Chapter 66: Second Gear

Sometimes the most direct path is not the most just. And other times, there is no path at all. Only a succession of uncertain steps, taken in fear, with pride, or with the blind hope of not falling.
In the story of those who seek to grow stronger, pain and doubt rarely rest. What begins as a simple goal—prove yourself, protect someone, earn a place—warps with every obstacle, until even the original reason becomes blurred.
True battles do not occur only on open fields or in bursts of power. The hardest are fought in the mind. In the will.
Some walk bearing a surname heavier than any armor. Others drag guilt that is not theirs, yet have chosen to own it. And there are those who, without fully understanding what they are or what they might become, simply move forward… because to stop would be the same as dying.
And so, in this second act, everyone’s paths cross in a new march. More demanding. More ruthless. More revealing.
Because having power is not enough.
You must understand why the weapon is raised.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The warm air of the Greek coast brushed the hotel windows, slipping between the blinds like a warning of what was to come.
“I’m surprised you chose a place like this,” Iseli commented, adjusting the edge of his glove. “Since I’ve known you, you’ve always hated the sun.”
“And I still do,” Alexbold replied with a grimace. “I can’t stand the sun in any way.”
“For your vampire blood?”
“Yes… so far there’s only been one person able to make me tolerate it. He’s a damned monster.”

For a second his gaze clouded with a memory: sharp, wild eyes piercing his soul like blades. A face that would not be forgotten. One that still sent chills down his spine.
“Alexbold…” Iseli murmured, his tone bordering on concern.
“They’re all ready,” Rukia interrupted from the doorway. “We’d better start training.”
Alexbold nodded silently, leaving the memory behind. Outside, on the beach, the sun beat down with intensity, as if the world itself wanted to test them.

Standing before the gathered group, Alexbold stepped forward.
“Let’s begin.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” Sebastian snapped, frowning.
“Attack all at once. I want to see what you’re capable of.”
Lowa clenched his fists. “Don’t underestimate us!”

Before anyone else could react, Edén appeared in front of Alexbold like lightning, throwing a punch that kicked up the sand around him like an explosion.
“Damn it!” he growled.
Alexbold didn’t move. With a single hand he stopped Edén’s fist dead.
“Not bad. But you’re still too slow.”

In one fluid motion he sent him into the air and, before Edén could recover, grabbed his face and slammed him into the sand.
“Come on. What are you waiting for?”

Shu had already moved ahead.
“Lux, Yohei, Eris. You attack from range. You’re our best options.”
“Y-Yes,” Lux nodded, somewhat nervous.
“I don’t like taking orders from someone weaker than me,” Yohei commented with a crooked smile. “But that eye gives me confidence.”

Shu activated his God’s Eye with a purple flash.
“Sebastian, Zef, Yuki. Mid-range. Lowa and Edén, close combat. Violet and I will provide support.”
“Understood!” they answered in chorus.

Just then Rukia appeared, walking calmly with an ice cream in hand.
“Has Alexbold already started with his craziness?”
“Yes,” Iseli said with a smile. “Although I think this will get harder for him than he thinks.”
“Need help?” Rukia asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No. I can handle it alone,” Alexbold replied without taking his eyes off the group.

Lowa and Edén launched themselves at him straight on. Their movements were fast and well synchronized, but Alexbold dodged with surgical precision.
“He’s their pillar,” he thought. “Without him, the team collapses.”

Lowa managed to land a blow on his side, tearing a rib with a dry sound. But instead of recoiling, Alexbold smiled.
“Unlucky…”
With a kick he buried her head-first into the sand. Edén reappeared behind with a precise charge, but just as Alexbold was about to counter, cross-attacks from Yohei and Eris forced him to dodge.
“Shit…”

Sebastian, Yuki and Zef attacked from different angles, forcing him to move into a specific zone.
“They want to corner me. Good try,” Alexbold thought as he measured the terrain.

At that moment Edén grabbed him from behind. Lowa, wounded but determined, caught his foot.
“What are you doing? You’re going to get hit too!” he told himself, eyes wide.

But just before the impact, Violet covered Edén and Lowa with a protective barrier.
Shu gave the final signal.
“Now!”

Eris opened two portals: one just behind Edén, another in front of Alexbold. Through them, Lux and Yohei launched synchronized aerial attacks.
Alexbold looked up and found himself completely surrounded.
“We’ve got you,” Shu thought, watching the trap snap shut.

