"Ain, did you need something from me?"
It was late, and Karen knew that Ain wouldn't come by at this hour without a reason.
"Hey, there's confrontation training tomorrow. I brought you something useful," she said with a smile, holding out a medical kit she had been carrying behind her back.
"Oh crap, I almost forgot about that."
Karen's face lit up with realization. If Ain hadn't reminded him, he would have completely forgotten about the scheduled combat drills.
At Marineford, even training wasn't safe. While these sparring matches between recruits weren't meant to be lethal, injuries were common.
Especially for someone like Karen—consistently ranked at the bottom of the camp. The instructors barely acknowledged his presence, and some even hoped he'd drop out. Every confrontation session left him bruised and beaten.
"Thanks, Ain."
Scratching the back of his head, Karen accepted the medical kit, both touched and a little embarrassed—unsure if her kindness meant he was relying on her too much.
"Hmph, what are you thanking me for? Just make sure to take care of yourself, that's more important."
Ain pouted and crossed her arms. Then, noticing the sweat on Karen's face and his exhausted state from late-night training, she added softly, "Don't push yourself so hard. Even if you stay this weak… I… I'll still be here with you."
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she turned away abruptly, vanishing from the yard like she was fleeing from her own words.
Karen stood quietly for a moment, watching her retreating figure. A small smile crept onto his face, and then he clenched his fists, lifting his head to gaze at the moon that had been watching over them all night.
Under the pale glow, he felt a flicker of determination rise inside him.
"Confrontation training… I can't wait."
---
The next morning came quickly.
Karen rose before dawn, as always. Thanks to the intense training he'd endured recently—and the infusion of Fire Dragon Slayer Magic—his stamina had improved tremendously. Though he had trained late into the night, he felt full of energy.
Usually, Karen would do a solo morning workout, but considering the upcoming combat session, he limited himself to a simple warm-up.
After a light breakfast, he made his way to the recruit training grounds.
"Good morning, Karen."
Ain waved to him as soon as he arrived.
She was one of the few people in the camp who always greeted Karen with warmth. Despite his low status among the recruits, Ain's attitude toward him had never changed.
"Good morning to you too!" Karen smiled in response.
"Did you remember to bring the medical kit?" Ain whispered as they walked together.
"Of course," Karen said with a confident nod, patting the kit tucked under his arm. "I'm confident in how much I've improved, but I'd never ignore your concern."
"That's good. Still… if it comes down to it, don't force yourself. It's okay to surrender."
Ain looked at him with worry in her eyes.
Karen raised his fist and grinned. "Don't worry. I've trained like hell for this. Just watch—I'll surprise you today."
Ain looked like she wanted to say more, but held her words back. She was simple in heart, but not naive. She knew Karen's ambition. Since he had finally found something that gave him strength, all she could do now was stand beside him in silent support.
A few minutes later, the Instructor arrived at the grounds and began giving a short speech to the gathered recruits. Afterward, he pulled out a list and began announcing the combat pairings that had already been drawn.
One match after another proceeded. Dozens of recruits battled, one pair at a time, until the Instructor called out again:
"Next match—Karen versus Ren. Step forward."
A murmur spread through the crowd. Ain's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?! Ren's fighting Karen?"
Everyone knew Ren's reputation. Among the current recruits, Ain might have the greatest potential, but in terms of raw skill and combat experience, Ren stood at the top.
He wasn't just some gifted swordsman—he was the son of a Marine Vice Admiral, trained in advanced combat since childhood. He had real battlefield experience, and his results were unmatched.
That such a person was paired with Karen—who was always seen as the camp's weakest link—couldn't be coincidence.
Ain clenched her fists.
"This is messed up. Karen, don't fight him—this has to be a setup! Ren's not here to spar. He's here to crush you."
She shouted across the field, clearly anxious.
But Karen just gave her a calm smile.
"You don't need to worry," he said gently. "I'm not the one in danger."
As he spoke, a subtle shift in pressure radiated from him. Ain flinched slightly, caught off guard by the quiet intensity in his voice.
Karen turned toward the center of the field, walking forward with steady, purposeful steps.
He understood what this was. The Instructor had always resented him—the weakest recruit, the one who didn't belong. Pairing him with Ren wasn't about fairness. It was punishment. A final test designed to break his spirit and force him to quit.
But things were different now.
Karen wasn't the same person who used to be laughed off the training grounds.