The Last Bargain

Chapter XXXIII: Removing Barriers

Zento's breath came in short, sharp bursts, each inhalation feeling like a stab of ice in his lungs. His body screamed with pain, muscles strained and trembling under the relentless pressure. The courtyard felt like a cage, the eyes of his clan members piercing through him, a constant reminder of every failure, every shortcoming. But beneath the exhaustion, beneath the pain, a fire burned—a desperate need to prove himself, to break free of the limits that had bound him for so long.

"You're too slow," one of the warriors taunted, her voice filled with contempt. "You will never break Mach 1. You'll always be a disappointment."

Zento gritted his teeth, anger surging through his veins. "I can do this," he muttered to himself, feeling the heat rising in his chest. "I have to... I have to push through."

The warriors moved again, darting in from all sides like shadows, their movements fast and precise. Zento's senses sharpened, his eyes tracking each one of them, anticipating their attacks. He felt the familiar rush of his ability—his body felt light, almost weightless, the world around him slowing to a crawl. But the barrier still held, that invisible wall he had never been able to break through.

He dodged the first strike, a sweeping kick aimed at his head. His feet slid on the ground as he shifted his weight, narrowly avoiding a second blow, then a third. He moved with all the speed he could muster, but it still wasn't enough. The warriors were faster, their attacks coordinated, each strike designed to push him back, to keep him on the defensive.

"You think this is enough?" a voice sneered, another warrior lunging forward with a spinning kick. Zento ducked under the blow, feeling the rush of air as the attack missed by inches. "You think you can lead the clan like this? You're nothing but a child playing at being a warrior."

Zento's frustration mounted, his breath ragged, his vision blurring. He felt the weight of their judgment pressing down on him, the pressure of every expectation, every failure, every mistake he had ever made. He wanted to scream, to shout back, but his voice felt trapped in his throat.

"I... am... not... weak!" he yelled, pushing off from the ground, his feet blurring as he moved. He charged toward the nearest warrior, his fists clenched, his body vibrating with energy. He could feel the speed building, feel the power surging through his veins, but still... still, he was too slow.

The warrior dodged his attack effortlessly, twisting to the side and countering with a hard elbow to Zento's ribs. He grunted in pain, stumbling back, his vision swimming for a moment before he forced himself to focus.

"Faster," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of blood in his ears. "I have to be... faster..."

The warriors closed in again, their movements a blur, their strikes coming from all directions. Zento tried to dodge, to block, but he could feel his body slowing down, his energy waning. Every movement felt heavier, every step harder to take. He was being overwhelmed, pushed back, forced into a corner.

"Is this the best you can do?" a voice taunted, cruel and mocking. "You can't even keep up. You can't even fight."

Zento's heart pounded in his chest, the anger boiling over, his frustration reaching a breaking point. "No..." he muttered, his voice trembling. "I... I have to break through... I have to..."

He closed his eyes for a split second, focusing inward, reaching deep into himself, searching for the strength he knew he had. He thought of his father's words, the lessons he had learned, the countless hours he had spent training, pushing himself to be faster, to be stronger. He thought of Raito, trapped somewhere in this domain, waiting for him, needing him. He thought of Shin, facing his own battles, fighting his own demons.

He felt a spark inside him, a flicker of something new, something powerful. "I can do this," he thought, his eyes snapping open. "I will do this."

The warriors attacked again, their movements blurring, their fists and feet flashing like lightning. Zento felt the world slow down around him, the familiar rush of his ability kicking in. But this time, he didn't fight against the barrier; he leaned into it, embraced it.

He felt his body lighten, felt the air around him change. He pushed harder, his muscles straining, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. And then... he felt it.

A crack.

A tiny shift, a break in the invisible barrier that had always held him back. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there. He felt the rush of energy, the sudden surge of speed as his body moved faster, lighter, his feet barely touching the ground.

The first warrior swung at him, but this time Zento was ready. He ducked under the blow, his movements fluid and precise, and countered with a swift punch to the warrior's stomach. The warrior gasped, doubling over, and Zento spun, delivering a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying backward.

The others hesitated for a moment, surprised by his sudden burst of speed. But then they recovered, charging at him again, their attacks even more furious. Zento could feel his body protesting, his muscles burning, but he ignored the pain, focused only on the energy building inside him.

"Come on," he whispered to himself, his voice filled with determination. "Just a little more..."

He moved again, faster this time, his body blurring as he dodged and weaved, his strikes landing with precision. He could see the surprise in their eyes, see their hesitation growing. He felt the crack widening, the barrier breaking further.

"Faster!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "I have to... go faster!"

He felt the shift again, the crack widening into a fissure, the barrier giving way. He pushed harder, harder than he ever had before, his body straining, his heart pounding. He could feel the limit breaking, the speed building, his movements becoming a blur.

The warriors attacked from all sides, but now he was ready. He moved like lightning, his feet barely touching the ground, his body a blur of motion. He dodged, countered, struck back, his fists and feet moving faster than they ever had before.

The warriors were fast, but he was faster. They were strong, but he was stronger. He could see the shock in their eyes, see their movements faltering, their confidence wavering.

He felt the crack widen, the barrier shatter completely. He felt the rush of speed, the freedom of movement, the exhilaration of breaking through. He could feel himself moving faster than he ever had before, faster than he had ever thought possible.

Mach 1. He had done it. He had broken the barrier.

But he knew he couldn't stop. He had to keep going. He had to keep pushing.

"Faster," he whispered, his voice filled with determination. "I have to... I have to go faster..."

The warriors closed in again, but Zento was ready. He moved like a blur, his body a flash of motion, his strikes landing with precision and force. He was faster now, faster than he had ever been, faster than they could see.

The courtyard seemed to explode around him, the world slowing to a crawl as he moved. He could see their faces, their expressions of shock and disbelief, and he knew... he knew he had finally broken through.

He pushed harder, feeling the strain, feeling the burn, but he refused to stop. He had to keep going, had to keep pushing, had to prove that he was more than they thought, more than they had ever believed.

He had to show them... show himself... that he was worthy.

The fight was far from over, but Zento knew... he was just getting started.