I have yet to receive that call from Junior, but I'm not in any rush. After all, he's already held up his end of the deal. Thanks to him, my ndlord got his stupid certificate, and now I'm off the hook with all those dumb policies. It looks like I won't be facing homelessness anytime soon.

  So here I am, in the park, armed with my training sword and shield, facing the same training dummy from before. But this time I'm alone, reading the training manual meticulously, determined to absorb every detail of each movement and stance. I've made the promise to myself to test out the new unlocked features.

  The Css system, which should solve my bottleneck.

  I shut the book, tucking it away into my inventory, and then pick up my practice weapons as I get up from the grass. Pcing my left foot forward, I hold my shield up in front, adopting a proper fighting stance for this crucial test. And apply everything that I've learned.

  Taking a few deep breaths to focus my mind, I exhale slowly, my eyes fixated on the training dummy as I envision my next move.

  With nobody around, I create my own mental signal and rush towards the dummy, following the exact instructions for a charge attack.

  I execute a fast shield bash with the edge, creating the perfect opening for a follow-up thrust.

  In that very moment, I notice the difference, the beating of my heart against my chest, a surge of excitement, and the absence of anything holding me back. It's as if all my movements are unencumbered, free from the invisible restraints.

  Despite my efforts, there were no changes or notifications, implying that swinging a sword alone wouldn't suffice despite there being clear differences.

  Determined to figure it out, I take another lesson from the book and deliver a powerful kick to the training dummy, following up with a swift double ssh across its body. Still not satisfied, I strike it again with the edge of my shield before executing another deep thrust attack.

  As I execute these moves fwlessly, I can't shake off the feeling of frustration. Even though everything flowed smoothly, there was no noticeable change within me. I furrow my brows and check my weapons once more, but I cannot find anything wrong with them.

  Yet, something nags at the back of my mind like faint whispers, a strange sensation tugging at me. I refocus my attention on the training dummy, setting myself back into the proper stance.

  This time, I decide not to follow the book and instead let my body do the talking. As I take my third breath, I charge again, initiating with a shield bash. But this time, instead of continuing with a normal swing, my body acts on instinct, propelling itself into the air. I grip the hilt of my sword tightly as I descend, using gravity to my advantage and executing a rapid spin attack.

  At this moment, I let everything flow without any obstructions. I watch in awe as my bde spins around me, effortlessly slicing through the training dummy. It's a perfect cut, executed with a precision I shouldn't have.Despite my sword being blunt with practically no sharp edge, my st attack effortlessly slices the object in half.

  At least, that's how it pyed out in my mind. But that perception soon turned into reality as the training dummy slid off and toppled, now lying in two uneven pieces.

  I look at the sword in my hand, my surprise mirroring the disbelief I feel. I mean, it shouldn't have been possible in the first pce. Even Jeanne, with her sharpened sword, couldn't manage to cut it. Yet here I am, achieving the feat with a blunt weapon.

  None of this adds up!

  In an attempt to regain my composure, I quickly shake my head and take deep breaths. I remind myself to stay calm, a clear mind must remain and not be overwhelmed.

  [New Css unlocked!]

  [The Gdiator]?

  I don't even have time to process the new notification before my body starts glowing with a vibrant bluish hue. Sparks dance and crackle around me, causing my grip to falter, and I watch in awe as my hands emit luminous energy. The radiance expands, enveloping my entire body in a mesmerizing show of light.

  Just as quickly as it began, the radiant dispy comes to an abrupt halt.

  I cautiously examine my body, searching for any outward signs of change, but I don't feel any noticeable difference. Causing me to look for specifics in another pce.

  'Status'

  Ma'iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Css: The GdiatorLevel–11 (9%)Mentor – Bke BeldonnaApprentice– Jeanne d'ArcHP – 500/500 [45 regen per minute]MP – 1970/1970 [350 regen per minute]SP – 2210/2510 [200 regen per minute]STR–33END–41DEX–51INT–40

  My stats are the same, no change or scaling… What's scaling?

