The sun hovered at its highest point over Castle Light, the courtyard unusually silent. Tension filled the air as Reinhart Era, brimming with confidence and new arm wrestling techniques, approached the one person no one dared challenge.
Alen Drakkengard.
"Let's go," Reinhart said, cracking his knuckles. "One-on-one. Arm wrestling. No holding back."
Alen blinked once. Then smiled.
Around them, the squad gathered like spectators before an arena bout.
Subaru stood behind Reinhart, both hands raised and prepped. "Ready to wind-save whoever gets launched into the Void."
Emilia crossed her arms, standing further back with a smug smirk. "I hope he loses. Yeeted me like a sack of potatoes."
Julius sat cross-legged on the grass, praying. "Let this aura menace taste failure. For all the broccoli he's forced me to eat."
The Duel Begins
The two locked arms at a reinforced stone table, designed to withstand Alpha Sharko slams.
Reinhart's muscles tensed. The very air seemed to vibrate.
But Alen?
Alen used only his pinky.
"Ready?" he asked casually.
Reinhart scoffed. "I was born ready."
They began.
At first, Reinhart managed to push Alen's hand an inch.
Then, Alen activated his aura.
A blinding white force erupted around him, melting the surrounding stone and sending shockwaves through the castle. Reinhart's vision turned to static, his limbs numb.
A heartbeat later, there was an earth-shattering BOOM.
Physics is No Longer Relevant
Reinhart's body was slammed through the Void—not into Layer 2, no. Alen somehow broke the Void itself, smashing Reinhart through the air like the world was paper, bending the very laws of Deepwoken.
Even the Depths whispered, "yo chill."
He didn't fall. He didn't teleport. He was just... deleted from the current physics engine.
Seconds later, Alen casually walked to the edge, yanked Reinhart back up like a ragdoll, and placed him down gently on the grass.
He smiled. That smile.
"This wasn't your best idea... my supreme clown."
Reinhart groaned.
His arms didn't work. His legs twitched randomly. His eyes rolled in opposite directions.
"Bro's bones are in Layer 2," Subaru whispered in horror."His soul might be there too," Emilia added.
Even Julius stood up in shock, his broccoli falling to the ground.
Potion of ???
Later, Alen returned and handed Reinhart a strange glowing potion.
"No label?" Subaru asked.
"No warning?" Julius added.
"No thanks," Reinhart groaned, sipping it anyway.
Reinhart's Delirious Dream
Within seconds, Reinhart's eyes fluttered shut.
He dreamt… of Emilia. She stood before him, looking divine, dressed in pure white flame. He reached out, slowly, hand trembling—
"I must... touch... your—"
SLAP
Emilia's real hand collided with his cheek.
The sound echoed across Castle Light like a gunshot. Reinhart bolted upright, wide-eyed.
"W-Was that... healing?"
"No," Emilia said, eyes filled with disgust. "You're just gross."
But Reinhart noticed something—his limbs worked again. The pain was gone. His aura was stabilized.
Was it the potion?Or was Emilia... secretly a healer?
Subaru took notes. "We'll never know."
The Arrival of... Him
Just as the chaos settled, thunder cracked across the courtyard—not from the sky, but from the sheer aura of the man now standing at Castle Light's gate.
He had white-blond hair tied in a high ponytail, storm-themed tattoos, and carried a staff shaped like a lightning bolt.
He flexed dramatically.
"Jay D'Arclight. Student of the ancient art... of Deep Jitzu."
Everyone blinked.
"What?" Subaru whispered.
Jay continued, louder.
"My grandfather was the first Lightning Master. The original Boltcrusher wielder. A legend."
He spun his staff theatrically, sparks flying.
"You peasants should fear me. For I… am tuff."
Silence.
Reinhart, still recovering, muttered, "Did this man say... 'tuff'?"
Alen didn't even glance his way. He just walked past.
Subaru smirked. "New punching bag unlocked."
Julius, chewing on celery reluctantly, whispered, "Bro looks like a rejected anime rival."
To Be Continued…
With Reinhart half-broken, Jay full-delusional, and Subaru still technically a freshie-wiper on the run, Castle Light has become the strangest stronghold in the entire Depths.
And Alen?
He's just getting started.