Around 9:45 a.m., the river glimmered beneath the sun, its surface catching streaks of golden light. A quiet wind brushed past the trees, carrying the scent of the forest with it.
On the far side of the riverbank, two figures stood facing each other at a distance—Salazar and Divy. Their stances steady, eyes locked, the air around them heavy with silent anticipation.
A few meters back, the rest of the group watched with unease. Niko, Oiki, Ella, and Eve all wore the same concerned expressions.
Oiki rubbed the back of his neck, his tone uncertain but laced with genuine care.
"Oi, just… don't go full on against each other, alright? We still need to be in shape for the tournament."
Ella immediately backed him up, her voice raised with worry.
"Yeah! Oiki's right! This isn't an official match—just a practice duel. Don't you dare end up injured."
Niko adjusted his glasses, his expression serious.
"How about this? You two duel without actually hitting each other."
Both Salazar and Divy blinked, confused for a moment, until Niko explained further.
"Think of it as a dodging duel. You don't throw real punches—you just try to find each other's openings. That way, you'll still sharpen your instincts. Besides…" His tone dipped, a warning hidden in his words. "…we all know what happens if you two go without holding back."
Salazar chuckled loudly, "Very well then, I have no problem with this finding the opening duel. What do you say, Divy?" he asked with a smirk, running his fingers along his chin. Divy met his eyes with the same unshaken stoicism as always, replying in a calm, steady tone, "Likewise—however you want it." Salazar's grin widened. "Then be ready." Both slipped into their stances. "Say hell when you're ready," Salazar taunted.
"Hell," Divy answered flatly—before lunging forward with a burst of speed, his fist driving toward Salazar's face.
Salazar blocked with ease, though his arms pressed as if weighing the strike. "You've sharpened your speed and strength," he remarked with a teasing smirk. "Still not enough." With a push, he shoved Divy back and swung a counterpunch toward his stomach—only for Divy to catch his fist and force it down, bringing them head-to-head. Salazar's smirk burned on, while Divy's gaze stayed cold and unreadable, the clash of fire and ice holding in perfect tension.
From a distance, the group watched the duel unfold. Oiki muttered in an almost obvious tone, "Even though it's just a finding-openings duel… they're still going full on."
The others nodded silently, unable to deny it.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Looks like I came back in time."
Niko and Oiki jumped, startled at the old man's sudden appearance. Ella, unfazed, turned and asked, "Grandpa, is this your first time seeing them in a duel?"
The old man took a slow sip from his cup, his eyes fixed on the two boys clashing by the river. "Yeah. At first, I thought Divy was far stronger than Salazar, just from the way he carries himself… but it seems I was wrong."
His gaze sharpened, and his thoughts deepened. Hmm… they're evenly matched. One wears a smirk, the other a mask of stone—complete opposites. To an ordinary eye, it might look like Salazar is holding back while Divy pushes himself to the limit. But in truth… they're both standing in the same place.
He rubbed his chin, lost for a moment in his own thoughts. Ella noticed the look in his eyes and asked softly, "Grandpa, what are you thinking?"
The old man chuckled calmly, almost too calm, as if he knew more than he let on.
"Nothing… just wondering how far those two can go."
Around 11:05 a.m.
Salazar and Divy stood locked in silence, both drenched in sweat, their breaths ragged and heavy. Finally, Salazar exhaled sharply, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
"Let's call it an end," he said between breaths.
Divy, equally exhausted though masking it behind his usual stoic tone, gave a short nod. "Sure."
Both collapsed onto the ground, chests heaving, the dust beneath them rising in tiny clouds. Eve and Ella hurried forward, kneeling by their sides and pressing cold water bottles into their hands.
From behind, the old man's chuckle broke the calm. "What an intense duel. If it were with weapons, the ground would already be decorated with a few missing organs."
The group froze mid-action, their faces twisting into sheer horror.
Salazar, still lying flat, muttered silently in his head: If this oldass weren't Ella's grandpa, I'd be the one ripping out his organs right now.
Ella tilted her head toward him suspiciously. "Did you say something?"
Salazar quickly shook his head, feigning innocence.
Meanwhile, Oiki and Niko exchanged worried glances, their thoughts in sync: Seems like the whole family is scary.
The old man waved a hand and said, "Oh! You all should head home and rest… don't want to be late for the ceremony, now, do we?"
The group nodded in agreement, already tired from the morning's duel.
Salazar, scratching his head with a completely clueless expression, tilted his head and asked, "Wait… what ceremony?"
WHAM! Ella swung her fist lightly against his head in classic cartoonish fashion. "YOU FORGET?! The God ceremony, you fool!!!"
Salazar's eyes widened, and he rubbed his head, sheepishly grinning. "Oh… yeah! Now I remember."
The group slowly dispersed, each heading toward their own homes, their chatter fading into the hum of the quiet morning.
The scene then cuts sharply—to the inside of a cavern, its roof broken open to the sky. Sunrays streamed down in golden shafts, illuminating a silent sanctuary carved by time itself.
At the very center stood a small, weathered temple, its stone walls veined with moss and cracks, whispering of forgotten ages.
Before it, half-buried in the ground, lay an ancient katana—its blade dulled by centuries, yet radiating a quiet presence. The steel caught the sunlight in fragments, as though reluctant to reveal its true glow.
The wind stirred, carrying with it a silence that felt heavier than words.
The camera lingers on the blade… before everything fades to black.
Chapter 4 Ends