The silence in the room felt heavy.
No one spoke. No one moved. Everyone just sat there, eyes flicking around the room like they were all thinking the same thing: What now?
Ming shifted in his seat, nervous. Something was coming. He could feel it.
Then Amaya suddenly stood up, looking excited. "Hikari sir, should we tell them everything?" she asked, her voice light, almost cheerful. "I mean… explain it all?"
Rin rolled his eyes, clearly not impressed with her enthusiasm.
Hikari stood up calmly. "Everyone wait here," he said.
He didn't explain anything. Just walked across the room, heading for a second door in the corner. Quietly, he opened it and stepped inside.
Nobody followed. They all just sat there. Waiting. Guessing. Nervous.
Ming stared at the door. What's in there? What's he going to show us?
Inside, Hikari turned on a light. In the middle of a small room was an old wooden table and on it, a old book. It looked very Old. Important. He picked it up carefully and brought it back into the main room.
He placed the book on the table in front of everyone.
Ming leaned forward. "What is that?" he asked.
"Just listen," Hikari said gently.
Everyone leaned in closer, quiet, waiting.
Hikari opened the book. His eyes looked tired. Like he was about to tell a story he never wanted to say out loud.
"Those monsters... they weren't born that way. Someone made them," he began. "Someone is controlling them. And this didn't just start a few days ago. This goes back… way back."
Everyone stared at him.
Kenzo, Sofia, Luca, Akiko, Ming, Ash. they all leaned in, trying to understand.
"This started over two thousand years ago," Hikari continued. "Back then, it looked like natural disasters earthquakes, strange illnesses, things no one could explain. But it wasn't nature. And then… it just stopped."
He paused.
Sofia felt like her chest was tightening. She didn't understand any of it. What does this even mean? What's going on?
Luca looked uncomfortable. Are we really safe here?
Akiko was growing impatient. She wanted answers. Ming was listening carefully, her thoughts racing. Kenzo sat still, but his eyes were sharp focused.
"This book," Hikari said, tapping the cover gently, "was written by my ancestors. They kept a record of everything. Seven hundred years ago, the disasters started again. At first, people thought it was just nature. But then… they knew. Something was wrong."
"They never figured out who was behind it. So many people died. Then, after five years, it stopped. Just like before. But my ancestors didn't believe it was over. They thought it was just sleeping. Waiting. So they wrote this book… to prepare us."
He looked around the room.
"My father and his friends built this place. A place to train. To protect people. To be ready for the war we hoped would never happen."
Akiko stepped forward. "And the swords?" she asked. "The ones glowing with light. What are those?"
Hikari looked at the sword hanging at his side.
"Thunder Swords," he said. "We don't know exactly where they came from. Some say they're blessings from the gods. There are about a hundred of them. When you all arrived, there were ninety one of us here. Now we're ninety nine. Not counting the old lady.she won't be fighting. And the boy… we'll start him with wooden swords until he's older."
He paused, then said more carefully.
"But…"
Everyone's heads turned toward him.
Rin stepped in. "But Thunder Swords aren't normal weapons. If you don't stay calm when you're using them, they can hurt you. Or someone else."
Everyone grew quiet.
Amaya smiled softly. "Don't worry. You'll be given uniforms. They help protect your body from the energy. And the gloves those gray gloves you've seen those help you control the sword's power. But even with them… you'll need to train hard."
Hikari nodded. "Speed. Focus. Reflexes. You'll need all of it. These swords are powerful but only if the one holding them knows how to survive."
Then he looked at his two trainers.
"Amaya, take the women and the old lady to their rooms. Give them uniforms and gloves. Rin, take the men and the boy."
Both nodded.
Amaya led Sofia, Akiko, and the old woman through one hallway. Rin turned the other way, leading Ming, Kenzo, Luca, Ash, and the rest of the guys.
There were seven of them, so Rin split them into two rooms. Kenzo, Ming, Luca, and Ash ended up in one.
The room was plain. Stone walls. Three small beds. A wooden wardrobe. A little bathroom. It wasn't fancy, but it felt safe. Clean.
Rin handed them their uniforms and gloves, then left without saying anything.
The four of them stood there in silence, holding the new clothes in their hands.
No one said a word.
Because everything had finally hit them.
They weren't just survivors anymore.
They were about to become fighters in a war they didn't even understand.
And far away hidden in the dark...
Someone was watching.
And smiling.
.
End of chapter 6