The next day on the Zenith side
Dawn was breaking gently over the sanctuary. Mist glided between the wooden roofs, tracing ghostly wisps, while the song of birds pierced the damp morning silence. Raizen, awake too early, wandered in the courtyard, his steps muffled on the wet stone.
It was then that he saw a red-haired boy discreetly leaving a house, his face focused, silent. Curious and instinctively drawn, Raizen followed him, his steps mirroring the young man's.
The path wound between slippery stones and clumps of moss. Soon, they entered a thick and silent bamboo forest. The morning wind made the stalks creak, sending a green and pungent smell to Raizen's nostrils. A few rays of sunlight barely pierced the green ceiling, casting dancing shadows on the ground.
After a few minutes, they reached an isolated clearing. The vegetation parted to leave a circle of sand and moss. In the center, a huge, gray, and cracked stone seemed to have long served as a target. The bamboos formed a natural cage around the space, enclosing the boy and his target in a silent theater.
The boy slowly removed his Luminary jacket, revealing his torso. Deep, old scars ran down his back, remnants of past battles. He took a deep breath. His fists clenched, and a reddish glow began to emanate from his body, as if his internal Kara was boiling under his skin.
With a focused shout:
"HAAAH!"
He struck the stone. The shock resonated in the clearing, making the ground and the surrounding bamboos vibrate. The impacts followed one another, each more violent than the last. Small stone chips fell to dust, but the rock resisted, impassive.
Raizen, hidden behind a bamboo, held his breath.
"What strength…" he whispered. "But why is he doing this?"
The boy stepped back, raising his hands as if to concentrate his energy even more. A small, almost imperceptible movement made the stone tremble. An invisible breath seemed to push the rock.
"Not yet…" he whispered, his voice hoarse and broken.
His fists, red and swollen, struck again, and again. The stone groaned slightly, but did not yield.
Each impact resonated like a contained thunder, vibrating in the bamboo cage. The boy's ragged breath, his body covered in redness and sweat, testified to the intensity of his efforts.
Raizen felt his heart beat faster. There was no spectacular destruction, but the boy's rage and determination filled the space with a palpable, almost intimidating power.
Finally, the boy fell to his knees, panting, his fists bruised and red. His breath hissed, each inspiration heavy and painful. He struck the ground again, almost in spite of himself:
"…Not yet… not strong enough… I… I'm not ready yet."
The wind rustled the bamboos around them. Raizen remained motionless, hidden behind his natural shelter, torn between fascination and unease. What he had just seen did not show overwhelming power… but an inner rage that seemed ready to devour anything that stood in this boy's way.
The crack of a branch under Raizen's foot echoed in the clearing. Panicked, his heart raced. Without thinking, he turned and dashed through the bamboo path, his legs carrying him at full speed to the sanctuary.
Breathless and panting, he almost ran into Takashi Aomi, who was already on his way. The white-haired man looked at him with a slight smile.
"Raizen, calm down. Are you alright?" he asked.
Raizen nodded, still shaken.
"I have been summoned by the Stellar Zeniths…" Takashi continued, in a reassuring tone. "But don't worry. A trainer will come to handle your training. You have nothing to fear."
He gave him a nod and resumed his path, disappearing between the wooden roofs and the morning mist.
Raizen took a deep breath, catching his breath, then headed to where Hana and the others were waiting. The small group was already standing, lined up. Even the red-haired boy stood there, calm, as if nothing had happened that morning. The contrast between his serenity and Raizen's recent panic made him clench his fists.
Hana stepped forward, her face serious but welcoming:
"Alright, let me introduce you to your comrades:"
She turned to the red-haired boy:
"Danky Norland, Luminary, apprentice to Duck Bum Darly, the man with the duck head, a Stellar Zenith. Very unpredictable, but very promising," she added with a small smile.
Then to the pink-haired girl:
"Diana Perin, Luminary, apprentice to Emma Moji, a Stellar Zenith. A specialist in Celestial Kara, healing, and plants… she's the one who inspires me," Hana smiled.
Raizen noted that the two already seemed familiar with their Kara. Hana continued:
"They received their Kara five days ago. So you will all learn together."
Finally, she turned to Raizen:
"And this is Raizen Vithar, Luminary, apprentice to Takashi Aomi, a Stellar Zenith. He has been here for a week, but he only received his Kara yesterday."
Raizen felt the others' gazes fall on him. Danky gave him a small, friendly smile, while Diana shyly looked down, but gave him a wave.
Hana made a final gesture to gather the group:
"Alright. You will soon meet the one who will be in charge of your training. He's very nice, I assure you."
Raizen took a deep breath, clenching his fists. The Kara boiled faintly within him, but this time, he felt something new: he was no longer alone in this world where strength is paid for with blood.
The Luminaries felt their hearts beat a little faster. The group was lined up, attentive, as a figure strode forward with confidence. Tall, straight, imposing.
It was Adams, head of the Astroforges, already mentioned for his reputation within the Stellar Zeniths.
He stopped in the center, scanned the group, then spoke in a deep, steady but powerful voice:
"Hello everyone, I am Adams, head of the Astroforges. I am here today to ensure your training… more specifically, the mastery of your Kara and the power that comes with it."
A respectful silence followed his words. Each apprentice felt the aura of discipline and experience emanating from him. Danky Norland met Adams's gaze, and Diana lowered her eyes slightly, aware of the Astroforge chief's stature. Raizen, for his part, remained attentive, noting the rigor in every gesture, every pause, every breath.
Adams gave a slight nod, as if to invite concentration.
Meanwhile, a few meters away, Takashi Aomi stood before the door that led to the Tempio Zenith. His hand brushed against the ancient wood, engraved with luminous symbols, and he took a deep breath before pushing it open. The room lit up slightly, revealing a singular figure: Duck Bum Darly, the man with the duck head, already in deep observation.
Takashi's gaze fell on him, a mixture of respect and professional camaraderie. The man with the duck head crossed his arms and nodded slightly, as if to signify that the time for training was approaching.
Duck Bum Darly (serious)
"We are the only ones summoned… let's go… let's not keep Master Kuro waiting."
Takashi Aomi (calm)
"Yes, let's go."
Final Scene
At the same time, in an unknown room, we see Shiro, with white hair, inspiring terror, elegantly dressed, walking down a corridor with a compass in his right hand. He opens a door and appears in a cave...
"The Burning Lair." Far from being a raw cavern, the place is an underground palace bathed in a golden light and a comforting warmth. Hundreds of lanterns float in the air, illuminating marble walls and waterfalls of hot water that flow into turquoise pools.
At the center of this opulence, accessible by a red-lacquered wooden bridge, stands a Japanese sanctuary of perfect beauty. The precious wood structure is adorned with gold leaf, and its pagoda roof seems to touch the vault of the cavern.
Shiro crosses the bridge, his calm contrasting with the almost overwhelming vitality of the place. He enters the sanctuary where his 10 elite Blood Burns await him in silence, kneeling.
He sat on a throne before the Blood Burns, he raises the compass. The needle points to a distant direction.
Shiro Takahashi:
_ Mag dog has failed his mission and I am very angry. Staring at the Blood Burns then continued.
_ your priority is to find my brother's hideout, eliminate all these Stellar Zeniths and bring me the seed. Whoever fails will die.
With a sadistic, evil, and ruthless look… then… darkness.
END OF CHAPTER 8