《Eternal Crystal》


 What had happened that day?

    ¡°Eternal Crystal¡±


    Chapter - 1:


    What had happened that day?


    4 years ago¡­..


    The aroma of freshly cooked rice and grilled fish filled the small dining room of the Kanzaki household. Kaito sat across from his parents, his chopsticks resting idly on the edge of his plate as he watched his parents chat. The warmth of their laughter wrapped around him like a cozy blanket¡ªa fleeting moment of normalcy he would later wish to relive.


    ¡°Kaito, don''t forget to eat your vegetables,¡± his mother, Aiko, gently reminded him, her voice soft yet firm.


    Kaito nodded, agreeing to his mother.


    Bang!


    The door burst open with a deafening crash. Government officials dressed in black stormed in, their boots stomping across the wooden floor. The sound of Kaito¡¯s mother gasping pierced through the chaos.


    ¡°W-What is the meaning of this?!¡± his father roared, stepping in front of his wife protectively.


    ¡°By order of the council,¡± one of the men barked, his voice devoid of emotion, ¡°you are coming with us.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Kaito screamed, his small hands clutching the table as his heart pounded like a war drum. ¡°Leave them alone!¡±


    One of the officials glanced at him, his cold gaze briefly meeting the boy¡¯s terrified eyes. Without another word, Kaito¡¯s parents were seized and dragged out of the house. His mother¡¯s cries echoed in his ears, and his father¡¯s voice, roaring in protest, grew faint as the officials disappeared into the night.


    The boy tried to follow, but another man pushed him back, throwing him to the ground. He could only watch in helpless horror as the house behind them erupted into flames, the crackling fire consuming the only home he had ever known.


    And just like that, everything he loved was gone.


    Kaito rushed out of the home, to save himself from the flames. He stood outside watching his house burn and his parents being dragged towards the vehicle. Hopeless tears run down his eyes.


    PRESENT¡­.


    ¡°Seven Nations. Seven Powers. Seven Ambitions.¡±


    The world had fractured long ago, each nation embodying a unique elemental force. These nations, once united under a shared purpose, were now involved in endless conflict. At the center of their strife lay the Nexus, the legendary source of power said to grant godlike abilities to anyone who could claim it.


    The Sovereignty of Void, shrouded in mystery and fear, stood as the most powerful and isolated. Its people wielded darkness, their abilities terrifyingly destructive.


    The other six nations¡ªthe Sovereignty of Death, the Sovereignty of Life, the Sovereignty of Matter, the Sovereignty of Energy, the Sovereignty of Space, and the Sovereignty of Time¡­.each vied for dominance, believing the Nexus to be the ultimate key to reshaping the world in their favor.


    The Nexus was yet to be awakened, but the sovereignties were desperate to acquire it before it awakened, bounding them to endless conflicts. Within The Nexus somewhere, somewhere lies the ruler of all, someone said to be the God.


    Kaito Kanzaki opened his eyes to the soft morning light coming through the wooden shutters of his grandma¡¯s house.


    The faint scent of tea leaves lingered in the air as he stared at the familiar, weathered ceiling. It had been years since that night, yet the memories haunted him like an unshakable shadow.


    ¡°Kaito!¡± his grandmother called from the kitchen. ¡°Breakfast is ready!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat later,¡± he replied, pulling on his jacket.


    Without waiting for her to respond, he stepped out into the bustling streets of the Energy¡¯s Nation capital. The market district was alive with chatter and the clinking of coins, vendors calling out to passersby to sell their wares. Kaito wandered aimlessly, letting the noise drown out his thoughts.


    As he turned a corner, his shoulder brushed against someone¡¯s.


    ¡°Oi!¡± the man barked, spinning around. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re¡ª¡± His eyes narrowed as recognition flickered in them. ¡°Ahh, it¡¯s the goddamn orphan whose parents were kidnapped. Poor fellow.¡±


    Kaito froze. His chest tightened as the man¡¯s words cut deeper than any blade. Without a word, he turned and walked away, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.


    Kaito stepped back into the quiet of his grandmother¡¯s house, the soft creak of the door announcing his return.


    ¡°You¡¯re home early,¡± his grandmother said, glancing up from her sewing.


    He stood there for a moment, his back against the door. ¡°Grandma¡­ why do they treat me like that?¡±


    The old woman sighed, her hands stilling. She looked at him with weary eyes, filled with both love and sorrow. ¡°People fear what they don¡¯t understand, Kaito. And in their fear, they lash out. They don¡¯t know the truth, only the rumors. But you¡­ you must rise above their words.¡±


    Her voice was gentle, but her words did little to soothe him. He bowed his head, the weight of her response settling heavily on his shoulders.


