then?"
Jax smirked. "Simple. You practice until it's second nature. And the first lesson is to summon them at will."
The first step was calling the claws on command.
"Focus on that feeling," Saya instructed, pacing around her. "The way it surged when you fought. Your body already knows how to use it. You just need to listen."
'Listen to my body,' April thought as she proceeded to her eyes.
She tried to recall the moment—Jax attacked, the rush of instinct, the need to react.
Her breath steadied.
Then—
Shk!
The claws extended.
"Good," Saya said. "Now, retract them."
April concentrated. It was harder pulling back than letting go, like forcing a muscle to stop moving mid-motion.
But after a few tries, she managed.
Jax clapped. "Not bad. Now let's see how sharp they really are. lesson two is precision."
Dante set up a thick steel pole in front of her.
"Cut through it."
April frowned. "Through steel? Isn't that—"
Dante gestured to his shirt. "You already tore through reinforced fabric. 10-time's stronger than steel, just try."
April hesitated for a few seconds. Then, she focused.
She swung her hand—
CLANK!
The impact sent vibrations up her arm, but her claws had left a dent.
"Again!," Jax ordered.
April gritted her teeth and struck harder.
The claws sank in this time, carving a shallow groove.
She exhaled sharply.
"Getting better," said Dante. "Next lesson combat application."
Kai and Saya were her next opponents once more.
"Claws won't mean anything if you can't hit your target," Kai teased. "Let's see if you can touch me."
April lunged. Kai dodged effortlessly, stepping just out of reach.
"Too slow."
April focused. The echoing effect kicked in, tracing his movements through sound. She adjusted her angle, slashing mid-dodge—
Rip!
A small cut appeared on Kai's sleeve.
He blinked. Then, he grinned. "Not bad, Wolf."
Her training was far from over, but she wasn't going to get more time to prepare.
Because that night, the hunt began.
The first sign was the silence.
April was heading back to her quarters when she felt it—an unnatural stillness in the air.
The usual hum of distant voices, the footsteps of patrolling members—gone.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy.
Calculated.
April turned.
A group of figures stood at the entrance of the underground facility.
Their movements were too controlled, their breathing steady, their presence deliberate.
Her stomach tightened.
"Ragnörak," she whispered.
The leader stepped forward, their voice calm, almost amused.
"Found you. Little wolf."
April's first battle against Ragnörak was about to begin.