Day 3 out of 7.
Four days until the Hunter Games.
The warehouse training room shook with another impact.
Akira's fist slammed into Rika's crossed guard hard enough to split the concrete beneath her feet.
A shockwave burst outward.
Rika slid back slightly—
Then smiled.
Azure flames suddenly ignited around Akira's arm.
Sora's eyes widened a little.
"You're actually taking this seriously now."
Akira grinned.
"When have I not?"
Rika moved first.
Her hands slipped between Akira's guard with terrifying precision.
Then—
Impact.
A barrage of blows exploded into Akira's chest.
Fast.
Compact.
Brutal.
Each strike dug deeper than the last, hammering into muscle and bone with enough force to rupture organs.
Akira's eyes widened.
He immediately ignited his chest in blue flames, trying to force her back through sheer heat—
But Rika barely reacted.
"…Too shallow," she muttered.
Then drove another punch straight through the flames.
Akira coughed violently.
The room shook from the pressure behind the strike.
Rika continued forward relentlessly, her fists crashing into him over and over without pause.
Akira planted his feet—
Then blasted flames from both palms.
FWOOOSH.
The explosion launched him backward across the training floor.
His boots scraped violently against the concrete before he regained balance.
Then—
He smiled.
Wide.
Almost delirious.
"Just two days ago…"
He wiped blood from his mouth.
"…two of those punches would've knocked me out."
His body trembled.
"I took at least a hundred…"
He laughed breathlessly.
"…and I'm still standing."
Then his legs gave out.
Akira collapsed face-first onto the floor.
"…Damn it."
The training room doors opened.
Stone walked in casually with his hands in his pockets.
He looked down at Akira.
Then simply picked him up by the back of his shirt.
Flames spiraled around them—
FWOOOSH.
They vanished instantly.
The room went quiet.
Sora exhaled heavily and dropped onto the floor.
Jackson leaned against the wall, sweat running down his neck.
Rika stretched her shoulders.
Stone reappeared a few seconds later.
"You shouldn't go that hard on them," he said lazily.
Then he grinned.
"…But man, they've gotten stronger."
Rika placed her hands on her hips proudly.
"Well what'd you expect from the Big Sis of Scissors?"
Stone immediately shook his head.
"It's not cool when you give yourself the nickname."
Rika frowned.
"…Hater."
Sora chuckled weakly under her breath.
Then her expression softened slightly.
"Boss…"
Stone glanced over.
"You're sounding extra cold today."
She leaned her head against the wall.
"…On a more serious topic."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you think they're ready?"
Stone adjusted his gaze toward her.
"You talking about the Hunter Games?"
He shrugged.
"Yeah. They'll be fine."
Rika shook her head.
"No."
Her tone turned serious.
"The Knight Academy."
The room quieted slightly.
"Getting into the Academy is one thing," Rika continued. "Gathering information from inside it is another."
Stone's expression lost some of its playfulness.
"The Kingdoms aren't stupid," she said. "Especially not after the false Scissors attacks."
Sora frowned slightly.
False Scissors.
The group impersonating them.
Destroying cities in their name.
Stone leaned against the wall.
"I know."
Rika crossed her arms.
"You've gotta be honest with yourself."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"We need to recruit that monster."
A pause.
Stone nodded once.
"I already planned on it."
Sora blinked.
"…Monster?"
Neither of them answered.
Rika stretched again before walking toward the exit.
"I'm beat."
She waved lazily over her shoulder.
"Try not to die while I'm gone."
The doors shut behind her.
Silence settled over the room.
Jackson stared at Stone for a moment.
"…Who're you talking about?"
Stone smiled faintly.
But it wasn't his usual loud grin.
This one felt quieter.
"He's someone you actually know."
His eyes drifted slightly.
"…that even Kingston hates fighting."
Jackson's eyes widened slightly.
Across the room—
Kingston suddenly appeared in the doorway holding a drink.
"I don't hate fighting him."
Stone looked over.
"Yes, you do."
Kingston took a sip.
"…I dislike the amount of effort required."
"That's literally the same thing."
Kingston ignored him completely.
His gaze shifted toward the unconscious Akira lying in the corner of the room.
"…His flames are stabilizing."
Sora blinked.
"That's a good thing, right?"
Kingston nodded once.
"He's finally stopping himself from exploding every time he attacks."
Akira suddenly lifted a weak thumbs up from the floor.
"…Progress."
Stone looked down at him.
"You're awake?"
Akira groaned.
"…Unfortunately."
Jackson snorted slightly.
Stone walked over and crouched beside him.
"You feeling weaker?"
Akira nodded honestly.
"Yeah."
Stone grinned.
"Good."
Akira stared at him.
"…What?"
Stone pointed at his chest.
"That means your body's finally breaking properly."
Akira's face twisted.
"That sounds incredibly unhealthy."
"It is."
Stone stood back up.
"But that's how Tao grows."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"Your body adapts or dies."
The room quieted again.
Sora stared down at her hands.
Jackson looked away thoughtfully.
And Akira…
Akira slowly sat up despite the pain screaming through his body.
Four days.
Four days until the Hunter Games.
For the first time—
That number actually felt small.