Hitachi stared at the awakening stones resting on Hayatobi's palm. They pulsed with a rhythmic light, humming with enough concentrated mana to crush a lesser being. He nodded, the movement stiff but resolute.
'I must get stronger. I don't care how I achieve it, but I must get stronger,' he thought, the memory of his helplessness in the dungeon burning in his mind. He reached out and took the stones, his fingers curling around the cold, vibrating crystals.
Zoginoi and Mirabella watched as Hayatobi returned to their side. They stood at the entrance of the training hall, silhouettes against the harsh mana lights, watching the young heir of the Azul clan.
'Here goes everything,' Hitachi thought. He sat cross-legged on the fractured ground, placing the stones on his knees. He took a deep breath, centering his chaotic energy.
'I must pass Lv70!'
As the energy around Hitachi began to swirl, thickening the air, Mirabella turned her head slightly.