    That night, as he lay in bed staring at the darkened ceiling, his mind raced. The memories of his parents¡¯ abduction burned in his thoughts.


    Why did they take them? Why did they burn our house? Why do they treat me like this?


    He clenched his fists under the covers, his resolve hardening with each unanswered question.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to uncover the truth of what had happened that day¡­,¡± he thought, his emerald eyes gleaming with determination in the moonlight.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.He lay on bed as his eyes closed as his tiredness and sleep took over.


    The air in the small house was thick with tension as Kaito lay awake, his mind refusing to let him rest. His grandmother¡¯s words echoed in his thoughts, but they offered little solace.


    The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of paper as Kaito folded a handwritten letter. His penmanship was careful, each word chosen with deliberate precision. He placed the letter on the small dining table, pinning it beneath a smooth stone¡ªa keepsake from his childhood.


    "Thank you for everything, Grandma," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of gratitude and guilt.


    The early morning air was crisp as Kaito stepped out of the house. He cast one last glance at the modest home, the only sanctuary he¡¯d known since his parents were taken. His heart clenched, but he forced himself to turn away.


    He couldn¡¯t stay. Not anymore.


    Kaito¡¯s footsteps echoed softly against the cobblestone streets of the Energy¡¯s Nation¡¯s capital. The world around him was slowly stirring to life: shopkeepers opening their stalls, fishermen preparing their nets, and the distant sound of a blacksmith¡¯s hammer ringing out.


    But Kaito didn¡¯t pause to take it in. His goal was clear¡ªfind the truth behind his parents¡¯ disappearance, no matter the cost.


    As he wandered through the bustling marketplace, the sights and sounds began to overwhelm him. He bumped into someone, his shoulder brushing against a man carrying a bundle of goods.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going, kid,¡± the man snapped. But then, recognition flickered across his face, and his tone turned mocking. ¡°Oh, wait. It¡¯s you... the orphan boy. The one whose parents were kidnapped.¡±


    Kaito froze.


    The man chuckled darkly. ¡°Poor fellow. Must be tough living with that kind of shadow hanging over you.¡±


    Without another word, Kaito turned and walked away, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The man¡¯s words stung, but they only reinforced his resolve.


    Back at the house, Kaito¡¯s grandmother found the letter resting on the table. Her hands trembled as she unfolded it, her eyes scanning the neatly written words:


    ¡°Grandma,


    Thank you for taking care of me all these years. I can¡¯t sit around anymore, not knowing the truth. I have to find out what happened to Mom and Dad. Please don¡¯t worry about me¡ªI¡¯ll be okay.


    Love, Kaito.¡±


    Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched the letter to her chest. ¡°Oh, Kaito... you¡¯ve grown so much. But this path you¡¯ve chosen... it¡¯s full of dangers.¡±


    Kaito¡¯s journey led him to the outskirts of the city, where the charred remains of his childhood home still stood. The sight of it made his chest tighten, but he pressed on.


    The ruins were eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of the wind. Kaito knelt amidst the debris, his hands brushing away ash and soot as he searched for something¡ªanything¡ªthat might give him answers.


    That¡¯s when he saw it. A faint glimmer caught his eye, buried beneath a pile of rubble. He carefully unearthed it, his heart racing as he realized what it was: his father¡¯s pendant.


    Kanzaki held the pendant up to the fading sunlight, turning it over in his hands as the symbols etched into its surface glimmered faintly. The engravings in the crystal of the pendant were intricate, a series of overlapping lines and curves that seemed to hum with a faint, unexplainable energy.


    "What are you?" he murmured to himself, his thumb tracing one of the symbols¡ªa three-pointed star enclosed in a swirling spiral. It was unlike anything he had seen before, yet it felt strangely familiar, as though it had been waiting for him.


    He slipped the pendant into his pocket, casting one last glance at the remnants of his old life before setting off.


    He didn¡¯t know where he was going, but something deep inside urged him forward.


    For the next few days, Kanzaki wandered from village to village, following whispers and half-formed ideas. The pendant felt heavier with each passing moment, as though it were leading him somewhere, guiding his steps even as he questioned his sanity.


