Chapter two :the combetition

Fifteen days after his return, Aru found himself back at the training camp. There, he met two new generals-in-training:

Samira, a confident and skilled young woman. Kaal, a quiet and observant strategist.

Four days later, the trial began.

Each candidate was matched one-on-one in intense combat trials to test their strength, leadership, and adaptability.

And so, the fate of kingdoms hung in the balance…

There were nine participants in total. As the first round of the trials concluded, only two emerged victorious:

Aru—and a woman named Karin.

Karin was born and raised in the capital of Nytherra. She came from a wealthy merchant family. Her father, a prominent trader, had long hoped Karin would follow in his footsteps. But Karin had other dreams. From a young age, she wanted nothing more than to become one of the kingdom’s elite generals.

While other girls attended etiquette classes, Karin enrolled in combat academies. She trained obsessively in hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting. When she graduated from school, she entered the military academy and quickly rose in skill and reputation. She was strikingly beautiful, with long black hair, a tall, powerful frame, and a fierce determination in her eyes.

When the first round ended, the second and final match was scheduled for the next day.

That evening, Aru was congratulated by both Samira and Kaal.

Samira said with a grin, “Karin is strong. Be careful tomorrow.”

Kaal added calmly, “Give it your all, my friend. We’ve got your back.”

The three of them went their separate ways for the night.

Later, during dinner, as they shared stories and laughter, three of the generals who had been eliminated from the trials joined their table. One of them leaned toward Aru and spoke in a low voice:

“Aru, listen… Karin isn’t just strong—she’s dangerous. She excels in close-quarter combat. If you’re not careful, she’ll overwhelm you before you can react.”

He paused, then added with a warning, “And if you’re not confident in your swordsmanship… don’t even think about getting into a fistfight with her. That’s where she thrives.”

The next morning arrived.

Aru and Karin reported to the training arena, where the final combat would take place. The rest of the general candidates had gathered to witness the duel. As the atmosphere grew tense, General Migo, the highest-ranking officer present, stepped into the center of the arena and raised his hand for silence.

“Listen well, both of you,” he said, his voice booming. “Originally, I intended for the final two candidates to fight each other. But I’ve seen your strength… and I’ve changed my mind.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Each of you will now face me—one at a time. Only the one who impresses me most… will pass.”

Aru and Karin were stunned—but nodded in acceptance. They had no choice.

“I’ll go first,” Karin said confidently.

Aru stepped back from the field as Karin advanced toward the general.

“I want to see your hand-to-hand skills first,” General Migo said. “Fight me with everything you have.”

Karin didn’t hesitate. In a flash, she lunged forward with startling speed.

General Migo raised an eyebrow. “Fast…”

She feinted a right hook. As he moved to block it, he caught a glimpse of her left fist flying toward his gut. At the last second, he ducked her right, then spun and caught her left mid-strike, stepping back in the same motion.

Without pause, Karin swept low with a powerful kick—but Migo leapt over it with expert timing.

Then came the flurry—punches and kicks from Karin, all met with equally swift blocks and counters. She launched a jab; he caught it. He struck back; she deflected it. Kick after kick, strike after strike—the crowd watched in awe as they matched each other move for move.

This was no ordinary duel.

It was a battle of wills, speed, and precision.

As the fierce hand-to-hand combat between Karin and General Migo raged on, the general suddenly stepped back. His eyes locked on hers, and with a small nod of acknowledgment, he said:

"Your hand-to-hand combat skills are impressive. At first, I was holding back... but now, I’ll fight you at full strength. Prepare yourself."

Before Karin could react, he lunged forward with a flash of speed. With one devastating punch to the gut, he knocked the air out of her lungs, then swept her legs out from under her.

Karin hit the ground hard. Her fight was over.

General Migo gave her a moment to recover and catch her breath before the second phase of the test began: sword combat. When the duel resumed, it was short-lived—within moments, Karin was outmatched. Her movements, though trained and swift, couldn’t overcome the sheer experience and strength of the general. The test was over for her.

Now, it was Aru’s turn.

He walked confidently onto the field, smiling despite the tension. General Migo greeted him with a calm but serious tone.

