──────────────────────────
Chapter 35 — Chains That Feed on Strength
──────────────────────────
The atmosphere in the training yard grew heavy, as if the very air itself was waiting for what was to come.
Zokimoshi, the one with the tiger mask, stood staring at Kazu with a childish stubborn gaze.
Zokimoshi: ( Why am I not getting training? )
Kazu: ( Because you are too strong… and might even match my power )
Zokimoshi's eyebrows rose with pure childish excitement.
Zokimoshi: ( So what? I still want to become stronger )
Kazu: ( Fine… but I won't let you surpass me )
Then he pointed a finger toward one of the black chains hanging from the ceiling, heavy, with a faint white steam rising from it, as if it were breathing.
Kazu: ( Go grab it and hold it as long as you can )
Zokimoshi: ( Alright )
Zokimoshi jumped and grabbed the chain.
The rough iron scraped his hand, and his muscles instantly slackened as if he had been slapped from the inside.
At that moment, Kazu gathered the iron doors that Zokimoshi had previously cut, carrying them all at once as if they were mere wooden boards.
He headed to one of the side wooden doors and opened it.
Behind him appeared a large black pit… as if the ground itself had opened its mouth.
He threw the doors inside, disappearing into a deep, eerie silence.
He closed the gate and returned to find a shocking sight—
Zokimoshi was lying on the ground, sweat pouring from his forehead, knees trembling, gasping as if he had run a marathon.
Kazu: ( Why did you collapse so quickly? )
Zokimoshi: ( I felt extreme fatigue… as if something was pulling my soul )
Kazu: ( I forgot to tell you… these chains drain a person's strength.
Not just mana, but their physical power too.
They absorb it like a sponge drinks water… though mana is drained very slowly as well )
Zokimoshi: ( It's okay… I'll continue )
Kazu: ( Your determination is admirable, Tiger Face )
But…
Kazu suddenly felt something tugging at his pants from below.
He turned slowly and saw his little one, Hovi, clutching a piece of his pants as if holding onto his life.
The boy's face was red with shyness, his eyes avoiding everyone.
Hovi whispered in a lost tone: ( Papa… lunch is ready… mom said go… )
Kazu: ( What did you say? And why are you so shy? You are my son; you should be strong like your father )
Hovi lowered his voice: ( Mom said lunch is ready… come )
Kazu leaned down closer to his ear.
Kazu: ( What did you say? )
Suddenly…
Hovi screamed: ( I told you lunch is ready, and you say mom said come!!! )
Kazu immediately put his hand over his ear.
The air compressed, and everyone looked at the child…
Hovi's eyes widened, then he took a step back, then another…
Hovi thought: ( They are looking… at me… I must run )
He ran upstairs as if fleeing from a monster.
Kiura: ( Why is this boy so shy? )
Renion: ( He's cute )
Zokimoshi: ( Weak boy )
Kazu: ( And what business is it of yours? Come on, it's lunch time… though I don't know how you managed it so fast )
── They all went upstairs ──
They entered the living room.
Renion threw herself onto the sofa as if she had just finished a war.
Kiura sat next to her, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Zokimoshi remained standing… swaying… literally swaying.
Renion: ( I'm tired )
Kiura: ( I completed half the training… it's really hard )
Zokimoshi, swaying: ( It wasn't hard )
Kiura and Renion together: ( Look at yourself, see how you sway! )
And while they were like this…
Miro came out of the kitchen carrying a huge platter, its surface gleaming from the heat of the food.
The fish stretched across the plate like a piece of art carved with fire;
its skin perfectly browned, shifting between golden and bronze hues.
Its sides slightly opened to reveal soft white meat, emitting sweet-smelling steam.
A light layer of spices covered it—golden saffron, fresh black pepper, glistening lemon drops.
On the sides, grilled tomato rings resembled tiny suns, accompanied by warm bread and mint-scented tea.
They began eating.
Kiura took a piece of bread, dipped it into the fish, and bit—it turned his eyes into stars.
Kiura: ( Delicious )
Renion: ( Your cooking is amazing )
Miro: ( It doesn't deserve all that praise )
Kazu: ( Come on, eat quickly, and then we prepare for training )
Kiura: ( Alright )
── After eating ──
They returned to the basement.
Kiura grabbed the rock and began lifting it, Renion covered her eyes and started fighting the moving trunk, Zokimoshi returned to the chain to torture himself.
Kazu thought: ( They're putting in effort… but progressing slowly… we'll raise the training level… but not now, I'll let them finish first )
After a few moments—
Kiura fell, and the rock hit the ground, creating small cracks around it.
Kiura grabbed his left arm, gasping.
Kiura: ( Oh, finally finished training… my hand hurts )
Renion received a hit from the trunk, rolled slightly, and removed the blindfold.
Renion: ( I think I'm starting to adapt to this )
Zokimoshi fell to the ground.
Zokimoshi: ( I held the chain for more than 59 seconds )
He then turned to Kiura and whispered: ( Is it called "second"? )
Kiura: ( Yes, and did you really count? )
Zokimoshi scratched his nose: ( Of course )
Kazu clapped lightly.
Kazu: ( Alright, this is good… but your progress is slow… we'll move to the second level of training )
Kiura: ( There are levels in training? )
Kazu: ( Yes… there are about three levels )
Renion: ( Every time we think surprises are over… more surprises appear )
Kazu: ( Fine, let's begin… Kiura, I want you to do just 10 push-ups )
Kiura thought: ( That's few… which means disaster is coming… he always gives easy training first, then strikes us from behind )
Kiura began…
And just one second later, Kazu placed a long square rock on Kiura's back.
The ground beneath his hands and feet cracked.
His muscles tensed.
His back arched.
Even a small cracking sound came from his spine.
Kiura's breath stopped…
His mouth open in silence… then.
Kiura: ( Wait… is this training… or is he trying to bury me alive )
──────────────────────────
To be continued…
──────────────────────────