    In one town, he met an elderly merchant who seemed unnerved at the sight of the pendant. ¡°That symbol,¡± the merchant said, his voice trembling. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ old. Older than this war. You¡¯d do well to keep it hidden, boy.¡±


    Kanzaki pressed him for more information, but the merchant shook his head, retreating into his shop and refusing to say another word.


    In another village, a faded mural on the wall of an abandoned temple caught Kanzaki¡¯s eye. The artwork was crumbling with age, but he could just make out a figure holding a pendant identical to his own. Surrounding the figure were seven swirling forms, each radiating a distinct energy.


    ¡°The Sovereigns,¡± Kanzaki muttered, recalling the stories his grandmother had told him. The seven elemental forces are said to govern the world. Life, Death, Matter, Energy, Space, Void and Time¡ªall bound together by the Nexus.


    But what did the pendant have to do with them?


    The next morning, Kanzaki ventured into the forest, drawn by a vague sense of purpose he couldn¡¯t quite explain. The trees were ancient, their gnarled branches forming a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight.


    As he walked, he noticed faint carvings on the tree trunks¡ªsymbols similar to the ones on the pendant. He paused to examine one, running his fingers over the weathered grooves.


    Suddenly, a faint whisper filled the air. It was soft and indistinct, like the rustle of leaves, but Kanzaki could have sworn it formed words.


    ¡°Seek¡­ the source¡­¡±


    Kaito felt some unease and his instincts told him to run, turn back and leave the forest. Kaito couldn¡¯t shake off this feeling of unease, he ran ... .he ran as fast he could, after running for some time he finally came out of the forest. His breath Shaky.


    He couldn¡¯t spend the rest of his day in the forest, he tried looking for a safe place then suddenly he met an old man.


    ¡°It''s unusual to see kids here, is something wrong?,¡± asked the old man softly.


    Kaito, meeting the old man gaze, ¡°No, everything is ok, it''s just I am looking for a safe place to spend the rest of the day.


    Old man seem to remember something, ¡°Wait aren¡¯t you that kid, who parents were dragged away by the government officials¡±


    Kaito seemed to be in a bit of shock, brushing off that feeling and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well if you''re looking for a place to spend the rest of the day you can come to my house.¡± Old man said.


    Kaito felt gratitude towards him but his part also felt suspicion towards the old man, but he brushed off that feeling. ¡°Thanks for your help.¡±


    The old man took him to his house and gave him some food and water. ¡°You look hungry,¡± he said with a smile.


    Kaito thought of asking the old man about the symbol of the pendant. He knew that he should not trust people so easily but his inner feelings won over him and Kaito asked nervously ¡°umm, wo-would you ... .mind telling me about this engravement on the pendant?¡±


    Old man was utterly shocked after seeing the engraving on the pendant. He wasn¡¯t able to believe his eyes. ¡°Where did you get this pendant from, kid?¡±


    Kaito didn¡¯t understand why the old man was shocked, however he told him ¡°My father used to wear this pendant.¡±


    The old man told him about the pendant and about the engraving, his voice was a bit shaky ¡°Listen carefully, In this world exists 4 types of people. People who possess basic magic. People who possess offensive/fighting magic. People who have Awakened element magic. People have Awakened 2 element magic, most rare. However there are rumors which say, people also exist with Awakened 3 element magic. And each of these magic types has its own engraving and the engraving on the pendant reflects Awakened 3 magic types. Hajime should have told you about this¡­¡±


    Kaito couldn¡¯t believe the old man¡¯s words. He asked the old man ¡°Does this mean that my father possessed the Awakened 3 element magic type!? b-b-but wait, how do you know my father''s name?¡±


    The old man replied, ¡°Because I¡¯m #@#@#@..............¡±


    to be continued¡­

 Chapter - 2: It is the time: Awakening

    Kaito couldn¡¯t believe the old man¡¯s words. He asked the old man ¡°b-b-but wait, how do you know my father''s name?¡±


    The old man replied, ¡°Because I¡¯m his first friend.¡±


    Kaito was too stunned to speak. The world froze before him. A light of hope ignited within him for the first time. Kaito¡¯s heart pounded in his chest as he processed the old man¡¯s words. ¡°His first friend¡­?¡± he repeated.


