After the fight, Courage decided he'd had enough for the day. Rubbing his sore jaw as he exited the arena building, he grimaced. Despite the specialized medics treating injuries for both beasts and their Catalysts, his face still throbbed where Savi had punched him.
"Damn, that Savi girl really packs a punch," he muttered through clenched teeth.
Swallowing the pain, he began analyzing their match. Several key realizations came to mind:
First was their overall performance. "I'll admit we were sloppy today," he thought. "The reason is obvious - we've gotten complacent after months of the same routine." Luckily however the solution to this problem was straightforward , implementing a serious combat training regimen should help keep them sharp. This fight had been a harsh but necessary reminder to avoid complacency.
But there was a second, more fundamental issue that gave Courage pause - Kabuto's core ability, [All Out]. Don't misunderstand - the ability was incredibly powerful and still held great potential in Courage's eyes. However, as he progressed as a Beast Catalyst, he'd begun noticing a critical flaw.
The ability's nature of forcibly extracting 100% of Kabuto's power at all times, which initially seemed like pure advantage, was now showing dangerous drawbacks. Lately, Kabuto had been sustaining more self-inflicted injuries as its own overwhelming strength put excessive strain on its body.
Through careful testing, Courage had established clear limits:
twenty minutes of continuous [All Out] use was the threshold before Kabuto's body began breaking down under the pressure. And that was without layering other abilities on top of it.
Even when staying within the time limit, Kabuto could still injure itself by unleashing too much force through a narrow point
Courage grimaced as he recalled Kabuto's last injury - a shattered forelimb from channeling too much force through a single point. The lesson was clear: even staying within the 20-minute limit didn't prevent damage if power wasn't properly distributed. "There's a reason creatures evolved with natural limiters," he realized. Constant 100% output would make any body tear itself apart.
Turning to potential solutions, his first thought was body refinement , one of the core aspects of Vigor-type cultivation. If he refined Kabuto's body further, surely it could handle the strain better right ? well not exactly
Body refinement can't come from nothing. For a beast to reinforce its physique, it needed to convert a portion of its accumulated strength and vitality into structural enhancement. Which in this situation created a paradox
For courage to refine kabuto body further he would need to strengthen it further which beats the whole point of what he is trying to do, it like trying to make your house spacer by making it bigger but at the same time filling it with more stuff, needless to say it would be nothing but a practice in futility
But that didn't mean body refinement was off the table—it just required thinking outside conventional methods. "There's gotta be some catalyst or technique out there that'll work,".Courage muttered, rubbing his temple. "Just have to dig through a thousand options to find the right one."
That covered the first approach. The second solution targeted their fighting style itself.
The root of the problem was [All Out] . So If he simply stopped using it, Kabuto wouldn't strain itself—but abandoning that ability wasn't an option. It was the foundation of their entire combat system. [Flurry Strike] and [Flux] lost half their effectiveness without it.
So instead of ditching it, he needed abilities that could complement it—specifically, something to regulate its output. The core issue was [All Out]'s binary nature , zero or a hundred, no in-between. If he could find an ability that functioned like a limiter, allowing Kabuto to dial its power up or down as needed… That'd be perfect.
Of course, both options—upgrading Kabuto's physique or fine-tuning [All Out] meant one thing: grunt work. Research, experimentation, and a hell of a lot of effort on courage's part either way .
And that was the two solutions courage could think of either upgrading the frame or tweaking the engine which of the two he would go with however is still up for fate
Making his way to the market district to browse for options, Courage passed by the Warp Gate. He only gave it a passing glance until a sudden uproar nearby caught his attention. Curious, he moved closer to see what the commotion was about, eventually finding himself standing among a growing crowd. At first, he couldn't tell what was happening—until he spotted a trio of people making their way through, with the crowd hastily and reverently clearing a path for them.
Taking a proper look, Courage's eyes widened in shock.
"It can't be… They're not… Are they?"
As if answering his unspoken question, an awed voice from the crowd exclaimed, "It's the Bastion Master and two of her Medals!"
The words sent a shiver down Courage's spine.
