One day later..

I sat on the rough, weathered log in front of the crackling campfire, the orange flames casting flickering shadows around the camp. The heat from the fire provided a welcome contrast to the cool night air that settled over the camp. The scent of burning wood mixed with the faint aroma of the forest, creating an oddly comforting atmosphere. Caleb walked over and sat down beside me. The sudden shift in weight on the log made my end shoot up, nearly throwing me off balance. I grabbed the edge quickly to steady myself.

"Sorry." Caleb muttered, glancing at me with a sheepish grin before popping some pills into his mouth. He retrieved a canteen from his belt and took a few gulps to wash them down, the sound of water sloshing audible in the quiet camp.

He looked at me, his brow furrowed in curiosity. "Where were you and Jane when we were attacked?" he asked, his tone more concerned than accusatory.

Ah, I guess I hadn't filled him in yet. My eyes fixed on the dancing flames, and I stared blankly forward, lost in thought. "We snuck out the window to go shopping." I replied, keeping my voice steady. That wasn't the whole truth, but it wasn't a complete lie either. The real reason was that I needed to send a trained pigeon to Zero, informing him of my progress.

Caleb nodded slowly as he finished his water, the canteen making a soft clinking sound as he capped it. "So that's why you came in with new clothes. I see." he said, a hint of understanding in his voice.

I took a bite of the red apple in my hand, its crisp sweetness a brief distraction. "Jane stayed with Emma when she found us, with a few soldiers accompanying them." I explained.

Caleb crushed the plastic cup in his hand with a casual squeeze and tossed it into the trash can behind him with a swift motion. The sound of it hitting the bottom echoed faintly.

I turned my head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Why waste a cup?" I asked, genuinely curious about his casual disregard.

He pointed to the trash can, smirking. "That's plastic. It was invented a few years ago. I guess Zero wasn't able to afford any." he said, leaning back against the log and letting out a content sigh.

"Anyways, how did Emma find you?" Caleb asked, his tone shifting back to curiosity.

I laughed inwardly at the irony. "Pure luck," I answered, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. Luckily, I was heading back when she stumbled upon me. She had no idea what I was actually doing.

A large man, his bulk imposing even in the dim light, passed by carrying a tray laden with food. His shoulder brushed mine as he walked past, the impact making me lean slightly to the side. "It was luck that you lasted that long against the Demon Buddha too," he remarked gruffly, not stopping as he continued towards the officer tables.

The next day..

We set up camp again, the familiar routine of pitching tents and arranging supplies already second nature. We were now four days away from Grand Sasebella. I looked over to a gathering of five men, their figures silhouetted against the campfire's glow. Each one was familiar, their reputations preceding them. Caleb had told me about these five. Strong, capable fighters, but their strength had bred a sense of arrogance, a lack of respect that was hard to ignore. Those two traits, as Caleb had pointed out, were not mutually exclusive.

I approached them, and tapped one on the shoulder, drawing his attention. "Hey, all of you, follow me." I ordered, my voice firm. Without waiting for a response, I turned and began walking toward an open grassland nearby, a space the assistants had prepared earlier in the day. The grass was soft underfoot, and the expanse was mostly free of trees, a perfect arena for what I had planned.

"Line up shoulder to shoulder," I commanded as we reached the clearing. They hesitated at first, their movements slow, but the sharpness in my voice made them comply. I yelled, "Now!" The force of my words cut through the cool night air, and though some gave me dissatisfied looks, they obeyed, forming a line on the grass, shoulder to shoulder, their expressions a mixture of defiance and curiosity.

I stood in front of them, my hands casually tucked into my pockets, but my gaze was anything but casual. "Tell me your names," I demanded, my eyes scanning each face.

The big guy stepped forward slightly, his voice deep and gruff. "Felix." he said.

The smaller tan man followed, his voice lighter but firm. "Nadim."

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The handsome man, his features sharp and clean, said, "Lu."

The short man, who seemed almost out of place among the taller figures, spoke next. "Bello."

Finally, the man in the middle, definitely the weakest, declared, "Rufino."

I locked eyes with Felix, shooting him a glare that could cut steel. "Do you think what you said to me yesterday was acceptable?" My voice was low but dangerous, each word a blade aimed directly at his pride.

Felix stammered, his earlier bravado crumbling. "N-n-no. It was just a joke—"

I interrupted sharply, my tone brooking no argument. "No. It was an insult disguised as a joke. You all have been mocking me over my loss to the Demon Buddha, thinking it makes you superior." My voice rose, filled with the fury of unacknowledged pain and simmering frustration. "So right now, in accordance with Sun's laws, you will be punished through combat!" I stepped back slightly, placing my right arm behind my back, my posture deceptively relaxed. "Go all out from the beginning."

