Kain watched from the sidelines as his brothers followed Ash''s example, each taking their turn challenging Whisper to a battle. The veteran fighter dispatched them with the same methodical efficiency he''d shown against Ash, though each brother lasted slightly longer than the previous.


    Talon went second, using his gauntlets to attempt a more defensive approach. He managed to block several of Whisper''s strikes before a lightning-fast sweep sent him tumbling to the dirt floor.


    Redd followed with his dual short swords, displaying surprising agility but ultimately finding himself disarmed and pinned against the arena wall.


    When Kain''s turn came, he lasted longest, reading Whisper''s movements better than his brothers had, but this was mainly due to him having watched Whisper the longest and having more information. But regardless, he still ended up flat on his back with Whisper''s foot on his chest.


    They gathered their belongings in silence, bruised bodies and wounded pride making each movement a deliberate effort. Kain could feel the determination radiating from his brothers as they prepared to leave the club.


    "We need to train harder," Ash muttered, wincing as he shouldered his staff.


    "Every day," Redd agreed, sheathing his swords.


    Talon nodded, flexing his fingers inside the gauntlets. "No more holding back."


    As they headed toward the exit, a gravelly voice called out behind them.


    "Hold up there, boys."


    Old Man Drogg limped toward them, his weathered face creased with something that might have been sympathy.


    "Don''t hang your heads like that," he said, gesturing at their defeated postures. "How old are you lads? Thirteen? Fourteen?"


    "Thirteen," Kain answered for all of them.


    Drogg snorted. "Thirteen and already in the pit. Got guts, I''ll give you that." He jerked his thumb toward where Whisper was collecting his winnings. "That man there? Been fighting since before you were born. Survived three wars and more death matches than most fighters have regular bouts."


    He tapped Kain''s chest with a calloused finger. "Don''t make the mistake of thinking you''re weak just because he''s strong. That''s like a sapling calling itself a failure because it can''t stand up to an oak."


    Drogg''s eyes swept over all four brothers. "Come back when you''ve put in the work. The pit will still be here."


    Kain exchanged glances with his brothers, seeing the same fire reflected in their eyes. They wouldn''t just come back—they''d return transformed.


    Kain led the way as they exited the fighting club, the afternoon sun harsh against their eyes after hours in the dim underground. His body ached from Whisper''s methodical takedown, but his mind was already racing ahead. Old Man Drogg''s words had struck a chord—they weren''t weak, just untested saplings. But saplings could grow with the right conditions.


    "We need our own space," Kain said as they navigated through Krevane''s crowded streets. "Somewhere we can train without interruption."


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Ash nodded, still nursing his bruised ribs. "No more holding back either. Garik always pulled his punches with us."


    "Because we were kids," Redd pointed out.


    "We''re still kids," Talon said, "but we can''t afford to train like it anymore."


    Kain felt that truth deep in his bones. Despite the advantage of his transmigrated consciousness—of being Zac from Earth with knowledge of this world''s brutality—he''d fallen into complacency. He was still human, struggling with motivation like anyone else without a desperate dream driving them forward. But today had changed everything.


    For months, Kain had carried a certain confidence. Garik''s training had given him a sense that he could make a difference in this world. But one encounter with Whisper had shattered that illusion. The gap between where he stood and where he needed to be yawned like a chasm. The realization settled in his chest, heavy but clarifying. He wasn''t satisfied with his place in this world—not even close.


    They spent the remainder of the day searching, eventually finding a modest single-story house on the eastern edge of town. The structure itself was unremarkable—two small bedrooms, a basic kitchen, and a common area—but the courtyard behind it sealed their decision. Enclosed by a crumbling stone wall, the space offered privacy and room enough for four determined brothers to push their limits.


    Kain counted out the berries from Garik''s pouch, negotiating with the weathered landlord until they secured a three-month lease. It was a significant portion of their funds, but they all agreed it was necessary.


    "Garik would approve," Talon said as they moved their meager belongings into the house that evening. "This is exactly what he meant by making our own way."


    The next morning, they rose before dawn. Where Garik had once needed to drag them from bed for training, now they woke each other with an urgency born of yesterday''s humiliation.


    "First one to fifty pushups is exempt from chores for the rest of the day," Ash declared, dropping immediately to position.


    Kain matched him, feeling the burn in his muscles from yesterday''s fight. In the past, they''d done their exercises dutifully but without true effort. Now, with each brother refusing to yield, Kain pushed through the pain until his arms trembled.


    Their sparring sessions transformed as well. Where they had once pulled back at the first sign of injury, now they fought with an intensity that bordered on recklessness. Kain felt his knuckles split against Redd''s jaw during their first bout, but neither of them stopped.


    "In a real fight, your opponent won''t care about your bloody knuckles," Redd said, spitting blood before countering with a strike that nearly caught Kain''s temple.


    By midday, all four brothers bore fresh bruises and minor cuts. They collapsed in the courtyard''s shade, breathing hard but satisfied with the morning''s work.


    "This is just day one," Kain reminded them, examining a particularly colorful bruise forming on his forearm where Talon had blocked his strike with unexpected force.


    Ash rolled onto his back, staring at the sky. "We need food. Lots of it."


    Kain nodded. One thing he''d noticed in this world—something Zac had always found fascinating about One Piece—was how the food here possessed extraordinary nutritional properties. It wasn''t just sustenance; it was fuel for superhuman growth.


    "The market should still be open," Kain said, pushing himself up despite protesting muscles. "We''ll need meat, fruits, vegetables—everything we can afford."


    "I read once that fishermen can grow to be giants because of their diet," Redd commented, wiping sweat from his brow. "All that protein and nutrients from the sea."


    "That''s part of it," Kain agreed, recalling what he knew as Zac. "The food here... It''s how people can grow so tall, heal so quickly."


    "Like Garik," Talon added. "Nine feet tall and built like a mountain."


    "And if we eat right, train hard," Ash said, a grin spreading across his face despite his split lip, "we could be the same."


    Kain felt a spark of hope. Their bodies might be battered now, but with the right nutrition, they''d heal faster than should be possible. It was one of this world''s gifts—the ability to transform through sheer effort and proper sustenance.


    "We''ll need to budget carefully," Redd said, always the practical one. "Food first, then whatever''s left goes to equipment."


    "And we should go back to the fighting club," Ash suggested, sitting up. "Not to fight—not yet—but to watch. Study the veterans."


    "Learn their techniques," Talon agreed.


    "And their weaknesses," Kain added.


    ****


    Read ahead at https://www.patreon.com/NamelessAuthor_</a>