The sky above the Nozomi residence had already begun turning into deeper shades of orange as the sun slowly descended behind the distant rooftops. The evening light stretched across the backyard training ground, casting long shadows over the dirt clearing where Kosoku had spent most of the day practicing.
The yard was quiet now.
The metal rods surrounding the training area still stood in place, some of them slightly blackened from repeated lightning strikes. Long lines carved into the soil marked the paths where Kosoku had practiced movement reinforcement earlier.
Kosoku stood alone in the center of the clearing.
He stared at his hands.
Small sparks of electricity flickered briefly across his fingers before fading again.
Even though his body was exhausted from the long day of training, the excitement inside him had not faded.
Behind him, the wooden gate creaked softly.
Kosoku turned his head. Gabriel stepped into the yard. His father walked calmly across the dirt clearing and stopped several meters away.
Kosoku straightened.
"Are we training again?"
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
Kosoku blinked.
"That is unexpected."
Gabriel folded his arms.
"Today's training is finished."
Kosoku relaxed slightly.
"That is good news."
But Gabriel continued.
"However… there is one more thing."
Kosoku tilted his head.
"What kind of thing?"
Gabriel stepped forward.
"This will be your final lesson for now."
Kosoku frowned.
"Final lesson?"
Gabriel nodded once.
"You have learned the foundations."
"Lightning control."
"Movement reinforcement."
"Energy restraint."
Kosoku thought for a moment.
"So what is the last lesson?"
Gabriel answered calmly.
"A real test."
Kosoku's eyes widened.
"You mean another spar?"
Gabriel nodded.
"Yes."
Kosoku scratched the back of his head.
"That sounds suspicious."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
"You wanted real training."
Kosoku sighed.
"That sentence keeps coming back to haunt me."
Still, he stepped back into the center of the yard. Kosoku raised his hands into the stance Gabriel had taught him. The evening breeze moved quietly across the clearing.
For a moment neither of them moved. Then Gabriel attacked. The movement was fast.
Much faster than the previous spar. Kosoku barely reacted in time.
He twisted his body and jumped backward as Gabriel's strike passed his shoulder. Gabriel immediately followed with another attack. Kosoku ducked and rolled across the dirt. The ground scraped against his arm as he recovered his balance.
He sprang back to his feet.
"That was faster than before," Kosoku muttered.
Gabriel did not respond. He attacked again.
Kosoku raised his hand, lightning flashed.
A controlled spark shot forward.
Crack Crack Crack.
Gabriel stepped aside effortlessly. Kosoku dashed forward again, lightning reinforcing his legs.
He attacked from the side. Gabriel blocked and countered with a quick strike to Kosoku's ribs.
The hit landed.
Kosoku stumbled backward.
"That one hurt," he muttered.
Gabriel lowered his hand.
"In a real fight, that would have broken your guard."
Kosoku wiped the dirt from his shirt.
"I am not finished yet."
Lightning sparked again. Kosoku rushed forward. His movements were faster now, Gabriel shocked because of his speed.
He shifted directions twice before releasing another controlled bolt.
Crack.
Gabriel stepped aside again. But Kosoku followed instantly with the wooden knife in his hand. Gabriel blocked the strike and pushed him away.
Kosoku fell to one knee. A small cut appeared along his arm where he had scraped the ground.
Kosoku looked down at the blood.
"Now I look like I actually lost a fight."
Gabriel remained silent. Kosoku stood again. Lightning flickered around his hands.
His breathing was heavier now. But his focus remained sharp.
Kosoku moved again. This time he circled around Gabriel. Lightning reinforced his legs. Suddenly he changed direction. Kosoku slipped behind him and released a lightning strike.
Gabriel turned and blocked it. But the sudden change forced him to step backward. Kosoku noticed immediately.
His eyes widened.
"You moved again."
Gabriel remained calm.
"That was good timing."
Kosoku grinned.
"Then I am getting closer."
Gabriel lowered his guard.
"That is enough."
Kosoku blinked.
"That was the test?"
Gabriel nodded.
"Yes."
Kosoku scratched his head.
"I thought it would be harder."
Gabriel walked toward him.
"It was not about defeating me."
Kosoku raised an eyebrow.
"Then what was the point?"
Gabriel stopped in front of him.
"To see if you could keep fighting while injured and exhausted."
Kosoku looked at the cut on his arm again.
"That explains the bleeding."
Gabriel nodded.
"You passed."
Kosoku smiled.
"I like hearing that."
At that moment, Alisa stepped out from the porch carrying two small wooden boxes.
She walked toward them.
"If the test is finished," she said gently, "then it is time for something else."
Kosoku looked curious.
"What is that?"
Alisa handed him the first box.
"This is my gift for you."
Kosoku opened it carefully. Inside rested a fine sharp black kunai. The blade reflected the fading sunlight, and faint runic patterns were engraved along the handle.
Kosoku's eyes widened.
"This looks amazing."
The moment he touched it, lightning flickered across the blade. The weapon resonated with his mana. His lightning mana wants to form like a kunai.
"Lightning Kunai," he said.
A weapon designed for high-speed assassins.
"What is it?" Alisa asked him.
"My lightning and wind elements resonate with this blade," Kosoku smiled.
Resonates with lightning and wind mana. Kosoku stared at the weapon in amazement.
"This feels perfect."
Alisa smiled softly.
"I knew it would suit you."
Then Gabriel stepped forward and handed him the second box. Kosoku opened it slowly. Inside rested a dark sword wrapped in cloth. The blade looked ancient. When Kosoku lifted it, a strange pressure filled the air.
"Bakunawa Sword." Gabriel said.
Forged from the fang of the legendary moon-devouring serpent. It's power grows under moonlight and darkness.
Kosoku stared at the sword in awe.
"Woah, this is incredible."
Gabriel looked at him seriously.
"You will not use that weapon yet."
Kosoku blinked.
"Why?"
Gabriel crossed his arms.
"Because your body is not strong enough."
Kosoku nodded.
"I understand..."
"...and this sword resonates my water element."
Gabriel looked toward the darkening sky.
"When you turn Eight…"
"I will allow you to train outside this house."
Kosoku's eyes widened.
"Outside training?"
Gabriel nodded.
"Yes. Primary academy"
Kosoku looked around the yard where he had trained for years. Lightning flickered quietly around his fingers.
"I will be ready."
"You will, because you will not show or reveal how strong you really are." Alisa smiled.
"Yes, mom. I will pretend to be a weakling at the Academy." Kosoku laughed.
That night the moon rose above the Nozomi residence. Kosoku stood alone in the training yard. Lightning sparked, wind moved around him and a drop of water formed in his palm.
Three elements, two weapons and one future. And the quiet backyard that had raised him would not contain him forever.
Because soon—
The world beyond those walls would finally meet
Kosoku Roche Volkov Nozomi.
---
Three Years Later…