Tower of god : The Big Shark In a Small pond

4 Days Before the Hell train Departure :

In a dimly lit room within their temporary base, Jane sat on a stool near Karean's bed, his towering frame hunched forward. He rested his elbows on his knees, staring at Karean's pale face. His leader lay unconscious, his body heavily bandaged, his breaths shallow but steady.

Across the room, Lira moved methodically, her hands glowing faintly with the residue of her Shinsu flames as she sterilized Karean's wounds. The heat wasn't enough to harm but provided warmth that accelerated his recovery.

"How's he doing?" Jane asked, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Lira didn't look up, her amber eyes focused on her work. "Stable, for now. But it's going to take a while for him to fully recover. The wound on his chest… it nearly killed him."

Jane let out a slow exhale, his massive hands clenching into fists. "If I'd been there sooner…"

"Don't," Lira cut him off, finally meeting his gaze. "This isn't on you, Jane. None of us expected that attack to happen. We did what we could."

The room fell silent again, save for the occasional crackle of Lira's flames and the steady rhythm of Karean's breathing. Jane's mind, however, was anything but calm. Memories of their earlier battles played in his head, his failures and successes merging into a chaotic storm.

"You blame yourself too much," Lira said softly, her tone uncharacteristically gentle.

Jane looked at her, surprised. "You don't understand."

"Then help me understand," Lira replied, setting down a cloth and moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "Because I don't see someone who failed. I see someone who's always fighting with everything he has , to protect Karean."

Jane hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I was supposed to be strong enough to stop this. But every time we face someone stronger, I wonder… what's the point? If we can't even keep our own leader safe, how are we supposed to survive the Hell Train?"

Lira frowned but didn't respond immediately. She studied Jane, noting the tension in his shoulders, the weariness in his eyes. "You know, Karean chose you to be part of this group for a reason. He believes in you, even if you don't believe in yourself right now."

Jane's lips pressed into a thin line as he glanced at Karean. "Do you think he'll ever fully recover?"

Lira leaned back, her expression contemplative. "Karean's strong. Stubborn, too. If anyone can survive something like this, it's him."

"That's not what I meant," Jane said, his voice quieter. "Physically, sure. But mentally? Watching him fight like that, seeing him push himself to the brink… I wonder if he ever doubts, like I do."

Lira's expression softened. "Of course, he does. We all do. But that's what makes him a good leader. He pushes forward anyway."

Jane nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "I just… I don't want to let him down. Or any of you."

"You won't," Lira said firmly. "And you're not alone in this. None of us are."

As the conversation settled, the door to the room creaked open. Ravian stepped inside, glancing between them and the unconscious Karean.

"How's he holding up?" Ravian asked, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

"Same as before," Lira replied. "But we're keeping him stable."

Ravian nodded, his usual smug demeanor replaced with quiet concern. "Good. Ark and Rugard are training outside. They're pushing hard for the Hell Train. Maybe… you should, too."

Jane shook his head. "Not while Karean's like this. I need to stay here."

"You can't carry this alone," Ravian said, his tone sharpening. "None of us can. You staying here won't make Karean heal faster. But if you're stronger, maybe next time you can stop something like this from happening."

Jane stared at Ravian, his jaw tightening. "And if I'm not strong enough?"

"Then we all fall," Ravian replied bluntly. "But that's why we're a group. We pick each other up. You think Lira and I don't feel the same weight you do?"

Lira chimed in, her voice soft but firm. "He's right, Jane. You need to trust us. Karean would want all of us to be ready for what's coming."

Jane looked at them both, then back at Karean. For a moment, he was silent, his thoughts churning. Finally, he stood, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the room.

"Fine," he said, his voice steady. "But someone stays with him at all times. If anything changes, you tell me immediately."

Lira smiled faintly. "Deal."

As Jane stepped toward the door, Ravian clapped him on the shoulder. "About time. Let's see if you can still keep up."

Jane snorted, a hint of his usual confidence returning. "Keep up? Try not to fall behind."

As they left the room, Lira glanced at Karean one last time, her expression softening. "You better wake up soon," she murmured. "They're going to need you."

The room fell silent once more, save for the quiet hum of her flames and the steady rhythm of Karean's breathing.

