Asking for help in any capacity came even less easily to him. Too often, he had learned that other people might only hear you out if they wanted to hurt you. They didn’t care that you came to them in earnest and chose to trust them in a moment of need—not unless they stood to gain something from your pain and suffering. Even if all they gained was the pleasure of watching you squirm, it counted as a gain.
Yet, starseeds were not sustainable, as a way of overpowering White Moon interlopers. They were too valuable to Metallia, and the training guide that had come on the Negaverse tablets advised against eating too many of them. Cryptomelane hadn’t investigated further as to why that cautionary note existed, but only because the underlying logic of it seemed obvious, if anyone wanted his opinion. Waste not, want not—an officer of the Negaverse needed to maintain and develop their own strength. Allowing themselves to rely too much on the crutch of starseeds hardly seemed conducive to that. If anything, it seemed like a way to wallow in one’s own weakness.
Yet, Cryptomelane could only do so much on his own. Eat more protein. Commit to his high-intensity workouts. Push himself harder. Refuse to accept his limitations as they were but always strive to exceed them. It would all help, but not with the issue of how to engage in combat without ending up humiliated.
That was why he’d posted an open message on the tablets: Wanted: Sparring Partner. If interested, I’m working in Ramsett Park by the children’s playground. Pale, with blue hair, glasses, and a pumpkin bucket. Can discuss further meet-ups as desired or not. Lieutenants and basic senshi preferred, but any prospective partners welcome. —Lt. Cryptomelane.
Sighing as the night didn’t entirely cool off around him, Cryptomelane looked around for any signs of someone who might come looking for him. Seated at one of the picnic tables where he presumed parents and nannies sat to look after the children they’d brought, he pulled snatches of energy from different passersby. Didn’t quite work each individual one of them over until they passed out, but only because they moved away from him while other targets came closer.
Hopefully, someone would arrive soon. But if they didn’t, at least he would stay on top of his quotas.
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