"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."
But while the duel raged, a dozen Burnt Bloods descended upon Raizen, isolated further away, their weapons dripping with black Kara.
The boy backed away, his heart pounding in his chest. His breath was short, his hands trembled. But when the first attack struck him, a primal instinct surged.
The boy didn't have time to think. His arms lit up with a silvery glow. Two pure blades sprang from his forearms, sharp and smooth as the moon.
One of the assailants brought down a whip of black Kara on him.
Raizen instinctively raised his blades—and the impact resonated like a steel bell. A shiver ran through his skin. His body had... memorized.
Before he even understood, he leaped forward. His blades sliced through the air, and in a breath, two enemies fell, their bodies marked by a replica of the wave they had launched.
Then another, then another: Raizen advanced, driven by an instinct he didn't know he possessed. His silvery blades cut through the darkness.
The survivors, speechless, watched this unreal ballet. In their eyes, it was no longer a boy fighting: it was a nascent hero, an elected one whom the light itself protected.
But as he caught his breath, he saw the mass of enemies still surrounding him. His heart stopped. His blades trembled. Fear crushed him again, brutal, icy.
"Hehehe..." sneered Mag Dog, while taking another blow from Takashi. His red eyes fixed on Raizen with relish.
"So this is the Stellar Zeniths' new toy. I'm going to tear him to pieces."
Takashi, without diverting his attention for long, glanced at Raizen. His face remained marble, but a flicker passed in his eyes.
"Not bad, kid... You showed your fangs. But you're not ready yet." He thought.
He struck again, his two fists descending like a god's judgment, targeting the majority of the Burnt Bloods, even Mag Dog.
Takashi inhaled deeply, his muscles tense, his gaze cold and focused.
"Celestial Kara: Celestial Storm!" he roared.
A massive spiral of energy burst around him, a concentrated storm of light and electricity that engulfed all the Burnt Bloods present. Lightning struck simultaneously, each discharge slicing the air with a piercing whistle. The ground cracked under the impact, sending debris flying in all directions.
The bodies of the Burnt Bloods were pierced everywhere by the pure energy. Some were thrown against the collapsed walls, others collapsed to the ground, unable to move, paralyzed by the intensity of the attack. Even Mag Dog, at the center, found himself pinned in place, his chains broken around him, his body crossed with multiple burning Kara marks.
He gasped, trembling but still conscious. His red eyes fixed on Takashi with a rage mixed with respect.
"You are the strongest of all my opponents..." he spat, his voice hoarse and strangled by pain.
"But I am not the strongest among us..."
Takashi, slightly wounded in the shoulder and flank, remained motionless. Short of breath, his body marked but stable, he observed his enemy, definitively neutralized. A slight smile passed over his lips, then he suddenly appeared in front of him.
Takashi Aomi
"Celestial Kara – Piercing Flash!"
He pulverized the danger. But his gaze remained worried and focused.
Raizen, motionless, watched the scene, his heart pounding wildly. For the first time, he understood the extent of a Stellar Zenith's power and the brutality necessary to protect others.
The Astroforges approached, helping the survivors to get up and securing the Burnt Bloods unable to continue. The battlefield, bathed in light and Kara, was silent, only disturbed by the crackling of the still hot debris.
"Mission accomplished..." murmured Takashi, his deep voice cutting through the Kara-charged air.
Raizen clenched his fists. His heart still vibrated with the energy of the Celestial Storm. He now knew that a Stellar Zenith was measured not only by his power, but by his will to protect, to resist, and to pay the price for every victory.
After the Battle
Takashi Aomi moved slightly away from the battlefield, his heavy but measured steps echoing on the still hot debris. His gaze swept over the survivors, seeking to bring order to the chaos.
Aomi:
"Raizen, stay there. I'm going to call Adams," he said calmly.
A few moments later, Takashi contacted Adams, the leader of the Astroforges, his voice deep and authoritative cutting through the heavy silence of the clearing:
"Adams... take the floor. Reassure these inhabitants, but remind them... silence is imperative. No one must talk about what they saw."
A slight silence answered, then Adams nodded and left, moving away to carry out the task. Takashi, turned towards Raizen, let out a slight smile:
"Good, Raizen... we must go back. We need to treat our scratches and regain our strength."
