CHAPTER 34: EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

For the last 3 days, Ren had no choice but to diligently carry out every task handed down by the ward’s construction manager. The man’s name was Mr. Roy. He wasn’t officially a part of ZEAL, but everyone knew him for his massive role in rebuilding and repairing after the squad’s hard fought battles.

Day after day, Ren found himself following Roy’s instructions, hauling wood, metal, and steel beams alongside the labor crew. It was grueling, muscle driven work and pure manpower without the help of any Drive Core abilities as he was still instructed by Valen not to use it.

"I’ve been at this for three days straight." Ren muttered under his breath as he dragged another beam into place. "I’ve been breaking my back with nothing but sweat and muscle. Sure, I’ve picked up a little about construction and for some reason, way too much about plumbing, but I still don’t get why Valen’s making me do this."

Unfortunately, he hadn’t realized someone was standing right behind him.

It was Mr. Roy.

"You ZEAL kids complain too much when you first work here. Is that a standard when you guys first help out? Just do the work and the results will show."

"What do you mean results? How is.... plumbing even helping me with my core release?" Ren asked, irritation clear in his voice.

Mr. Roy let out a short chuckle, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I don’t know about that core release stuff or whatever. I’m not even awakened. But if your Warden told you to do this for your ’training,’ then there has to be something in it for you to figure out yourself."

Ren frowned as he chewed on his words but was unable to argue back. After hearing Mr. Roy’s perspective, he had no choice but to continue working. He still didn’t understand what this training was supposed to teach him, but one thing became clear, these men were doing all this grueling labor without the aid of any Drive Core abilities, and not once did he hear them complain.

The next day, Ren arrived on time, ready to tackle the plumbing of a five storey building. The task was intricate, every joint, bend, and connection demanded careful planning, but somehow, with teamwork and persistence, he and the other workers managed to make it work. They mapped out possible routes for the pipes so the water could flow naturally, and prepared countermeasures for spots that might leak under pressure.

By the afternoon, Ren found himself back to the same grueling task as yesterday, hauling supplies and heavy equipment. Yet, there was a subtle change. What once drained him of all strength no longer felt quite as crushing. The same burdens that had left his muscles aching just a day ago seemed a little lighter now. He realized his body was beginning to adapt, adjusting to the relentless strain of labor, as if it were quietly molding itself to meet the demands placed upon it.

After the 4th day of construction, Ren returned to his apartment and went straight to his room, collapsing face up onto his bed. He lay there in silence, staring at the ceiling, his mind restless with the same questions that had been haunting him. His body still ached, his muscles sore from the strain, yet something felt different, subtly, but unmistakably so.

Earlier that day, the plumbing work had been tricky. With the building’s size, mapping the pipe routes had been a headache. Still, they managed to make it work. And the labor, hauling materials just like the days before felt a little less punishing this time. Somehow, his body had begun adjusting to the rhythm of hard labor, as though it was quietly toughening itself without him realizing it.

As he reflected, an image came to him. He pictured his own body like the plumbing they had worked on, his Drive Core as the main reservoir, his veins the pipes, and the Pulse Control Breathing acting like careful reinforcements against leaks. It made sense. By controlling his breathing, he was holding back the drive energy from spilling out uncontrollably. But then, a question stirred in his chest, what would happen if he released it all at once? If he let his Drive Core surge the way it did during a Core Release?

That’s when he finally understood.

Ah... if my core release makes drive energy leak out even with pulse control breathing, then I need to always find the exact spots where it might escape. I have to block it, make a countermeasure, and guide the energy through a better path in that area.

Instantly, he replayed the battle with Grin in his mind. The same intensity, the same desperation, the same lightning spheres that he had to connect like a constellation in the void.

And without realizing it, he began channeling a vast amount of drive core energy, enough to draw a heavy breeze through the window.

His vision sharpened. He gathered the power needed for a core release, and for the first time, he clearly saw the points in his body where the energy leaked despite Pulse Control Breathing. This time, however, he countered it, redirecting the flow into smoother pathways so the energy coursed naturally from his core through his entire body, seamless and contained.

That’s when he heard a voice.

