Chapter 29:

  Shogai’s rapidly beating heart was really annoying him. He put on his brave face and stood opposite Xero, but he was scared. He could really use Tina right now.

  “Begin!”

  Xero immediately appeared behind Shogai and stabbed out at him. Shogai narrowly avoided, and Xero retreated. Damn him, he’d set up waypoints here before the battle had even started. Who knew how many rocks on the field were waypoints for him? Xero picked up the rock he’d just teleported to and dropped it again. Great, he was resetting them too.

  Shogai needed a real plan to bring Xero down. An enemy that could attack from anywhere and would always escape every punch Shogai threw at him. Shogai got lost in thought a little too long, and Xero smiled.

  “If you won’t move, I will.”

  Xero vanished and reappeared by Shogai, this time successfully cutting his arm. Shogai shifted to offence form and used his speed to run, only to halt as he almost collided with Jade, who was out of bounds. So this was why Nemean placed the seats so close to the fight. Shogai couldn’t use a nuclear punch to blow away Xero’s waypoints without hurting the Nexeans. It was a test of practicality, not just battle skill.

  Xero bent down to pick up the rock, and Shogai turned round to push him away. Xero noticed and vanished before Shogai reached him, but also before he could reset his waypoint. That gave Shogai an idea.

  Xero was on the other side of the field, and Shogai ran after him as fast as he could. Sure enough, he made it before Xero could pick up the rock, forcing him to teleport away. Acting purely on gut, Shogai chased after him, correctly guessing where he was and repeating the cycle. Xero stopped trying to pick up the rocks, teleporting around faster and faster, to the point where there were afterimages of him. Shogai had to simply get faster.

  And it was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  The crowd watched the display of blue light and red streaks across the battlefield, barely able to tell what was happening. Shogai was no different. Xero must have burned through a hundred waypoints by now, and Shogai was getting tired. He was sprinting at his maximum possible speed, all while turning sharply and reacting in milliseconds. He couldn’t go on much longer.

  But he didn’t need to. Finally, after what felt like hours, Shogai managed to ram into Xero. They both tumbled onto the floor and got back to their feet. Xero was out of teleports.

  “Smart, but what now?” He asked, drawing his daggers. “I’ve barely attacked you, and you’re out of stamina, aren’t you? I win.”

  Shogai could barely hear him through the ringing in his own skull. Offence form wasn’t known for stamina. Xero was right. Shogai had put himself in a bad position.

  Xero swung his dagger in his palm, holding it backhanded and thrusting it towards Shogai. Just like what Sekara had done. What had he done back then?

  Shogai’s eyes widened. He felt like he was emitting an aura like steam. Something clicked in his head. And the aura turned blue.

  Xero’s blade cut Shogai, but the cut was shallower than it should have been. Shogai’s mind was clearing. His aura felt different, as if he were wearing a new outfit. This blue aura was less aggressive. It was more… defensive.

  “I see…” Xero said thoughtfully, “I thought your power was just a physical enhancement to speed and power. There’s more to it, isn’t there?”

  Shogai couldn’t answer; he didn’t know himself. But this was perfect. Xero experimentally stabbed him again, and once again, it hardly hurt.

  “Defence form… I can’t hurt you. That’s really, really…”

  Xero looked over at Nemean.

  “Really cool! I surrender. This kid has potential!”

  The crowd was silent. Shogai hadn’t processed what had just happened. Xero… surrendered? Just like that?

  The old man looked from Shogai to Xero to Jade and Kiara.

  “Might as well complete the set…” he muttered to himself, “Thank you for your service, Xero. We have a new Outer Rank 6!”

  The crowd erupted in cheers as Shogai tugged on Xero’s shirt,

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  “What are you doing? I’m still exhausted, and your daggers are working. I haven’t won yet!”

  Xero only laughed, “It’d be foolish of me to turn away a future Inner Rank, wouldn’t it?”

  Shogai only looked on, his mouth gaping dumbly, “M-me? You think I can-”

  “Prove it to me, alright?”

  The Outer Ranks ran over to Shogai and Xero. For the first time in history, three new Nexeans had been accepted simultaneously!

  “Xero, y-you just got fired. I’m so sorry-”

  “Don’t be sorry.” Nemean was walking up to Shogai, who bowed before him.

  “No, boy, I’m not some King. I’m just the guy who runs the place. Every ex-Nexean is compensated for their service and granted a stable retirement. Xero is young, but he’s fought for years. Let him put his daggers up.”

  Xero nodded and thanked Nemean. Kiara and Jade came up to Shogai, both with tears of joy. A smile tugged at Nemean’s lips.

