Kazuma, Rin, and Hiden sat in complete silence, their eyes closed, their breaths synchronized with the pulse of the earth, as if they were part of the rhythm of the universe itself.
Their translucent auras began to appear, shimmering around their bodies, flowing from their heads to the soles of their feet, like a thin layer of light that gave every movement weight and soul. The air around them moved gently, as if nature itself was breathing with them, while the sand beneath their feet whispered softly with each shift.
The three slowly opened their eyes. Kazuma raised his glowing hands before him, staring at the strange energy that flowed from his palms:
— "I feel… beyond human…"
Rin, lying gracefully on the sand, her body flowing with the curves of the desert, moved her legs and arms with elegance and said:
— "It's a feeling… I've never known before. Something… indescribable."
Hiden, calm and steady, closed his eyes briefly and added in a deep voice:
— "I've never felt such ecstasy… as if every cell in my body breathes energy."
Kazuma looked up at Ten, who stood tall before them, his eyes catching every shimmer of their auras, as if reading the secrets of energy in their depths:
— "Master… I've felt the opening of Shin before, but today… it's completely different."
Ten, in a calm, confident tone, like a breeze touching the soul itself:
— "Do not rejoice too much… Opening Shin is only the beginning. Control and mastery are what truly matter. Without them, your power is meaningless."
Rin, with eyes sparkling:
— "Will we train on control today?"
Ten smiled gently:
— "No. Tomorrow will be the time for control."
The scene shifted slowly, like a camera capturing the sun embracing the sands, its rays piercing through their auras. Time passed softly, as if the desert itself was watching them in silence.
---
The next day, their training stretched across the vast desert. Kazuma walked on his hands, his legs raised like sails in the wind, his body bending and balancing with incredible grace, every muscle tense with precision, every movement flowing with his breath.
Rin, her forehead pressed to the sand, her palms buried in it, pushed her body up and down with her legs like waves rising and falling from the sea. Her sweat fell onto the sand, glistening under the sun like shards of glass, while the air itself trembled with every motion.
Hiden immersed himself in sensing energy, his translucent aura expanding around him, capturing the slightest vibrations of earth, sky, and his companions — as if every beam of light was being read and redirected within him.
Kazuma and Rin continued their yoga-like postures, each breath accompanied by a profound connection to inner energy, every stretch and contraction moving their auras that shimmered and swayed around them like mist dancing with sunlight.
Ten stepped forward with steady strides, his voice cutting through the silence of the desert:
— "If you've had enough, we'll move to the next stage."
Kazuma quickly stood, his eyes gleaming with excitement:
— "Tell me!"
Ten answered in a philosophical tone, as though his words were carved upon the horizon of the desert:
— "The next stage is control… From now on, you must keep your auras active for two straight hours."
Rin, with a challenging smile:
— "Isn't that easy?"
Ten smiled faintly, his eyes drifting to the endless sky:
— "We shall see…"
As they continued, their energies intertwined with every breeze, every grain of sand, every ray of sunlight, until the desert itself became a living theater of spirit, energy, and body.
The three stood tall, their auras shimmering like veils of transparent light. Their breaths grew heavier, each inhale and exhale testing the patience of their bodies. After three minutes that felt like eternity, Ten spoke with calm sharpness:
— "What's wrong? Feeling tired already? It's only been three minutes!"
Kazuma's face dripped with sweat, his eyes trembling. Rin's chest rose and fell quickly as she gazed at the sky, filled with awe and determination:
— "I never thought… controlling this power would be this hard…"
Even Hiden, usually composed, began to waver, his body swaying at the brink of collapse.
Four minutes passed, and their auras began to fade, until they all fell to the ground, their legs betraying them, their eyes struggling to resist.
Rin (panting, her gaze fixed on the sky):
— "It was harder than I expected…"
Ten (calm but firm):
— "Today's training is over."
Kazuma (struggling to breathe):
— "How do you both feel?"
Hiden (quietly, steadily):
— "All I feel is exhaustion."
Time passed. Tomorrow came, and the day after, as though time itself was testing their will. They stood again, their auras brighter, denser.
Ten (his voice filling the space):
— "It's been an hour."
Soon after, they collapsed again, exhaustion crashing over them like waves on stone.
Kazuma (laughing weakly, pride hidden in his voice):
— "We're making progress…"
Rin:
— "We'll grow stronger… We won't back down."
Hiden (steadily):
— "We're getting used to it."
Ten (with fire and resolve):
— "We will train again tomorrow…"
Days passed, and with each day, their training grew harsher. One hour… then two… then three. Each time they stood, their auras grew more radiant, their bodies scarred, drenched in sweat — proof of their unbreakable spirit.
