"In this world, strength is not a gift... it is the price of staying alive."
"The Kara is the vital energy that flows through all things. Some shape it to create, others to destroy... but all depend on it to survive."
"When the breath of the Kara fades, the heart stops beating, and the soul vanishes into eternal shadow."
Dream
Raizen floated in a strange space, suspended between sleep and reality. All around him, the contours were distorted: light seemed to come from nowhere, dancing and reflecting on moving, unreal shadows.
He felt his body detached, light, as if floating without connection to the tangible world.
A silhouette appeared: a man with black hair, about thirty years old, dressed in traditional Japanese attire. His gait was confident, imposing, and his eyes shone with an almost supernatural intensity.
Without uttering a word, a message resonated in Raizen's mind:
"Soon, you will have to choose your path..."
The man sketched an enigmatic smile, then disappeared into a luminous mist.
A flash of light, and Raizen awoke. The morning light filtered through the shutters, caressing the wooden floor. His heart was still beating fast, and the memory of the dream burned in his mind.
Raizen (pensive)
"Who... was that man?"
Raizen left the hot spring, wrapped in a towel, and walked into the silent corridors. The morning light drew wooden patterns on the floor.
Out of curiosity, he passed an ajar door and took a discreet look. Inside, Hana stood facing an imposing man with golden yellow hair, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of the Stellar Zeniths. Every gesture exuded mastery, every look seemed to weigh Raizen down to the slightest corner of his mind.
Raizen (pensive, continuing on his way)
"Hmm... who is this guy..."
He reached his room, dressed in simple but comfortable clothes, then resumed his journey through the corridors, still a little numb from sleep.
As he reached the living room, a soft, firm voice called out to him:
Hana (calling)
"Raizen! Wait!"
Raizen stopped and turned around.
Hana (smiling)
"I wanted to introduce you to someone... someone you really should know."
Raizen turned his head and saw the man. Calm, imposing, his piercing gaze seemed to probe every part of his mind. The aura he exuded was powerful, but controlled.
Hana (softly)
"Raizen, this is Takashi Aomi, one of the 8 pure Stellar Zeniths and the one who saved your life."
A shiver ran through Raizen. He couldn't take his eyes off the man.
Takashi Aomi (deep, composed voice)
"Pleased to meet you, Raizen. How do you feel this morning?"
Raizen stammered:
Raizen
"Uh... good... I think..."
Aomi sketched a slight smile, as if he already knew much more about him than Raizen himself.
Takashi Aomi
"Don't worry. We have plenty of time to talk."
In the living room
Raizen remained frozen, unable to look away from the man. The aura emanating from Takashi was not only imposing, it was alive, almost palpable.
Takashi Aomi (calm, placing his hands on the table)
"Raizen, it's time for you to better understand what you felt the other night. That energy... is the Kara, the vital breath that flows through every being. But it is not uniform: it manifests in several ways."
Raizen (intrigued)
"Several ways?"
Takashi Aomi nodded, his gaze serious.
Takashi Aomi
"Yes. Some use what is called Internal Kara. This strengthens the body, muscles, speed, resistance... strikes become destructive. Imagine hitting a stone wall, and that wall breaking under your fist without you feeling any pain."
Raizen astonished
"Really! And others...?"
Takashi Aomi calm, without rushing
Takashi Aomi
"Elemental Kara. It allows you to manipulate the elements themselves: fire, ice, lightning... but also light, shadow, and sometimes even stranger forms. It is a Kara that strikes from a distance and transforms the terrain into a weapon."
Raizen (curious, almost excited despite the seriousness of the situation)
"So... even I can have such a power?"
Takashi Aomi (serious)
"Yes... but it's not a gift. You don't receive this power... you have to endure it. If your body or mind is not ready, the Kara can burn you from the inside, erase your memory, or worse... annihilate you."
Raizen swallowed hard.
Takashi Aomi
"Each user evolves differently. Some only use Internal Kara, others only Elemental, and rare are those who combine the two. But all pay a price for each use."
He let a silence hang, heavy but controlled.
Takashi Aomi
"Two major forces have been vying for the world for centuries. On one side, the Burnt Bloods, followers of Dark Kara, who use destruction and domination to achieve their goals. On the other, us, the Stellar Zeniths, wielding Celestial Kara to protect what remains of the world and preserve life."
