The sun blazed high overhead, its heat pressing down as the trio traveled for half the day until noon.
"We should get back to the normal road," Sasaki said, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "The kingdom might take us for intruders if we appear from the forest."
"You… Mr. Sasaki… why…" Jackson panted between breaths, his steps dragging. "Why didn't you use your Switch Mode to move us faster?"
"Shut it, Jackson," Sasaki replied sharply. "I can't waste energy when we've got legs to walk. Do you know how much Renshi I'd burn just for that?"
"Liar," Jackson shot back immediately. "My papa told me Switch Mode doesn't use that much Renshi! It doesn't even cost zero point zero one percent—it just activates as long as there's Renshi around! You just don't want to move us faster."
"It does, you fool," Sasaki said, annoyed. "It only consumes energy when you bring others along. You're using your Renshi to stay connected with theirs. That's the cost, draining you little by little,but that's not exactly the reason,we need to walk and gain stamina."
As they returned to the main road and walked toward the border gate, Jackson sighed in defeat, unable to argue back.
"Okay, okay," Alfie said, breaking the silence. "I guess that'll motivate us more. When the three of us reach Phase Zero of cultivation, we'll all be able to use Switch Mode without complaining."
"Alright, to that," Jackson said, chuckling. "Let's just get some horses when we reach the kingdom first, before talking about cultivation."
Sasaki halted mid-step. "Hold on. Where do you think we'll get money for that?"
The three of them froze.
"Wait… we… don't have any money," they said in unison.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" Jackson screamed, clutching his head. "What the hell! I thought we were still rich! Oh no, I miss Master!"
"I do too," Alfie muttered, shoulders slumping.
"Watch out!" Sasaki shouted suddenly. In a flash, he activated Switch Mode, slicing down fifteen flying arrows that shot toward them. The air sizzled as the arrows disintegrated.
"What the hell was that?!" Alfie shouted, startled. "We're just traveling—why are they attacking us?"
"We need to get closer and make our motive clear," Jackson said.
Sasaki immediately grabbed both of their hands and switched forward in a burst of energy, appearing before the border gate. Dozens of Shinra guards stood ready, swords drawn.
"Lower your weapons," a voice called from the watchtower above.
The man up there narrowed his eyes as he spotted something gleaming on their cloaks. That badge… they're Shinras from Samira, he thought. A pro Darkside Knight in charge of the border gate switched down from the tower, landing lightly before them.
So young… to have made it out of the Academy already? he mused silently. The Kingdom of Samira is birthing rare talent these days.
He approached slowly.
"He recognized the badges," Sasaki muttered under his breath, hands in his pockets. "Guess this badge will come in handy for a long while."
"Are you going to let us through or not?" Sasaki asked.
"Hey, hey, calm down now, will you?" the pro darkside knight said lightly. "The Kingdom of Dan will always welcome any Shinra from the Kingdom of Samira—you should know that by now, or are you not—"
The pro darkside knight suddenly stopped mid-sentence, switching instantly close to Sasaki, eyes narrowing. "Why are you posing as Shinras from Samira?"
Sasaki smirked. "I think you need to work more on your manners. You might piss off important assets with that attitude."
"Calm down, both of you," Alfie interrupted. "If you don't believe us, then use whatever method you want to test us. We've got nothing to hide."
How are these kids so calm under this situation? one of the guards thought, lowering his blade. Something's off about them…
The pro darkside knight folded his arms. "Oh? If that's what you want, then I'll give it to you." He turned to the guards. "Bring them in."
"That was quite a brilliant idea, Alfie," Sasaki said dryly. "Thank you very much for making things worse."
"Hey, give me a break," Alfie shot back. "I was just trying to be useful."
"Okay, okay, now you can see how useful your idea is," Jackson muttered as five guards surrounded them, leading them through the border and into the first town of the Kingdom of Dan, closest to the border gate.
After several minutes of walking, they arrived at a massive dueling ring in the center of the town—an enclosed cage where four fighters battled fiercely inside, fists and feet crashing together in bursts of force energy.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Alfie exclaimed, eyes gleaming. "Fight, fight, fight!"
Jackson groaned. "I haven't even rested properly yet—how the hell am I supposed to fight, you fool? You need to calm down and let Mr. Sasaki handle the talking from now on."
"Okay, But, that's not happening," Alfie said stubbornly.
"Of course it is," Jackson shot back, glaring