  But putting that aside, I notice the only difference in my status is that my css has now become Gdiator instead of Pugilist. It's a good thing I achieved what I wanted, which means unlocking more csses is now well within my reach.

  All I need to do is to discover how to unlock them and what other csses might be avaible to me.

  Although, I am still a total newbie with this and still have a preference to use my fists. So how can I change back?

  Probably the same thing with my status?

  'Css change, Pugilist.'

  In an instant, my chest fshes with a shining light, causing me to instinctively touch the spot and look down, trying to find anything wrong. However, I can't perceive any visible changes; it all happened too fast.

  'Status'

  Ma'iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Css: The Pugilist

  And I'm back with my original css.

  Wanting to confirm, I pick up my training sword and attempt to swing it around. And I get the expected disappointing result, my movements are sluggish and weighed down, the familiar sensation of being dragged down returning to my limbs.

  I let out a sigh.

  This pretty much confirms that I will be given terrible handicaps if I try to fight with weapons that are outside my fighting css. But that still doesn't expin why I couldn't use Bke's mecha-shift months ago. After all, those were gauntlets, designed with the sole intention of punching things.

  Maybe there is something I'm overlooking.

  But even then I have a new css, and I know exactly how to showcase my abilities and who would be the perfect sparring partner to help me further hone my new skills. Before that, I need to put away my sword and shield, returning them to my inventory. Once they are safely stored, I pull out my scroll to write a message to my apprentice.

  'Hey Jeanne'

  I don't receive an immediate response, but I'm patient. Settling into a comfortable seat on the ground, I wait for her reply.

  'Yeah?'

  'Are you free right now?'

  'What for?'

  'Extra lessons, got free time and learned something cool to teach you too'

  'agghhhh my shift just started.'

  'oof'

  'Do you have time ter tonight?'

  'I think so.'

  'cool, same pce after my shift end?'

  'Sure.'

  With a chuckle, I put my scroll back in my pocket. I still have some free time before I need to head to my… questionable job, and there's something I've been wanting to do for a while now.

  -Later-

  Books are often considered as manuals, containing vestiges of knowledge that, if followed diligently, allow you to replicate that knowledge practically.

  I call bullshit on that.

  And that's saying something, coming from me, someone who has learned a great deal from reading books, and my system even takes advantage of them.

  Still, an absolute bullshit statement.

  I've been spending at least an hour and a half trying to comprehend and reread the same chapter of this book, but I seem to understand jack shit! Even with the help of my scroll, I can't even grasp the terminologies.

  Like seriously, what the fuck is a Cartesian maniputor?!

  In a fit of frustration, I angrily throw the book on Basic Robotics across the room, not caring where they nd. The loud thud it makes as it hits the floor only adds to my growing annoyance. I slump back in my chair, letting out a deep groan of exasperation.

  I don't even know why I thought it would be easy to learn how to tinker with a robot. Or why did I bring that stupid machine with me in the first pce?

  My initial aspiration was simple, to unlock a new job about engineering or something. But right now, I feel lost and stupid.

  My intelligence stat is there for a fucking show, it seems.

  The stupid bot on my desk is nothing more than a blocky contraption with cables and circuits inside. I know that much, but that's the extent of my knowledge. It's the most basic understanding that anyone with half a brain could deduce.

  Why the fuck can't I understand the basics?

  I've managed to learn to weave and fishing from scratch. Despite the shitty teachings of Roman's, I even figured out how to lockpick. And let's not forget how I learned to cook, with guidance from a kind guy back in Menagerie who wasn't even a master chef.

  I should be capable of handling this, not stuck here like an idiot, unable to make sense of the simplest things.

  Perhaps I should have sought out an expert or someone tech-savvy to help me with this, instead of wasting my time like a complete idiot. There were so many other things I could have done to kill time before work.