A faint, crooked smile formed on Alexbold’s face as a thin line of blood slid down the corner of his mouth. Rukia, foreseeing what was about to happen, calmly created a barrier around herself and Iseli.
“Don’t underestimate me!”

From Alexbold’s body, tentacles of blood burst forth, annihilating all the coordinated attacks in the blink of an eye. Explosions of energy dissolved into the air as if they had never existed.
“What the—?!” Shu shouted, but didn’t have time to react. One of the tentacles struck him with crushing force, knocking him unconscious instantly.

At that same moment, Alexbold’s fists shattered Violet’s barrier as if it were paper, slamming into Edén and Lowa with surgical brutality, the sand cracking beneath their bodies.
A single drop of blood shot forward like a projectile, striking the exact nerve in Violet’s neck—she collapsed without a sound.

Without showing any sign of fatigue, Alexbold extended his blood like threads, wrapping around Edén and Lowa completely, immobilizing them.
“H-Hey… what the hell are you made of?” Yohei whispered in a trembling voice.
Alexbold didn’t answer. His eyes scanned slowly over those still standing. Then he sighed.
“What a disappointment…”

The tentacles vanished. Edén and Lowa fell helplessly to the ground. The silence that followed was thick, heavy.
“That’s enough for today. You can all go rest.”

Zef took a step forward, still on edge.
“So soon? It’s true you defeated them, but we’re still standing.”
Alexbold looked at him with a neutral expression.
“Do you really think so?”

Zef frowned in confusion—then the scene changed.
The heads of everyone still standing rolled to the ground.

A second later, everything returned to normal.
Everyone was unharmed—but sweating, trembling. Zef grabbed his neck, gasping for air.
“What was that…? It felt like…”
“From the beginning of the fight, my blood entered all of you,” Alexbold explained coldly. “I knew what you were thinking, what you would do… I could even control you if necessary. What you saw was an illusion created by that bond—as real as I wanted it to be.”

Zef lowered his gaze, speechless.
“For now, leave. We’ll continue training tomorrow.”

One by one, they walked back to the lodging. The weight of the training crushed them more than any technique.
Iseli watched the group go, a trace of pity in his expression.
“Don’t you think you were too harsh on them?”
“If they can’t defeat me all together, they’ll never do it individually,” Alexbold replied firmly. “I had to show them a glimpse of my power. If they can’t overcome the wall I set before them, they won’t survive what’s coming in the next rounds.”
“Well… so you can articulate your thoughts,” Rukia teased.
“Shut up,” he shot back without turning around.

At the hot springs, laughter tried to break the lingering tension.
“He tore us apart…” Sebastian muttered, sinking into the warm water.
“I’m sorry,” Shu whispered. “I couldn’t guide you properly.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Edén intervened. “That guy’s a real monster… and he didn’t even try.”
“How do you stop power like that?” Sebastian asked quietly, more to himself than anyone else.

Zef, silent, touched his neck. The memory of the imaginary cut still sent chills down his spine.
“What if that had been real…?” he thought.
Yohei frowned, staring into the steam.
“Is there even a way to block that kind of control? Does it exist?”

Then Lux entered the bath, causing everyone to turn in surprise.
“What’s wrong?” he asked innocently.
“Lux… did Alexbold use his blood control on you?” Sebastian asked.
“Eh? What are you talking about?”
“No, nothing… forget it.”

Laughter erupted around them. Lux looked at them, completely lost.
“What? What did I say?”

Meanwhile, Alexbold lay back with one hand over his face, breathing heavily.
“Damn it… it was only a few seconds, and I still can’t endure it…”

A cold bottle of water brushed his forehead. When he opened his eyes, he saw a silhouette sitting on top of him.
“A goddess…?”
“It’s just me,” said Iseli, crossing her legs over his abdomen.
“Ah… right,” Alexbold exhaled. “And how am I supposed to respond to that?”
“No idea,” she replied with a smile.
“Thanks for the water…”

Iseli touched his forehead and frowned.
“You’re burning up. Why didn’t you say anything? Do you ever think about asking for help?”
“I don’t want to be a burden…”
“Idiot,” she said, giving him a light tap on the forehead. “Asking for help isn’t being a burden. That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”

Alexbold looked away.
“Thanks, Iseli.”
“I’m going to take a bath. See you tomorrow.”

As she started to stand, Alexbold gently took her wrist.
“Can you stay a little longer?”
Iseli looked at him in silence… then nodded.
“Yes.”