    The old man nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes, Hajime and I were once like brothers. We shared many adventures, facing dangers you can¡¯t even imagine. And that pendant... it holds a power far beyond what most can comprehend.¡±


    Kaito immediately asked him ¡°If you were his friend, then you must know something about what happened to him and my mother. Please, tell me!¡±


    The old man hesitated at first but then replied ¡°Hajime was a great man, but he carried secrets that made him a target. The council feared his knowledge and the power he wielded. They believed he was the key to unlocking the Nexus.¡±


    Kaito was too stunned to speak, so he asked him what is the Nexus all about? Why is everyone after it and why did my father never tell me about it?


    The old man nodded gravely. ¡°It is more than just a legend. The Nexus holds the potential to reshape our world, and those who control it can wield unimaginable power. But it¡¯s also a dangerous force that could bring about the end of everything if misused. All nations want it but the way to awaken it is unknown. The island of nexus is covered with a huge concentration of  ¡°Seiatsu¡± making it impossible to reach by a normal human. The government of our nation created many experiments and many people were experimented upon which includes your father and mother.


    Kaito was speechless.


    The old man replied, ¡°your father had entrusted a job to me. He predicted all of this would happen way before the event occurred and somehow he predicted you coming over to me and well that means today''s the day.¡±


    Kaito immediately enquired on what the job was..


    ¡°The job is to enlighten you with the elements and its power and make you a Chikara and rest path is yours..¡±


    ¡°W-wait what are Chikara and Seiatsu??¡± Kaito asked the old man with a huge presence of doubt.


    It''s already late at night and I''m going to bed. I shall inform you everything soon and since you never asked, my name is Shike Nazamaki.


    ¡°Naza Maki-san¡± he murmured, repeating his name to commit it to memory.


    Kaito woke up early the next day. It appeared he never slept because of how full of doubts he was from the inside. His curiosities made him too eager.


    ¡°Good morning Kaito. It appears you did not have a good sleep last night but anyways from today till the day you become what your father had entrusted me to, I am your sensei.¡±


    ¡°Yes sensei, I¡¯m in for whatever it takes,¡± Kaito replied.


    Shike sat down and asked Kaito to do the same. ¡°Kaito now listen very carefully. What I''m about to tell you is something which defines our world, our society.


    The society.. You know they are divided into citizens, soldiers, elementers already. But within them are also many divisions. The division of ranks..


    There are 5 ranks:


    The lowest of them all is Mijuku (E), The ones inexperienced and know only 1 or 2 spells at most.


    Futs¨± (D), Normal and average in the field of magic.


    Chikara (C), the ones acknowledged for their strength and combat ability.


    Tenmei (B), are the warriors who have embraced their purpose and can influence the tides of battle.


    Hikari (A), is the last and top ones. Champions of their Nations, Radiant in their mastery of power and leadership.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Though there''s a special rank.. KAMI (S), known as the "God" awarded to the top rankers of every nation. They embody god-like power.


    And Kaito, my job is to make you a Chikara. Then you go on your path.¡±


    Kaito was stunned to speak. He asked Shike ¡°What his rank was and what rank was mine? And my parents?¡±


    Shike replied. ¡°My rank is not important. Remember your path and focus on that. Your parents were both KAMI (S class ) or even something higher since they possessed the power of 3 elements.


    Your rank is still lower than  Mijuku [E class] the lowest. Each Ranker is supposed to unlock his element. You still haven''t done that, have you?¡±


    ¡°No, I haven''t. H-How can I do that?¡± asked Kaito.


    ¡°We shall get to that soon Kaito¡­You first need to understand basic fighting magic. You don''t know a thing right now. You can''t unlock your element before that!¡±


    ¡°So-o please teach me sensei. I just do the needful before it''s too late.¡±


    ¡°Do not hurry Kaito, good things take time. Listen. Our world is composed of ¡°Seiatsu¡± . It''s the energy we use to cast any type of magic. You must learn to master it. Every user has a limited Seiatsu which we must use carefully. It is the Energy that flows through all living beings and the world. It is channeled through spiritual veins known as Seimyaku  allowing individuals to harness it for powerful abilities. Seiatsu can be used in many ways. Mainly four.


    First one is ¡°Seiatsu Flow¡±


    Seiatsu flows through the Seimyaku, an intricate network within the body. Mastery over Seiatsu Flow enhances physical and spiritual capabilities. If you learn to control that , you can manipulate the amount of Seiatsu you have.


    Next comes the most important, Seijutsu.


    Seijutsu are techniques powered by Seiatsu. They range from elemental manipulation to complex spiritual arts. They are the basic techniques we use.


    Techniques are classified by ranks,the same system as the one earlier- E,D,C,B,A,S.


