A boy laid a bundle of flowers over a grave, violet eyes fixed on the soil.
"I'm sorry."
"It wasn't your fault," a voice whispered.
"I couldn't save her."
Lightning cracked across the sky. Behind him, corpses littered the ground. The boy rose, drew his blade, and pierced the last enemy standing.
"Are you sure you should leave your mother here?" his Zenom asked softly.
"They'll never lay a finger on her."
---
The sun had slipped beneath the horizon, painting the sky with the last strokes of gold. Shun walked through the bustling streets beside Riki.
"So… how does this battle work?" Shun asked.
"Patience. You'll see soon."
They waited against a wall in silence until a boy approached—blue hair tied into a ponytail, sharp eyes locking onto Riki.
"Why are you here? And who's this?"
"He wants to learn about battles," Riki replied.
"And that involves you how?"
"Hey! Who wants to battle Samuru Shigami?" A voice from the crowd shouted.
The name caused an uproar. Two identical boys stepped forward—pitch-black hair, pitch-black eyes, and identical smiles. Even their movements mirrored each other.
Samuru sighed. "So you're using me again…"
"Count us in," the twins said together.
"I'm not agreeing to this."
"Please, Samuru," Riki pleaded.
Reluctantly, Samuru drew his card. Shun mirrored him.
"Field—open!" the twins declared.
A battlefield shimmered into existence: towering blue blocks stacked like a fortress, five red targets glowing at the top. Each strike knocked blocks aside, shifting the wall and dragging the targets closer to collapse. Victory belonged to whoever slid all five to the opponent's side.
The twins attacked first—lightning quick, flawlessly in sync. Their marbles shredded the first layer of Shun and Samuru's defense.
"Fools stumble, winners think wisely…" their chant echoed in perfect rhythm.
Shun gritted his teeth. The chant gnawed at his focus. He fired instinctively—just as Samuru did. Their marbles collided midair, clinking sharply before dropping uselessly.
The twins struck the opening. Two clean shots slipped through, tearing down another wall.
"Score! "One–nil!" flashed across the screen. "For the first time ever, Samuru Shigami concedes a point on the Shatter Field! And against the masters of rapid fire—the twin prodigies ranked second in the world!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Samuru's expression hardened. He whispered, "First and last time." His Zenom vanished from the field.
The twins grinned. "It's not over yet!"
"Look closer," Samuru said calmly.
They turned. Every red block had shifted onto their side of the field.
"Four to one… in favor of Shun and Samuru."
Samuru's icy blue gaze pierced Shun's crimson eyes.
"The best you can do is nothing. Stay out of my way. Being paired with a loser like you was a mistake."
The battlefield dissolved. Samuru walked off with Riki without another word. Shun stood frozen, staring at the empty space, tears pricking his eyes.
One twin patted his shoulder. "Don't take it to heart. Samuru's always like that—cold, unfriendly."
The other added, "Don't judge Riki because of him. We've never figured out how those two even get along."
Shun wiped his eyes. "His eyes… they weren't cold. They were filled with sorrow. And fear of loss."
When Riki left, Shun murmured, "I don't understand many things."
"It takes time," Long Wang said in his deep, calm voice.
"My mother always told me, 'Take your time to understand people. Even if you can't agree with them, respect them. If you want others to understand you, give them time. Talking is better than shouting.' I don't fully get it but…" Shun glanced at his Zenom. "Are you even listening, Wang?"
"It's too late for that."
"Late for what?"
"For home. Don't you need to return?"
"You're weird," Shun muttered.
---
That night, Samuru leaned against a rooftop fence, city lights glittering below.
"You shouldn't have said that to Shun," Riki said.
"When they scored… when the screen flashed… my head went blank. His words echoed in me. I felt like I'd lost everything. I've lost battles before, but conceding a point…" Samuru's voice trembled. "It broke something inside me."
"Stop feeding illusions, Samuru. You'll only deepen the wound."
"I want to see her again. Even if it's only an illusion."
"Your father's worried. Push too hard and you'll destroy yourself."
"I don't care. If that's the price to defeat Shiyami, I'll pay it."
"Dying won't solve anything. You won't see her smile again."
Before Samuru could reply, Riki suddenly leapt from the rooftop. Samuru cursed and followed. Both landed cleanly.
"What was that for?!" Samuru snapped.
"Got a bad feeling."
"You're the weird one."
"Be ready. Nuru won't be easy."
---
Later, Shun scrolled through Z-net. Hazel's poll was everywhere:
**If you could decide the battle, which duo would you choose?**
* Samuru & Nuru—21,689 votes
* Samuru & Riki—7,978 votes
* Nuru & Bakuga—6,346 votes
* Shiyami & Nuru—5,463 votes
* Shiyami & Samuru—4,371 votes
—and countless others.
Curious, Shun checked "Bakuga." Ranked #03 worldwide. A rapid-fire prodigy.
He skimmed the leaderboard:
1. Nuru Tufail
2. Samuru Shigami
3. Bakuga Vallis
4. Riki Saruke
5. Shiyami
But one fact froze him: despite his fifth-place rank, Shiyami had never lost a single battle. The only top player whose Zenom wasn't dragon-type. Samuru and Nuru had only ever lost to each other.
"Samuru's too arrogant. I don't like him," Long Wang said suddenly.
Shun blinked. "Why are you always so quiet?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Anything. Is there something special about you? Something you like?"
"I can copy anything."
"Anything? Copy my voice."
"Not like that. Did you see Wyrm's speed? Each Zenom has a specialty. I can replicate any shot after seeing it once."
"So I could do what Samuru does?"
"Yes. If you practice."
Downstairs, Sache stepped inside, holding a sealed envelope.
"You're back," Carla said. "What is it?"
"A special invitation."
"You're going, aren't you?"
"I would've gone even without this." He smiled faintly. "It's been years since I've seen them. My eyes… crave it."
"And the main event?"
"The battle. It'll fuel the rivalry and…" He hesitated.
"And what?"
"I think he'll be there too."
"You're not canceling?"
"Not a chance. This is bigger than me."
---
16 March
The Zenom Association's exhibition hall pulsed with light and chatter. Shun entered with Silania and Eren, glass doors sliding open to reveal polished marble floors, a fountain at the center, and the faint fragrance of flowers.
They climbed the stairs—faster than waiting for the crowded elevator. A sign read: *Department for Battlefield Development.* Shun glanced back, only to realize Silania and Eren had vanished.
A hand touched his shoulder. He turned.
"Hi," Shiyami said.
Shun exhaled sharply. "You scared me."
"I should've called out."
"What do you want?"
"You mean hate?" Shiyami's eyes glimmered. "You've already thought it."
"Just say you were passing by."
"I want to battle you."
Shun's expression hardened. "Me too. But you're not allowed, are you? Your family and Samuru's—"
"Don't get along," Shiyami finished. "They own part of the Association. If they could ban me, they would've. But they can't."
"Why the hatred?"
"A murder. Long ago. Samuru's mother was consumed in that fire. Now he hates us more than anyone. Hate begets hate. The cycle never ends."
"You're honest," Shun said quietly.
"I'm good at lying. People just don't notice until it's too late."
"At least you're honest about that."
Shiyami chuckled. "You've got a way with words." His gaze sharpened. "I should go."
"Wait. Next time we meet, we duel."
Shiyami's smile curved, thin and dangerous. "Why not?"
But in his mind, the thought coiled darkly:
However, dear… I prefer a death match with the wielder of Long Wang.