Burden of a leader

Steam rose from the bowls of ramen as Hugo and Stella sat at a small table inside the bustling restaurant. The aroma of rich broth and sizzling toppings filled the air, but Stella's mind was elsewhere.

She twirled her chopsticks, looking at Hugo with curiosity. "So… back when we were fighting Darius, you said only one other person had used Drill Fang's Gear Shift before. Who was it?"

Hugo took a sip of his broth before answering. "Yeah… that would be Roy. He was one of my old allies back in the Eclipse War. The guy was stubborn, but he had guts."

Stella raised an eyebrow. "An ally? Does that mean he was part of your group?"

Hugo nodded. "More or less. He wasn't the strongest, but he worked harder than anyone to prove himself."

Stella thought back to Darius and his crew. "So, do you think Darius has what it takes to live up to Roy's legacy?"

Hugo smirked. "That depends. It's not just about having the weapon—it's about how you use it."

Stella leaned back in her chair, processing the information. "And what happened to Roy?"

Hugo's smirk faded slightly as he looked down at his bowl. "…He didn't make it."

Stella felt a pang of guilt for asking. "Oh…"

The two sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the restaurant's chatter filling the air.

"Well, no use crying about it now," Hugo said, shaking off the moment of silence. He grabbed his chopsticks and started eating his ramen like nothing had happened.

Stella watched him for a second before sighing. He really doesn't like to dwell on the past, huh?

The scene shifts.

In a small, dimly lit workshop on the outskirts of Ironfang Village, Darius sat at a workbench, carefully adjusting Drill Fang. Sparks flew as he tightened its mechanisms, his face set in deep concentration.

The three kids from his crew sat nearby, watching him work.

"You sure it's okay, boss?" one of them asked. "Hugo really did a number on it."

Darius smirked. "Of course it's okay. Drill Fang isn't some cheap scrap—it was built to take a beating."

Another kid leaned in. "Still… that was crazy. He really went all out, but you still won."

Darius clenched his jaw for a moment before exhaling. "Yeah… but that just means I have to get stronger. If I want to be the next Hero of the Eclipse, I can't afford to lose."

The kids nodded, their admiration for him unwavering.

Darius tightened the last bolt, then looked at Drill Fang with determination. Next time, I won't lose.

As Darius adjusted Drill Fang, his hands moving with practiced precision, his mind drifted back—back to ten years ago, when he wasn't the one giving orders.

He was just a kid back then, no older than the ones who followed him now. But unlike them, he had someone to look up to.

A leader.

The memory played vividly in his mind.

10 Years Ago

A young Darius, barely seven, ran through the streets of a bustling town, trying to keep up. Ahead of him, leading the way with confident strides, was a teenage boy wielding a weapon that looked strikingly similar to Drill Fang.

His boss.

"Keep up, kid!" the older boy called back with a grin. "A future warrior can't afford to fall behind!"

Darius panted but pushed himself harder. "I—I can keep up! Just watch me!"

The older boy laughed, amused by his determination. "That's the spirit!"

They stopped at a quiet spot near a broken-down fence, where the teen leaned against the wooden beams, spinning his drill-shaped weapon in one hand.

Darius watched, eyes full of admiration. "Boss, do you really think I can be strong like you one day?"

The teen smirked. "Strong like me? No, kid." He knelt down, placing a hand on Darius' shoulder. "You're gonna be stronger."

Darius' eyes widened. "Stronger?"

"Yeah," his boss nodded. "But not just because you fight. Being strong means carrying the weight of others. It means leading. Protecting. Earning the right to be followed." He ruffled Darius' hair. "Think you can handle that?"

Darius grinned. "I'll prove it to you!"

The teen chuckled. "Good. Then start by listening to your boss—and go buy me some food, I'm starving!"

Darius groaned. "Boss! You just gave me a whole speech!"

The older boy just laughed, tossing him a small coin. "That's part of being strong too—making sure your leader doesn't pass out from hunger!"

Darius huffed, but ran off to buy the food anyway, determined to show he could be relied on.

Present Day

Darius tightened the last bolt on Drill Fang, his expression unreadable.

I never got to prove it to you, boss.

He looked down at the weapon in his hands—the one that was meant to carry on his leader's legacy.

But I will. I swear it.

He stood up, determination burning in his eyes.

"Next time, Hugo," he muttered, gripping Drill Fang tighter, "I'm winning."