MEMELAND

The training ground had become unusually quiet.

Dozens of trainees had stopped what they were doing.

Weapons rested against shoulders.

Conversations died.

Everyone watched.

Because their leader...

Was actually fighting someone.

Taai rolled his shoulders.

His grin never faded.

Kai steadied his breathing.

His entire body already ached.

"...Again."

Taai vanished.

BOOM.

Kai barely crossed his arms before the punch landed.

The impact launched him several meters backward.

His boots carved trenches through the dirt.

His arms trembled.

Taai scratched his chin.

"Hm."

"You didn't break."

Kai forced himself upright.

"I'd rather not."

Taai laughed.

"Good answer."

He charged again.

This time Kai moved first.

A sidestep.

A counter.

His fist flew toward Taai's ribs.

Taai casually blocked it with one arm.

"...Too slow."

A knee struck Kai's stomach.

The air left his lungs.

Kai stumbled backward.

Before he could recover—

Taai flicked his forehead.

Just a flick.

Kai nearly lost consciousness.

The surrounding trainees burst into laughter.

"Leader's taking it easy."

"Poor guy."

"He hasn't even started."

Taai looked disappointed.

"Your weapons."

He pointed toward Kai's belt.

"Decoration?"

Kai blinked.

"...What?"

"You carrying those because they look cool?"

Kai frowned.

Then slowly reached for his equipment.

The improved knuckle duster clicked into place.

Small spikes extended from the striking surface.

A dagger blade unfolded beneath his wrist.

Taai smiled wider.

"There."

"That's better."

Kai inhaled.

Mana gathered into his palm.

A small flame appeared.

Then another.

Wind wrapped around his legs.

Taai nodded approvingly.

"Magic too?"

"Now we're talking."

Kai moved.

Wind accelerated him forward.

Faster.

Sharper.

The knuckle duster slammed toward Taai's jaw.

Taai caught the punch.

Fire exploded.

Smoke swallowed both of them.

Several spectators shielded their faces.

The smoke cleared.

Taai hadn't moved.

His forearm was slightly blackened.

"...Nice."

Kai's eyes widened.

That actually landed.

Taai looked almost pleased.

"Again."

The exchange became faster.

Kai mixed punches with bursts of wind.

Short fire blasts forced openings.

The improved knuckle duster struck from impossible angles.

Every successful hit...

Was immediately answered.

A kick.

An elbow.

A shoulder check.

Kai landed attacks.

Taai landed better ones.

Minutes passed.

Kai was breathing harder.

Taai...

Looked like he had just finished stretching.

Finally Taai stepped back.

He sighed dramatically.

"You're weak, bro."

Kai clenched his fists.

Taai continued.

"I can't believe Alice and Raj told me to give you special treatment."

He cracked his neck.

"Well..."

"I guess this is the special treatment."

Weak.

The word echoed.

Kai froze for half a heartbeat.

Weak.

Another memory surfaced.

Fais.

Every punch carried overwhelming force.

No wasted movement.

Only destruction.

Then—

Another memory overlapped.

Zane.

Calm.

Balanced.

Fluid.

Every movement redirected force instead of meeting it.

The Order's style.

Kai closed his eyes briefly.

"...I've gotten stronger."

He whispered.

When he opened them—

His stance changed.

No longer rigid.

His breathing slowed.

His weight shifted naturally.

Taai noticed immediately.

"Oh?"

Kai moved.

One step.

Taai punched.

Kai rotated.

Redirected the strike.

Not blocked.

Redirected.

The punch skimmed past his shoulder.

Kai answered immediately.

A crushing body blow inspired by Fais.

Heavy.

Explosive.

Taai's torso shifted slightly.

Another strike.

A spinning elbow.

Order technique.

Then a devastating straight punch modeled after Fais.

Grace.

Violence.

Flow.

Destruction.

The two styles merged.

Imperfectly.

But naturally.

The spectators fell silent.

Taai's grin widened.

"There you go."

Kai pressed harder.

Each movement became smoother.

Not perfect.

Not even close.

But undeniably better than before.

"I didn't..."

Punch.

"...laze around..."

Kick.

"...while I was gone!"

His knuckle connected cleanly against Taai's chest.

For the first time—

Taai slid backward.

Only half a step.

Still.

He looked down.

"...Heh."

"That tickled."

Kai stared.

"...Seriously?"

Taai rolled one shoulder.

"Guess it's time."

His muscles subtly shifted.

Barely.

Almost impossible to notice.

Only one percent.

Maybe less.

Yet the pressure surrounding him multiplied.

Kai instinctively took one step back.

Danger.

Real danger.

Taai disappeared.

Kai reacted instantly.

Order footwork.

Fais's counter.

He redirected Taai's incoming punch.

The force changed direction—

But not enough.

The remaining impact still exploded through Kai's body.

His arm screamed.

Bones creaked.

Before Kai could recover—

Taai suddenly appeared behind him.

"...Got your ass."

Kai's eyes widened.

"...Wait—"

Taai grabbed his ass.

Exactly where he said he would.

Kai felt his soul leave his body.

"...Seriously?!"

With one effortless motion—

Taai swung him overhead.

And launched him across the training ground.

BOOM.

Kai smashed through a stone wall.

Dust exploded everywhere.

Silence.

The spectators collectively winced.

"...Ouch."

"...That looked painful."

"...Classic Leader."

Several seconds passed.

Then—

A hand reached through the settling dust.

Kai groaned.

Coughed.

Slowly looked up.

Taai stood over him.

One hand extended.

His grin hadn't changed.

"Welcome to Muscle City."

Kai stared at the offered hand.

Then laughed weakly.

"...That's quite the welcome."

He grabbed it.

Taai effortlessly pulled him to his feet.

Kai managed exactly one step.

"...Ah."

His vision went black.

He collapsed face-first into the dirt.

Taai caught him before he hit the ground.

"...Huh."

He looked toward the watching trainees.

"I might've overdone it."

One of them coughed.

"...You say that every time."

Taai scratched the back of his head.

"...Yeah."

"I do."

The training ground erupted into laughter.