In the Defects' Training area :

sparks of lightning, and the sound of heavy breathing. Rugard stood in the centre , Across from him was Ark, shirtless and radiating with crackling lightning, his face set in grim determination.

Ark's gaze sharpened, watching Rugard carefully. "You're adapting too quickly," he muttered under his breath.

Rugard tilted his head, smirking faintly. "You're supposed to be the smart one here. Figure it out."

Without warning, Ark burst forward, his body disappearing into a blur of blue lightning. He appeared behind Rugard in an instant, his fist crackling as he aimed a strike at the older man's ribs.

[ Ark Style Lightning Technique : Thunderbolt Jab ]

But Rugard twisted his body at the last second, letting the punch slide harmlessly past him before countering with a palm strike to Ark's shoulder. The impact was precise, forcing Ark to stumble back.

"Too predictable," Rugard said calmly, stepping back into a defensive stance.

Ark clenched his fists, lightning swirling around his body. "That's what you said last time," he muttered, his mind racing. Rugard wasn't just countering his moves; he was reading them before they even happened.

Ark took a deep breath, letting his lightning dim slightly as he reevaluated the situation. Rugard's style was brutal yet precise, a mix of overwhelming power and sharp instincts honed through years of combat. Unlike most opponents, Rugard didn't rely on flashy techniques or overwhelming speed. He simply out-thought and out-fought anyone who dared to challenge him.

"Alright," Ark muttered to himself. "Time to change things up."

This time, Ark feinted forward, releasing a burst of lightning toward Rugard's feet. Rugard jumped to avoid the attack, but Ark was already waiting for him in mid-air.

Ark Sent Him Flying With an Uppercut Of His Lightning Punch ,

The punch connected, sending Rugard flying backward. But instead of crashing to the ground, Rugard flipped in mid-air, landing gracefully on his feet.

"Better," Rugard admitted, wiping a speck of blood from his lip. "But not good enough."

Rugard launched his counterattack. His movements were a blur, his fists and kicks coming at Ark from every angle. Ark managed to block the first few strikes, but Rugard's relentless assault began to overwhelm him.

"Damn it," Ark hissed, dodging another blow. He could feel his body heating up, a dangerous side effect of using his lightning for prolonged periods.

"You're hesitating," Rugard said, his voice calm but cutting. "You're holding back because you're afraid of losing control."

Ark gritted his teeth. He hated how right Rugard was. Even now, his thoughts were split between attacking and managing his overheating body.

"You're a monster," Ark said, his voice low.

Rugard smirked. "Takes one to know one."

Ark's lightning surged to life again, brighter and fiercer than before. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his mind clearing as he focused entirely on the fight.

"I'm done holding back," Ark said, his voice steady.

Rugard's smirk widened. "Good. Show me what you've got."

Ark lunged forward, his movements sharper and more unpredictable than before. This time, he didn't rely on brute force. Instead, he used feints, misdirection, and his superior speed to create openings.

Rugard blocked the first strike, dodged the second, but was caught off-guard by a sudden shift in Ark's movement.

[ Ark Style Lightning Technique: Thunderstorm Barrage ]

A flurry of electrified punches and kicks rained down on Rugard, forcing him to go on the defensive for the first time in the match. Rugard managed to block most of the attacks, but the sheer ferocity of the assault left him winded.

With one final burst of energy, Ark delivered a powerful spinning kick, sending Rugard skidding ,

Both men were breathing heavily as they sat on the ground, the sparring session finally over.

"You're insane," Ark said, a faint smirk on his face.

"And you're stubborn," Rugard replied, shaking his head. "But that's not a bad thing. You've got the talent. You just need to stop overthinking everything."

Ark nodded, his respect for Rugard growing. "You're still a monster, though."

"And you're still a hothead," Rugard shot back, laughing.

From a distance, Ravian and Jane approached the training grounds , Ravian's needle resting casually on his shoulder. "Did I miss the fun?"

"You missed getting your ass kicked," Ark, standing up and brushing himself off.

Rugard smirked. "He's right. You might've been next."

Ravian rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small grin on his face. "Well, there's still time. Let's see what you've got left in the tank."

As the four prepared for another round of sparring, the weight of the Hell Train's imminent departure hung heavy in the air. But for now, the Defects were focused on one thing: getting stronger, together.