    Next comes Seimon,


    Advanced practitioners can unlock Seimon, or "Spiritual Gates," within their Seimyaku to access immense power temporarily. This boosts their power but it''s the hardest technique to do in the world.  Not every user is a Seimon user. This takes hundreds of years to master but at the same time it can cause death.


    Lastly, is the Seitei,


    Users can form Seitei, or "Spiritual Bonds," with other beings or objects to share or enhance Seiatsu.


    This can be used for cooperative techniques, summoning, or weapon empowerment and can also be used to create shields. This is a very complex Field¡­and that''s it. I suppose I wrapped it out fast to not make you too confused.¡±


    Kaito replied.. ¡°this wasn''t confusing but rather INTERESTING sensei¡­ thanks for the explanation! So what now?¡±


    ¡°Look Kaito, The world is a lot wider and deeper than what they really show you. We shall start your training with basic Seiatsu control. The Seiatsu Flow. For the next 30 days you''ll spend your time in physical training for at least 12 hours a day. This will enhance your physical capabilities and also, enhance the control. For the rest of the time you''ll spend it mediating.¡±


    Kaito did not question his Task nor his judgement. He did as he was told for the next 30 days without a single daybreak. Days passed and within a blink of an eye, it was already day 30.


    ¡°Kaito, you have done well in the past 30 days. Your body has adapted to constant control of Seiatsu. Now keep this leaf and stone on each hand and listen carefully.¡±


    Kaito did as he was told.


    ¡°Try to make it fly a few meters above your palm¡±


    ¡°What?? How can I do so? I mean I have seen people do it but how?¡±


    ¡°Look Kaito, Try to concentrate the Seiatsu flow in your palm from all over your body.¡±


    Kaito tried and surprisingly the leaf and the stone both  flew a few metres above his hands.


    Kaito was stunned and amazed he shouted ¡°I did it!!¡±.


    Shike replied ¡°Good, that''s how you do it!¡±


    Kaito was too happy for the rest of the day. He kept doing it again and again.


    The next day Shike took Kaito to the top of a mountain.Far away from his place of residence. Upon reaching there, Shike informed Kaito that ¡°This is where we shall unlock your element Kaito.¡±


    ¡°Look Kaito you see this circle? And seven adjacent Circles beside it? Each circle represents an element, sit in between the circle and try to concentrate your Seiatsu on the Circle. It''s easy to just stay focused.¡±


    Kaito approached the circle and sat in between. Trying to concentrate his Seiatsu on the ground, he did it in no time.


    Kaito''s breath steadied as he felt the Seiatsu gathering in his core, the ground.


    The energy began to ripple outward, connecting with the ancient symbols surrounding him. The circle beneath him glowed brighter, the light pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat.


    The sky went dark and lightning struck all 7 circles. Then the element Kaito unlocked.. The element wa-


    Suddenly a Strange noise was heard by Shike and Kaito. Shike immediately took Kaito and ran as fast as he could.. Kaito asked what was happening.


    Shike replied ¡°It''s the¡­.¡±


    to be continued¡­

 Chapter - 3: Attacked

    Suddenly a Strange noise was heard by Shike and Kaito. Shike immediately took Kaito and ran as fast as he could.. Kaito asked what was happening.


    Shike replied ¡°It''s the High Ranking Soldiers of this region, they must have found us.¡±


    ¡°Wait, why are they coming after me?¡± Kaito asked nervously.


    ¡°Kaito, you are the son of the elementers. Your seijutsu can be detected by Chikara(C) or any higher rank..they must be finding you to create more subjects of experiments.¡± Shike replied.


    ¡°Damn, I didn''t even get to see my element!¡± Kaito said.


    ¡°Kaito I saw your element, it was Matter.¡± Shike replied.


    ¡°M-m-matter??¡± Kaito asked to confirm again.


    ¡°Yes, Matter. I''ll teach you more about it but first we must hide.¡±


    Before anything could happen again, the High Ranking Soldiers quickly surrounded Shike and Kaito, their intentions clear.


    Shike immediately got stunned by the face he saw. The face was someone familiar to Shike.


    ¡°So it''s you Yanei.¡± Shike said.


    ¡°What a perfect moment to eliminate you, Shike. Always a pain in the ass and a freaking coward. Hiding since that day huh?


    ¡°Well it doesn''t matter after all the kingdom doesn''t tolerate traitors.. 3rd minister..Hand over that child now.¡± Yanei said in an authoritative tone.


