Chapter 30. The Challenge Day

The first day Rina stepped onto the training grounds, a hush fell over the female warriors. They had expected her to falter, to struggle like any Luna unaccustomed to the rigors of combat. Instead, what they witnessed left them wide-eyed.

Her movements were sharp and fluid, her strikes precise, her defense nearly flawless. Every punch, every counter, every evasive step carried the weight of experience. She didn’t just fight—she dominated with a grace that could only come from years of hard training.

When the session ended, murmurs rippled across the grounds.

“She really was an elite warrior,” one whispered.

“I thought it was just boasting, but she fights like someone who’s lived on the battlefield,” another added.

Respect replaced doubt. By the time the warriors dispersed, many looked at Rina not just as a Luna-to-be, but as someone they wanted to learn from.

Word of her display spread quickly through the pack. The chosen challenger, Menar—a fierc