  I let out a muffled groan of utter frustration, covering my face with both hands, and then dragging them down my face.

  Both my ears perk up at the sound of my scroll ringing, a familiar message notification. I sit up straighter, picking up my scroll from the desk to check the message.

  'Naughty, naughty kitten'

  As if struck by lightning, a shiver races down my spine, paralyzing my entire body on the spot. I know without looking that a pair of mismatched eyes is fixed on me.

  This isn't at all how I imagined my short break would turn out, getting caught, especially by Neo, of all people. Nevertheless, I won't let that stop me. Without hesitation, I lunge towards the small drone, quickly stashing it away in my inventory. Finally, I take one deep breath to calm my nerves and turn around to face Neo head-on.

  She's stationed at the doorway, arms folded casually as she regards me with that unmistakable smug grin and taunting eyes. A rhythmic tapping of her foot only accentuates her pyful impatience.

  I gulp audibly, a new tidal wave of nerves crashing over me. I never anticipated it would feel like this to be caught red-handed. I didn't even believe I would get caught so fast!

  Neo maintains her smug demeanor as she approaches me with deliberate, unhurried steps.

  "I was actually thinking of destroying it," I begin, attempting to deflect the bad situation. "Curiosity, you know? Wanting to see how it works and all."

  She raises a skeptical eyebrow at my feeble excuse and tilts her head slightly, clearly not buying it.

  'Curiosity killed the cat, you know?'

  I grimace, uncertain whether she's being serious or not. "Alright, fine," I relent with a sigh. "I just wanted to have one for myself. They looked interesting, and maybe I thought I could learn a thing or two. But..." I gnce over my shoulder, my gaze nding on the unintelligible book. "I don't understand a damn thing."

  An uncomfortable silence stretches between us, the air thick with tension. Her gaze remains fixed on me, that same expression of amusement still pying on her features. The silence drags on, becoming increasingly awkward, until it's broken by another message notification.

  'If you wanted a new toy, you should have said so.'

  Confusion washes over me, overtaking the worry that had gripped me earlier.

  "Wait, you don't mind?"

  Neo gives a nonchant shrug.

  "So why the whole act and… you are a bitch." I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation. A sigh escapes me; this crazy girl was always just pying with me, messing around to get a rise out of me.

  And as if to affirm my thoughts, she starts giggling.

  'If you wanted that little guy modified, you should have told me. I would have sent it to our contact.'

  I remove my hand from my face, looking up at Neo with a brow raised in surprise. "You have a contact?"

  She merely smiles, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as she pces a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

  "Whatever, your secrets are yours, not mine," I remark with a shrug. I summon the bot back into my hands and then pass it over to the ice-cream girl. "Tell him or her to turn this drone into something that can explore and be controlled remotely."

  She nods in agreement, taking the drone from my grasp. But as she does so, she also presents a small book, handing it to me.

  I accept the book, my brows furrowing in confusion. I hadn't expected to receive anything in return. Then, without warning, Neo shatters into a multitude of tiny pieces, leaving me alone in my room once again.

  Who can truly understand her?

  With some free time still on my hands, I decide to delve into the book Neo gave me. The title is printed in big letters, and curiosity gets the better of me.

  "Massages for dummies" I read the title aloud, my scroll ringing once more.

  'You better learn ;p'

  She is just fucking with me.

  Yet, a thought strikes me—this book could serve as a welcome distraction. I don't need to read through the entire thing, just a bit to get my mind off the previous ordeal.

  I take a seat back in my chair and open the book to its first chapter, which delves into the proper way to touch muscles and the various benefits of massages. Towards the end of the chapter, there's a brief expnation of how to attempt self-massage on one's hand.

  I decide to give it a try. Following the instructions, I apply some pressure to the palm of my hand before gently rubbing it in circur motions.

  [Masseur job unlocked!]

  [Novice Masseur level 1/50]?