Raizen (worried)
"Do the Burnt Bloods also use Internal and Elemental Kara?"
Takashi Aomi
"Yes, because although Dark and Celestial Kara differ in use, both are simply born of Kara, and Internal or Elemental Kara are just the ways in which Kara can act within a body."
Raizen
"And me in all this?"
Takashi looked him straight in the eyes, with an intensity that made him shiver.
Takashi Aomi
"I don't know why or if you will be able to receive a power, but I am certain that you can be a major asset for us Stellar Zeniths."
Raizen felt the weight of his words on his chest. He did not yet possess the Kara, but something told him that his life could change in an instant.
Raizen (pensive)
"I have no family, I have always lived alone since childhood, living only by theft and flight, so why shouldn't I try a new path this time?" he thought.
"Okay, I see, and how can I obtain Celestial Kara?" (with a piercing and objective look)
Takashi sharpened a smile at the corner of his lips.
Takashi
"Tomorrow I will take you to see the one who has the ability to give you a power, so rest again today because tomorrow could be the beginning for you."
With these words, he got up and left the house.
Meanwhile, to the East of Kazemori, we see a destroyed village, on fire, flowing with the blood of its inhabitants, and in the middle, in a somewhat dark corner, a sinister, almost monstrous presence is felt, and there, a man with red eyes, an imposing appearance, and a scar in his eye appeared.
The man:
"They will eventually come to this point, these Stellar Zeniths."
Then he raised his hands to the sky.
The man:
"Dark Kara... Explosive Crystal..."
Next Scene...
The path stretched like a narrow ribbon through a sea of bamboo. The immense stalks rose towards the sky, trembling under a light breath. The morning light filtered in snatches, drawing moving shadows on the damp moss. Here, time seemed suspended.
Raizen walked behind Takashi Aomi, amazed by the silence.
Raizen (whispering, almost to himself)
"It's... as if the world is holding its breath."
Takashi (serious, without turning around)
"This place was chosen by the first Stellar Zeniths. The resonance of the Kara here is pure, without impurities. This is where the pacts between man and this force are born."
Raizen hesitated, then asked:
"Why didn't Hana come with us?"
Takashi (in a dry, almost annoyed tone)
"The Luminaries and the Astroforges need her care. You, concentrate. Observe, and be silent."
They arrived in front of a colossal red wooden door, engraved with ancient constellations. The surface seemed to vibrate gently, as if breathing.
Raizen (amazed)
"It's incredible..."
Takashi placed his palm against the wood. His mark glowed faintly, and a wave of Kara was transmitted to the door, which opened with a low rumble.
Beyond opened another world. A clearing bathed in an immobile light, with a mild and cool climate, as if outside of time. In the center stood the Zenith Temple, a sanctuary with polished stone walls and ancient beams, haloed by a majestic presence.
Raizen (in a low voice, overwhelmed)
"What is this place?"
Takashi (smiling with pride)
"This is the heart of the Stellar Zeniths. The place where those who will carry the Celestial Kara are born."
Takashi smiled, proud to present it.
Takashi (smiling)
"Raizen, I welcome you to the Zenith Temple, the place where you can have the Kara as well as the power that comes with it."
They entered a vast hall. Three Stellar Zeniths were already present, each bearing a mark on their hand. Among them, the mysterious warrior with the duck-bill mask. But Raizen soon saw only one man:
Standing at the back of the room, broad-shouldered, black hair, piercing and calm gaze. His aura filled the entire space.
Raizen
"Him... he's the person I saw in my dream," he thought deeply.
Kuro (calm and deep voice)
"Welcome, my children, please sit down, Raizen, can you join me here please (slight smile)."
Raizen walked past and Takashi joined the other Stellar Zeniths.
The four Stellar Zeniths present remained silent.
Kuro (calm and composed voice)
"I would like to begin, but first, Emma, I feel something is wrong, can you tell me what is bothering you?"
Emma Moji - Stellar Zenith (hesitant, but firm)
"Master... allow me to object. Raizen has never wielded the Kara. If he fails, his body could break, and his mind could be lost in the flow."
Raizen felt his heart tear as he heard this.
END OF CHAPTER 3