Under a silent shower, Edén watched the water run down his still-trembling hands.
“I still rely too much on my demonic power. Without it… I can’t even touch him. Damn it…”
The falling water wasn’t enough to calm his mind.
“If I face Kai, Puppet… or Ryu with my current strength… I won’t be able to protect anyone. I won’t be able to save Grandpa. I won’t be able to save them…”

He frowned. A mark on his neck glowed faintly.
“I have to get stronger… no matter what it takes.”

The next morning, the sun barely filtered through the slits in the curtains when Rukia burst in with a stack of papers in hand.
“Wake up, slackers!” she shouted in her carefree tone. “Time to earn your lunch!”

One by one, the students came out of their rooms, their faces still marked by the sting of yesterday’s defeat. Some rubbed their eyes, others dragged their feet. No one spoke.
Rukia handed out the papers without waiting for a response. Each person took theirs with a mix of fear and resignation.
“What’s this?” Shu asked, reading cautiously.

Alexbold appeared behind them, hands in his pockets and eyes fixed ahead.
“Instructions for your individual training. Until you complete what’s written on those pages, you won’t receive the special training with the three of us.”

A brief silence followed before Lowa exclaimed:
“A million push-ups!? Are you serious?!”
Alexbold didn’t hesitate.
“Lowa, right?”
“Yeah…”
“You have enviable strength, no question about it. For someone of your rank, you’re well above average. But that strength won’t help against enemies who are anything but ordinary. If you can’t surpass someone like Yohei, you’re doomed.”
“Got it, I’ll do it,” Lowa replied, clenching her fists.

“Can I ask something?” Yohei interrupted, raising his voice above the murmuring.
“Go ahead,” Alexbold nodded.
“My sheet is… blank. What does that mean?”
Alexbold looked at him seriously.
“It means you don’t need to improve the basics. You’re ready for special training right now.”

The surprise was immediate. Sebastian scoffed in disbelief.
“Seriously? There’s that much difference between him and the rest of us?”
“Yes,” Alexbold replied simply.
“Damn it…” Sebastian muttered, staring at his sheet as if he wanted to set it on fire.

In silence, Edén flipped through his paper, frowning.
“Zenka energy control…? I’ve never been able to use a technique without my sword. Does that mean my specialty is weapon-based combat? But… Shun always carries a sword too, and I’ve never seen him use even a basic technique. Could it be…?” His mind filled with doubts as he stared at the symbol on his page.

“You can start now,” Alexbold announced. “But if any of you tries to cheat, I’ll know. My blood still runs through your bodies, so don’t get clever—or I’ll punish you personally.”

Without another word, Alexbold turned and started walking toward the other end of the beach. Iseli and Rukia followed calmly. Yohei was the only one who went with them.
“According to the reports, in Atlantis you improved your energy control under Atlas, right?” Alexbold asked.
“Yes. He taught me how to use quick and powerful strikes.”
“I can—”

Before he could finish, a ray of energy shot from Yohei’s body straight at Alexbold’s chest. The speed was overwhelming, and the detonation upon hitting the sand sent up a pillar of dust and fire.
But Alexbold had already deflected the attack with a single finger.
“How amusing…” he thought with a crooked smile.
“You’re surprised I had time to react, aren’t you?” Yohei asked.
“You’re a true genius in every sense. But…” Alexbold lowered his gaze, suddenly serious. “You’re missing something.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The reports also say you lost a hand-to-hand fight against a Bronze rank. Is that true?”

Yohei clenched his teeth, his knuckles turning white.
“I didn’t—”
The tension made him falter… but in the end, he exhaled.
“Yes. I completely lost.”

Alexbold watched him in silence for a few seconds, then nodded, satisfied.
“Thank you for your honesty. I’m glad to see you’re different.”
“Different?”
“Most people would’ve hidden that defeat. But you didn’t. That’s what makes you valuable. Iseli, he’s yours.”
Iseli smiled and stepped in front of Yohei.
“Alright.”
“I’m not going to hold back,” Yohei warned.
“Good, because if you do, I won’t forgive you,” Iseli replied with a gentle smile.

Yohei lunged with full force—but in less than a second, his body flipped through the air and landed headfirst in the sand.
“What the hell…?” he muttered in confusion, staring at the sky upside down.

Iseli offered him a hand.
“You’re strong physically, but I’m faster. It’ll be a tough road, but if you trust me… I promise I’ll make you a martial arts expert.”
Yohei took her hand with a challenging grin.
“It’ll be my pleasure.”

