Zeno scratched the back of his neck and said in a half-serious tone,
"Alright, alright… I'll lower the intensity of my training a bit from now on."
Arisa immediately frowned.
"Not a bit! You're not training at all until you're fully healed!"
The spark of argument flared up between them again.
Zeno stubbornly replied,
"I have to train! If I stop, the others will become stronger than me."
Arisa stepped forward. Her voice trembled with anger.
"With the way you train, covered in wounds like that, you won't get stronger—you'll just injure yourself even more!"
Zeno fell silent for a moment.
He lowered his head.
Took a deep breath.
"Whether I become weak or strong… I'll never give up training."
His voice grew calmer—but firmer than before.
"I have to keep the promise I made… it's my only goal."
His words were heavy.
Honest.
Without even a trace of joking.
Arisa, who had been ready to argue more, suddenly went quiet.
Her heart began to beat faster.
Her cheeks slowly turned red.
A drop of sweat slid down her temple.
She thought to herself:
Why am I like this…? What is this feeling…?
Her gaze fell on Zeno's scars.
On that wounded back…
On that insane determination…
At that moment, footsteps approached.
Vale arrived.
He was about to say something—
But when he saw the scene, his mouth remained half open.
First he looked at Arisa—flushed cheeks, trembling gaze.
Then at Zeno—standing firm, serious-eyed.
A few seconds of silence.
Then the corner of his lips lifted.
A mysterious smile appeared.
"So… that's how it is."
He glanced mischievously between them.
The air no longer smelled of argument.
It smelled of something new—
Something even more dangerous than training and rivalry.
The atmosphere remained heavy and suspended—
Until a firm voice shattered it.
"Zeno…!"
Everyone turned.
Behind them stood Itsuki—the crown prince of the Shamrock Empire. His gaze sharp, posture straight, royal cloak swaying gently in the yard's breeze.
Zeno half-turned.
His brows slightly furrowed.
His eyes narrowed.
Itsuki pointed directly at him, excitement and competitive fire shining in his eyes.
"Are you ready for a duel?!"
A few seconds of silence.
Then the corner of Zeno's lips rose.
He walked to a chair, picked up his shirt, threw it over his shoulder, and replied energetically,
"Stronger than ever!"
Arisa stepped forward, worry clear on her face.
"His wounds just healed! Why another duel?!"
Itsuki slowly turned his head.
Pointed toward Arisa.
His eyes serious and blunt.
"Never interfere between two men's duel."
For a moment, the air turned cold.
Zeno stepped forward.
When he reached Itsuki, without a word, he raised his hand.
Their hands collided—
SHRRRAAACK!
An invisible wave of power burst out from the clash.
The ground beneath them trembled slightly.
Dust swirled in the air.
The veins in both of their arms bulged.
Their muscles tightened beneath their skin.
But their smiles…
Mischievous. Eager. Thirsty for battle.
Itsuki leaned closer and said quietly,
"There will be no mercy."
Zeno answered without blinking,
"Are you sure…?"
A few moments—eyes locked.
Fire against fire.
Then Itsuki released his hand, half-turned, and said to Arisa,
"If you want to watch the fight, come with me."
Arisa sighed. Her heart was restless.
"Fine… we're coming."
Zeno turned toward Vale.
He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You coming too, buddy?"
Vale was still shocked. His mouth remained slightly open.
Only one sentence echoed in his mind:
Zeno is dueling the crown prince…?
His gaze shifted between the two.
He could still feel the tremor in the ground.
Destruction is coming…!
GRRRAA— BOOOOOM!!
Without warning, Itsuki grabbed Arisa by the waist and leapt into the sky with an explosive burst of force.
The ground beneath them cracked. Stones split. A shockwave spiraled outward.
Within seconds, they rose so high they became nothing but a dot in the sky…
And then disappeared.
Zeno smiled.
"Let's go."
He bent his knees and, with a heavy push against the ground, launched himself into the air alongside Vale.
The air around them screamed.
Among the clouds, Arisa nervously said to Itsuki,
"Brother… don't be too harsh on him."
Itsuki smirked.
"You think Zeno isn't powerful?"
His gaze grew serious.
"He's stronger than you think… maybe even more than Father."
Arisa narrowed her eyes curiously.
"How are you so sure?"
Itsuki fell silent for a moment.
A memory flared in his mind—
The Forbidden Forest.
An explosion of white light.
A light that split the sky.
And after that…
Absolute destruction.
Trees turned to ash.
Burned earth, as if the sun itself had descended there.
Inside, Itsuki thought:
I'm certain that was Zeno's doing…
And today… I'll see that scene up close.
Arisa noticed Itsuki had suddenly gone still.
She looked down at him.
"What's wrong, brother? Why did you freeze?"
Itsuki blinked, returning to himself.
"Nothing… oh look, we've arrived."
SHWOOOO— BOOOOOM!!
With an explosive landing, they struck the ground.
Yellow desert sand scattered into the air.
The dry earth cracked.
A vast desert stretched before them, heavy with the scent of death.
Massive sharp stones jutted from the ground—each as large as a giant.
The air was dry, heavy, silent…
As if the earth itself awaited this duel.
Itsuki spread his arms slightly, turned calmly, and took a deep breath.
"My father and I… had our first duel here."
Arisa widened her eyes.
"You and Father dueled before?!"
Itsuki laughed.
"Yeah… though I got knocked down with one punch. Hahaha."
With excitement in her eyes, Arisa asked,
"What about Brother Raito? Did you duel him too?"
Itsuki shrugged.
"He used to be nothing more than a cowardly kid…"
His smile faded slightly.
"But I don't know about now… maybe he could last a few seconds against me."
At that very moment—
BOOOOM!
Zeno and Vale landed, shaking the ground.
The sand parted.
The dust settled.
Zeno stood straight.
Eye to eye with the crown prince.
The desert air suddenly grew heavier.
Destruction…
Was only a spark away.