"Karin gave a good fight. I expect the same from you. We’ll begin with hand-to-hand combat. Are you ready?"

“Yes,” Aru replied.

Before he could fully prepare, a lightning-fast punch struck him across the face. He staggered, caught completely off guard by the general’s speed.

"I’m not holding anything back," said Migo. "If you want to survive, fight like it."

The general came at him again. Aru narrowly dodged. A third strike—he evaded. But on the fourth, a solid blow to the stomach dropped him to the ground. He gasped, nearly losing consciousness.

The watching generals were shocked.

"Was he really this weak?" one of them whispered.

Three former candidates—now watching from the sidelines—sneered.

"He should’ve fought Karin instead. Might’ve had a chance, even if he fought with Karin she would beat him twice ," one said with a cruel laugh.

They had always held resentment toward Aru—not just for his talent, but because of his bloodline. Aru’s father was once a high-ranking general, and many feared he would follow in his footsteps. Their jealousy blinded them. In contrast, they had no such bias against Karin.

Aru was carried to the infirmary to be treated for his injuries. Later, his friends Samira and Kaal visited him, concern etched on their faces.

"How are you feeling?" Samira asked.

"I'm alright now," Aru replied weakly.

"Can you still continue the second part of the exam?" Kaal added.

Aru sat up and answered firmly, “Yes. My best skill... is with the sword.”

Just then, a staff member entered and announced, "The second phase of the test is about to begin."

Samira glanced at Aru. “If you can’t hold your own against the general… you’d better surrender before he lands another blow.”

Aru smiled faintly. “Don’t worry.”

He stepped back into the arena, his sword now in hand. General Migo stood waiting.

"Are you ready?" the general asked.

“Yes,” Aru replied again.

As soon as he spoke, Migo struck—but this time, Aru blocked it.

Steel clashed against steel in a powerful explosion of sparks. The impact echoed across the field, drawing gasps from the watching generals and soldiers. The two warriors exchanged blow after blow, neither yielding.

Then, something unexpected happened.

General Migo found himself slowly being pushed backward. Aru's strikes were fast, precise, and relentless. At one point, Aru raised his sword near the general’s throat—but then suddenly shifted and lowered it, sparing the strike.

General Migo blinked, surprised.

“Why?” his eyes seemed to ask.

But there was no time for answers—the fight continued.

The duel reached its peak, both swordsmen breathing heavily. Suddenly, Aru’s blade snapped in half mid-clash.

Moments later, General Migo disarmed him completely and brought the match to a close.

Aru had lost.

But the performance he delivered had stunned the entire arena.

As Aru exited the field, generals and officers rushed to him.

“Your swordsmanship… it’s exceptional,” said one.

“I’ve never seen anyone fight General Migo like that,” said another.

His friends greeted him warmly. “You did great,” Samira said. “Really.”

Aru smiled but said little. Exhausted, he returned to his quarters to shower and rest.

Just as he began to relax, there was a knock on his door. A staff member informed him:

“General Migo requests your presence in his office.”

A short while later, Aru and Karin entered General Migo’s office. There, they were joined by two other high-ranking generals who had observed the exam.

Their names were General Diri and General Kayse.

Kayse was the first to speak.

“Both of you performed excellently,” he said. “Your training, your discipline—it shows. But this exam was never just about promotions.”

He paused, then continued.

“Three years ago, during the war, we lost three high-ranking generals. Before that, only one had fallen in decades. In total, we’ve lost four senior generals, and we need to fill those vacant positions.”

He looked at Aru and Karin with sharp eyes.

“You’ve proven yourselves capable. This exam was designed to find not just fighters—but leaders. The kingdom needs you.”

Here's the next part of your fantasy novel smoothly translated into polished English, with a natural tone, character voice, and novel-like pacing:

Rise of the Generals

General Migo stepped forward and spoke with the weight of final authority in his voice.

“The three of us have chosen you both,” he said to Aru and Karin. “Your skills are exceptional—far above what we expected. Tomorrow, you’ll meet with the King himself. It is there that your promotion to High General will be officially announced.”