To explain, the Bastion Master was the highest authority in any bastion. Since most bastions operated in isolation—both from each other and from Earth—for extended periods, the Bastion Master's role was critical. They were responsible for the safety, governance, and development of the entire settlement. Naturally, those who took on such a monumental task were high-level Catalysts. In fact, it was common knowledge that the strongest Catalyst in any bastion was its master.
That was why Courage was so stunned. Figures of such immense power and authority rarely made public appearances. Though he'd been part of this bastion for a while now and had heard plenty of stories and descriptions, this was his first time seeing the Bastion Master in person. Judging by the crowd's reaction, he wasn't the only one.
Grand Cliff Bastion's Master name is Azulina Planalta.
At first glance, she was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. Though in her forties, her appearance remained strikingly youthful. She stood tall—nearly two meters—with smooth, caramel-toned skin and glossy black hair that cascaded like silk down her back. Her features were sharp yet elegant: a small mouth curved into an aloof smile, large sky-blue eyes that radiated tranquility, sleek and defined eyebrows, and a long, slightly curved nose bridge. Combined, these traits gave her an almost avian-like grace.
Her attire only added to her imposing presence. She wore a form-fitting black and dark blue bodysuit with a high collar, accented with gold along the shoulders—a sleek, modernized take on an executive suit. To an outsider, she might have been mistaken for a high-powered CEO or business magnate.
Azulina walked with unhurried steps, an air of aloofness surrounding her. Two figures followed closely behind—her Medals. To understand their role, one must know that even a Bastion Master, with all their power, cannot oversee every single affair within the bastion. Thus, they select capable individuals whose abilities they recognize to serve as their vassals, assisting in management and development. These chosen few are known as Medals , and in terms of both power and authority, they stand second only to the Bastion Master, answering to no one else.
A Bastion Master typically has no fewer than four Medals. Today, two of Grand Cliff Bastion's four were present.
On the left stood Miss Rose Everdine, the Medal overseeing internal affairs and logistics. She was one of the most familiar faces among the Medals, as she remained primarily within the bastion to handle its day-to-day operations. If you were lucky, you might spot her in one of the administrative buildings.
Appearance-wise, Miss Everdine was of average height, with vibrant red hair that lived up to her name it's thick, cascading locks resembling a bouquet of roses. Her face was round with rosy cheeks, bright brown eyes, and soft features, giving her a warm, approachable presence. Simply looking at her could put someone at ease. Even without knowing her personally, her demeanor made it clear she was kind and caring.
Her attire reinforced this impression—a white blouse paired with a black skirt and matching heels, and a tablet-like device she carried like a clipboard. Altogether, she looked every bit the efficient secretary, always ready to assist.
Walking on the right was a man who stood in stark contrast to both Azulina—the subject of countless rumors—and Miss Everdine, the bastion's familiar face. This man needed no introduction; his reputation alone was enough. Even Courage recognized him at a glance: Riker. Thought His last name remained unknown, everyone knew him by his title—Deathstroke Riker.
Riker's infamy and ominous moniker came from the myriad of stories surrounding him. As the Medal in charge of scouting and bastion defense, his duties included tracking, identifying, and eliminating any potential threats to Grand Cliff. Though rarely seen within the bastion's walls, his presence loomed like a shadow. Whispers spoke of his brutal efficiency and cutthroat nature, with some claiming, "Where Deathstroke Riker walks, death follows." Others swore they'd witnessed him in action , asserting that once he marked a target, its fate was sealed—it was only a matter of time before it became a corpse on the ground.
His appearance made such tales easy to believe.
Riker stood taller than Rose Everdine but not quite as tall as Azulina, though his imposing aura more than compensated. His skin was pale and rough-textured, his features sharp enough to be considered handsome if not for the smoldering intensity of his black eyes and the dark scar that carved a path from his forehead, through one eye and lip, all the way down to his chin
He wore a dark military-style suit with combat boots, his ash-gray hair cut short beneath a matching cap—an unnatural color for a man who didn't appear old. Everything about him radiated silent lethality.
