"This young man's perseverance… is quite terrifying."
Sitting not far away, Lucian lounged with one leg crossed over the other, looking half-asleep as usual.
As if sweeping away all those nuclear missiles across America at light speed earlier—
Had already drained a whole year's worth of his energy.
Aiden Cross couldn't stand this kind of slacking employee.
Just look at Aizen next door—
A model worker.
Handling administrative work for all seven continents,
While also fighting on the frontlines.
Never complaining.
Always delivering perfect results.
And then look at Lucian—
A professional slacker.
If he could sit, he wouldn't stand.
If he could lie down, he wouldn't even sit.
If King hadn't been sent to supervise him,
He would've slacked off completely.
"Still… he does have the potential to become an excellent marine."
"Indeed. With some training, he could also become an outstanding knight."
Surprisingly—
Lucian and Reinhard reached the same conclusion.
Though still weak—
After consuming the legendary Devil Fruit, Life Source—
Mumen Rider had already stepped onto the path of becoming stronger.
What he needed—
Was time.
A pure heroic heart.
Unbreakable will.
Such a person—
Would be highly sought after by any organization:
Marines, knight orders, hero associations.
"By the way, there's something I need to tell you both."
"Ahhh—my back! It's gone! Chairman, I'll take my leave first!"
"Get back here, you slacker!"
Aiden Cross grabbed Lucian with one hand and dragged him back.
This guy—
A complete veteran at avoiding work.
The moment Aiden Cross opened his mouth,
He already knew what was coming—
And instantly started acting injured.
Aiden Cross could only think:
You sly old fox.
"Chairman, I'm old… I twisted my ankle kicking those missiles earlier…"
"Enough. Stop pretending."
Aiden Cross's face darkened.
"If you believe even a word he says, you lose."
This old monkey—
If it helps him slack off,
Two out of every three sentences are lies.
Mash, sitting beside Aiden Cross,
Covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Even an A-Class hero—
Had such a goofy side.
"…Fine."
Knowing he couldn't escape,
Lucian reluctantly sat back down.
Still—
Yawning nonstop,
Looking like he might fall asleep any second.
"The situation in the African branch has become extremely critical."
"So, in three days, I want the two of you to go provide support."
"Yes. I will follow your command."
Reinhard agreed immediately.
Confident.
Reliable.
A perfect knight.
"…Ahh… what a hassle…"
Lucian, on the other hand—
Was the exact opposite.
Aiden Cross really wanted to kick him right then and there.
"Lucian, can you slack a little less and actually do some work?"
"Chairman, I'm already old…"
"Yeah right. I don't believe a single word you say."
This guy always said things like "So scary~" or "I'm too old~"
But back when he was an admiral—
He was casually destroying enemies left and right.
Those he called "scary"—
Couldn't even survive one move.
"Anyway, you're both leaving in three days."
With Aiden Cross's final word—
Even Lucian had no choice but to comply.
Even a slacker—
Had to at least pretend to follow orders.
"Justice Punch!"
Mumen Rider, his face covered in blood,
Roared as he threw everything into a single punch—
Launching it toward Billy Herrington.
The recoil—
Supposedly strong enough to knock the Earth off orbit (?)
In reality—
Aside from the momentum—
It didn't do much.
To Billy—
It felt lighter than a mosquito bite.
"Smack—!"
Billy casually waved his arm.
The shockwave alone—
Sent Mumen Rider flying.
Even with his shield—
He spun wildly through the air before crashing down.
His body turned into blue particles—
Indicating death.
Inside the training room—
Death wasn't real.
It simply reset your virtual body.
Three seconds later—
Mumen Rider reappeared.
"Sorry, Mumen boy. I didn't control my strength well."
"No… I'm just too weak."
Mumen shook his head.
This wasn't Billy's fault.
The gap—
Was simply too big.
Even with massive restraint—
A careless motion was enough to kill him.
Still—
Mumen Rider smiled slightly.
Because he had grown.
Which meant—
He could protect more people.
Unlike before—
When all he had was futile resistance.
"This fighting method is wrong. Let's change it."
Aiden Cross watched for a while—
And snapped his fingers.
Billy disappeared—
Replaced by a new opponent.
The Deep Sea King.
A peak Demon-level monster.
Of course—
The battlefield remained on land.
After all—
Mumen Rider, as a Devil Fruit user,
Would instantly lose if exposed to seawater.
"Nice meat…"
"Die, monster!"
"Boom—!"
The Deep Sea King—
Did not hold back.
One slap—
Instant kill.
The gap—
Was absolute.
"...This seems pointless."
Reinhard frowned.
"If it's just instant death, there's no room for growth."
"You only experience repeated death."
Aiden Cross snapped his fingers again.
The battlefield changed.
Buildings appeared.
Civilians filled the area.
This time—
Mumen Rider didn't die instantly.
Instead—
He shouted for civilians to evacuate.
While—
Using everything he had—
To stall the Deep Sea King.
"Justice Shield Bash!"
"Justice Hold!"
"Divine Punch—Diving Straight!"
"Justice Ankle Lock!"
Like unlocking hidden potential—
Mumen Rider pushed beyond his limits.
Again.
And again.
Even as he was knocked down repeatedly—
He stood back up.
Like a Saint—
Refusing to fall.
Blood poured from his eyes, nose, mouth, ears—
But he didn't retreat.
Even though—
If he played dead—
The Deep Sea King might ignore him.
"Mumen Rider… is a truly respectable hero."
Reinhard spoke quietly.
"If he were in the Marines, he'd become a symbol of spirit."
Lucian nodded in rare approval.
"Mumen boy… truly a man I admire."
Billy added.
"…His resilience… is unbelievable."
Mash stared in shock.
Earlier—
He was being one-shot.
Now—
He was still losing—
But surviving.
Standing again and again—
Like he had infinite lives.
"As long as I'm here—!"
"You won't hurt anyone!!"
"I'll kill you, you damn pest!!!"
The Deep Sea King roared in frustration—
His curses auto-censored.
After dozens more punches—
Mumen Rider still didn't fall.
Finally—
The Deep Sea King fled.
This thing—
Was too disgusting.
Weak—
But unkillable.
Like glue—
Clinging endlessly.
Watching the enemy disappear—
Mumen Rider collapsed.
His body turned into blue light.
He had long surpassed his limits—
Only his will kept him going.
That broken body—
Was moved purely by belief.
"…See? This is the correct training method."
Aiden Cross nodded.
"Use this as the template from now on."
Then—
He snapped his fingers again.
"Next—"
"Dragon-level threat: Ragnar."
It seemed—
If the gap became too large—
Even that Saint-like resilience—
Would no longer be enough.
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Read Chapters ahead: [email protected] / KaiOynx