  “As for you three, all I can say is, don’t get lazy. You’ve made it this far; now prove that you deserve it. Don’t be passive like some Nexeans we used to have. Just do as you’re told.”

  It wasn’t a mystery who he was talking about, and Nemean’s figure shimmered. He vanished. Whatever business he had to attend to, it must have been important.

  The Outer Ranks held a gathering that evening.

  “Not a party," Valerie had said when announcing it. "We've lost too much for celebration. But not a funeral, either - we don't have Mira's body to bury. This is... a transition. Honouring what was, welcoming what will be."

  The fire Valerie and Ryukyu created was different from what Shogai had expected. Not wild and roaring. This was controlled. Subdued. Warm flames that crackled softly in the centre of the common room, giving light without demanding attention.

  Raven had already left for a coastal mission, or so she claimed. Shogai suspected she just didn't want to be here for this. Watching new Nexeans take the place of old ones. Watching the cycle continue. Katro had patrol duty but congratulated Shogai briefly before leaving. "You earned it. Keep it up. Prove you deserve it."

  Tina moved through the gathered Nexeans, keeping everyone's spirits lifted just enough to function. Not happy—just stable. Functional. She wasn't making anyone celebrate. Just helping them not collapse under the weight of everything that had happened. There was no dancing. No shouting. No raucous energy. But also no crying. No speeches. No slamming of doors. They were just... together.

  Zinnia wasn’t upset that she’d been demoted, only making Jade promise that she would take care of everyone in her stead. “Everyone here means a lot to me; I don’t want them to get hurt. But please take care of yourself as well. Support them, but don’t forget to support yourself. I know some people who failed at that last part.”

  The remaining Outer Ranks sat in a loose circle around the fire.

  Valerie and Ryukyu. Tina. And then Xero, Zinnia, and Scott - the ones who were leaving. Shogai, Jade, and Kiara - the ones who were staying. Xero stood, raising a glass of water. No one was drinking anything stronger despite the sombre mood. This wasn't that kind of gathering.

  "To the new Outer Ranks," he said, his voice carrying across the quiet room. There was pride but no joy. Just appreciation. "May you protect what we couldn't." It was a sobering toast. An honest one. Everyone drank in silence. Shogai felt the weight of those words.

  Protect what we couldn't. Mira. All the others who'd died before they could save them. All the ones who'd die in the future despite their best efforts. That's what they were signing up for. An endless fight against an endless army. But someone had to fight it anyway. That was what he was here for.

  Scott grabbed his packed bags, ready to leave early. "I'm not that upset, promise. I made it this far, didn't I? That puts me above all my friends and family. I'll just have a bit of explaining to do." He had a bit of a concerned look on his face. Shogai wondered if his family was really strict, but shook his head. It didn't matter. Scott seemed like a good kid, but he wasn't a good Nexean. This was best for everyone.

  He watched Scott leave, even stepping outside to pay his respects. It was starting to rain. A voice beside him startled him. “Mira wasn’t a Nexean, you know.”

  It was Raven, leaning against the outside wall. She wore a frown, and didn’t seem to care that she’d made Shogai flinch. Shogai cleared his throat. “I thought you were-”

  “Yeah, well, I wasn’t.” She walked up to Shogai to speak to him directly. “She gave her life for people she hardly knew, but, if what Jade said is true, she really took a liking to you. I can still see innate fury behind your eyes. I suppose Mira recognised it but believed you deserved saving. Don’t make her wrong about that.”

  The words hit like a physical blow. They weren’t harsh, but they were true. He had a lot to live up to. Before Shogai could think of a response, Valerie came outside to check on him and saw that Raven hadn’t left.

  “Tsk.” Raven turned her head and walked away from Valerie, who called after her.

  “Raven, it’s raining. Come inside.”

  Raven didn’t respond. If anything, she walked faster. Valerie sighed and leaned in to whisper to Shogai. He nodded.

  “Raven.” Shogai called out, “Please come inside.”

  She paused, rain pouring down now and drenching her. She wordlessly turned around, her hair hiding her expression, and stormed inside past the two of them without acknowledgement.

  Shogai moved rooms that night. He took his stuff from Room 1 and moved it to Xero's old room, Room 6. Katro was right, the rooms were identical. But this one felt so much more earned. Shogai could barely believe it. He did it.

  He'd become a Nexean. And he'd already gotten so much stronger. He'd killed Sekara. He could go back now, right? Protect his village, like he wanted to. He'd earn their trust back, for sure. And he'd fight more Deviants. He'd bring them all down. He’d make Mira proud. They wouldn't hurt anyone again. He would endure. He would protect everyone.

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