As soon as they stepped out of the office, Karin leaped with joy, throwing her hands into the air.

“Yes! My dream has finally come true!” she exclaimed.

Aru blinked, surprised. “I didn’t expect that from someone who always seemed so reserved.”

Karin turned to him with a playful smirk. “Look who’s talking,” she said, clearly teasing him.

They continued walking down the corridor when Aru spotted Samira approaching. She was heading straight toward General Migo’s office.

“Hi,” she greeted him with a smile.

“Where are you off to?” Aru asked.

“General Migo called me,” she replied. “No idea what he wants, though.”

“Alright then,” said Aru. “Good luck.”

A few minutes later, inside Migo’s office, Samira stood at attention.

The general looked at her seriously and spoke.

“The skills you demonstrated during the exam were outstanding—disciplined, strategic, powerful. For that reason, I’m promoting you from Junior General to Mid-Level General.”

Samira’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that. A quiet smile formed on her face. She saluted. “Thank you, sir.”

An Audience with the King

The next morning, Aru and Karin were escorted to the royal palace. The journey was formal and solemn, but filled with awe—they were about to meet the most powerful man in the kingdom.

Inside the grand hall, decorated with banners of war and honor, the young warriors were received with great ceremony. High-ranking generals stood in honor, awaiting the royal decree.

One of the senior generals stepped forward and addressed the King.

“Your Majesty, these two young warriors have proven themselves. Just as you instructed, we have selected the most worthy candidates to fill the roles of High Generals.”

The King rose from his throne, his regal gaze falling on Aru and Karin.

“Young warriors,” the King said, “you will rise to heights that even older men dream of. From this day forward, I appoint you both as High Generals of this kingdom.”

His voice echoed through the marble hall.

“You will bear great responsibility. The weight of war and peace, of command and sacrifice, now rests on your shoulders. I expect you to uphold that duty with honor and strength.”

Karin stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty,” she said with clear conviction, “you will never regret the trust you've placed in me.”

Then came the ceremony. The robes of the High Generals were presented—embroidered with gold, bearing the crest of the kingdom. Aru and Karin changed into them, their appearances transformed by the regal uniforms.

Both stood tall and proud.

As the ceremony ended, Aru turned to Karin and extended his hand.

“My name’s Aru. I know yours already,” he said with a smile. “Now that our rivalry is over... how about we work together?”

Karin looked at his hand, then at his eyes.

“I’m ready,” she replied firmly.

“Good,” said Aru. “Let’s begin.”

Interrupted Dreams

After his official promotion, Aru set off for his hometown—ready to take the next step in his life: to marry the woman he loved, Maria.

As was his tradition, he brought gifts—bundles of them—for his family. It was evening when he arrived, and he went straight to his family home. For three days, Aru remained indoors, reflecting deeply on the life ahead of him—on marriage, on the responsibilities it would bring, and the financial burden that came with it.

On the fourth day, he finally made his way to Maria’s house.

As usual, she greeted him warmly.
“Come in!” she said with a bright smile.

But Aru hesitated at the door. “Before I step inside, I want to tell you something,” he said. “Can we talk outside?”

“Sure,” Maria replied.

They stepped out into the garden and talked for a long while, the evening breeze brushing gently through the trees. Then Aru turned to her, his voice steady:

“I’ve been promoted... to High General.”

Maria gasped. “Are you serious?”

“I am,” he replied, smiling. “And now I’m ready to marry you.”

Maria’s joy was indescribable. The love they had nurtured over the years was finally about to bear fruit.

“Tell your family,” Aru said. “Let them know I’m coming to ask for your hand.”

Maria told her parents, and they welcomed the news with open arms. Aru shared the same with his own family, and they too rejoiced.

But just as the wedding preparations began, urgent news reached Aru from the Royal Palace.

He was needed—immediately.

He sat with his family and explained the situation. “Please inform Maria and her family,” he said. “Let them know we have to postpone the wedding. I’ve been summoned unexpectedly.”

Though disappointed, the families understood. The wedding was paused. Maria was heartbroken, but held on to hope.

“One day,” she told herself, “those beautiful days we dreamed of will come.”