They arrived at the immense and ancestral indigenous Xionomami village. A place where the trees seemed to touch the sky, supporting houses that defied gravity.
"It is an immense honor to step on this soil!" Saferin declared with a respectful bow.
The Village Chief spoke something in a completely incomprehensible language.
"He does not speak your Japanese. I will be the interpreter!"
said a villager, stepping forward.
"As you know, the danger here is palpable. The 'animals' have evolved at a terrifying speed, forcing most of the villagers to hide in underground cities! And, as I mentioned in my letter..."
The Chief pointed to two figures.
"These are the two pillars that will sustain our village, my sons!"
The boys were a breathtaking sight: one half of their bodies was an dazzling white, like fresh snow, and the other, brown and earthy. A color division that seemed to carry the weight of duality.
"These are the TWINS! The future masters of Xionomami!" The Chief vibrated with pride.
"It is a pleasure to meet you,"
the twins said, their voices in a strange, synchronized harmony.
"But I beg your pardon for the intrusion, the envoys... weren't there supposed to be three?"
The Chief's question cut the air, full of suspicion.
Saferin spoke with impatience.
"Yes, but one of us... had to resolve a special priority issue."
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away, Momoco was on a paradise island. The sea, a vibrant blue, the wind carrying the scent of coconut. He was sprawled out, wearing an open Hawaiian shirt, showing off a surprisingly sculpted physique.
"Ah, NOTHING beats this. THIS is the real life! Head-turning girls, the blue sea, and a sky that is a painting!"
He sighed, a lazy, arrogant smile on his face.
"More chilled coconut water, Mr. Momoco?" asked a girl with sparkling eyes.
"Yes, my sweet, dear Melissa! What a BEAUTIFUL woman!"
Momoco laughed, raising his glass.
"I wonder where those IDIOTS are? Facing mosquitoes and parasites in a humid jungle? I'M OUT, LET THEM FIGHT!"
Back at the village:
"We will take care of your children with the determination of a blood oath," Saferin guaranteed.
"I trust you," the Chief nodded, the tension easing slightly.
"Now, let's celebrate! It is time for a feast!"
They held a monstrous banquet. Plates upon plates were stacked high.
"MY GOD, SO MUCH FOOD! IT'S A CHALLENGE!" Gitana exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"Served! Feel free to attack!" the villager encouraged.
Gitana picked up a piece and her eyes shone.
"Wow, what a flavor! What is this? It's delicious!"
"This is our village's ultimate delicacy: Poisoned Maniçoba," the villager smiled.
PLAF! Gitana instantly spat out the food.
"WHAT?! POISONED?!" He screamed, his face pale with astonishment.
"Calm down! The poison is no longer active!" the villager reassured.
"What powerful meat is this? It has an incredible texture!"
Saferin asked impassively, continuing to eat.
"Alligator meat," the villager replied happily.
"I'M GOING TO DIE!" Gitana threw himself backward.
"I thought it tasted a bit swampy..." Saferin shrugged.
Two hours of feasting and negotiation passed. When they were ready to leave with the twins, the village, as if by a trick, disappeared.
POOF! A flash of light and Momoco, with his exaggerated tan and bandana, materialized in the middle of them.
"What's up, losers? Did you enjoy the trip? Because mine was EPIC! I met stunning women, got stood up in noteworthy ways, BUT I FOUND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!" Momoco boasted.
"FINALLY, YOU TRASH! Your laziness is a joke!" Saferin growled.
"Who are these half-and-half children?" Momoco asked, his eyebrows raised.
"The boys we came for, you irresponsible idiot," Saferin replied dryly.
"What are their names, after all?"
Saferin scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Come to think of it... we never asked! Hey, boys! What are your names?"
"My name is Ryo and mine is Ixigu. We are the future chiefs of the legendary Xionomami village!"
the twins replied, full of authority.
"I ONLY asked for your name! You don't need that speech!"
Gitana shouted, almost losing his composure.
They activated the teleportation method: a dimensional crack opened in space, a pulsating rift that led to another place, where they could store arsenals and summonings.
Once in Japan, the heat was oppressive.
"WHAT A HELLISH TEMPERATURE! It's worse than in the middle of the Amazon jungle! I feel like the heat is cooking my brains!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Kid, stop the drama!" Gitana complained.
Suddenly, the shadow of a furious figure. YAGATO, coming at a run that looked like a runaway train, delivered a CLEAN PUNCH TO MOMOCO'S FACE!
"YOU USELESS BASTARD! So many beautiful women and you didn't even invite me!"
Yagato yelled, smoke coming out of his nostrils.
"And these boys are fascinating... one part of the body white as snow, the other part brown..." Saferin began to analyze the twins.
"Didn't your mother teach you that it's rude to talk about people to their faces?!" Ryo retorted, with a look of pure reprimand.
Ryo and Ixigu's magic was as complex as it was simple: the bodily division. Although they were two children, they operated as a single body, the brain acting in a strange and powerful divided synchronicity.
Nobaru began the second phase of training right at dawn, her voice like thunder.
"Today, we are moving into the COMBAT PHASE! Finally, the real battlefield!"
"Sensei Nobaru, but we are still very weak..." Fukuoka grumbled, discouraged.
"YOU IDIOT! How do you expect to get STRONGER if you don't face the challenge NOW?! There is no shortcut to power!"
Nobaru shot back with the intensity of a punch.
"That hurt... that hurt my soul..." Fukuoka muttered.
"The teams will be: Zaren with Zulian. Nanai, Fukuoka, and Yoshi," Nobaru announced.
"Oh, what a drag! I'm on the LOSERS' team!" Nanai complained, crossing her arms.
"What do you mean, losers?!" Yoshi protested, indignant.
"Don't mind her, Yoshi. Our big sister here has the spiritual power to always say the opposite of what she feels!"
Fukuoka explained, laughing.
"I do not," Nanai replied dryly.