"Oho?!"

Adam was once again in the marble courtyard, his sweat almost creating a pool on the floor with how long they had been training without pause. The greatsword, which required both his hands to wield properly just two days ago, now felt extremely lighter.

His stance was also more natural than before. More… confident in a way. Or perhaps the best way to describe it was that he was no longer shy.

But of course, Clementine smirked at that.

"Getting overconfident, are we?" Clementine circled him, her blade gleaming in the afternoon sun. She was still as confident as their previous session, but now, she moved with more grace, her feet never staying in one place for long… as Adam was no longer allowing her to stay relaxed.

"Again," she called out, and Adam swung.

The blade cut through air where she'd been standing a moment before. Clementine had rolled to the side, coming up in a crouch several feet away. She wasn't just casually moving anymore—she was actively dodging, forcing herself to stay alert.

Adam pressed forward, bringing the greatsword down right at her center again. The marble floor cracked where it struck, fractures spreading outward from where he'd hit.

Clementine's eyes tracked the damage, and she couldn't help but feel proud for some reason.

Even a glancing hit would hurt now, she realized. Not serious damage, she was still physically stronger than Adam, but pain was guaranteed.

Adam's growth rate was absurd, comparable to leveling inside the Game itself. Yet Adam hadn't leveled up at all. His strength came purely from those abnormal abilities of his and after just having trained for two days.

It was fundamentally unfair by the Game's standards—no. It was just flatout unfair.

The only thing that Adam needed now was a change in mindset. His reluctance to hurt people had to be addressed through training. If he was going to garner enough points to become a Hero in upcoming Game, he needed to understand that his hesitation would cause him to participate in more Games.

Adam said he understood it, but Clementine could still feel his reluctance.

The spar continued. Adam's speed was noticeably higher than before, his movements more fluid. His technique, however, remained crude and inefficient, but his stamina compensated for it completely.

Actually, "stamina" was the wrong word—Adam resembled an unbreakable machine connected to endless electricity, Clementine thought.

Despite his improvements, he still failed to land a clean hit on her. Every missed strike left its mark on the courtyard, fractures spreading like a web beneath their feet. A direct hit would pulverize a normal human instantly. Even lower-leveled Creeps would be flattened without resistance.

Just… what sort of Hero would he be?

Clementine grew distracted by these thoughts for just a moment… and Adam didn't let this past.

He gritted his teeth, and then almost flew toward him with a swing.

"Oh?!" Clementine moved, but she failed to fully dodge Adam's swing, the blade whistling past her ear close enough to hear it split the air. She didn't panic, however, as she caught the greatsword with her own blade at the last second.

She parried it aside…and immediately punched Adam in the face.

The blow knocked him back, his head snapping to the side. He leaned… but he didn't fall this time. Instead, he tightened his grip on the greatsword and swung again.

This time the blade connected with Clementine's side—or nearly did. She still blocked it, but the force sent her flying into the wall.

"Heh…" She smirked, planting her feet against the wall before launching herself back toward Adam.

"?!" And this time, the only reaction he could do was widen his eyes.

Adam turned just as Clementine appeared behind him. She just stood there, but he immediately noticed the drop of blood sliding across her blade—and soon, he felt the warmth spreading across his cheek.

He'd been cut, and he didn't even realize it.

Clementine vanished again.

This time, it was his left ankle, causing him to collapse as his tendon was cut. Clementine no longer said anything, or even made a single sound—she was just… relentless. She struck again, and this time, Adam's grip weakened and the greatsword fell from his hand before he realized his wrist was cut.

"Wh—"

"And, you're dead." Clementine's breath brushed against the back of his neck, the warmth contrasting the cold blade she'd planted in front of his neck.

"I… couldn't even follow you." Adam exhaled, accepting the outcome without protest.

"Adam, please…" Clementine hopped in front of him, her demeanor instantly lighter. A smile spread across her face as she offered him her hand.

"You did well," she said. "No doubt because of my teaching, young student."

"...Right." Adam took her hand, feeling his wounds regenerate completely as he stood. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, we're not even close to done." Clementine continued holding his hand while speaking, seemingly unaware of the contact.