  "This is bullshit!"

  -Later that evening-

  Crates, crates and more crates.

  It's a never-ending cycle of dealing with these darned crates and moving them around.

  At the very least, it's a decent way to pass the time. There's plenty of it to kill before I have to head out to train with Jeanne and show off my gdiator css. I'm genuinely curious to see her reaction.

  But for now, those thoughts can wait. I've got the task of storing all these dust crates inside a ship container—a massive metallic box that usually requires heavy machinery to lift.

  And guess what? I'm doing it all by myself.

  In moments like these, my Gamer inventory feels like a godsend. It streamlines the process, making the movements of these crates a breeze compared to the arduous task it would be otherwise.

  Even with the advantage of my inventory, moving crates still consumes an absurd amount of time. It's not like I can snap my fingers and have everything neatly arranged within the container. No, I have to pce each crate atop another, organizing the entire space with the given space.

  Organizing a whole ass container.

  While it serves as an effective time killer, it also serves as a painful reminder of my past as a cargo boy back in Menagerie.

  It's just work, work, and more work. By the time I decide to take a brief break, I've only managed to fill half of the container.

  And then there are three more waiting to be filled.

  At this point, I'm overwhelmed by that feeling where you simply stop caring. You want to sit down, do nothing, and let the world fade away. Oddly enough, I'm not even exhausted. It's just that the weight of the work feels so immense, as if it's an endless cycle that will never reach its end.

  My body seems to take control, guiding my steps until I find myself stretched out on top of two crates. My hands support my head as I gaze up at the metallic ceiling, fixing my gaze on it for no particur reason other than to have something to stare at.

  At least back in Menagerie, there were other workers to chat with, to distract from the monotony.

  Cinder's test stunt scared all of Roman's henchmen, leaving us short handed for menial tasks which all of those stupid responsibilities end up falling on me as the prick tries to recruit more, but since people can't hold their tongue people are refusing his offers out of fear.

  One way or another, it always affects me. I just need more levels and money to get out of this shitty situation.

  Without warning, a powerful impact rocks the container, the force of it creating a deafening ringing in my ears. The sound is so intense that it stings, prompting me to instinctively cover my ears to shield them from the pain.

  With no intention of enduring it any longer, I bolt toward the entrance to escape the torture. As I emerge, my ears still ringing, I'm confronted by the sight of the green-haired girl, using the hilt of her weapon to pound against the container walls.

  Slowly, I uncover my ears, a scowl forming on my face. "What the fuck do you want?"

  In response, she shoots me a look brimming with disdain,folding her arms. "You were supposed to be finished by now," she retorts, her gaze flicking towards the container before settling back on me. "And you're barely halfway through the first shipment."

  "Excuse me?" My anger fres, my brow furrowing dangerously. "You expect me to finish three damn containers all by myself? In just a couple of hours?"

  What kind of ridiculous expectations are that?!

  The girl's arms uncross as she approaches me with deliberate, measured steps, locking her gaze onto mine. "Yes," she states firmly.

  You insufferable bitch…

  Yet I bite down the worst of me before I speak up and point at our empty surroundings. "If you haven't noticed, your OWNER with her vast intelligence and her magnificent pnning scared all the current and future workers." Still suppressing my anger, I end up pointing an accusatory finger at her. "So suck it up and let me finish, and please, fuck off."

  "You…" Her voice trembles with anger.

  "Yes, me, me, me," I mockingly echo, punctuating my words by jabbing her shoulder with my finger. "Remember, you're not Cinder. I don't have to take shit from you."

  The st thing I want is another fucking prick throwing shit at me.

  Emerald's brows narrow, and she clenches her teeth, closing the distance until she's just inches from my face. "I speak for Cinder," she hisses, her voice dripping with a threatening edge. "Learn your pce."

  "Make me, you fucking stray." I growl.

