Takashi was no longer just human. The grueling, god-tier conditioning he had endured over the years had stripped away every physical weakness of an ordinary mortal.
His heart, once locked in an impenetrable cage of fear, was finally open. He no longer feared the world. He was slowly learning to trust the people around him, and in return, the entire village cherished him. Though he hadn't yet found a true best friend mostly spending his days training, doing missions, and returning home he had finally learned how to talk, smile, and live like a normal boy. It was his daily routine.
Now, the Legendary Master was ready to teach him the next profound step: Nature Mode.
"You cannot always rely on the Wolf's power," the Master warned as they sat outside the cabin. "The Wolf is deeply unpredictable. If there ever comes a day when it refuses to lend you its strength, or if its energy is completely drained, you need an ultimate backup. That is Nature Mode."
This Shiritsu involved manipulating the raw, ambient energy of the earth itself. The concept was simple: every living thing in the universe trees, earth, animals, wind contained Shin-Noa.
"Sit down and empty your mind," the Master instructed. "Just as you condensed carbon, feel the raw energy flowing through the environment around you."
Because his senses had been sharpened to a terrifying, superhuman degree during his blindfolded combat training, Takashi felt it almost instantly. A massive, infinite ocean of invisible energy surrounded him.
"Good," the Master nodded. "Now, take a deep breath. Do not just use your lungs. Draw the energy in through every single pore of your skin. Pull it into your body, mold it into a Rhythm, and use it to execute any Shiritsu you wish."
The Master's tone grew deadly serious. "However, there is a fatal flaw. Gathering Nature Energy takes time. In a high-level battle between elites, even a one-second delay means death. You must master this until you can absorb the energy and form a Rhythm in a single breath. The time it takes must be less than 0.5 seconds the exact time it takes for your brain to send a signal to your hand."
This was the ultimate secret of Elite Warriors. For a beginner, performing Shiritsu was a conscious, slow process. But through hellish repetition, the technique had to become muscle memory. It had to be etched into the warrior's very blood. Just like breathing or eating, a true master didn't have to think about forming a Rhythm; their brain subconsciously gathered the energy the moment they merely thought of the attack.
"Start pulling it in," the Master ordered. "But be extremely careful. The energy of Nature is infinite and wild. If you absorb more than your vessel can handle, your body will turn to stone and shatter."
Takashi listened perfectly. He closed his eyes, inhaled slowly, and began pulling the wild energy into his hardened body. Within just a few days of relentless practice, he had successfully mastered the basics of Nature Mode.
Time marched forward.
Arashi, Kenshi, and Iyashi had officially graduated from the basic academy.
At fourteen years old, Aira Shizukami, along with the Mizushi twins, Yuna and Yuma, had completed their five-year term at Dominion University. Most of their classmates had been successfully promoted to Senior rank, allowing them to lead their own squads. But because Aira and the twins despised each other, constantly fighting and sabotaging their missions, the University administration punished them. They were held back from promotion and ordered to fix their chaotic dynamic before they could advance.
While Aira dealt with university politics, the shadows in the West Land deepened.
The Shinsei Organization had secretly split the stolen Core of the Legendary Divine Spirit Scorpion into two. Using their horrific experiments and forbidden ancient technology, they forged two apocalyptic Legendary Weapons for their secret vessels. They continued to feed Kazuki Mizushi honeyed lies, making him believe he was destined to rule the world. And Kazuki, completely blinded by arrogance, swallowed every word.
Back in the East Land, Arashi and Kenshi had grown into absolute terrors.
Despite graduating from the academy, the two boys remained wild, reckless, and deeply mischievous. Their favorite pastime was sneaking out of the royal estate and venturing deep into the dangerous Monster Forest.
But they weren't going there to hunt. They were going there to play with a friend.
Unbeknownst to the entire world, the newly awakened Legendary Divine Spirit Phoenix was hiding in that very forest.
The Shinsei Organization was desperately searching for the Phoenix, wanting to harvest its power. But the majestic bird didn't care about the world's politics. The world was saved from the Black Dragon, and that was enough for it. Because it had recently undergone Rebirth, its power was no longer at the god-like X-Rank. It was currently resting at S-Rank, capable of reaching Triple SSS-Rank at maximum output.
