"Get up and attack me with all you've got," the Special Darkside Knight said calmly, his voice echoing in the massive training chamber like a command etched in steel.
Hidari, breathing heavily but grinning, sprang back to his feet. He bounced lightly on his toes, each motion controlled, his chest rising and falling as he inhaled and exhaled. His eyes burned with determination.
"Don't interfere, Giri," Hidari called, his tone sharp but filled with brotherly trust. "I know why Papa's doing this. I'll handle it myself."
With a sudden burst, Hidari launched forward. His legs bent and uncoiled like springs, each push of his toes accelerating him across the polished floor. He didn't run—he glided, his steps so light they barely left sound. His wooden sword cut through the air, aiming directly for his father's stomach in a clean, precise slash.
But the Special Darkside Knight vanished with a flicker, reappearing just an inch to the side—his body twisting smoothly with Switch Mode. The strike missed completely.
Hidari clicked his tongue, frustration flashing.
"Papa, if you're so confident in your speed without Switch Mode, then try avoiding me without it. Let's see if your raw speed can match mine!"
The Special Darkside knight's lips curved into a faint smile.
From the corner, Giri shifted nervously. "Be careful, Hidari. Don't piss Papa off. You know how it ended last time…"
"Don't panic, Giri." Hidari's eyes never left his father's form. He tightened his grip on the wooden sword. "This time, it's to my advantage. Trust me. I won't lose."
"Such big words," the Special Darkside Knight said, his calm voice carrying a sting. He folded his arms behind his back, deliberately provoking. "You're really confident in a speed you've never tested on a battlefield. Bouncing around this training hall doesn't make you faster, Hidari. A thirteen-year-old boy should at least know better than to brag without proof."
Hidari's jaw clenched. He bit down hard enough to make his teeth grind, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the sword. His breathing quickened, but his gaze sharpened even further.
"Bring it on, son," the Special Darkside Knight said, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
Hidari lunged again—this time abandoning the bouncing movements. His strikes came sharp and controlled, his footwork grounded, his speed still blistering. He feinted left, slashed right, then twisted the sword for a low cut.
The Special Darkside Knight slid aside with nothing but a step and the tilt of his body. Smooth. Effortless.
Hidari grunted and spun, his sword flashing for the stomach again. His father leaned back an inch. The boy followed with a flurry—each strike faster than the last, his legs and arms working in perfect rhythm.
The air cracked with the repeated whoosh of Hidari's strikes. For thirty-five long seconds, the room filled with nothing but the sound of relentless wood clashing against air.
Yet the Special Darkside Knight never faltered. He avoided each strike with almost lazy ease, weaving aside with just enough motion to escape the blade. A faint smile stayed on his face the entire time, the calm expression only fueling Hidari's frustration.
Finally, the Special Darkside knight moved. He blurred, reappearing behind his son, his palm extended toward Hidari's back. Checkmate.
But Hidari grinned, his sword already stretching backwards instead of forward. The tip pressed against his father's chest before the palm could land.
"Sorry, Papa," Hidari said, panting heavily but smirking. "I studied your trick. Thirty seconds if you're ranged. One minute if you're focused. I watched your timings every single day—you think I wouldn't notice?"
For the first time, the Special Darkside Knight chuckled. He placed a hand gently on his son's shoulder and smiled.
"Impressive, Hidari. You're learning something new every day. I'm proud of you."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the training room's doors.
"Papa!" Hidari called, confused. "Aren't you going to duel with Giri too?"
The Special Darkside Knight raised a hand dismissively. "No. I know you boys planned this from the start. It's better for you to fight each other. Pushing one another to fight harder, to think sharper, is the first step to becoming true Shinras. Strength and brilliance are forged together."
Hidari blinked, then chuckled. Giri smirked back. The two brothers clasped hands in a sharp, brotherly handshake.
"Good job, Hidari. The plan worked," Giri said, grinning.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the kingdom of Ashura—
Lucy had already led Alfie, Jackson, and Sasaki to one of the oldest training environments the kingdom had to offer.
The group stood in a vast open space just behind Ashura's hunting forest. The ground beneath them was rough concrete, cracked from centuries of use. All around them loomed colossal statues of Shinras, each weathered with age, their once-proud features now faded and rusting. Some had broken arms, others were leaning, but their size alone gave them a sense of overwhelming dominance.
Lucy turned to the group, her arms folded. Her voice carried the weight of command.
"Here's the rule. Nobody leaves this place until I say so. Understood?"
The three nodded, though confusion painted their faces.
Alfie scratched the back of his head, looking around uneasily. "What is this place, Master? It Creeps me out. Especially with those giant Shinra statues Staring at us…"
"Yeah," Jackson added softly, staring up at the towering stone faces.
"And where exactly do we sleep? Or… y'know, poop?" Alfie blurted.
Lucy glared at him, one brow raised.
"You fool. Did I ever say we were staying here? This isn't a hotel, Alfie. This is your first training ground. From today, we're building stamina. Nothing else."
She let the words sink in before continuing.
"The gravity here is three times stronger than Earth's. That's why even standing feels heavy. Shinras used to come here constantly, but when newer training fields were built with stronger effects, this place was abandoned. Few still wander here. After today, none will. Because I'm making this harder."
Lucy lifted her hand, her expression fierce. A wave of energy burst from her body as she unleashed her Renshical pressure. The entire field shuddered. The statues groaned as dust fell from their cracks.
The weight on their bodies doubled. Gravity increased to four times Earth's.
Alfie staggered, his knees bending slightly before he steadied himself. Sasaki stood like stone, unaffected. Jackson gritted his teeth, his body trembling as he struggled against the invisible weight.
Lucy narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing. Instead, she disappeared in a flicker—Switch Mode—reappearing atop the tallest statue overlooking the forest. She pressed her palm against the giant's stone head.
At once, a massive Renshi circle erupted beneath Alfie, Jackson, and Sasaki. Dark black marks appeared on their foreheads, glowing faintly before fading into their skin. The field had accepted them as trainees.
A smaller circle ignited on Lucy's palm as the binding was complete.
Alfie exhaled in relief. "So that's why Master said not to move earlier… I get it now."
Jackson and Sasaki nodded silently.
Lucy descended, her cape fluttering lightly as she landed. For once, she smiled.
"Alright, boys. That's enough for today. We eat, we rest. You've endured enough already—it's been a long day."
"Yahoooo!" Alfie shouted, throwing his arms up in joy.
Jackson instantly clamped a hand over his mouth, his voice muffled.
"Please… don't make Master change her mind. Just shut up…"
Lucy only shook her head, though the faintest smirk touched her lips.