Felix moved first, his body darting in a zigzag pattern as he closed the distance. His movements were swift and calculated, each step creating small clouds of dust on the grassy terrain. As he approached, he raised his left leg high, dropping his heel toward my shoulder in a powerful axe kick. I caught it with my left hand, the sheer force and wind pressure of the strike surprising me for a brief moment. With a quick push upward, I sent him flying backward toward one of the nearby trees. I heard the distinct snap of a branch breaking, followed by the heavy thud of his body colliding with the trunk. The tree shuddered under the impact, leaves rustling and a few fluttering to the ground.

He bounced off the tree?

Felix quickly recovered, extending his leg again with renewed determination. "I'm a proud Officer of Sun." he declared, his voice filled with pride and defiance.

I sidestepped to the left, straightened my arm, and clotheslined him mid-air. The force of the impact made his head jolt backward violently before he crashed to the ground, the breath escaping his lungs in a harsh grunt. Standing over him, I responded firmly, "I'm a proud Flame of Sun."

Lu and Rufino launched a synchronized barrage of attacks. Their fists and kicks came at me from all directions in the scuffle, but I adeptly dodged each one. Lu pulled his left arm back for a powerful strike, while Rufino mirrored him, cocking back his right arm. Seeing their intent, I brought both my hands forward, raising my pointer fingers to meet their fists. The impact was absorbed with precision, and I held their muscular arms in place. I glanced at their straining muscles and remarked, "I'm sad I had to use both arms against you lot. I wanted to challenge myself."

Suddenly, Bello launched a roundhouse kick from above, his body twisting in mid-air to deliver the strike. Sensing the attack from behind, I ducked under the sweeping kick, feeling the rush of air as his leg passed just above my head. I grasped Rufino's and Lu's arms tightly, using their momentum against them. With a burst of strength, I threw them headfirst into the ground, the impact reverberating through the clearing as dirt and grass scattered around.

Nadim, seeing an opening, shouted, "You're open!" He charged toward me, attempting a one-arm tackle aimed at my midsection. His speed and intent were commendable, but as he lunged, I jumped into the sky, narrowly evading his grasp. The ground below seemed to drop away as I soared upward, leaving Nadim's tackle to miss its mark entirely.

I descended swiftly from my jump, driving my right fist into the ground with a heavy impact. The earth beneath us collapsed and cracked under the force, sending shockwaves through the clearing and disorienting everyone. They struggled to regain their footing. Taking advantage of the chaos, I blitzed toward Nadim. With precision, I delivered a swift hand chop to his neck, targeting a vital point.

Bello stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear as he witnessed Nadim's defeat. Trembling, he stammered, "I give." Without waiting for my response, he raised his fist and punched himself in the chin, knocking himself out cold. His body fell limp to the ground, leaving only two.

Lu's yelled with disbelief. "You fool! We have to believe!" His words were a desperate rallying cry, but they did little to bolster his own morale.

I clenched my jaw. I dashed toward Lu. He barely had time to react before I was upon him. "Knowing when to give up is a necessary skill." I said. I prepared to deliver a decisive uppercut, my fist aiming for Lu's jaw, but Rufino intervened.

In a split second, Rufino sacrificed himself, throwing his arm up as a shield to protect Lu. My fist collided with Rufino's arm, and a loud crack echoed. He fell to the ground, clutching his now broken arm, his face contorted in pain. Lu's rage ignited, his eyes blazing with fury. He let out a primal yell, launching into a series of heavy haymakers, each punch driven by raw emotion. I met his onslaught with calculated precision, blocking each wild swing with just a finger, dispersing the force with minimal effort. His final strike came with his right arm, and I noticed the transformation–Reinforced Fist. He brought it down in a powerful hammer fist, aiming to, I assume, get revenge for his friend.

I met his attack with three fingers, the clash of force sending a shockwave through the air. The intensity in Lu's eyes dissipated as he realized his attack had been neutralized. The rage drained from him, replaced by a weary resignation.

I began cocking my fist back, the tension in my muscles coiling like a spring. "That was a good attack," I acknowledged, the corners of my lips curving into a faint smile. "let me show you what a perfect attack is." I formed my hand into a spear shape, and the air around my hand began to ripple, the force of my energy creating visible waves. Lu stood before me, his arms now hanging limply at his sides, the fight drained from him. His gaze met mine, and in that moment, he understood. I let go of the energy, my hand dropping to my side without delivering the strike. He fell to his knees, his head bowed in defeat. The silence was thick, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

I placed my hands back into my pockets, my posture relaxed but my voice carrying authority. "Don't disrespect your superiors."