Atlas collapsed to the ground, the searing pain radiating through his body. He screamed, the agony so overwhelming it felt as though it might knock him unconscious.
Kurogasa had carefully chosen a training area where the lava streams were shallow and sparse, with wide stretches of solid ground between them.
Even so, the streams, no wider than a human foot, were still dangerous enough that one wrong step could cause serious harm. And now, Atlas's foot had landed directly in one of them, the molten heat melting his sole as though it were wax.
"My Lord… let me heal you," Lyrassa said, rushing to his side alongside Kurogasa.
Atlas felt their presence and the beginning of healing energy flowing into his foot. His hand shot out, gripping Lyrassa's wrist to stop her.
The lessons he had learned from Kurogasa rang loudly in his mind. Pain must be endured. Only by pushing to the brink can you surpass your limits.
Atlas clenched his teeth, breathing heavily. He couldn't let this pain defeat him. It wasn't his body that needed to endure—it was his mind!
"Only heal me if there's a risk of permanent damage," he said through gritted teeth.
Lyrassa shook her head, clearly against his decision, but reluctantly followed his orders. Her gaze remained fixed on his face, falling silently as she watched him endure the pain.
"My Lord…" Kurogasa said.
"No," Atlas interrupted. "This is just the beginning. I'm not giving up!"
He stayed on the ground for a moment longer, letting the pain ripple through him. It didn't fade—not really—but he willed himself to move. Slowly, with a roar of frustration, Atlas began to rise. His legs shook as he forced himself upright.
Damn it!
The pain was excruciating, but he refused to stop. This was the path to strength, and he would walk it, no matter how much it hurt.
He started running again, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! ARGHH!"
This time, his steps carried more confidence. Having endured the pain once, he knew he could survive it again.
Strangely, everything around him began to feel sharper, clearer. The crackling of the lava, the shifting heat in the air, the distinct scorched smell that changed as he moved—he was beginning to sense it all.
He could feel the environment guiding him, each step becoming more precise.
He could do this!
Lyrassa stood with a worried expression, her gaze fixed on Atlas. Beside her were Kurogasa and Edrik.
"The Lord…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "He's only human…" Her words caught in her throat as tears fell freely down her cheeks. "He's just a normal human… This suffering must be hell for him."
She shook her head, unable to hide her distress.
Edrik sighed heavily. "Even I, an assassin accustomed to hellish training, feel like my past struggles were child's play compared to what he's putting himself through."
Kurogasa nodded slowly. "It pains me to see him suffer like this. But he knows better than anyone what he wants. All we can do is support him and cover his blind spots."
The three of them watched in silence as Atlas ran again, faster this time. His steps grew surer, and he managed to guide himself away from the streams of lava with greater precision. He was adjusting, adapting… learning.
Atlas stumbled again, this time falling into the same stream of lava. The pain was excruciating, and he rolled on the ground, clutching his leg as if the agony were breaking his very bones.
Lyrassa and Kurogasa rushed toward him, worry etched on their faces. But after ensuring he could endure, they stepped back as Atlas forced himself to stand once more.
He started running again, his resolve unshaken despite the pain.
This wasn't even the first lap—it was far from over.
Then, finally—
"My Lord, first lap," Kurogasa called out as Atlas passed him.
Atlas managed a faint, determined smile before pushing forward, his pace unwavering.
Finally!
As he continued, the rhythm of his running became steadier. He was growing accustomed to navigating without sight, interpreting his surroundings through smell, heat, and sound. His senses sharpened, working together in ways they never had before.
It was sheer, unrelenting hell.
There were moments when he felt despair, questioning the sanity of his decision to endure such punishment. But every time doubt clawed at his mind, he roared—deep, primal, and unyielding—forcing himself to push harder.
He pushed harder!
With every step, his confidence grew.
Sure, he fell again. His legs were scraped raw, his body battered, caked in dirt and blistered from the heat. But he refused to stop.
He rose every time, his determination burning brighter than the molten streams beneath his feet!
And finally… finally!!!
"My Lord, you've done it," Kurogasa's voice broke through the haze of exhaustion.
Atlas smiled, then burst into laughter as he collapsed onto the ground, his body trembling with relief. Hahaha! He laughed, reaching up to remove his blindfold.
As his vision adjusted, he saw Kurogasa, Edrik, Lyrassa, and all the troops surrounding him. They stood silently for a moment before bowing to him in unison.
Edrik stepped forward, offering his hand to help Atlas up, steadying him as he struggled to find his footing.
This had been another round of hellish training. But he had made it through.
Atlas clenched his fists. This wasn't his limit—not yet.
He would keep pushing himself, breaking through every barrier, no matter how impossible it seemed.
He would go even further!
Afterward, the group took a well-deserved break for lunch before diving into another grueling round of training. The intensity matched the earlier session, pushing everyone to their limits.
By the time evening rolled around, they returned, exhausted, to Gacha Haven.
Moments like these made Atlas think how much more enjoyable post-training recovery would be if he could construct the Healing Spring. The blueprint he'd acquired from the Gacha, but he still lacked the materials to build it.
He resolved to explore other islands soon to gather what he needed.
In his room, Atlas received treatment and healing from Lyrassa. Her abilities worked wonders, and he was back to his normal state much faster than he could have expected. It was nothing short of a miracle having someone like her on his team.
That night, as usual, the island came alive.
Everyone gathered to eat, laugh, and sing around the fire. Some took turns grilling food, others joined in karaoke, and a few brave souls tried their hand at stand-up comedy, filling the night with laughter and joy.
Atlas sat back, watching it all, a satisfied smile on his face. This vibe—this energy—was something he intended to preserve.
He reviewed his remaining gacha pulls. He still had 80 Standard Tickets!
This meant he was guaranteed at least one Rank-S item, though he couldn't help but feel a little greedy, hoping for even more.
The excitement among his troops was palpable as Atlas stepped onto the stage. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.
He grabbed 10 tickets and threw them into the air. The glowing tickets spun wildly before each began to change color.
Brown. Everyone fell silent.
Brown. Brown. Brown.
Then—Purple!
"FIRE!" the crowd roared in unison.
Another ticket turned Purple.
"FIRE!" they shouted again, louder this time.
The remaining ticket began to settle. Brown. Brown. Brown. Purple!
"FIRE!"
Cheers erupted as the results were revealed. Three Rank-A items from the first pull.
"What a way to start the night!"