Kai yawned and turned over in his bed, stretching lazily until his eyes shot open. The sun was already high in the sky.
"No, no, no! I'm late!" he shouted, leaping out of bed like a startled cat.
He scrambled to get dressed, throwing on the crisp white shirt and brown pants a kind villager had gifted him. After hastily tying his boots, he bolted toward the lab, nearly tripping on the steps as he stumbled in.
"YOU'RE LATE!" Charlie's voice thundered across the lab.
Kai froze. The little teddy bear stood on a high crate, arms crossed, smoke almost puffing out of his ears.
"Thirty minutes! That's one hundred push-ups, human!" Charlie barked.
"Wha—?! That's abuse!" Kai groaned, falling to the floor.
"Discipline, not abuse," Charlie said, smugly sipping tea from a thimble-sized cup.
After much groaning, sweating, and mumbling curses under his breath, Kai finished his punishment and slumped against the wall.
Charlie hopped down beside him. "Today begins Day 1 of your training. The process of creating an artificial Zenssai takes five days. Each day will push you further than the last."
"Wonderful," Kai muttered. "Can't wait."
Charlie ignored the sarcasm. "Before we begin, let me tell you something important. Artificial Zenssai are difficult to manage. Unlike a natural Zenssai, which is born with its meister, an artificial one must bond over time. Until then, it's unstable and unpredictable."
Kai wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Wait—meister? Like master?"
"Yes, but it's more than that. When a meister and Zenssai truly understand and trust each other, they form a bond of equals. That's when you become a Maestro—the one who can fully harness the power of the Zenssai."
Charlie paused, eyes gleaming. "Zenssai is no ordinary weapon. It is a blessing given to humanity by the Great Almighty Sun God during the Solar Era. A gift to help humans survive, thrive, and protect their purpose."
Kai nodded, understanding the reverence in Charlie's voice.
"For now," Charlie said, "I want you to focus on strengthening your willpower and body. Today is simple—you need to form a bond with this."
He handed Kai a small, crimson gem that seemed to pulse faintly.
"The Philosopher's Stone. A key ingredient in weapon alchemy. It will become the core of your Zenssai. Your task: make it shine."
Kai tilted his head. "Make it shine? Like… polish it?"
Charlie face-palmed. "No, genius. The stone responds to your emotions and intentions. To make it shine, you must pour your will into it. Your desire to protect, to fight, to grow. Focus your soul."
Kai sat cross-legged and stared at the stone in his hand. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Memories of Shinji flashed in his mind—his awkward smile, his clumsy inventions, how he always tried to fix everything. Then the memory of him being taken away.
"I'll save you," Kai whispered.
The stone trembled in his hand. Then—
A soft, radiant glow began to emit from it.
Charlie's eyes widened. "He did it…"
The light grew stronger for a moment, then gently faded, leaving the stone with a warm, steady glow.
"Congratulations," Charlie said with a proud smile. "You've connected with it. Now, give it a name. Naming your Zenssai is crucial—it gives identity to your bond."
Kai looked at the stone and whispered, "Solstice."
Charlie raised a brow. "That's… a powerful name. Any reason?"
Kai smiled faintly. "It reminds me of Adnyess. The moment between light and dark… like him."
"Solstice, huh? Not bad for a nerd."
Kai smirked. "You're lucky I respect elders, even fuzzy ones."
Charlie chuckled. "You've got spirit, Kai. Let's see if you can handle what comes next."
Meanwhile, deep in the underbelly of Outlaw Town…
Shinji's eyes were swollen, his body tied to an iron chair with thick chains. Blood trickled from a cut above his brow. The room was dark, humid, and echoed with cruel laughter.
In front of him stood a tall figure clad in a golden cloak, his face half-covered by a mask adorned with the Divitae insignia.
"Still not talking?" the man sneered.
Shinji spat at his feet.
The Gold Commander backhanded him, hard. "Your father's sins live on in you. We'll break that stubborn soul of yours soon enough."
Shinji's head drooped, but his eyes still burned with fire.
"I won't let him succeed," he whispered.
The commander leaned in, voice venomous. "Neither will we."
End of Chapter 9