At last, in a defining moment, Ten stood before them, his face shining with joy, his eyes filled with unmistakable pride:
— "You've succeeded… You've reached what you once dreamed of."
The three fell to their knees, yet the sense of accomplishment lifted them higher than exhaustion could pull them down. The earth itself seemed to breathe with them, bearing witness to the birth of new warriors, ready for any challenge ahead.
---
Ten sat quietly behind a table, placing a small stone at its center, as if it were the core of the universe. His hands moved gently, carrying ancient secrets and wisdom.
Kazuma stared at the stone with widened eyes, as though it were a window into another world:
— "What's the purpose of this stone?"
Hiden replied in a deep tone:
— "This stone… reveals your type."
Rin, with childlike curiosity, her eyes sparkling like stars:
— "I didn't know Shin had types…"
Ten smiled kindly and began to explain, his voice bearing philosophical weight, as if the words themselves were shaped from Shin:
— "There are six types of Shin, and each reflects a unique personality."
He raised his hands over the stone, a faint golden aura shimmering above it, spinning slowly like visible wind:
— *"The first: the Igniter. Power drawn from passion and fury, like a volcano that never rests.
The second: the Reflector, turning surrounding energy into solid barriers, relying on calmness of mind.
The third: the Transformer, flexible energy that allows altering elements — water, air, electricity — a mirror of an adaptable mind.
The fourth: the Creator, energy that enables shaping constructs and tools from Shin itself… but demands immense focus.
The fifth: the Commander, sheer willpower that influences minds and bodies, emanating an aura of psychological dominance.
The sixth: the Unique… rare patterns beyond classification, tied to personal traits and special circumstances, capable of the unpredictable."*
Rin (amazed):
— "Is there a common type?"
Ten (calmly):
— "No… Each person has their own, unchangeable."
He placed his hands upon the stone, which began to glow, pulsing like a living heart. The light reflected on their faces, capturing every expression, every tremor.
Kazuma's mouth dropped open in shock, Rin's eyes sparkled with excitement, while Hiden remained calm, absorbing every flicker of energy.
A living image appeared on the surface of the stone, like a window into another realm.
Kazuma (astonished):
— "What type are you?"
Ten (with pride):
— "I am of the Creator type. Remember our battle with Dair? I created hidden cubes that reflected any strike, as if the earth itself shielded the worthy."
Rin, with a bright smile:
— "I want to try!"
Ten:
— "Go ahead."
Rin placed her hands on the stone, closing her eyes. She felt heat and cold intertwine in her body. Her hair trembled with her flowing aura, and soon, the stone melted into a glowing liquid, lighting the room.
Ten (smiling):
— "You are of the Transformer type."
Rin (amazed):
— "Incredible!"
Ten:
— "But remember, your previous gift of using ice is gone. You'll start from zero, to rebuild yourself anew."
Then came Kazuma's turn. He gripped the stone, feeling pressure on his chest, his aura expanding outward, the stone pulsing like a living heart.
Ten:
— "It seems… you are of the Igniter type."
Kazuma (clenching his fists, eyes blazing):
— "Good…"
Finally, Hiden stepped forward, surrounded by tiny floating stones. The stone in his hands shifted from deep brown to bright yellow.
Ten:
— "You are also a Transformer."
Hiden (smiling faintly):
— "I was hoping for something stronger…"
Ten (sternly):
— "Do not be foolish. There is no stronger or weaker type by itself. Even the Igniter, in the hands of the weak, is useless. Power is not measured by the ability alone — but by how it's used."
The air arou
nd them thickened, as though gravity itself bent under their energy. The sound of shifting stone blended with their beating hearts, creating a cinematic moment, alive with power, will, and destiny.
Ten smiled, his eyes shimmering with curiosity and virtue, his voice carrying a wave of excitement:
Ten:
"What do you think about a fight… Kazuma against Hiden?"
Kazuma's eyes flared with excitement, as if the spark in his chest had grown wings. He answered with passion:
Kazuma:
"I can feel the flow of energy… I've been waiting for this moment!"
Hiden, calm and composed, read the scene with sharp eyes, as if he could sense the wind before it touched the ground:
Hiden:
"Very well… but I will defeat you."
Kazuma smiled, half in challenge and half in silent philosophy within the shadows of his heart:
Kazuma:
"Perhaps you will… but don't underestimate me."
Everyone watched — Rin and Ten standing at the side — as tension wrapped around the place like a dark cloud. Hiden stood on the left side of the arena, like a silent mountain watching the waves, while Kazuma on the right, brimming with energy, stood like lightning waiting for the perfect strike.
Ten raised his voice, as if summoning a legendary moment:
Ten:
"Begin!"
Kazuma lifted his right foot slowly, then struck the ground, the echo resonating through the arena as if the earth itself responded to the rhythm of his heart.
