In another part of the mountains, Alfie watches the SILENTERS train from a distance.
He sits on the roof of a building, resting his chin on his hand.
Their skills aren't that bad.
He watches as the five exchange attacks across the training field.
Mine will be better anyway. I just need to put in the hard work.
Alfie jumps down from the roof and casually walks toward them, his hands inside his pockets.
The moment they notice him, they stop training.
Alfie lets out a long breath before stopping in front of them.
"Look... I know our first meeting wasn't the best."
He glances at the group.
"I just don't like having humans as enemies. It's not really my thing. We could work this out. Maybe even train together. I'm pretty rusty, and I could use some help."
"You should've thought about that before you tried to break my sword."
The curved-sword user steps forward.
"No, no, no."
Drew, the archer, immediately interrupts.
"You literally tried to kill him. Your sword was going straight for his head."
"Exactly," Alfie adds.
The teenage girl looks at Drew.
"You're siding with him now?"
"Looks like it."
The smaller girl folds her arms.
"Whatever you planned by coming here, it won't work. You already blew your chance."
The older one with the scythe said.."
"Why do you always make us look bad whenever someone new shows up?" the curved-sword user asks Drew.
"I'm not trying to make anyone look bad. I'm just saying what I think. You know that's how I am."
"You expect us to be cool with that?"
The teenage girl steps forward.
"You can't just say whatever you want."
"Really?"
Drew gives her a mocking look.
"You guys can say whatever you want, even when it doesn't sit right with me. But I can't say what I think because it doesn't sit right with you?"
He shakes his head.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"Enough with this rubbish."
The curved-sword user grips his weapons.
"If what he says sits right with you, then train with him. We don't care."
He turns away.
"The SILENTERS don't have to train together. We only need to work together when it's time to complete a mission."
The older scythe user looks toward Drew.
"The choice is yours."
"Run along, Bow Boy. You're not that strong anyway."
The smaller girl laughs.
Drew looks at them for a moment.
"Wow... I'm a little surprised."
He smiles.
"But honestly, I expected this."
He turns toward Alfie.
"You guys have fun. Your training sucks anyway. I'll try something different."
Drew suddenly disappears.
Switch Mode.
He reappears on the roof of the building across from them.
The curved-sword user's expression darkens.
"Oh... looks like your only accomplice doesn't want anything to do with you."
Before Alfie can respond, a long Renshical rope shoots from Drew's hand.
It wraps around Alfie's waist.
"Whoa!"
The rope tightens and pulls Alfie off the ground.
Drew catches his hand as Alfie reaches the roof.
"We actually have a lot to discuss, Alfie."
The two disappear from sight.
The curved-sword user grinds his teeth.
"We need to buckle down as soon as possible," the older scythe user says calmly. "We can't afford to fall behind."
"There's no way we're falling behind."
The curved-sword user draws both of his blades.
"If that turned into a battle to the death, Alfie wouldn't stand a chance against me."
He smirks.
"He's only getting hyped because the clan head seems interested in him."
The older boy looks at him.
"Rule number six."
He slowly raises his scythe.
"Never underestimate your opponent."
His eyes narrow.
"Especially not him."
He walks toward the center of the training ground.
"Come on. All three of you."
The three immediately prepare.
The curved-sword user lowers his stance, holding one curved sword forward while keeping the second close to his body.
The teenage girl releases her chain, allowing the dagger at its end to drag across the ground.
The smaller girl draws her sword.
Then—
They charge.
The curved-sword user attacks first.
Clang!
The older boy blocks the first blade with the shaft of his scythe.
The second sword immediately comes from the opposite side.
He twists his body and lets it pass inches from his shoulder.
At the same time, the chain comes from behind.
The older boy ducks.
The dagger whistles over his head.
He plants his foot and swings the scythe toward the curved-sword user's legs.
The swordsman jumps.
The smaller girl takes the opening and rushes in.
Her blade clashes against the scythe.
Clang!
She pushes forward.
The older boy gives ground for two steps before suddenly turning his weapon.
The scythe's shaft knocks her sword aside.
The curved-sword user attacks again.
This time, the older boy blocks both blades before twisting the scythe and forcing him backward.
The chain wraps around the scythe's blade.
The teenage girl pulls.
The older boy's weapon is dragged sideways.
The smaller girl immediately moves in.
But the older boy releases the scythe.
The three freeze for a fraction of a second.
He grabs the chain with one hand and pulls the teenage girl off balance.
With the other hand, he catches the smaller girl's wrist before her sword reaches him.
The curved-sword user takes the opportunity to rush in.
The older boy releases both of them and jumps backward.
He lands several meters away.
The three immediately spread out.
"Better," he says.
He raises his scythe again.
"Now try to kill me."
---
Meanwhile, Drew is still switching between rooftops with Alfie.
He holds Alfie's hand as they disappear and reappear from building to building.
"Hey... thanks for what you did back there."
Alfie looks at him.