The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in warm tones as the waves gently brushed the shore. The individual training sessions had scattered the group across the island. Alexbold walked alone along the beach, the sound of the sea his only companion.
“I can’t let the same thing happen again… not this time,” he thought as his feet left damp prints in the sand.

Then, something interrupted his thoughts.
A violet aura shimmered between the rocks ahead—vibrant, alive… untamable.
“What is that…?” he whispered.

He approached silently. There, sitting and gazing at the horizon with his body wrapped in energy, was Edén.
“What’s he doing here at this hour…? No, the real question is… how can he generate that much energy?” Alexbold wondered, half in awe, half in caution.

Edén noticed him instantly.
“What are you doing here?” he asked without changing his tone or posture.
“Sorry… am I interrupting something?”
“No, it’s fine,” Edén replied, letting his aura slowly fade.

He turned toward Alexbold, his expression serious, almost melancholic.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“What was your reason for fighting in the tournament?”

Alexbold looked at him in silence, as if the question had unearthed something he’d rather keep buried.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because I… don’t have one,” Edén answered, lowering his gaze. “I feel like if I keep staying here, I’m just taking someone else’s spot. It’s true that the first time, I joined on impulse—because no one else wanted to. But now that I know everyone, that I’ve seen how hard they work… I can’t stop thinking it’s selfish of me to stay.”

A brief silence followed before Alexbold spoke calmly.
“My reason… was to be recognized by my family.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t usually talk about this. But since you were honest, I suppose I can be too.”

And then, memories washed over him like a tide.

Flashback

In a GODS meeting room, Aphrodite examined a student’s file with shining eyes.
“This year will be ours, I have no doubt.”
“Yes,” Ares replied. “After all, we have the boy from the Moonveil family. It’s the first time one of the Twelve Lineages has joined here.”
“I’m excited to see his power,” Aphrodite nodded.
“Stop building so many expectations around the kid,” Shun interrupted, leaning back with his feet on the table.
“Don’t you ever get tired of being a buzzkill?” Ares growled.
“I’m just being realistic. The boy’s only sixteen. He might have talent, but if he can’t control it, it’s worthless.”
“Then why don’t you train him?” Aphrodite suggested.
“I have no interest in dealing with anyone from those Twelve Families,” Shun said coldly. “They disgust me.”
Aphrodite tried to silence him by putting a hand over his mouth.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Remove your hand,” Shun ordered. His gaze was so sharp that Aphrodite stepped back without thinking.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Ares warned. “If anyone hears you saying that, you’re dead.”
“So what? Those old fossils can’t do anything to me. Only the King could.”
“Then at least go give the boy some advice,” Aphrodite insisted. “It wouldn’t kill you.”
“Fine… though I know his kind all too well.”

Later, in the training grounds, Alexbold barely dodged a kunai.
“Where do you think you’re looking?” a voice said before a punch struck him full force, sending him flying several meters.

He coughed up blood as he tried to stand.
“Are you insane?! Do you know who I am?!”
“Yes. Alexbold Moonveil. The weakest of your bloodline. Shunned by your family’s head and by the King of the Realm of Rum. Shall I go on?”
“You bastard!” Alexbold shouted, launching blood tentacles that Shun destroyed in a single motion.
“You’re weak.”
“Shut up! I’ll show you how strong I am!”

He unleashed his energy in a massive explosion—but Shun stopped it again with a single technique.
“That’s it? ‘Moonveil this, Moonveil that’… I’m sick of it. You’ve done nothing but live under your family’s name.”
“You don’t know what it means to carry that name…”
“You’re right. So what do you want? Pity?” Shun looked at him with disdain, then his tone softened. “Though, since I’m feeling generous, I’ll be waiting for you after the battle against Wataraha.”
“What does that mean? Money? Prestige?”
“No. I’ll give you a chance to change your own future.”

Shun smiled with that familiar blend of mockery and truth that no one could ever quite interpret.

Back in the present, Edén stared at him in silence. The sound of the sea had become a distant hum.
“And did you do it?” he finally asked.
Alexbold shrugged.
“I don’t know. But at least… I don’t care about the name anymore.”
Edén nodded, thoughtful.
“Thanks for telling me that.”
“Thank you for asking,” Alexbold replied, turning to leave.

Before walking away completely, he stopped and said without looking back:
“You don’t need a reason right now. Just keep walking. The reason will come when you’re ready to recognize it.”

Then he walked off, leaving Edén alone—but not empty.
For the first time, the boy gazed at the horizon… not searching for answers, but willing to wait for them.