In the gym room of Station 7, all of Squad 8 was getting ready for the mission. While they were suiting up—
A hunter opened his locker and pulled out his uniform, which was quite bulky.
It was the J91-WSDB Modular Jacket
(Beer Lizard variant—specifically designed for cold dungeons and extreme environments like Antarctica).
Robert was sitting in front of him on a bench placed at the center of the room. The Asian soldier looked over and, noticing Robert seemed a bit off, asked,
"What happened, boy? You look down."
"It's nothing, Mister Anika Sørensen…
I just don't understand why he's so overprotective toward me."
Anika Sørensen paused for a moment.
"You mean Mister Mushashi?"
Robert nodded in affirmation.
"I just don't like being treated like a weakling," Robert said in a quiet voice.
"You know, I was once the chief's student.
Back then, he wasn't the man you know today.
He used to be extremely strict about everything.
But when I met him again—seven years later, here in Antarctica—he had changed.
He'd become more… human, more understanding.
Do you know who was the reason behind that?"
Robert, knowing that Mister Mushashi had worked at Station 7 longer than anyone else, took a guess.
"Mister Mushashi?"
"Yes. Mister Mushashi was the one who changed him.
Most of us came here thinking of this place as just a job.
But before we knew it, it became our home—and that was thanks to Mister Mushashi.
He treated us like his own children.
That's why we all call him 'Uncle.'
He doesn't treat you like you're weak.
He's just… worried.
Just like he was for us when we first came here."
Robert looked down and said softly,
"But I'm not that weak…"
Another hunter who had been listening in walked by and gave Robert a gentle slap on the back.
"Ouch…"
"You're the youngest among us.
We were trained—and even then, we still weren't ready.
But you haven't even been fully trained yet.
Isn't it natural for people to worry about someone young?"
It was a young American-looking woman.
"Hey, where's Uncle?" she asked.
"In the restroom," Anika Sørensen replied.
(The 28-year-old woman was an A-rank American hunter named Christina Sørensen—the second A-class hunter after Anika Sørensen.)
"When he comes out, Robert—give him these pills.
They'll help ease some of his anxiety."
"Yes, ma'am," Robert said.
Christina looked at Anika and smirked.
"Darling, we're going to spar before the mission."
(They're husband and wife.)
"Baby, I don't think we shoul—"
Before he could finish, she threw a small dagger at him.
He caught it mid-air before it could even graze his neck.
"I won't hear 'no.' Let's go to the sparring room."
Anika Sørensen was a strong man… with one weakness:
he was afraid of his wife.
They left, and another soldier shouted,
"The spar is happening today!"
In seconds, the gym was empty.
Everyone headed to the sparring room—a Colosseum built from the highest-quality dungeon stone.
All seats were packed.
Even Chief Eric was present, acting as the judge, as if it were a tournament rather than a casual spar.
As the crowd cheered—scientists and soldiers alike—the soldier who had stopped Robert earlier grabbed a mic.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen!
Place your bets!
It's halftime bonus for all winners!"
People rushed to hand over money to the betting director.
The women cheered for the wife; the men, for the husband.
"Okay! Out of the 600 people here,
46% are betting on Mister Sørensen,
and 54% on Miss Christina!"
"Mister Sørensen, please take the right gate.
Miss Christina, the left."
(Both took their positions.)
"Start!"
As soon as the word was said, both fighters vanished.
Then—
BOOOOM!
They reappeared in the middle of the Colosseum,
both holding daggers at each other's neck.
[Announcer: "Wow, my eyes couldn't even follow that—"]
Before he could finish, Christina attacked with a swift kick.
Sørensen flew backward, slamming into the wall with a loud crack.
He leapt forward, speeding up.
Christina saw it and prepared to throw her dagger—
but he beat her to it.
She blocked his dagger with her own.
Hers shattered.
She raised her hand to block the second dagger.
He flew at her, using the broken dagger to attack.
She countered it, tried to strike back.
He ducked to the right, landed, and aimed a punch at her stomach—
she saw it coming and blocked it with a kick.
All of that happened in under 10 seconds.
The entire crowd was amazed.
Only a handful had even managed to follow it with their eyes.
Christina suddenly said,
"I give up."
The crowd gasped.
"What? Miss—you were winning!"
But Sørensen noticed something.
Christina never gave up in a fight.
And when he aimed for her stomach—she looked worried.
He walked over and tightly hugged her.
"What I'm thinking… is it true?"
Christina nodded.
Sørensen's heart started pounding.
His face lit up with a joy words couldn't express.
He shouted—
"I'm gonna be a father!!"
The entire crowd exploded in celebration.
---
Meanwhile mushashi was still in restroom fighting his own battle
To be continued