Psylocke Vol 2 Ch 19 The Brown Plains below!

Tristan stood on what felt like an endless stretch of brown terrain, the ground beneath him hot and damp, radiating a warmth that clung to his skin. The surface was uneven, littered with what seemed to be small stones—except these weren't stones at all. Some were the size of his hand, others even bigger, but all were simply the natural grooves and bumps of Zuri's enormous skin.

The smell of sweat and skin filled his nostrils, thick and overwhelming, making him grimace. But he forced himself to push through, bending down to touch the surface beneath him. His fingers brushed against the smooth yet slightly rough texture, the heat seeping into his fingertips.

Just do the job. Don't think about it, he told himself.

He began to move his hands in slow, firm strokes, massaging her massive foot with as much strength as he could muster. It was like trying to knead a leather couch with his bare hands, but he kept at it, ignoring the way his own sweat mixed with the moisture already present on her skin.

Then, the world around him trembled as Zuri's booming voice filled the air, playful and teasing.

"Awww, I can barely feel you," she cooed, her voice vibrating through his tiny body. "Maybe you should use those psychic powers of yours to give the massage a little more strength."

Tristan groaned, already exhausted, but he knew she was right. If he wanted to get through this, he needed to push himself.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and focused. The power within him always felt like something just beneath his skin, waiting to be tapped into. It was still difficult to summon at will, but as he concentrated, he felt it stir, a familiar warmth spreading through his limbs. His muscles tensed, his veins humming with energy, and he clenched his fists, feeling the strength surge through him.

With renewed vigor, he lifted his hands and began to punch her skin.

Over and over, his fists pounded against the vast expanse of her foot, his knuckles striking her flesh like tiny hammers. It was like punching steel—unyielding and solid—yet still with a slight softness that gave under his blows.

"Mmm, that feels good!" Zuri purred, wiggling her toes in delight.

Her innocent movement nearly sent Tristan flying. The ground beneath him shifted as her muscles flexed, causing him to stumble and nearly lose his balance. He barely had time to steady himself before he heard something.

A deep, rumbling sound.

Tristan's stomach dropped as he instinctively looked up.

A rock—no, a bead of sweat the size of a boulder—was falling toward him.

"Oh, shi—!"

He dove to the side, just in time for the massive droplet to slam into the ground right where he'd been standing. The impact sent a small shockwave through the terrain, and Tristan rolled onto his back, gasping for breath.

Above him, Zuri's laughter boomed like distant thunder. "Ooooh, that was close!" she teased, clearly entertained by the near-death experience she'd unintentionally caused.

Tristan lay there for a second, chest heaving. Then, with a breathless chuckle, he muttered, "Yeah... real close..."

But there was no time to rest. He pushed himself back up and got to work, running across the endless brown landscape, punching as he went. He focused on keeping his movements sharp, precise, making sure every strike counted.

The minutes dragged on. Then an hour passed.

Tristan could feel his energy draining fast. His muscles ached, his arms felt like lead, and his concentration was slipping. The psychic strength he'd been relying on flickered in and out like a dying lightbulb. And whenever it failed him, his unprotected fists met Zuri's unyielding skin with painful consequences.

"Dammit..." he muttered, shaking out his hands and looking at his reddened knuckles.

Before he could continue, the sky darkened.

Massive fingers descended toward him.

He barely had time to react before they pinched him, lifting him off the ground with a suddenness that made his stomach lurch. The pressure was firm yet controlled, holding him securely between Zuri's index finger and thumb as she brought him up to her enormous face.

Her brown eye, as large as a building, filled his vision.

"You did better than I expected," she said, her voice still playful but with a note of approval.

Tristan, still dangling helplessly, caught his breath and managed to ask, "Wait... you knew I was going to fail?"

Zuri grinned. "Of course I knew! You're just a little Lilli, after all." She gave him a teasing squeeze—just enough to remind him of the vast difference in their sizes. "And I'm a big girl."

Tristan groaned. "Great. So I did all that for nothing?"

"Not at all," Zuri said, shaking her head. "Psychic power is taxing on the mind and body. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Think of this as endurance training! Every time you push yourself, your limits expand." She smirked. "So really, this is good for you."

Tristan sighed, leaning against her finger. "You say that like you're not enjoying this way too much..."

Zuri chuckled. "Hey, I told you I was excited for this."

Tristan rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. As much as this was exhausting, she was helping him in her own way.

Then, her smirk widened. "Sooo... you ready to start training again?"

Tristan stiffened. "W-Wait, already?"

"Mmhmm!" Zuri hummed. "Now that you're warmed up, maybe this time, you'll actually be able to stop my finger."

Tristan groaned dramatically. "Oh boy..."

Zuri grinned, still holding him between her fingers. "Don't worry, little guy. I believe in you."

"...I don't like how you said that."

Her laugh shook his entire body as she carried him back toward the training area.