"Tomorrow's training will be harsher," she informed him. "And… I won't hold back at all anymore and come at you at full strength. It—"

She finally noticed the sensation of their sweat mixing between their palms, the warmth of her skin against his… and she froze.

When she realized that she'd been holding his hand for far longer than she should have, she quickly let go of Adam's hand.

"I—Let go," she explained awkwardly, wiping her palm on her training clothes. "Why are you even holding my hand?"

"Uh…"

She turned away before Adam could say anything, her cheeks flushed. "Go wash up for dinner."

Clementine stomped off, quietly scolding herself for acting like a flustered child. As for Adam, he didn't really think much of what happened at all and just followed her. But before he could take a single step—

"Wait," Clementine suddenly turned back. "Stay put."

She ran off, returning moments later with Alfred, who pushed a cart carrying a large wooden crate.

"Do you remember what I mentioned yesterday?" Clementine asked, slightly out of breath.

"Yes…?"

"I promised you a gift," she reminded him. "It's finished. You'll start using it in training tomorrow."

Adam's eyes moved to the crate suspiciously. Alfred began opening it, and Adam instinctively stepped forward to help.

"Let me help—"

"That would be unnecessary, Monsieur Adam." Alfred stopped him, gesturing for him to stay put.

Adam stood still, feeling oddly like a child being told to behave while someone opened his gift. And soon, the crate opened with a soft creak.

A strange glow seemed to emanate from inside, casting light on the walls.

"That…" Adam saw his reflection in the gift inside, and his breath faltered.

He already suspected what it could be when Clementine said he was going to use it in the Game. Even so, he never expected this.

It was a weapon.

"I can't accept this," Adam said immediately.

"It's a gift." Clementine sighed, knowing Adam would say that. "Though if you insist, you can pay me a thousand dollars for it."

"A thousand…" Adam knew instantly that the weapon was worth far more—probably more than everything he owned combined.

And like Clementine, Adam knew her enough that he knew she would never take no for an answer.

And so, Adam just nodded.

"Well, time for dinner!"

The days that followed passed quickly. Adam's training became significantly harder, the intensity escalating daily. The sessions grew rough—far rougher than before. And like Clementine said, he began using the new weapon regularly… and it was wonderful.

And very soon…

…only a few hours remained until the next Game began.

"Hm…" Adam stood facing the horizon, an endless blue ocean stretching before him. Sunlight reflected across the water, peaceful and blinding. His dark silhouette contrasted sharply against the brightness.

He was at the beach, directly below the castle.

This is… where you wanted to take Samantha.

Adam gripped the pouch strung around his neck tight, whispering through it as he stared at the ocean.

I made a promise, too. I'll take you to a beach back home, but… not yet. Not here.

He slid the pouch into his new armor, and let out a whisper.

"We'll go after the Game."

He remained standing there for a while, watching the waves crash against the distant cliffs.

"Adam. Alfred told me you were here."

"Ma'am."

"Wh—" Clementine approached him from behind, but she froze as soon as he glanced back, and she saw his face. His eyes… were filled with a sorrow so deep, it caused her to hold her breath.

It… was the most sadness she had ever seen in someone. And she felt it, because for once, she was completely sober.

She wanted to allow Adam's emotions to reach her fully through her abilities—but his feelings overwhelmed her completely.

All she could feel was his sadness… and it was breaking her.

She finally understood what sort of person Adam truly was. And how he thought of others. How… kind he was. How much sadness he carried. How much he feared himself.

"Oh…" Tears spilled from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, nodding repeatedly—to herself more than to Adam.

Adam felt… warm, but incredibly beautiful.

She forced herself to smile. She'd originally intended to simply wish him luck, but more important words rose to the surface.

"Adam," she spoke his name again.

And soon, light of the Game began to envelop him once more.

"Please..." she whispered. "

Return without losing any part of yourself."

And just like that, Adam was swallowed by the light, his form dissolving into the air.

[Get ready for the 242nd Battle! Troops deploying in 1 hour!]

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