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.
Kai looked down, puzzled. "Wait… it's glowing again?"
Charlie sighed. "That's the problem. The reason is... your Zenssai didn't like the name."
Kai blinked. "Wait WHAT?! I put so much effort into that name!"
"Well, your Zenssai clearly has a strong personality. Try again."
Kai looked at the stone. "You sure have a high ego… just like that king I read about in my village stories. Hm… what should your name be? Ivar?"
The stone flashed with brilliant light, illuminating the entire lab.
Charlie smiled, eyes wide. "It liked it. Ivar... That's a good name."
"Ivar, huh?" Kai said with a grin. "Kinda badass."
Charlie patted his back. "You're doing great. That's enough for today. And don't be late tomorrow—it's one of the most important days in the process."
The Next Day
Kai woke up at exactly 7:00 AM. After a quick stretch and a bite of stale bread, he darted to the lab, bursting through the doors.
Charlie looked up from his notes. "Didn't expect you to actually be on time, you brat." He chuckled, then grew serious. "Today will be the most painful of all days. We're going to stay here until midnight. That's why I let you rest yesterday."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are we doing?"
Charlie picked up a strange silvery metal. "This is Orichalcum. Incredibly rare. Loko's father brought it back from one of his travels."
Kai's eyes widened. "Orichalcum? That's from one of the old myths from my hometown."
Charlie nodded. "Myths often carry truths, kid. This metal is strong and reacts powerfully with Zenssai energy. Now—back to business. Which hand is your dominant one?"
"Left, why?" Kai replied.
Charlie took his left hand. "This is going to hurt. Are you ready?"
Kai smirked. "I was born ready."
Charlie laughed. "You do have guts, boi." Then, with a small blade, he made a precise incision in Kai's arm and inserted the thin shard of Orichalcum into his bloodstream.
"AAAARGH!" Kai screamed. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!"
"Shut up and listen! We need to keep the metal in your bloodstream until midnight so it can synchronize with your body." Charlie's voice was stern.
"Also, today is the Full Blue Moon—it strengthens weapon crafting. Perfect timing."
Kai groaned, but nodded, sweat already beading on his forehead.
Elsewhere in Outlaw Town…
Shinji's body slumped in a chair, bruised and bloodied, barely conscious. Chains rattled every time he breathed.
A man in a heavy golden cloak entered the room, eyes gleaming with cruelty.
"Tell me the process of making a Zenssai, kid… or should I beat it out of you?" the man growled.
"I'd rather die," Shinji spat.
The man—Olaf, the head of the Divitae Gold Commanders—grinned wickedly. "That can be arranged."
End of Chapter 9