"Don't flatter me, Alfie," Jackson muttered, sweat dripping down his forehead as his hands pressed desperately against the cold stone. "I know that'll be more than impossible. I'll try one a day. If I can hold on, maybe it'll be enough before the deadline. But you know my weakness... I can't last long under pressure. My legs always give up." His voice cracked with frustration as he lowered his head, disappointment heavy in his eyes.
"You idiot," Alfie snapped, his tone sharper than usual. "Keep whining like a baby and you'll never stand a chance at the Elite Tournament. Push your limits, Jack! We need to grow stronger together, not crawl behind with excuses!" He marched back to his spot, fists clenched, determination blazing in his eyes.
Jackson blinked, shocked at Alfie's harshness. This is unusual from him. What does he think of me… a friend, or a rival? He stood still for a long ten seconds, staring down at the dirt. Finally, he whispered to himself, "It doesn't matter. I won't give up—not on myself, not on the Elite Tournament. It's my promise to Papa and Marcel. I will grow stronger."
With renewed resolve, Jackson tightened his stance beside his statue. Alfie was already in position, body trembling as he tried to hold his twenty-minute lift. Across the field, Sasaki pressed against his own with calm, controlled power.
The air grew thick with strain, groans, and the grinding echo of stone being forced off the earth. Hours passed, sweat pooling under their feet. At last, a loud BOOM! rattled the field—Jackson had lifted one fully. A Renshical orb burst into light above his statue, exploding into sparks that danced across the sky.
Lucy clapped once, her voice ringing across the field. "Nice one, kiddo! Now that's the competition I want. Don't stop now—get it over with, shall we?"
Those orbs, enchanted by Lucy herself, marked the completion of a statue. She had originally threatened that a failed attempt meant restarting from zero, but later relented, setting the rule that thirty continuous minutes equaled success. The lights were their battle flags.
Jackson panted, chest heaving. He turned his head toward Alfie, who was still struggling, sweat blinding his eyes. "Alfie… I know you mean well, but listen carefully. I won't let you beat me. Never." His gaze burned with unshakable resolve.
Alfie grinned wide despite his exhaustion, thumb raised high. "Hahahaha! That's what I'm talking about! Give it your all like a man. Let's battle with our strength, not our mouths!"
For the first time in a while, Jackson smiled back, raising his thumb as well.
Sasaki, carrying a cold, unfazed expression, walked past them. "Get to work, both of you. Don't get ahead of yourselves."
Alfie's eyes widened. "Ahhh, don't tell me Mr. Reaper is done already!?" he shouted in disbelief, nearly dropping his grip.
"Keep it down, Alfie," Lucy called out calmly from her bench. "Get back to your statue."
Alfie's face turned red with frustration. He hunched low, forcing every ounce of his small frame against the statue again.
Meanwhile, Jackson dragged himself toward the next one, eyes blazing. He placed both hands firmly, body trembling with fatigue.
"That's enough for today, Jackson!" Lucy's sharp voice cracked the air. "Rest and conserve your energy for tomorrow. Then hit it with all your strength—you'll finish ahead of time."
But Jackson shook his head, his hands pressed against the stone as if glued there. "No, Master. I think… I finally get it. I've been doing it wrong all this time." His knees bent, muscles straining as he braced himself. "This time, I'll do it right."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. This stubborn brat… "Okay, kiddo. Give it your all. But remember—muscle injuries are real. Push too far, and your body won't forgive you."
Jackson ignored the warning and roared as he pressed upward. The ground cracked beneath him, the statue shuddering as dust scattered into the air. His voice echoed across the field.
Lucy sat back, exhaling. "Well, I guess he's made his choice."
---
Sasaki strolled over to her, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He flexed his arms exaggeratedly in front of her. "How's that, Lucy? I know you're impressed with my superhuman strength."
Lucy sipped her drink, unimpressed. "Move aside, Sasaki. I could do that in a day."
"I wasn't talking about you," Sasaki shot back, grinning. "I meant me." He dropped onto the bench beside her with a dramatic sigh. "So… what's next for stamina training?"
Lucy took another long sip from her can. "It'll be risky. I'll keep it to myself for now."
Sasaki scowled. "Do you mind not sipping from that can every time you make a statement?"
"Of course not," Lucy replied without hesitation, sipping again with deliberate calm. "It makes me look cool."
Sasaki shook his head. "Oh, man. You're such a kid in your head."
"Shut it," Lucy snapped, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "We're both adults. Don't use it to your advantage."
He smirked, leaning closer. "Then stop glaring at me like you're trying to kill me. Hand me one of those drinks so I can look cool too."
Lucy tossed him a spare can. Sasaki cracked it open, sipping quietly as his gaze drifted to Alfie and Jackson, both still fighting their statues with raw determination.
"Whenever I see those kids, I can't help but smile. Makes me think of childhood," he muttered.
Lucy tilted her head. "So now you want to look cool and nostalgic? Fine. Then tell me, Sasaki—what was your childhood like? What was your life before meeting us?"
Sasaki froze. His expression shifted, his usual arrogance fading into something darker. Silence stretched heavy between them.
Finally, he spoke, voice low and unsteady.
"My life as a kid… was a living hell. I couldn't live the life my parents dreamt of before they passed. They were killed by a Darkside Spirit when I was nine. I remember that night… too clearly." His fists tightened. "I walked in on it feeding on them. The rage… the hunger inside me—I lost myself. I charged it with nothing but my bare hands."
Lucy leaned forward, her eyes sharp.
"It tossed me like trash. Threw me from wall to wall until I burst through the window. And when it came to devour me… something inside snapped. Survival instinct—or something else. I stood up, teeth bared, the Anger,starving. I leapt on it. We bit into each other, tearing flesh. But its razor-sharp fangs couldn't pierce me. Mine ripped through it." His voice shook, a growl lacing his words. "I ate it. Every last piece. Until there was nothing left."
The silence was crushing.
"My life became a mystery after that. People started calling me names—monster, beast, dinosaur. None of them wrong. But the Special Darkside Knights… they had no idea what I was becoming."
Lucy said nothing. Her drink remained half-raised, forgotten. For once, even she was caught off guard by the darkness in his story.