Gensu began a secluded training session under Thalen's guidance, in a training ground beneath the Kyoketsu no Hikari organization. The air was thick with anticipation, and the faint scent of iron and earth filled the isolated arena. Shadows of the towering walls danced with the morning sun, hinting at the power contained within the place.
Thalen spoke calmly:
— Alright, Gensu. This training ground is isolated by a field. Nothing outside can know what happens inside, and nothing inside can be detected from the outside.
Gensu was stunned, his eyes scanning the strange shimmering barrier that rippled faintly around the perimeter.
— Wow… Sensei, this is amazing! But… who made it?
Thalen chuckled, the sound echoing slightly in the silent arena.
— It was created by Torukai, an old madman from the organization's ranks, haha… but he's truly powerful.
He also crafted the field surrounding the organization.
Its effect is simple: any Yami inside his field loses almost all of their power, retaining only a quarter. That's why no Yami enters Torukai's domain.
Gensu reacted with awe, feeling a strange mix of fear and excitement.
— Whoa… this field… it's incredible!
Thalen replied, pacing slowly around the edge of the arena:
— But Torukai isn't the only one who can create a defensive field. The Torukai family trains its members to inherit this skill. Torukai is simply one of the strongest in the family.
He stopped, fixing Gensu with a piercing gaze.
— Anyway… prepare yourself, Gensu. This is going to be a long training.
— Yes, Sensei… I'm ready.
Days passed.
Gensu and Thalen entered the training isolation.
Days… nights… without sleep.
The sound of their movements echoed endlessly within the empty arena, blending with the wind that whispered through the cracks in the walls.
Every punch, every kick, every step was measured and deliberate. Pain became a constant companion, but Gensu ignored it, focusing only on surpassing his limits.
Then came the day of Nairobi's funeral.
Gensu sat in the ceremony, silent, suppressing his tears. He felt the cold breeze on his skin, the smell of soil and flowers mixing with the sorrow that weighed on his chest.
Flash.
Nairobi's lifeless body appeared in his memory.
The image burned into his mind, sharper than any pain he had felt before.
He clenched his fists.
(I will become stronger… I promise. I swear I will avenge you.)
The funeral ended.
Gensu left…
Then he stopped, a sudden realization hitting him.
He had forgotten to place a flower on Nairobi's grave.
He returned.
And there she was…
A girl with beautiful white hair, standing silently by Nairobi's grave.
Like an angel descending from the sky, her presence illuminated the somber surroundings.
He looked at her, but she didn't notice him.
He tried to speak—
But she spoke first.
— In the end… he's dead?
— Dead by the hands of the Yami?
— In the end, you remained weak, brother… and the weak have no fate but death.
She turned to leave.
But paused.
Gensu was standing right in front of her.
His aura was different, crackling faintly like lightning.
Anger radiated from him before his face even moved.
He spoke in a low voice:
— You! What did you just say?
Yuna looked at him, her mind racing.
(Who is this weakling?)
— I asked you a question! What did you just say?
A sinister aura exploded from Gensu's body, making the ground beneath them tremble.
Yuna took a step back, shocked by the sheer power, thinking:
(What… is this cursed energy? How can a human release this much?)
She replied coldly:
— I only spoke the truth. The fate of the weak is death.
Gensu shouted, the words echoing like thunder:
— You're wrong!
No one chooses to be weak!
Yet it is only the weak who fight.
We fight every day to avoid dying powerless!
The weak protect others with their lives…
So who is truly weak?!
Flash.
Every scene of death Gensu had witnessed played before his eyes.
The screams, the silence, the terror… all became fuel for his determination.
Then he spoke, quietly… almost resigned:
— This… this is what makes us human. Right?
Yuna looked at him.
A distant memory…
A mysterious figure… blood everywhere.
— Because we are human… right?
Yuna's anger erupted, her hands forming bones that twisted into sharp skeletal swords.
She lunged at him.
But—
Gensu raised his hand.
Touched her sword.
Snap.
Her eyes widened.
— What just happened?
She stepped back quickly.
Gensu struck with his fist.
She dodged.
But he realized—
His punch was heading straight for Nairobi's grave!
He twisted his arm toward a nearby building.
His fist struck the structure.
Nothing happened.
Yuna smirked with sarcasm, thinking:
(Huh? You restrained me with that weakness? So that aura was just for show?)
Gensu turned toward her.
Took a step back from the building.
The building started to shrink…
Compress…
Then—
BOOM!
It exploded.
Yuna stared in shock.
— What?!
Gensu raised his hand.
A red aura formed around it.
— Prepare yourself… I'm coming.
Yuna formed two skeletal swords on her hands.
Calmly, she said:
— Come forward, weakling.
They charged at each other.
But—
Thalen suddenly appeared before her.
— No, you must not fight in front of Nairobi, my dear disciples. He needs rest.
BOOM.
Thalen stopped Gensu's fists and Yuna's swords with just two fingers.
A pressure explosion sent Gensu and Yuna flying back—
But before hitting the ground…
Gensu found himself seated.
Thalen stood before him.
He glanced sideways.
Yuna was also sitting there, astonished.
Thalen laughed.
— Hahaha… an amazing fight, but it ends here.
Now… are you ready for training, my dear disciples?