    ¡°Th-third minister??¡± Kaito was too stunned to speak.


    ¡°Yes Kaito I was the 3rd minister of this sovereignty..I didn''t tell you this before but..I''ll explain everything after we get out.¡± Shike replied to Kaito.


    ¡°Like you ever will Shike. I shall eliminate you right now.¡± Yanei said in a challenging tone.


    The tension was palpable as Yanei and his soldiers encircled Kaito and Shike. The forest, once serene, now felt like the battleground of an inevitable clash. Shike stepped forward, placing himself between Kaito and the advancing enemies.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°Yanei,¡± Shike said calmly, his voice filled with both authority and warning, ¡°you¡¯ve made a mistake coming here.¡±


    Yanei smirked, drawing his blade, which shimmered with the power of matter. ¡°Oh, Shike, always the protector. Let¡¯s see if you can protect yourself and the boy from me.¡±


    Without another word, Yanei lunged, his blade aimed directly at Shike¡¯s heart. In a blur of motion, Shike sidestepped, his movements precise and fluid. He raised his hand, summoning a torrent of energy.


    ¡°Seijutsu: Energy Spiral!¡±


    A spiraling energy inferno erupted from his palm, engulfing the space between them. Yanei jumped back, narrowly avoiding the particles, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Still as sharp as ever, I see.¡±


    Shike didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he thrust his hand forward, summoning another attack. ¡°Seiatsu: Energy Pulse!¡±


    The shockwave blasted outward, knocking several soldiers off their feet. Yanei remained standing, his expression unfazed.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to do better than that,¡± Yanei sneered, raising his hand. ¡°Matter Bind!¡±


    Dark Matter tendrils shot out from the ground, aiming to ensnare Shike. But Shike was faster, his hands weaving through the air with practiced ease.


    ¡°Seimon: Gate of the Energies!¡±


    A gate of roaring energy particles appeared before him, destroying the tendrils to ash before they could reach him. Shike¡¯s aura flared, the sheer power of the Seimon enhancing his abilities.


    Yanei¡¯s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. ¡°So, you¡¯ve still got some fight in you. Let¡¯s see how long that lasts.¡±


    He charged again, this time with enhanced speed, his matter blade slashing through the air. Shike met the attack head-on, summoning a sword of pure energy.


    Their blades clashed, sparks flying as energy crackled around them. Yanei pushed harder, but Shike held his ground, his strength unwavering.


    ¡°Kaito!¡± Shike called out, never taking his eyes off Yanei. ¡°Stay back and watch closely. This is how you fight.¡±


    Kaito nodded, his heart pounding as he watched his mentor in action.


    Shike parried another strike and countered with a swift slash of his own. ¡°Seijutsu: Energy Fang!¡±


    A bolt of Highly concentrated energy erupted from his sword, striking Yanei and sending him stumbling back. Yanei growled, smoke rising from his armor.


    ¡°You¡¯re strong, Shike,¡± Yanei admitted, his tone grudging. ¡°But strength alone won¡¯t be enough.¡±


    With a roar, Yanei unleashed a wave of dark Matter energy again which they call plasma, the force of it tearing through the ground. Shike crossed his arms in front of him.


    ¡°Seiatsu Barrier!¡±


    The protective dome formed around him, absorbing the brunt of the attack. The ground trembled under the pressure, but Shike¡¯s barrier held firm.


    As the dust settled, Shike lowered his barrier and took a deep breath. ¡°You can¡¯t win this, Yanei. Stand down.¡±


    Yanei¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. ¡°Never!¡±


    Yanei lunged once more, but this time Shike was ready. With a swift motion, he raised his hand and shouted, ¡°Seimon: Gate of the 13th¡±


    A swirling vortex of small energy leafs appeared as sharp as knives and the entire region was concentrated with huge seijutsu¡­erupted from the ground, enveloping Yanei and his soldiers. The storm raged with ferocity, tearing through their ranks.


    When the storm subsided, Yanei stood battered and bruised, his soldiers either unconscious or retreating. He glared at Shike, his body trembling with rage.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± Yanei spat, his voice filled with venom. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    Shike didn¡¯t respond. He simply watched as Yanei and the remnants of his forces disappeared into the shadows.


    As the silence returned, Shike turned to Kaito, his expression softening. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Kaito nodded, awe and admiration shining in his eyes. ¡°Sensei, that was incredible. I had no idea you were so powerful.¡±


    ¡°I shall tell you something..I¡¯m a D¡ª--------¡±