"That’s enough for now," said Valen, stepping out from a rift of swirling light. "You may have grasped the importance of plumbing, but your body is still too weak to withstand that kind of power."

As soon as Ren heard the voice, his eyes snapped open and pain shot through his limbs like needles.

"Agh! Ouch! Valen? What are you doing here?" Ren muttered in surprise.

"I sensed a massive surge of drive core energy from your apartment." Valen replied as he stepped forward with a serious look. "I knew it had to be you. I’ll overlook it this once, but I told you not to use drive core abilities yet. Do it again, and I’ll send you straight back home."

His voice carried no room for argument and Ren immediately understood that he was serious.

Seriously? His office is like two kilometers away from here. He picked up on it from that far? The thought left him both impressed and unsettled.

"Understood. I’m sorry." Ren muttered quietly.

"Now you see that everything I told you to do has its importance. So just trust me, okay?" Valen said, resting a hand on Ren’s shoulder.

"Everything we do in life is connected. Whether it’s plumbing or construction, it all leads to a certain understanding, to meaningful results. Every action we take has a result and it either affects us or affects others, sometimes in ways we notice, and sometimes in ways we don’t. What we need to discern is whether what we do leads to good or to evil. And as members of ZEAL, our duty is to ensure that we always act for the good."

Ren lowered his head slightly. "Understood. Warden Valen, I’m sorry for disobeying your orders. It won’t happen again."

"I know," Valen said with a faint smile. "And I told you already, just call me Valen."

Both smiled as the moonlight passed through the window, covering the room in silver stillness. But before Valen could leave, Ren’s curiosity broke the quiet.

"How did you get here that fast? And what was that portal looking thing you came out of?"

Valen chuckled lightly. "Haven’t you heard what they call me in ZEAL? I’m the Warden of Rift. My drive core ability allows me to distort space itself. That portal? Just a shortcut from my room to yours."

Before leaving, Valen instructed Ren to keep working in construction, reminding him that they would begin a new training method next week. As he turned to go, his eyes lingered on Ren sitting on the bed, fists clenched, a wide smile spread across his face and brimming with excitement for the days ahead.

Still, I can’t believe this kid already incorporated that plumbing technique into his core release. I thought it would take him at least a week. Looks like Shin has found himself a worthy rival. Valen thought with a smile.

For the next 3 days, Ren carried out his construction duties with unwavering energy and a bright smile never leaving his face. Mr. Roy often found himself smiling as he watched the boy breeze through the workload, moving so quickly that the others barely had time to pick up their share.

On the final day, Ren stood before Mr. Roy and the crew, bowing respectfully.

"Thank you for letting me work here. I’ve learned so much. And Mr. Roy, thank you for waking me up that day when I almost gave up on Warden Valen’s methods."

Mr. Roy chuckled. "No worries, kid. You’ve helped us plenty. Just keep giving it your all and never doubt Warden Valen. Anyway, I trust you ZEAL folks will keep protecting the peace in this place and hopefully in all of Aetherpolis in the future."

The rest of the crew smiled warmly at Ren as he turned to leave. But Mr. Roy’s gaze lingered on the boy’s back.

So, you’ve come to understand what Valen’s purpose truly is, huh? he thought quietly. Be safe out there, kid.

When Ren got back to the apartment, he was surprised to see Botan and Isamu waiting with a whole bucket of fried chicken.

"Huh? What’s this for?" Ren asked, still sweaty from construction work.

"For your graduation." Botan said proudly.

"Graduation?" Ren tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah," Botan grinned. "Pretty much everyone here goes through the same thing you just did. The construction work, the plumbing, everything. But we’re not allowed to tell new guys in advance. The warden says it’s better if you figure out why it matters on your own. That way, you actually understand whether what you’re doing is useful to yourself or to others."

"Exactly," Isamu added with a big smile. "So starting next week, you’ll be joining us in the morning sessions! Which means...we celebrate today!"

Ren chuckled. He finally got it. Valen’s methods, the strange training, the way everyone else seemed to know something he didn’t. Now it all made sense. And the fact that these guys accepted it so naturally made him want to be part of it even more.

With that, Ren dug in and joined their little party. After all, tomorrow would mark the start of something new. His real training.