Just… one… more…

She sharply exhaled as her arms gave out, the rocks she had been holding rolling away under the relentless force of the waterfall.

Ayu's breaths were ragged, her hands trembling uncontrollably from the exertion.

She closed her eyes, calming her racing heart with a few minutes of meditation as the icy water pounded against her back. The sound of the cascade drowned out her thoughts, grounding her in the present.

A full minute passed in silence before she pushed herself to her feet and leapt to the shore.

It was time for a lunch break.

She picked up her backpack and was about to open it to grab something to eat when a thought struck her.

Let's surprise him.

She swung the pack over her shoulder and pulled her mask on, sending a long-range wave toward Alonso. Their masks had been calibrated to communicate solely with each other, making it easy to exchange quick messages.

At first, there was no response. She frowned.

What was he—

Then it came.

The image hit her like a flash—a glimpse of him training.

He was punching a wall? It looked like the sheer rock face of a mountain near their cave. The image included his exact location.

"Well, whatever," she muttered, securing her mask properly. "I'll see for myself."

She broke into a run, weaving through the terrain toward the location. It didn't take long for her to reach the spot.

But when she finally saw him, her breath caught.

Her eyes widened as she froze in place.

What… what…

He was a mess of blood and bruises. His bare knuckles were split open, raw flesh exposed, and the stone face in front of him was smeared with streaks of crimson.

His knees and feet were no better—shredded and bloodied, each strike leaving behind a smear on the jagged rock. Even his elbows bore evidence of his brutal training, the skin torn and dripping. His pants were the only thing he had on; his boots, gauntlets, and shirt were nowhere in sight.

Ayu's stomach churned, and her jaw tightened.

Is he insane?

She swallowed hard and stepped closer.

His fists continued to hammer into the rock, each brutal impact echoing in the air. The sound of bone striking stone made her wince.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Seeing him like this… it made her heart ache, but at the same time, it lit a fire of doubt and frustration within her. Was this the root of the difference between them? The secret of his strength?

She had thought she was being ruthless with herself, but now she felt like a joke.

This wasn't ruthlessness—it was something else entirely. It was abandoning sanity for the sake of power.

Did he never think it was too much?

He was already the strongest of them, and yet here he was, relentlessly destroying his body over and over again.

Each punch, each knee, each strike was delivered with raw fury and purpose. The stone face bore a deep crater from his onslaught. Blood painted the surface, streaked with the remains of his skin, exposing raw flesh and bone. Steam rose from his body, as if his very essence was burning with the intensity of his effort.

Her heart pounded in her chest. It was like witnessing the stories of ancient legendary Muay Thai warriors brought to life.

She hesitated. Calling out to him, interrupting this… it felt wrong.

The thought that she wasn't doing enough hit her like a blow. She wanted to close the gap between them, even if just a little. But seeing this…

Suddenly, the sound stopped.

The silence that followed startled her.

She raised her head, and what she saw nearly undid her.

A smile.

A fresh, natural, happy smile stretched across his face. It was so disarming, so… him, that under different circumstances it might have sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. But the blood, the bare bone exposed on his knuckles, knees, and elbows—it brought her crashing back to reality.

Before she could process the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind, she felt a presence. He was standing right in front of her, lifting her mask with a fluid motion.

Her breath hitched. She felt exposed, her face flushing furiously as his hand tilted her chin upward. Without hesitation, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

She froze, her heart pounding in her chest, but then his other hand settled firmly on her waist, pulling her against him. The kiss deepened, his tongue parting her lips and invading her mouth with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

Time seemed to both stretch endlessly and collapse into nothingness until, at last, he pulled back, his eyes meeting hers with a softness that made her heart ache.

"Stupid," she mumbled, barely audible, her face burning with heat.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. But then his gaze flicked down to her armor, and a shadow of embarrassment crossed his features.

She followed his eyes and noticed it—his blood smeared across the surface of her gear.

But she felt something else when she saw it… shame, unworthiness.

"I missed you," he said suddenly, his voice soft but firm.

Her gaze met his, her thoughts scattering, her breath hitching. "I… I missed you too."

He smiled, his expression warm despite his battered appearance. "So how's the day been? Did you eat already? I was thinking of spending a few more minutes on the rock, but… it should be fine to take a short break and grab something to eat."

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She stared at him, incredulous. How could he be so casual with his body in that condition?

What kind of weirdo was her boyfriend?

Unexpectedly, she started laughing.

Kissing her like that moments ago and now talking about lunch as if he weren't covered in blood and bruises?

He tilted his head, puzzled at first, before his mouth quirked into a thin line—and then he started laughing too.

Wait… what was he even laughing about? Did he understand why she was laughing? Why was she laughing?

But it didn't matter. The absurdity of it all made her laugh harder, her shoulders shaking as she tried to catch her breath.

Such a fool. Such a cute fool.

But the laughter faded, and her thoughts circled back to that gnawing feeling inside her—the one that whispered she wasn't doing enough.

No. No time for breaks. He should rest, but she had to keep pushing herself. If he was going this far, then she would go even further. She… she could not be a burden. She was a warrior too.

She shrugged off her backpack, pulled out some cooked meat she had prepared earlier, and handed it to him.

He took it, his expression shifting into confusion.

Before he could speak, she sent him an image—a clear and direct wave: her intent to train while urging him to eat, rest, and recover.

She grabbed her mask, preparing to turn away, but his hand caught hers, stopping her in her tracks.

"Wait. Can we talk for a moment?"

Talk?

She stopped and looked back at him, her brow furrowed in a mix of curiosity and confusion. Slowly, she nodded.

He gestured to the ground, sitting down first. After a moment of hesitation, she joined him.