  Emerald's lips purse in silence, her gre nothing short of lethal. A faint glint sparks in her eyes, almost imperceptible, before she unches into a rapid spin kick aimed at my head. I react swiftly, blocking her strike and countering with a well-aimed kick to her other foot.

  Her bance falters, and in an instant, I seize her foot with both hands and hurl her toward the container with all the strength I can muster. She bounces off the wall, crashing to the ground. As she lifts her gaze, shock etched across her features, I waste no time.

  And I can't afford to give her the chance to recover. Summoning my brass knuckles, I charge towards her prone form, determined to finish this one swift move.

  Once more, her eyes fsh with that strange glint, forewarning her rapid movement. She propels herself off the ground, soaring through the air just as I was closing in on her. However, a searing burst of pain erupts in my jaw, causing me to stagger back instinctively. My hand shoots to my throbbing jaw as I blink rapidly, clenching my teeth to endure.

  As I reorient myself, the stupid stray is inexplicably back in the exact spot she was mere moments ago, despite her previous leap that should have taken her far away. But how?

  Without saying a word, she swiftly equips her sickles and hurls them in my direction. The chains of her weapons whir through the air, ensnaring me between their trajectories. Before I can react, she leaps into action, using the container wall as a springboard to propel herself toward me at fast speeds.

  Instinct kicks in, guided by experience. I seize both chains, utilizing them as leverage to manipute her trajectory. My swift action throws off her bance, providing me with a crucial opening.

  The st thing she sees is my reinforced fist flying straight to her nose, a face of sheer disbelief adorning her soon to be smashed face.

  The force behind the punch is palpable, driving her downward with unstoppable force. Her body crashes against the floor with an audible thud, the impact cracking the surface beneath her.

  Pained groans escape her lips, her form contorting on the floor while her aura flickers, a good signal.

  A triumphant smirk tugs at the corners of my lips as victory looms tantalizingly close. With calcuted intent, I raise my boot, aiming squarely for her head. The blow won't be lethal, but it will render her unconscious, a good lesson to not fuck with me.

  But my triumph remains incomplete, snatched away in an instant as my ears catch the telltale sound of a small explosion erupting behind me. My head snaps around just in time to catch a glimpse of a white object hurtling directly towards my face.

  Before I can fully process what's happening, the world around me explodes in a symphony of pain, instantly repced by an overwhelming agonizing pain in my chest. It's as if everything within me is being violently rearranged. The pain catapults me back to my first encounter with Nora. I'm sent flying, my body rolling across the ground before colliding with the cold, unforgiving metallic wall of a container.

  The collision robs me of the st of my breath, leaving me gasping for air, disoriented and reeling from the ambush.

  "I knew you were all talk Em." I barely hear a voice. "Getting your ass handed by this guy."

  Taking a deep breath, I muster the strength to push myself off the floor, using the container's wall for support. My gaze lifts to find a tall figure with silver hair walking toward me while cracking his knuckles, his confident smirk visible even from a distance.

  Abruptly, he blurs from my sight, vanishing from view.

  Wait what?

  In the blink of an eye, he appears right before me, his hand gripping my shoulder in a vice-like hold. A knee strikes with unrelenting force into my gut, inducing a painful gag as the air I had managed to recover is cruelly expelled. Yet the bastard shows no mercy; throwing a punch nds on my right cheek, my head snapping to the side before I crash to the floor. A subsequent kick hurls me through the air, my body crashing against a pile of crates.

  My vision swims with blurriness, the world around me a disjointed mess. Sound retreats into the background, repced by a deafening ringing. Struggling to make sense of it all, I manage to roll to the side, using a nearby crate as leverage to pull myself upright. But my efforts are instantly thwarted as a fit of coughing wracks my body, my remaining strength evaporating as I colpse to the floor, clutching my stomach.

  It is just too much to endure.

  Despite the agony, I muster the will to crack open one eye. Through the blurred haze, a silhouette blocks the light, an ominous shadow coming down.