Raizen nodded, still imbued with the energy of his first real fight. But before they took a few steps, an Astroforge appeared on the side. It was Ashley, young and lively, her face marked by dust but illuminated by a smile:
Ashley:
"Aomi! Look what we found!" she said, pointing to the mass of villagers that the Astroforges had protected.
The inhabitants came forward, some carrying freshly picked fruits, others holding small animals intended to feed or help those who had fought alongside them. All had eyes shining with sincere gratitude.
Takashi was speechless, his gaze moving from one face to another, touched by their gestures. He inhaled deeply before speaking:
"Thank you... thank you all. But please, keep what you offer me. You will need it more than I do."
An old woman came forward, insistent:
"No, young man, take it! You saved us... without you, we would no longer be here!"
Takashi felt the warmth of recognition and finally gave in:
"Very well... give it to the Astroforges. They will know how to make good use of it."
A final look at the survivors, a nod, then he turned back to Raizen. Together, they resumed the path home, leaving behind the flames, the mist, and the regained silence of the village, Aomi's Kara still vibrating around him, and a heart touched by the strength of a simple "thank you."
Final Scene
Takashi and Raizen left the village of Seiran, the silence of the bamboo forest surrounding their walk. The fading daylight filtered through the thick stalks, casting moving shadows on the path. No words were necessary, the calm after the storm reigned over them, punctuated only by the crackling of branches under their feet.
After a few minutes, Takashi broke the silence, his voice deep but tinged with slight amusement:
"Raizen... despite your impulse, your instinct that made you act alone, I must say... I'm quite proud of you. You only have small injuries. That's saying something."
Raizen blushed slightly, lowering his eyes, still impressed by the brutality of the fight they had just gone through.
Takashi continued, more serious this time, his gaze fixed straight ahead:
"Mag Dog was powerful. But if I had used 70% of my abilities, this whole fight would have been over in less time. By fighting at his level, I showed him a form of respect. It was necessary because you must understand that physical and mental injuries are the daily life of a Stellar Zenith."
He paused, his breath light but regular despite his scratches. Then, in a more composed, almost paternal tone:
"Every Stellar Zenith must understand that the Kara is not just a weapon... it is a responsibility. Today, you took a step towards that understanding."
Raizen felt a mixture of pride and humility wash over him. He understood that even though his body and his Kara had been tested, he had just crossed an essential threshold.
They continued their journey, gradually leaving the Seiran forest. The air became cooler, purer, a sign that they were approaching the hidden sanctuary of the Stellar Zeniths, where Hana watched over the wounded and the training.
The sanctuary, concealed behind waterfalls and cliffs, was a secure haven, a place of healing and preparation for those who carried the Kara.
Takashi, always calm and measured, walked alongside Raizen, letting the young boy reflect on his evolution. For the first time, Raizen felt that he was no longer just a street kid... he was truly becoming a Stellar Zenith.
The hidden sanctuary of the Stellar Zeniths appeared before them, concealed by a powerful energy.
The air was charged with a gentle, almost living energy, and the sound of water falling on the rocks seemed to purify every step. After crossing the protected area, they finally saw the beautiful hidden landscape. In the distance, there was Hana, marked by worry but illuminated by a smile at the sight of Takashi and Raizen.
Hana (worried)
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.
Takashi nodded, slightly scratched, and placed a hand on Raizen's shoulder:
Aomi:
"You will be treated first."
Raizen acquiesced, a mixture of relief and nervousness running through his features. Hana invited him to sit on a low table in the center of the treatment room. She began to examine his injuries precisely, using the Kara to accelerate regeneration and soothe the pain.
While his small cuts and burns closed under Hana's expert hands, Raizen felt the weight of the fight still present in his muscles and joints. He took a breath, then turned to her and Takashi:
"It was... it was incredible. I had never felt anything so intense. The Burnt Bloods... Mag Dog... he was monstrous. I thought... I thought I was going to..."
His voice trembled, but Hana placed a reassuring hand on his.
Hana (reassuringly)
"You held on, Raizen. You used your Kara to protect others. That's what matters."
Takashi, standing not far from the table, watched silently, his gaze mixing pride and reflection. Then, after a few moments, he turned slightly away and said:
Aomi:
"I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back."
Raizen watched him walk away, intrigued by his mentor's impassive calm, while Hana continued to treat his injuries. Gradually, the pain faded, replaced by a deep but satisfying fatigue.
END OF CHAPTER 6