He began by breaking the piece of octopus meat she had given him in half and offering her a portion.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering if this was his way of tricking her into relaxing and eating with him, but she eventually took the piece.

"There are a couple of things I'd like to talk about," he began, his tone measured. "And… some of it concerns training."

Her attention sharpened. Training?

Was he going to reveal his secret?

She remained silent, her gaze fixed on him. The meat in her hand sat untouched until his eyes flicked to it pointedly. Awkwardly, she took a bite.

Alright. Satisfied? Now get on with it.

He sighed deeply. "Okay. The first thing is about my… well, my special condition, you could say."

Condition? His ability? The thing that made him so impossibly fast and strong?

Her curiosity burned brighter, but another feeling crept in—a warmth spreading through her chest. Whatever he was about to share wasn't something he would disclose lightly. If he was telling her now, it could only mean one thing: he trusted her. Completely.

"So… where do I start?" he muttered, almost to himself, before his gaze steadied on her. "Maybe this will help."

She braced herself as a wave hit her—a vivid image, sharp and clear.

It displayed an image of himself, zooming into his head. His brain appeared in intricate detail, a complex network of pathways. At its center was something resembling a blue tree, its branches extending in all directions.

Two branches, however, stood out, glowing distinctly—one red and the other green.

What was this?

Her confusion deepened as the images shifted. The red branch connected to a sword, glowing faintly. The green one lit up with… equations? Diagrams? Things that vaguely reminded her of the science classes she'd ignored back in school.

A sword and… science?

It didn't make any sense.

The sequence continued. The green branch flared brightly, sending energy through the blue lines at blinding speed. The entire "tree" pulsed, and the body in the image responded. Muscles tightened, movements became sharper, faster.

The body burst into action, running at incredible speed and delivering devastating punches to cartoonish creatures that exploded on impact.

Her mind spun as she tried to piece it together.

So… those things in his mind made him faster and stronger?

"It may be a bit confusing, but basically, I have two sets of neural systems in my brain that can act independently from me, and they assist me in different ways. For instance, they can boost my reflexes and senses, allowing me to display very high degrees of agility and strength in combat."

Well, it felt weird and overly scientific, but she got the gist of it. That was enough for her.

"Thanks," she said with a smile.

He tilted his head, puzzled. "Huh? You don't want to know more? You can ask if—"

"No, it's fine. You've got those things in your head that make you go boom, and then you're all quick and fast, right?"

His face froze for a second before he burst out laughing, nearly falling back as he clutched his stomach.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Was her answer too childish? Well… maybe...

She frowned, leaning forward to catch his nose between her fingers, squeezing it in revenge. But before she could fully enjoy her victory, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her closer, making her lose her balance. She toppled onto him, and his arms wrapped around her in a tight hug.

And… he held her there, firmly but warmly. She wasn't sure how to react at first, but as his energy seemed to envelop her, the childish anger melted away. Her hands found their way around him, and she rested her face against his chest, letting out a soft sigh.

After a while, though, she felt a pinch on her cheek. She leaned back, startled, only to see him grinning mischievously.

She narrowed her eyes, thinking of squeezing his cheeks in revenge but quickly dismissed the idea. He'd dodge it anyway. Fine, laugh now, she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. Let's see who's laughing tonight.

Evil plans began to swirl in her mind.

"Well, that was cute," he said, his grin widening further, which only deepened her frown.

But then his tone shifted. "Now, concerning the training, there is… well, I may have found a way to help you gain a lesser version of the skill I have to increase my physical prowess."

Her thoughts shattered like glass, her expression frozen as she stared at him. A way… to gain that ability? No way…

"It's not going to be easy… it will require a lot of training, and… it's dangerous…" Alonso said, his voice steady but laced with caution.

"Fuck dangerous." Ayu's gaze burned with determination. "I told you last night, but I'll say it again. I want to grow stronger. I don't want to be a burden."

She paused, her voice firm. "I'll fight every boss with you. I'll walk through hell with you. So… if you love me, don't shelter me. Don't try to keep me safe. If there's a way to make me stronger, tell me. No matter the pain or the danger."

He sighed, his shoulders tensing slightly before meeting her gaze. "I know. I know, and that's why I'm telling you. But promise me—this technique has limits you must respect. Cross them, and they will kill you. Train hard, give it your all, but promise me you'll stick to those limits."

Ayu stared at him. She understood the gravity of promises between them. Alonso had been very clear yesterday—promises were sacred. They could not be broken, no matter what. She had agreed with him wholeheartedly, but now…

"Do you impose these limits on yourself?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Alonso hesitated, his jaw tightening before he responded. "I do… I do… most of the time."

Ayu's eyes narrowed. "Then I promise to uphold the limits… most of the time."

He shook his head, frustration flickering across his face. "Ayu, I can be flexible with the limits because of my condition. You don't share my condition. What's dangerous for me is fatal for you. Please, trust me. I swear these limits are for your own good, and I cannot—will not—share the technique with you unless you make me that promise."

Ayu's expression remained stern, her lips pressed. A heavy silence stretched between them.

"I will abide by these limits then…" she said. "But… if one day your life is on the line… and I have a way to gain power to save you… I will do it. So, I want you to make me a promise too."

His brow furrowed, but he eventually nodded.

"I know asking you not to risk yourself for me is pointless—you'd never agree. So instead, I'll ask this: promise me you'll always fight to live. And no matter what happens... don't die without me."

He was clearly shocked. His eyes widened briefly before dimming, his gaze shifting downward.

Ayu could feel it—the hesitation, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them, especially the last part.

A soft smile spread across her face as she took her gauntlets off and gently held his hand in hers. She met his eyes directly, and then reached up to caress his face.

Seconds passed in silence, and eventually… he nodded.

Her smile widened as she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his.

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

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