  Move

  And it's getting closer.

  MOVE

  It's aimed at my head.

  MOVE YOU FUCKING RETARD!

  I just close my eyes and wait.

  And wait

  And wait.

  "Why are you defending him?" I hear his voice pierce through my thoughts.

  Summoning every ounce of strength, I manage to open my eyes, and there's a pink blur looming above me. However, my focus is immediately drawn downward as another bout of coughing seizes me, the violence of it wracking my body, threatening to puke everything.

  Amidst the haze, a pair of white boots materialize in front of me, coaxing my gaze upward. Raising my head slightly, I find Neo looking down at me, her smug grin ever present. This time, however, she kneels beside me, weaving an arm around my frame to help get up.

  Her subtle nudge proves to be enough and I manage to find my bance against the wall for a moment before I lean against the wall, my breaths ragged and bored as I gasp for precious air.

  Neo from her part starts dusting off my clothes. However, her nice gesture comes to an abrupt halt as her gaze fixates on the bckened spot on my chest. In an instant, her once-confident smirk vanishes, repced by an icy expression. I didn't even know my clothes were partially burned. What the fuck did that guy do to me?

  Neo immediately turns on her heels and starts walking towards Mercury, if I remember his name correctly. Slow steps as she pulls out the spike from her umbrel. The slender weapon twirls around her fingers with an uncanny grace.

  Looking a little more to the side, I see him adopting a fighting stance, and with his full attention, fixated on Neo. Her movements remain controlled, her fingers maintaining a firm grip on the spike as she continues her approach.

  "I trust you have an expnation for this."

  A sudden silence fell over our group, and all eyes turned towards the source of the voice.

  In an instant, Neo's weapon cttered to the ground. Her composure shattered as if she had been turned to stone.

  That alone makes me put some effort and look to my right as well, and all the pain momentarily disappears as I catch sight of Cinder Fall walking. The rhythmic cadence of her heels against the floor is the only sound in the building.

  As she draws nearer, she comes to an abrupt halt, arms folding across her chest in a dispy of assertive displeasure. Her eyes flick from side to side, assessing the situation. "A very good one,"

  Emerald struggles to rise from the floor with a trembling voice. "C-cinder! It's that bastard! He-"

  "You will talk when I tell you to talk!" Cinder's echoes across the warehouse, causing Emerald to lower her head, fully dejected.

  Our boss turns back and looks at Mercury, who rexes his stance. "Start talking."

  He merely shrugs. "Emerald decided to py savvy with our little kitten here, and he shed out."

  Cinder's attention swings back to me, her expression etched with a deep-seated frown. "Talk."

  Thankfully, I feel better than before, so I take a few breaths, store my weapons before I talk to her. "Your… underling thought it would be a good idea to pester me instead of letting me finish my job." I pause for a short break. "Even with my sembnce, this will take a lot of time since I'm the only one working."

  Despite my efforts, a grimace forms on my face as I suppress another impending coughing fit.

  "I see." She frowns, then looks at Mercury. "Take Emerald away."

  "But-"

  "Did I give you permission to speak?" Cinder's voice drips with a snarl, promptly silencing her.

  That shut her up, making me smirk.

  Seeing that pretentious bitch being so pathetic makes me happy.

  Mercury walks towards his downed teammate and offers a helping hand. His gesture is met with a swift sp as Emerald gathers herself up, unsteady steps carrying her beside Mercury. Together, they exit the scene, leaving a tension-den atmosphere behind.

  "And you," Cinder's voice drips with venom, her focus now shifted onto both Neo and me. She closes the distance until she stands face-to-face with Neo, a stark contrast in their sizes. "I will let this slide because it was clear my subordinate was in the wrong, but next time I will show you the consequences of disobedience."

  In a swift motion. Cinder grabs Neo's pink umbrel and it is set abze, forcing Neo to drop it in surprise and watch her weapon burn on the floor.

