Tower of god : The Big Shark In a Small pond

Two days before the hell train Departure :

Sweat dripped down Ark's face as he dodged Rugard's heavy strike. The sound of the massive hammer crashing into the ground reverberated through the barren training field outside their temporary base.

"You're relentless," Ark muttered, darting forward with lightning-coated fists, aiming for Rugard's midsection.

Rugard smirked, sidestepping with surprising agility for his size. "You call this relentless? You've been holding back, Khun. Don't disappoint me."

Ark's eyes narrowed, sparks flickering around him as he unleashed a burst of lightning. Rugard raised his hammer, absorbing the brunt of the attack but sliding back a few paces.

"Good," Rugard said, his tone approving. "But you're still too predictable."

"Predictable?" Ark shot back, electricity crackling louder now. "Let's see how predictable this is." He vanished in a blur, appearing behind Rugard and launching a precise strike to his unguarded side.

But Rugard anticipated the move, spinning around to block with the hilt of his hammer. The clash sent a shockwave through the air, both fighters gritting their teeth as the force pushed them apart.

"Not bad," Rugard admitted, lowering his weapon. "You're sharper than I thought."

"And you're tougher than I expected," Ark replied, catching his breath. "But we've pushed far enough for today. Let's head back."

The two trudged back to the base, their steps heavy from exhaustion but their spirits high.

---

As they approached the entrance to their base, Ark and Rugard froze in their tracks. Inside, Karean sat upright on a cushion, his pale face bearing a faint smile.

"You're awake!" Ark exclaimed, stepping forward, his usual composure momentarily breaking.

Karean chuckled weakly. "Surprised?"

"More like shocked," Ark admitted. "We didn't expect you to wake up so soon."

Rugard stayed silent, observing the interaction.

Karean's gaze shifted to him. "You must be Rugard the others told me , Don't worry , If Ark trusts you, so do I."

Rugard blinked, surprised by the straightforward declaration. "I… appreciate that. I'll prove your trust isn't misplaced."

"You better," Karean said with a faint grin before turning back to Ark. "Now, tell me about your training."

"It's going well," Ark replied, though his tone was still tinged with concern. "But you shouldn't be pushing yourself to talk right now. You need rest."

Karean waved a hand dismissively. "I've been resting for days. I can't afford to stay idle any longer. The Hell Train is approaching, and we need to be prepared."

Ark hesitated. "You should leave the planning to us for now. Focus on recovering."

Karean's gaze hardened slightly, though his voice remained calm. "I appreciate your concern, Ark, but this is my responsibility. Now listen—here's what we'll do."

Karean straightened as much as his weakened body allowed. "We'll divide into three teams to cover more ground before the Hell Train arrives. Time is short, and we can't afford to waste it."

He raised a hand to forestall Ark's protest. "I'll take Lira with me. The two of us will gather information about the Current events on the floor If there's trouble brewing, we need to know about it in advance."

Ark frowned. "You're still recovering. Are you sure—"

"I'm sure," Karean interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Lira can handle the heavy lifting if it comes to that. I'll manage."

Turning to Ark, Karean continued, "You and Rugard will take charge of acquiring weapons, armor, and supplies for the Hell Train. Make sure we're ready for any situation."

Ark nodded reluctantly. "Understood."

Finally, Karean's gaze shifted to Jane and Ravian, who had just entered the room. "As for you two, I have a different task in mind , Try to Gather as much information about Regulars aiming to board the Hell Train as you can, Learn who they are, what their strengths are, and whether any of them pose a threat to us."

Jane exchanged a glance with Ravian, who twirled a needle between his fingers with a smirk. "Sounds like fun," Ravian said.

"Good," Karean said, his voice firm despite his obvious exhaustion. "We have no time to waste. Let's get to work."

( Short ch )