He dashed forward, hovering a few centimeters above the ground, like a bird testing gravity before diving deep. He clasped his hands together and raised them high, as if holding the fury of the heavens, shouting:
Kazuma:
"Take this!"
Hiden, firm as an ancient stone, placed his right hand on the ground, energy rippling from his body like waves across a still lake. He bent his frame and pushed his legs with force, lifting his hand to the sky, leaping gracefully as if dancing with the wind.
Kazuma's strike cut only air, missing its target. Hiden, in a philosophical motion, bent his left leg and extended the right like a bow of light, descending swiftly toward Kazuma, aiming at his head, as if the wind itself split through his body.
Kazuma raised his head to the sky, his eyes widening as he saw Hiden rushing down with a speed that could melt the earth beneath them. They weren't just fighters anymore — they were philosophy in motion, a clash of wills fluttering on the edge of time.
Kazuma clenched his right palm, closing his eyes in calm, dispersing the chaos around him. A deep silence covered the arena, as though time itself had stopped to witness the birth of a new power. Around him, a faint aura shimmered, then gradually ignited into a fiery red flame wrapping his hand, as if the fire within had erupted.
Rin inhaled with awe, her voice a mix of surprise and excitement:
Rin:
"Do you see, Master? He's begun…"
Ten added with confidence and pride:
Ten:
"He has started to show his first technique…"
Kazuma furrowed his brows, yet stayed calm, whispering in a low, threatening tone:
Kazuma:
"Flaming Palm Strike."
He raised his burning hand toward the sky, and in a flash, a giant hand of flame appeared, surging toward Hiden like a shard of a volcano, tearing through the air with a hissing roar.
Hiden's eyes widened in shock, disbelief marking his face — and suddenly, the hand vanished, leaving only a trace of heat and light, as if it had been nothing more than a fleeting dream of fire.
Kazuma's eyes widened in surprise, and in the next instant he leapt above Hiden like a hunting bird, his body stretched horizontally, left foot aimed at his opponent's face, the air trembling with speed and force.
Hiden gritted his teeth, thrusting his left hand forward, wrapped in the aura of Shin. A long blue thread slid like a snake around a rock before yanking back with violent control, a display of mastery and elemental command.
Kazuma was struck hard on the right side of his head. His eyes widened in shock, yet he did not fall. Suddenly he was hurled backward, the air shuddering from the impact, rocks scattering, heat rising, smoke filling the arena — leaving a heavy sense of danger and thrill in every corner.
Every movement, every spark, every flash of power was not mere combat; it was philosophy made flesh, a testament to an unbreakable will, and
a moment where man became a force felt by the soul before the body.
Kazuma suddenly fell to his knees, dizziness washing over him, his body swaying with every small movement. A shallow cut on his forehead bled warmly, glinting under the faint sunlight, while his heart pounded violently, every cell in his body reacting to the shock.
Hayden rushed toward Kazuma with quick steps, his face carrying a mix of shame and concern, his spirit torn between worry and the urge to hide his tension. He reached him swiftly, his hand trembling slightly as it touched Kazuma's shoulder, then gently placed his left hand on his friend's back.
Hayden (softly, voice laced with concern):
— Are you alright?
Kazuma closed his eyes for a moment, regaining his balance, his palms pressed against the ground. Despite his exhaustion, admiration flickered on his face.
Kazuma (tired but amazed):
— That was an incredible technique… When did you learn it?
At that moment, Ten and Rin appeared, moving lightly, their steps blending with the morning breeze, carrying both concern and admiration. Ten approached with a smile, as though the weight of the moment had been eased by laughter.
Ten:
— When did you learn that move?
Hayden smiled shyly, his hand trembling slightly.
— Since I was eight…
His words lingered in the air, like old secrets leaking into every corner. Rin, her eyes widening in faint surprise, asked:
— But during our training, you always looked exhausted…
Hayden gave a shy smile.
— I was only pretending to be tired… so I could be with you… to feel the spirit of the team.
Ten chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
— You're really sly, Hayden.
Kazuma slowly lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with admiration, his voice low but curious.
— Can I learn that technique?
Hayden met his gaze deeply, his eyes carrying years of experience and the philosophy of strength.
— That technique suits the Igniters. I belong to the Shifters, able to turn Shin into flexibility.
He exhaled slowly, as if the very air was heavy with the journey of mastery.
— But it's not just raw power… it demands precise tactics and absolute focus to be truly effective.
The air carried the scent of the earth stirred by swift movement, the autumn breeze brushing their faces, their footsteps pressing into the ground. Heartbeats and whispers overlapped, turning the moment into something more than just training or technique—it became a lesson in patience, focu
s, and the shared spirit of friends.