  A clear reminder that a single touch from this woman will burn us to ashes.

  Cinder's smirk of satisfaction lingers in the air like an echo of her authority, a final punctuation to her message. She turns gracefully on her heel and departs in the same direction her underlings left. Her message was delivered with no room for mistake or misinterpretation.

  As soon as she disappears from sight, Neo starts stomping on her burning umbrel, trying to kill the fire, hoping to save something from it but not getting any noticeable progress.

  With the pain subsiding, I retrieve a water bottle from my inventory, its cap swiftly removed before I pour the water onto the fmes, extinguishing them in a swift hiss of steam and smoke.

  I toss the empty bottle aside and observe the aftermath of Neo's umbrel losing all the color pink, bckened piece of charred metal lying on the floor. Utterly ruined, she'll need to either craft a new one or buy a new one.I cannot fix it, even if I train for it.

  Neo, for the very first time, emits a sigh of defeat and delivers a swift kick to what remains of her weapon.

  I attempt to speak, yet I cmp my mouth shut when no words find their way out. I remain trapped in the same cycle for a moment before extending my arm and tenderly resting a hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her mind.

  "Thanks for saving me, Neo. I thought that was it."

  In an instant, her mencholic expression blossoms into a brilliant smile, and she teasingly pinches my cheek, her other hand affectionately ruffling my hair.

  "Quit it," I chide, capturing her hand to put an end to her antics. This elicits a pyful pout from her. With her hand securely held in mine, a bold idea takes root in my mind to cheer her up.

  Without letting my rationality win, I pull her into a hug. "Still thank you."

  [Affection with (Neo Politan) increased by 4, 17/100]?Neo breaks away first, a sly smirk gracing her lips as she pyfully nds a light punch on my chest.

  My scroll suddenly chimes with her message.

  'You can thank me with a massage.'

  A chuckle escapes my lips. "Fine, just set up the date."

  Neo gazes upward, adopting a thoughtful pose as she taps her chin, indulging in a moment of pyful contemption. Soon, she directs her gaze back at me, a mischievous grin adorning her features.

  'Tomorrow morning. Your home.'

  I roll my eyes, opting not to engage in an argument over her choice. Neo interprets my reaction as confirmation and walks away a couple of steps before shattering into millions of pieces.

  Finally alone, I lean back against the metallic wall, gradually sliding down until I'm seated on the floor. My head hangs low, and I release a long, weary sigh.

  "What a fucking day."

  I got beaten so easily. Even if that asshole got me with a surprise attack, I shouldn't have lost that badly. At the very least, I should have thrown a couple of punches. I grimace at the fact that if it wasn't for Neo timely intervention, he would have split open my head.

  Why the fuck did I even accepted my fate?

  I survived against a nightmare incarnate, for fuck's sake!

  I look at my hand, which slowly clenched into a fist, my nails digging against my palm before hitting the wall to vent my growing frustrations.

  "This won't happen again. I refuse to let it happen again."

  And for that I need power, clearly my level is still garbage. But the Emerald forest is closed off to the public since those stupid investigations are still ongoing…

  Since when did that matter?

  As if humans would give two shits about me to begin with; they would more likely bet if I die than try to stop me.

  Trading sleep for that much-needed boost. Yes, I can manage it.

  I will do it.

  I can't contain the smirk that spreads across my lips at the notion of shattering one of Mercury's legs.

  My train of thought is abruptly shattered as my scroll rings once more.

  'Heya maiq, bad news.'

  That's actually Jeanne.

  "Oh, right…" I set up a quick training session with her tonight, and there is some time left before I need to go back to the park. I feel slightly better so it wouldn't be a problem.

  'Bad news?'

  'a guy called in sick, I need to cover his shift.'

  I click my tongue in annoyance as I write my reply. 'oh thats bad.'

  'yeah what a jerk. Can we practice tomorrow morning?'

  Well… shit.