"No dungeon," Bruce interrupted calmly. "I just need a spear art manual."

There was a brief silence.

"…A spear art manual," Bale repeated.

"Yes. The best one you have."

Another pause. Then Bale laughed.

"Wow. The Anomaly calling me for spear arts help now? I thought you specialise in daggere"

Bruce ignored the playful jab. "It's for Lily."

"Oh." Bale's tone shifted instantly. "Say no more."

"Sorry if I was prying too much with those useless questions of mine..."

Lily leaned closer, whispering loudly, "Who's that Big brother Bruce..."

"Someone who will help with your martial arts"

Lily nodded falling silent after that, though her eyes still had that excited gleam to it...

Bruce nodded slightly.

Bale continued, amusement clear in his voice. "You know, as the Anomaly, you technically have clearance for some ridiculous stuff. Restricted archives, legacy manuals, so don't worry I'll get you the perfect manual you need and as a personal thank you from me you'll get it for free... though even that is not enough to thank you for your amazing help as of late, for I'll make it up to you later..."

"I just need something suitable for a child, a beginner," Bruce said.

"Relax, relax." Bale chuckled. "I'm not about to send her a battlefield killing art."

There was a faint sound of typing.

"I'll send you a foundational spear manual. Clean form, good footwork, no mana dependency. It's the kind that builds discipline instead of bad habits, and not only that, it progresses right from beginner level to techniques which would make your little sister a master spear wielder.."

"That works," Bruce replied.

"And," Bale added lightly, "consider it a perk. If anyone asks why you got it so fast, I'll just tell them the Anomaly blinked at the archives and they opened themselves."

Bruce snorted softly. "Send it."

"Already done," Bale said. "And hey, tell Lily good luck tomorrow."

Lily leaned closer to the bracelet. "Thank you, Uncle!"

Bale laughed. "Anytime, little warrior."

The call ended.

A moment later, the manual downloaded into Bruce's bracelet.

Lily bounced on her feet. "Did it come? Did it come?"

Bruce knelt beside her and projected the holographic page at a smaller scale. Simple diagrams appeared, stances, grips, basic thrusts.

Lily's eyes widened.

"…So cool."

Bruce ruffled her hair gently. "We'll go through it slowly. No rushing."

She nodded seriously, gripping her spear tighter. "I'll do my best."

Bruce smiled.

Watching her like this, excited, earnest, safe, made something in his chest ease.

Tomorrow, she'd spar with her classmates.

Tonight, she was just a child learning how to hold a spear.

And for Bruce,

That was more than enough.

Bruce looked down at Lily, who was still gripping her wooden spear with both hands, eyes bright and restless with excitement.

"Alright," he said, a small smile forming. "Let's quickly go through this and spar."

Lily blinked. "Really? Right now?"

"Yes." Bruce nodded. "I have somewhere to be after this."

He didn't explain further. He didn't need to.

After tonight, he planned to move forward with the trial for his Authority. Once that was done, once his authority have awakened properly, he could finally, confidently call himself a full-fledged SS-Ranked Awakened.

And for that… this house wasn't suitable.

If something went wrong, if his aura flared, if his control slipped, this house would be destroyed, Lucy and Lily could get hurt. He wouldn't allow that. That was why Axiom's Labyrinth existed. A place where he could push himself without restraint.

But before that,

He had a promise to keep.

Bruce crouched beside Lily and projected the spear manual again, this time slowing it down. He went over the basics carefully.

"Grip first," he said calmly, adjusting her hands. "Not too tight. The spear isn't something you wrestle with. You guide it."

Lily nodded seriously.

"Footwork comes before power," Bruce continued. "If your feet are wrong, the spear is wrong. Step, then thrust. Not the other way around."

She mimicked his movements, tongue peeking out slightly in concentration.

Bruce watched closely. Every angle. Every shift of balance. With his photographic memory, the manual was already etched perfectly into his mind, but more importantly, so were Lily's habits. Her posture. Her natural rhythm.

"Good," he said. "Again."

They went through it once. Then twice.

By the third time, Lily's movements were smoother. Still rough. Still childish. But there was intent behind them.

Bruce straightened. "Alright. That's enough practice."

Lily's eyes widened. "Now we spar?"

"Yes," he replied.

They stepped outside the house into the open space in front of it. The night air was cool and calm. Quiet.

Bruce willed Red to shift.

In a ripple of crimson light, the weapon flowed and elongated, reshaping itself into a sleek spear. Its surface gleamed faintly, restrained, almost humble, nothing like the terrifying forms it could take.

Lily stared.

"…Big brother," she whispered, awed. "Your weapon is really cool."

Bruce chuckled. "Focus."

She quickly snapped out of it, gripping her wooden spear tightly. Her expression hardened, determination shining in her eyes.

"I won't go easy on you," she declared seriously.

"I wouldn't want you to," Bruce replied.

The moment he finished speaking,

Lily moved.

She stepped forward sharply, just like he had shown her, her small body twisting as she thrust the spear straight toward his midsection. It wasn't fast. It wasn't strong.

But it was correct.

Bruce didn't counter immediately. He shifted his spear aside, letting the wooden tip slide past harmlessly.

"Good stance," he said. "But don't overcommit."

Lily pulled back instantly and attacked again, this time adjusting her footing mid-motion. Her brows furrowed in focus.

Bruce's eyes softened.

He guided her strikes gently, redirecting, tapping her spear aside, occasionally letting it touch his clothing so she wouldn't lose confidence.

"Remember," he said calmly as they moved, "a spear controls distance. You don't chase the enemy. You make them respect your range."

"I will!" Lily protested, thrusting again.

Bruce stepped back half a pace, nodding. "Better."

She grinned briefly, then immediately attacked again, clearly taking his words to heart.

For a while, the sounds of their sparring filled the night. Wooden taps. Soft footsteps. Lily's quiet breaths as she pushed herself harder, refusing to stop even when her arms began to tremble.

Finally, Bruce raised his spear slightly.

"That's enough."

Lily froze, panting lightly, then lowered her weapon. "Did I do good?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.