Mr. Sasaki had already done a lot to help us uncover the first two steps of Master's stamina training. Jackson thought clenching the wooden sword tied at his waist, pulling it free from its scabbard. His body ached from earlier sparring, but his eyes burned with determination.
"I'll try my best to keep up with the first two steps… if I can push her enough, maybe she'll reveal the third," Jackson thought, steadying his breath.
Lucy tilted her head, a faint smile curling her lips.
"Give me all you've got, Jack. I'm sure you've figured something out by now."
Jackson's eyes narrowed. I need to act like I don't know anything, he told himself.
"Not really, Master," he replied aloud, forcing a calm voice. "Your movements were too fast. I couldn't figure out how you were testing our sword skills."
Lucy smirked. Silly kid. Trying to outsmart me. Her grip tightened. She gave him a gentle smile that only sharpened the tension in the air.
In an instant, she vanished. Switching behind him, her wooden sword came crashing down with incredible strength and speed.
Jackson dropped to the ground, rolling across the dirt just as the blade sliced the air where his head had been. Lucy didn't slow down—her strikes chased him mercilessly, forcing him to scramble, block, and defend even while on the ground. He leapt up, raising his sword just in time to catch another blow.
The clash rattled his arms. Sparks of Renshiless friction seemed to ignite between their blades.
Lucy blurred again, continuously switching around him, attacking from his blind spots. Jackson twisted desperately, blocking one, missing the next—her sword kissed his shoulder, then his ribs, then his arm.
"You will be doing this everyday with me for seven months," Lucy said sharply, her voice echoing through the field. "You'd better start strategizing. Start improving your sword skills now."
Her speed increased again. Jackson's breath came heavy, sweat dripping into his eyes. He couldn't keep up—her blows rained down with surgical precision, and every block rattled through his bones.
After several punishing minutes, Lucy stopped suddenly. She lowered her blade and stepped back, her eyes cool and unreadable.
"That's enough. You're up next, Alfie."
Jackson staggered back, his body stinging from fifteen precise strikes. He winced, but kept his pride intact as he walked toward Sasaki and Alfie.
"Fifteen hits and you're done…" he muttered between breaths. "I couldn't make her reveal the third step, but it wasn't a total loss."
His eyes lowered to his arm where faint red marks had risen.
"Even with a wooden sword… her blows could tear skin. She holds back at the last second—slowing the strike so it doesn't cut us open. But fifteen hits and you're dismissed. Remember that, Alfie."
Alfie glanced at him, nodding. His expression was calm, but his steps grew heavier as he approached the center of the field. Jackson leaned closer, whispering in a voice broken by exhaustion:
"Don't let her land fifteen strikes. That's the end of your session."
Alfie gave him one last nod before standing tall, facing Lucy.
Lucy's voice rang out like a command.
"Powerful Renshi is useless without good sword skills. Show me what you've got, Alfie. Your body has already adapted to the change in gravity—that's impressive progress for all of you. Don't waste it."
Her words barely finished before she switched behind him. Her sword came slicing downward in a blur.
But Alfie didn't turn. He swung his wooden blade back, intercepting the strike. The impact thundered, sending Alfie flying across the field. He dug his hand into the dirt, flipping his body upright. Lucy was already there in front of him, her sword cutting downward.
Alfie shoved his weight to the side, rolling across the ground. The blade struck where he had been, splintering dirt into the air. Lucy bent her sword behind her and slashed sideways toward him while he was still low.
Alfie pushed himself upward with both legs and hands, flipping with raw athleticism. He spun midair, landing on his feet in one fluid motion. His eyes gleamed with focus.
Lucy smirked. Good. At least he's awake.
The duel roared to life. Lucy's speed doubled, her body flickering around him. Her sword came from above, from the side, from the front, from behind. Alfie twisted, parried, deflected—his arms shook, but his eyes tracked every movement with razor concentration.
From the sidelines, Sasaki crossed his arms. "He's holding his own. That's Alfie for you."
Jackson nodded faintly, still recovering his breath. "But look closer. When it was me, she slowed her strikes at the end. With Alfie… it's the opposite. She's speeding up. With every attack."
His brows furrowed.
"I don't get it. Maybe she's tailoring the training differently for each of us. Giving us unique lessons we can't see yet."
Back on the field, Lucy's sword crashed against Alfie's defense, again and again. The strain showed—his breath grew ragged, his teeth clenched as sweat poured down his face. She landed two clean blows on his side before blurring above him, sword descending like lightning.
Alfie growled, raising his blade upward to block. The strike jolted through his body, but he managed to hold. Lucy didn't stop—switching immediately in front of him, she slashed upward from below.
Alfie's instincts flared. His reflexes snapped in time. His wooden sword intercepted the upward strike with a loud crack.
Lucy's eyes flashed. Not bad.
Sasaki smirked. "He's proving himself."
But Lucy didn't let up. Her strikes only grew faster, sharper. Alfie's defense wavered, his body swaying as his energy drained. His arms quivered as the blows pushed him back step by step.
"You can't afford to get tired now!" Lucy's voice boomed, forcing his spirit forward. "Fight with the last of your strength!"
Alfie bared his teeth, blocking with all he had. His chest burned, his lungs begged for air.
Finally, Lucy shifted—dropping switch mode, returning to her natural speed. But her attacks didn't soften. She slashed relentlessly, each strike sharper than the last.
"Fight back!" she shouted. "Don't just defend—attack me with all you've got!"
Alfie roared, swinging forward to strike. But the moment he committed, Lucy's blade flashed. She struck three times across his back before he could react.
The pain seared through him, but he stumbled forward, refusing to collapse.
Damn it… just a few more hits before I'm dismissed…! Alfie thought, his body screaming in exhaustion.
He raised his sword again, barely managing to block the next flurry.
"Master's sword skill… it's just too perfect."