Arashi, who had inherited his mother Ema's black hair and his father Hayato's green eyes, was the Phoenix's favorite. Kenshi, who possessed the Shizukami white hair and green eyes, was also a beloved playmate.
The two boys and the legendary bird would spend hours running through the woods, laughing and playing. The surrounding monsters didn't dare approach them. The terrifying aura naturally leaking from the three of them was enough to keep the entire forest in complete submission.
One sunny afternoon, as the Phoenix's power was rapidly returning, it turned its blazing eyes toward Arashi.
"Do you want to stay with me forever, Arashi?" the Phoenix asked telepathically.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" Arashi grinned widely.
"Then become my Yorishiro (Vessel)."
"What's that?" Arashi tilted his head.
"It means partnership," the majestic bird replied warmly. "I will live inside you forever, and I will give you my power."
Arashi's eyes sparkled. "Awesome! Let's do it!"
The Phoenix turned to Kenshi. "Stand back, little one. I will always protect both of you from now on."
The Soul Binding began immediately.
Suddenly, Arashi collapsed to his knees, screaming in absolute, horrific agony. His entire body began to glow like molten lava. The heat radiating from his small frame was apocalyptic. Kenshi, who was initially cheering for his cousin, froze in sheer terror.
FWOOSH!
A massive ring of hellfire erupted around Arashi, instantly incinerating the surrounding trees.
Terrified, Kenshi turned and sprinted out of the forest as fast as his legs could carry him. He bolted straight into the royal estate, crying, and found his father, Kazumi Kaimetsuza.
Hearing his son's frantic story, Kazumi didn't waste a single second. He erupted into a blur of speed, rushing deep into the burning forest.
But by the time he arrived, the blinding light had faded. The Soul Binding was complete.
The sight was catastrophic. For several kilometers, the dense monster forest had been reduced to nothing but white ash. In the epicenter of the crater lay Arashi, his clothes burned to rags, completely unconscious.
The Phoenix was gone. It was now sealed inside the boy.
Kazumi didn't panic. His only concern was that his nephew was breathing. He gently picked Arashi up, covered him, and sneaked him back into the palace without alerting a single guard. He strictly ordered Kenshi to keep his mouth shut, not wanting to cause unnecessary panic across the East Land.
Kazumi personally cleaned Arashi, dressed him in fresh clothes, and laid him on the bed.
When Arashi finally woke up, he blinked, stretched, and smiled brightly. He looked perfectly fine.
"Arashi," Kazumi asked carefully. "Does anything hurt? Do you feel any pain?"
"Nope! I feel great!" Arashi beamed, full of energy.
Kazumi stared at the boy. Physically, nothing had changed. But to Kazumi's terrifyingly sharp eyes, everything was different.
Kazumi activated his ocular Shiritsu. A complex, glowing pattern spun inside his red eyes, allowing him to see the true, original power level of any being a secret hereditary ability of the Kaimetsuza Clan.
What he saw surrounding Arashi was a colossal, blinding aura of fire. The boy's power level had skyrocketed to an unimaginable height.
Kazumi walked to the door, locked it, and ordered all the guards and servants to leave the hallway immediately. "No one comes near this room until I say so," he commanded.
Once they were alone, Kazumi turned back to Arashi. His eyes narrowed.
"Come out," Kazumi demanded coldly.
The Phoenix, resting inside Arashi's soul, immediately realized that this man was no fool.
FWOOSH!
A burst of majestic, blazing light erupted from Arashi's chest, and the colossal, fiery form of the Legendary Divine Spirit Phoenix materialized in the center of the bedroom.
Kazumi broke into a cold sweat. Seeing a god of destruction standing in his house was terrifying. But there was nothing he could do. Arashi was now the Phoenix's Yorishiro. The bond was permanent.
"Why did you do this?" Kazumi asked, his voice tight with tension.
The Phoenix looked down at the man, its blazing eyes filled with warmth. "Because I like Arashi. I like Kenshi. They are my best friends. I only wish to stay by their side. I swear to you, I will never harm them. I will protect them with my life."
Kazumi slowly let out a long, heavy breath. The tension left his shoulders. For a leader constantly terrified of the West Land's growing threat, knowing his family was now under the absolute protection of a Legendary Divine Spirit was the greatest relief he could ever ask for.