If looks could kill, Courage thought, he'd be dead eight times over by now.
And so the trio stood: an alof CEO, a trusted secretary, and one mean looking bodyguard .
As the trio approached the Warp Gate, Courage wondered what could have drawn such important figures out today. Noticing their position near the gate, a thought struck him: Are they here to receive someone?
Some distance away, Azulina's raspy yet clear voice cut through the air. "Rose?"
Miss Everdine, already anticipating the question, responded smoothly, "According to the schedule, our visitor should arrive any moment now."
"Good."
Almost on cue, the Warp Gate began to shimmer—its surface rippling like disturbed water—before revealing their awaited guest.
A young woman stepped forward, likely no more than a few years older than Courage. Her alabaster skin and short, silver-blonde hair that brushed her neck framed fiery amber eyes, all radiating an unmistakable air of nobility. A contingent of Grand Cliff's official troops surrounded her, their protective formation marking her as a VIP.
With measured steps, she approached Azulina and her Medals, then offered a low bow.
"Sarah Morningstar, of House Morningstar, greets Bastion Master Azulina Planalta and her Medals."
The declaration sent a shockwave through the crowd.
"Morningstar? Did she say Morningstar?!"
"A Great Clan member—here?!"
"No wonder the Bastion Master came personally!"
Even Courage stiffened. So the rumors were true.
Azulina chuckled, her tone warm yet regal. "Greetings to you as well, young daughter of Morningstar. I hope your journey from your home Citadel wasn't too taxing?"
"Not at all," Sarah replied.
"I'm glad to hear it. Then let me officially welcome you to Grand Cliff Bastion—your new home away from home."
"Thank you, Bastion Master."
"Please, no need for such formality. 'Miss Planalta' will suffice."
"Understood. Thank you, Miss Planalta."
Satisfied, Azulina continued, "Now, I was informed I'd receive further details about your transfer upon your arrival."
"Of course." Sarah produced a small crystal chip, which Azulina pressed to the back of her ear to absorb its data.
After a minute of silence, Azulina nodded. "I see." As She returned the chip back to Sarah.
"Rose, if you would?
"Yes, ma'am."
Rose approached Sarah and requested permission to connect with her system. After obtaining consent, she worked briefly before announcing: "All done - you're now in the system. However, I'll need to make several additional arrangements before you can be fully active within the bastion. So please be patient."
"Understood. Thank you."
As Rose stepped back, Azulina clasped her hands together, her demeanor brightening. "Excellent! Now that formalities are settled, why not join me while your paperwork is processed? There's much I'd like to discuss."
"I'd be honored."
"Now then, this way—" Azulina began to lead when she suddenly noticed the sea of people surrounding them. "Oh my, it seems we've attracted quite the crowd," she said jokingly. Then, turning her head slightly, she addressed Riker: "Riker, if you may?"
Riker, hearing her request, tilted his head slightly and stared at the crowd. He uttered just one word in an indifferent tone:
"Move."
That single word was enough to make the crowd disperse like snow under a blazing sun. Within seconds, a wide path had opened before them.
"Come along now," Azulina said as she and her Medals walked away, with Sarah following closely beside them.
Once the group disappeared from view, the crowd collectively exhaled—as if they'd been holding their breath the entire time. Then, chaos erupted.
Heated debates broke out in the streets. Whispers slithered through alleyways. Forum servers crashed under the flood of posts analyzing every second of the encounter. Within minutes, the news had spread like wildfire across the entire bastion.
Courage stood frozen, his mind still struggling to process what he'd witnessed. When his thoughts finally caught up, he muttered under his breath:
"This… is going to complicate things."
His plans for shopping were instantly derailed. The bastion had descended into organized pandemonium—facilities closed, streets jammed with gossiping crowds, and the forums rendered useless under endless threads about Sarah Morningstar's sudden appearance.
Such was the influence of the Great Clans. The mere presence of one member could bring an entire bastion to a near-standstill.
Grinding his teeth, Courage realized there was nothing to do but wait for the frenzy to die down. So much for getting anything done today.