As Carmen and Zee left Ren's room, they continued walking down the hall in silence for a moment.
"I should've been able to do more," Zee said quietly. "All I did was sit there."
"It's okay, Zee," Carmen replied gently. "There wasn't anything we could've done anyway."
"But I need to get stronger," Zee said, clenching her fists. "I want to feel confident using my PAACC. I just… I don't like fighting."
"I know," Carmen said. "But sometimes there isn't a choice. Especially when it's the White Reaper."
Zee hesitated, then looked up. "Do you think Father Koco would let us use his sparring arena?"
"Yeah," Carmen said after a moment. "I don't see why he wouldn't."
Zee's mood instantly lifted. "Then let's go!"
They made their way through the Academy, passing classrooms, training halls, mission rooms, cafeterias, and dormitories. Eventually, they reached the very top floor, where Koco's room sat behind massive, cathedral-like doors.
The doors slowly opened.
Koco stepped out, arms crossed. "So… you kids want to train, right?"
Carmen and Zee looked at each other, confused.
"How did you know?" Carmen asked.
"I guessed," Koco said casually.
"Then how did you know when to open the door?" Carmen pressed.
Koco smirked. "PAACC."
"Oh… well, can we come in?" Carmen asked.
"Yup!" Koco said.
Inside, several janitors were busy cleaning up the clutter and trash Koco had accumulated over the past few weeks. The sparring arena and mission table were the only spotless areas.
"I'll watch," Koco said, grabbing a chair and a soda. "Give tips. Ref a little, I guess."
Carmen stepped onto the left side of the raised arena. Zee took the right.
"You don't have to hold back," Zee said.
"Okay," Carmen replied.
"GO!" Koco shouted.
Zee immediately rushed forward, throwing a right hook—but Carmen stepped back slightly and drove a punch into Zee's stomach, lifting her off the ground. Carmen followed through, grabbing Zee and tossing her back toward her side of the arena.
Zee rushed again, swinging another right. This time Carmen caught her wrist and went for another gut strike—
—but Zee caught Carmen's arm instead, lifted her overhead, and slammed her onto her back.
Before Carmen could recover, Zee went for a chokehold.
Carmen vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Zee and locking her into a chokehold instead.
"Crap," Zee blurted out.
It's fine, she thought. If I can get out of this, I should be able to adapt.
Zee dug her elbows into Carmen's side. Carmen's grip loosened for just a second—but that was all Zee needed. She broke free, confidence surging through her, and went for a leg sweep.
What just happened? Carmen thought. It's like she gained confidence instantly.
Zee shifted mid-motion into a spinning heel kick. Carmen blocked it and countered with another gut punch—but before it landed, Zee grabbed Carmen's arm with both hands and drove a knee into her stomach.
"Alright," Koco said. "I've seen enough."
He stood up.
"Even with one working arm, Carmen, you're very skilled," Koco said. "But despite Zee's dislike for conflict, she's highly trained in kicking techniques. And because of her PAACC, she can adapt to anything after experiencing it once—even PAACC attacks."
He paused.
"Technically, the only way to beat her is with a one-shot. Unfortunately, you don't have the power for that."
"Yes sir," Carmen said. Then she turned to Zee. "Sorry if I hurt you."
"Oh no, you're fine, bestie," Zee said cheerfully. "It's sparring. Plus, now we know what to work on."
"That's true," Koco said. "Zee, you need to work on being more aggressive."
"Yes, Father Koco," Zee replied.
"As for you, Carmen," Koco continued, "you don't have much to fix. Your main issue is that your arm is broken—and you don't want to hurt Zee. Otherwise, keep your normal training, just with more intensity."
"Okay, sir," Carmen said.
Zee tilted her head. "Father Koco, when do you think Ren will be healed?"
"You'll have to ask the nurse," Koco said.
"Then let's go," Carmen said.
"Thanks for the tips," she added.
"You're welcome," Koco replied.
Carmen and Zee left the arena and returned to the medical wing. The nurse told them Ren wouldn't be cleared for another month.
Both girls were also ordered to rest—no bounty hunting, only training.
They stayed in the dorms during Ren's recovery, mostly keeping to themselves. After a month, Carmen's arm had mostly healed, and Ren was finally released.
The first thing Ren did was walk straight to Koco's room—asking questions, demanding training, and searching for anything that could make him