"What can I call you?"
"You can call me Drew."
"All right. Drew it is."
Alfie looks around.
"Where are we going? I've never gone beyond the front of these mountains."
"You'll see sooner than you expect."
Drew switches again.
They land in a massive open area.
There are no buildings on their left.
The town stretches across their right.
Alfie looks around in amazement.
"Whoa..."
From their position, the entire area looks like an enormous mountain.
"From down there, it looked like one huge mountain."
He looks around.
"But once you get up here, you realize the entire town is sitting on top of a mountain... and there are even more mountains sitting on top of this one."
Alfie smiles.
"This place is huge."
"There's a reason it looks like one mountain from below and something completely different from above."
Drew's expression becomes serious.
"It's... one living creature."
Alfie looks at him.
"Huh?"
"A living creature that's barely alive."
Alfie's eyes widen.
"This place is alive?"
"Yeah. A living being."
"That's hard to believe, Drew. I honestly can't believe a mountain made of rock is alive."
"I won't force you to believe me."
Drew smiles.
"You'll figure it out yourself."
He walks forward.
"But let's get to why we're here."
Drew pulls out his bow.
"You want to get faster without using Switch Mode?"
He draws an arrow.
"Then try avoiding these."
Alfie's eyes widen.
"Huh?"
Drew releases the arrow.
Alfie immediately jumps aside.
The arrow passes beside his face.
"That'll be hard... but I'll try."
Before they begin, Alfie raises a hand.
"I have one question."
"What's your question?"
"I know you guys are talented and skilled. That's why I need you to tell me something."
Alfie looks directly at Drew.
"How do I reach Phase Zero of cultivation?"
Drew pauses.
"Hm... so that's what you're after."
"Yeah."
Alfie nods.
"I really want to reach Phase Zero. It'll help me become much stronger."
"I know a few things about it. My sister handled most of the process for us, though."
Drew smiles.
"We can meet her later."
"Really?"
Alfie's eyes light up.
"Yeah."
Drew draws another arrow.
"But first..."
He points the bow at Alfie.
"Start running."
Alfie immediately takes off.
Finally...
A smile appears on his face.
A real lead on Phase Zero.
Hey, Light Buddy. I hope you're witnessing this great news.
"Of course."
The White Renshical side answers inside his mind.
"Both of us are seeing everything."
"Your problem is that...."
The Dark Renshical side adds.
Alfie looks up.
Hundreds of Renshical arrows are already flying toward him.
"WHAT?!"
Drew fires another shot into the sky.
More arrows form above Alfie.
They rain down.
Alfie immediately changes direction.
One arrow strikes the ground beside him.
Another passes over his shoulder.
He ducks under one and jumps over another.
Drew keeps firing.
The arrows don't simply travel straight.
Some curve.
Some change direction.
Others split apart in midair.
Alfie keeps moving.
Left.
Right.
Forward.
Back.
He refuses to let a single arrow touch him.
Minutes become an hour.
Then another.
Alfie's breathing becomes heavier.
His legs begin to feel numb.
But he keeps running.
Don't stop.
His entire focus is on surviving the barrage.
After nearly two hours, Alfie finally sees an opening.
There!
He changes direction and begins running straight toward Drew.
Drew notices.
"So you finally decided to come closer?"
He aims directly at Alfie.
Whoosh!
Several arrows shoot toward him.
Alfie twists his body.
One passes beside his ear.
Another cuts across his sleeve.
He keeps moving.
Two more arrows curve toward him.
Alfie turns sharply.
One misses.
The second catches his left leg.
Slash!
Blood spills onto the ground.
Alfie grits his teeth but doesn't stop.
He pushes himself harder.
"Almost there!"
He closes the distance.
Just as Alfie reaches him.....
Drew disappears.
Switch Mode.
He reappears several meters away.
Alfie stops and bends forward, breathing heavily.
"The training is for you to become faster."
Drew lowers his bow.
"And for me to learn how to miss."
Alfie looks at him.
"This isn't a duel."
Alfie stares at him for a moment.
"That's messed up."
Thirty more minutes pass.
Alfie's stamina finally gives out.
He collapses onto the ground.
Drew immediately withdraws the remaining arrows still circling above them.
He switches beside Alfie and kneels.
A small amount of liquid Renshi gathers at the tip of his finger.
He flicks it onto Alfie's injured leg.
The wound closes almost immediately.
Alfie looks at his healed leg.
"I don't remember the last time I ran for that long."
He takes a deep breath.
"And not just running..."
He looks at Drew.
"I was running for my life."
Drew smiles.
"Hitting your limit is the only way to grow stronger."
He stands.
"Good job."
Alfie looks up at him.
"What did you mean when you said the training was for you to learn how to miss?"
Drew's smile becomes mysterious.
"You'll find out soon."
He turns around.
"Come on. Let's go meet my sister."
Alfie slowly gets back on his feet.
He follows Drew.