"Let's get our part done and stop hoping for miracles," Jackson said firmly, his eyes sharp as his grip tightened around his blade. "We need to help Mr. Sasaki and go look for Master. Nobody is above defeat—no matter how powerful you are."
Alfie let out a sharp exhale, glaring at him as he walked steadily toward the formation. "I get that, you fool. I thought you were so brilliant, but I guess you're just as foolish as me. Still, I noticed something while we were fighting all this time." His steps echoed against the broken battlefield, calm but heavy. "If Master had found the controller, what kind of battle do you think would have broken out? The pressure would've been everywhere. So don't act like you know it all, Mr. Rock Head—because you're the same as me."
Jackson fell silent, his words cut off as Alfie's reasoning settled in. Wordless, he followed behind him. After a moment, he finally asked, "I get that now… so what's your master plan to fight that shadow with switch mode?"
Alfie's eyes burned as he clenched his fists. "We kick his ass and break the formation." His voice was immediate, decisive, carrying no hesitation.
Even as he spoke, his body began to change. The tattoos of his Renshi form crawled across both arms, spreading like black flames etched into his skin. The aura around him thickened, darker than before, radiating an ominous energy. That technique… the first phase of those who possess dual Renshi—witch or wizard alike. But Alfie's control was rough, the early stages of a power not yet perfected to it's full potential.
Jackson's eyes widened as the markings spread, his blade lowering slightly. "Hey… what's with those marks on your arms? They're emitting dark Renshical aura…"
Alfie's eyes narrowed, the triangular glow forming within them, his voice heavy with resolve. "I'll explain later, Jack. Go break the formation. I'll hold him off."
"You fool!" Jackson barked back, frustration clear. "There's no way I'm letting you take on that monster alone!"
"I'll be fine, you moron," Alfie shot back, his expression deadly serious. "I need to master my Renshi bit by bit. Some situations aren't always friendly. I need to get serious… and finish this off."
By now, the tattoos had spread across his entire body, reaching his neck, dark aura erupting like a storm. His Renshi pulsed violently, the triangular glow in his eyes piercing through the darkness. Jackson took a step back, awe flickering in his gaze.
I knew it… he's no ordinary boy. Just look at that force energy he as been using for battle. Now this Renshi is insane. No wonder the Special Darkside Knight chased him for days. He's different… completely different, Jackson thought, steadying his stance.
The two walked toward the formation, side by side but carrying different weights. Then Alfie broke into a sprint. His speed exploded—so fast he closed the distance in just four seconds. His fist cocked back, then slammed into the assassin shadow. The impact hurled the guardian flying toward the formation.
But the shadow vanished, switching instantly, reappearing before Alfie with a flurry of rapid punches. Its speed was overwhelming, forcing Alfie onto the defensive, his arms raised, blocking strike after strike. He waited, eyes scanning every movement, until finally—an opening.
With a brutal kick, Alfie swept its legs from below. As the shadow staggered, he grabbed its neck, flipped onto its back, and forced it downward. The shadow switched to mid-air, trying to counter, but Alfie was already there, slamming his fists together like a hammer. "Gotcha!" he roared, kicking it again to send it higher. Launching himself up, he met it mid-air, his punch crashing into its chest and sending it flying across the battlefield. Its body smashed into Ashura's wall with a quake that rattled the ground.
Jackson didn't waste time. At the barrier, he attacked relentlessly, his strikes raining down in a storm. But the assassin shadow immediately switched, ignoring Alfie and reappearing behind Jackson with a killing strike ready.
"Not today!" Alfie roared, reaching them in the nick of time. His bare hands caught the blade meant to cut Jackson in two. His body was unscathed. His forehead slammed forward in a brutal headbutt, cracking the shadow's neck to the back.
The shadow's neck snapped unnaturally, then reset with a grotesque twist. Its eyes locked on Alfie, still gripping its weapon. With a sudden knee strike, it launched Alfie into the air. He had no room to dodge. Its fists pummeled his stomach, rapid and merciless, keeping him suspended mid-air.
Jackson dashed forward, rage flaring. His kick drove into the shadow's torso, hurling it away. "Don't interfere, you rock head!" Alfie snarled as he crashed back down, standing shakily but refusing to bend.
The assassin shadow appeared behind Jackson and kicked him hard, sending him flying toward Alfie. Alfie caught him, but the shadow immediately closed in, creating a Renshi-forged sword and slashing down at them both.
Alfie caught the strike with his bare hands again, his expression unreadable. Dark Renshi poured from his body tattoos into the blade, weighing it down. The weapon grew heavier, trembling as Alfie forced more Renshi into it. With a final surge, the assassin shadow abandoned it, conjuring a new one.
