The training center blazed with the harsh glow of Master Daichi's infernal circle. Blue flames licked at the walls, casting long shadows across the reinforced chamber. In the center stood Daichi, calm and imposing, while opposite him knelt Renji, battered and bruised from the relentless session.
Overhead, in the monitoring chamber, Master Arashi observed with the detached focus of a hawk. A steaming cup of coffee sat on the console before him, the strong roasted scent mingling with the hum of machinery. Flanking him were Ayaka, Kalfka, and Hikari.
Arashi's gaze shifted from the fight to Hikari. She wore the usual impassive mask of a soldier trained in shadows, but Arashi had spent three decades perfecting the art of reading faces. A faint crease in her brow betrayed her concern.
For a moment, he wondered if she would falter when the time came to face Renji, should the boy become a threat. But then he recalled the steel he had once seen burning in her eyes—the silent, unshakable determination—and his doubts eased. If anyone can deliver when it matters, it'll be her.
On the floor, Renji tried to rise from his kneeling position and failed. His arms trembled, his legs refusing to obey. Daichi had battered him with near-playful strikes that carried crushing weight, and the young fighter had endured every one of them.
Only once had Renji managed to land a satisfying blow. It had cost him dearly; his skin had burned on contact with Daichi's fiery aura. Sweat streamed down his face, dripping from his chin in thick drops. The amulet on his arm pulsed faintly, as if reminding him of the power he still hadn't tapped.
If he'd unleashed his full shadow form, perhaps he could've turned the tide. But the rules had been clear—this trial was fire or nothing.
Daichi stood relaxed, watching him with a mixture of interest and restraint. He respected Renji's determination; it reminded him of his younger self. That was the only reason he hadn't ended the spar early. He had seen Renji's true unleashed power once, during the fight against the Gashadokuro. Even from a distance, through the drones, it had been breathtaking. Now, Daichi wanted to feel it firsthand.
"Come on, kid," Daichi taunted, his voice echoing with authority. "Show me what you've got."
Renji's head hung low, his breath ragged. His father's words thundered in his memory: If you fail, Renji, the world fails.
"I will not fail," Renji whispered, more to himself than anyone else. His demon eye snapped open, glowing a violent crimson.
The flames surrounding him bent unnaturally, flickering as though pulled by an invisible force. Then, slowly, they drew inward, funneling into his body. The circle of fire collapsed around him, absorbed into his veins.
In the observation room, Arashi leaned forward sharply, the coffee forgotten. Hikari's lips parted slightly in shock, her carefully built mask cracking.
"What the h—" she muttered.
When the last ember had vanished, smoke hung in the air, swirling like mist around Renji's silhouette. From within it, he rose—unbroken, every wound healed. His body radiated power, the amulet humming like a living thing.
"I will not fail, Father," he said, his voice carrying an eerie calm.
Daichi tilted his head. "What was that?"
Renji lifted his gaze, crimson eye blazing. "I will not fail… Hanzo."
The name struck like a thunderclap. Even Daichi froze, then smirked wryly. "Interesting." He cracked his knuckles, fists igniting once more. "Let's test this new strength of yours."
With a roar, Daichi charged, his strikes a whirlwind of fire and fury. Renji didn't retreat. He pivoted, deflecting blow after blow with newfound precision, his movements fluid, almost instinctual. Daichi launched a flaming combo aimed at breaking Renji's guard, but the boy slipped into a counter.
A surge of purple fire erupted from Renji's fist as he drove it square into Daichi's gut.
The impact was thunderous. Daichi shot backward like a cannonball, smashing into the reinforced wall. The entire underground facility quaked with the force, dust trickling from the ceiling.
Renji's triumph evaporated instantly. "Master!" He sprinted forward, kneeling at Daichi's side.
Daichi coughed, wheezing as he clutched his stomach, but he managed a grin. "You… have something in there, kid. Don't lose it."
From the observation deck, Arashi's eyes narrowed. He could feel the shift in Renji's aura, the balance of fate tilting around him. For the first time in decades, he believed the guilds might be forced into unity.
---
Night settled over the base. The corridors were quiet, most personnel resting in their underground quarters. In the gym, Renji hung from the pull-up bar, muscles burning as he strained through his final set. Sweat trickled down his torso, highlighting every contour of his physique. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes remained steady.
"Diligent, aren't you?"
The voice sliced through the silence like a blade. Startled, Renji lost his grip and crashed to the floor.
"Master Daichi!" he gasped, scrambling to his feet.
Daichi smirked, arms crossed. "Relax, kid. I've been watching you these past few days. Refreshing to see someone who pushes themselves this hard. But still—any female guild member could walk in and see you like this. You might want to put on a shirt."
Renji wiped his sweat, shaking his head. "It's uncomfortable training with clothes sticking to me."
Daichi chuckled. "Fair point. But tell me—why push this hard? Most would have quit by now. You're not just training… you're punishing yourself."
Renji hesitated, then lowered his gaze. "I'm not doing this for myself anymore. I'm doing it for the people around me. I need the strength to save someone important."
"Someone important," Daichi echoed. His tone sharpened. "This friend of yours—are they a vessel of Shura?"
Renji's eyes darkened. "Yes. Hanzo saved me when I had no one. He stood by me when others turned away. Now it's my turn to stand for him."
Daichi's smirk faded. He studied Renji carefully, then nodded once. "You may not realize it, but you're ready for more. The Grandmaster will want to see you. I'll speak to Arashi myself."
Before Renji could reply, alarms blared across the facility. Red lights flashed, sirens echoing through every hall.
Far above the base, in the cool night sky, an eagle circled silently, its sharp eyes fixed on the nuclear site below. A herald of what was about to come.
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