But Alfie wasn't done. He seized the discarded blade, his aura surging. With fearless eyes, he went on the offensive. Swing after swing, his strikes shook the air. The shadow switched, vanished, reappeared close to the formation—yet Alfie was faster. Faster and stronger with every blow. His rage carried him forward, each strike slamming into the shadow with terrifying power.
"This is bad…" Jackson muttered from the side, watching with wide eyes. "Alfie's losing it. He's going berserk."
But Alfie didn't stop. His voice tore through the air, filled with fury and desperation. "There's no way I'm letting you guys kill Mr. Reaper!" He roared as his blade carved downward, splitting the assassin shadow clean in two.
The barrier trembled violently, the force of Alfie's strike hammering against it. He screamed, pouring every ounce of his will into the sword. For ten agonizing seconds, he forced, pushed, and screamed, until finally—
The barrier shattered.
All the assassin shadows dissolved into nothing. Alfie collapsed, his body hitting the ground hard.
"Alfie!" Jackson rushed forward, catching him and helping him up. "You did a great job."
"Thanks, buddy… you did yours as well," Alfie muttered, barely able to stand.
The massive doors sank into the ground. Inside, Sasaki staggered forward, breathing heavily. He switched instantly to their side. "You guys did great breaking that barrier," he said.
"Yeah… we can't let our Reaper die trapped in a cage," Alfie smirked weakly.
"You better stop calling me 'Mr. Reaper' before I rip your tongue out," Sasaki shot back with a glare.
"Enough." A calm voice cut through the air. Lucy appeared from behind, her presence shocking them all.
"Master? Where have you been?" Alfie blurted out.
Lucy's lips curved in a faint smile. "Just watching you boys grow."
"That's not legit, Master!" Jackson's voice trembled with both anger and relief. "Why would you leave us to fight till death? You said you were going to find the controller. Why didn't you?!"
Lucy sighed. "It's a short story. There's no controller nearby. The assassins are from a house that dedicates their entire lives to assassination. After searching the forest with open search, I realized their identity. This family is known as the Silent Eliminators. We'll meet them again—sooner or later."
"Why are they after us, Master?" Jackson asked sharply.
Lucy's eyes darkened. "…They're not after us. They're after me."
"What the—?! Why are they after you?!" Alfie snapped, his body straightening despite his exhaustion.
"Calm down, Alfie. It's my personal burden. I won't involve you."
"There's no way you're facing this alone!" Alfie shouted, fists trembling. "You're my Master, and I'm your student. There's no way I'll let you fight alone!"
Lucy was silent for several seconds. Then she smiled softly. "…Thank you, Alfie. We're together after all. I won't be alone. And neither will you. We'll stand by each other."
Alfie smiled back faintly.
"Congratulations, boys," Lucy said. "You've just finished the second phase of your stamina training. Now it's time for the next step." She switched instantly closer to Alfie, then toward the gate. Sasaki touched Jackson, and the two followed with switch mode.
"You caused quite the mess with Ashura's wall," Lucy added flatly. "I'll answer to the Special Darkside Knight when morning comes."
She knocked at the gate. It creaked open, revealing the bald man they had seen the first day of their trials. His deep voice rumbled. "You done with your exercise?"
"You can call it whatever you want… but yeah, we're done," Lucy replied as they entered the Kingdom of Ashura and made their way to their quarters.
After a long night's rest, dawn arrived.
The peace was shattered by loud, relentless knocking. "Who the hell is banging so loud this morning?!" Sasaki growled from his room.
Lucy walked to the door, her hair messy, her pajamas loose. She opened it to find four Shinras in royal capes. Three were bare-headed, but the leader wore his hood low, his face shadowed.
"You're summoned by the Special Darkside Knight," the leader said gravely. "All four of you. No one is excluded."
"and If we don't want to come with you?" Sasaki muttered from behind Lucy, poking his head out. Lucy shoved him back inside.
"It's fine," she said calmly. "I'll explain everything myself."
But the Shinra's voice was firm. "That was not the order. The Special Darkside Knight demands all four of you."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "…Alright. It's still early. Go back—we'll be there in thirty minutes." She slammed the door shut.
Inside, she roused Jackson and Alfie. They dressed quickly.
Alfie wore a fitted white designer sleeve, matching trousers, and white shoes. Jackson dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers, his sword strapped securely in its scabbard, boots rising to his knees. His trousers had a small cape draped from the waist to just below his knees.
Sasaki wore a simple white shirt with two buttons open, exposing his muscular chest, paired with long black trousers and a flowing cape without a hood. His sandals were mismatched, thrown on without care.
Leading them, Lucy's long cape swayed over her black crop top and oversized trousers that hugged her waist perfectly. Her high heels clicked sharply against the stone, completing her unshakable presence as they walked toward the castle.