"In this world, strength is not a gift… it is the price one pays to stay alive."
"Kara is the life 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 Kara fades, the heart stops beating, and the soul disappears into the eternal shadow."
Night enveloped the camp in a veil of silence. Under the starry sky, steam from the hot springs rose lazily, illuminated by the silvery glow of the moon.
Diana arrived first. She slowly removed her towel, revealing her silhouette in the pale light, then placed it on a nearby stone. With a quiet step, she entered the steaming water, letting out a sigh of relief as the heat enveloped her.
A few moments later, Hana made her entrance, also draped in a towel. She approached, untied it without hesitation, and joined Diana in the pool.
The warm water surrounded them both, relaxing their tired muscles. A moment of silence settled in, broken only by the lapping of the water and the discreet chirping of night insects.
Diana (smiling, but with a hint of nostalgia)
"It's been a while since we've had a moment like this... Hey, Hana… it's been a long time since I've seen my brother. Do you know how he's doing?"
Hana (calm, benevolent)
"Your brother is fine. As always, he's absorbed in his missions… but he's holding on. I'm sure he'll find a moment to come back to us soon."
Diana (reassured)
"Oh, okay."
Diana looked away slightly, her eyes lost in the steam. A soft, almost melancholic smile formed on her face.
Despite Hana's higher rank, the two girls shared more than just a hierarchy: they were the same age, and in these suspended moments, they were nothing more than two friends enjoying a rare moment of respite.
(At the same time...)
The camera pans away from the peaceful steam of the springs to glide into the darkness of the surrounding forest.
There, Danky quietly slipped out of his room, careful not to wake anyone. Silently, he moved away from the camp, his steps leading him to an isolated clearing. What he didn't know was that Raizen was following him from a distance, watching him without a sound.
The clearing was bathed in the soft light of the moon. Bamboos encircled the area, and at its center stood an imposing rock marked by old struggles, its scars etched into the stone.
Danky stopped in front of it. Without turning around, in a cold and impassive voice—so different from his usual tone—he said:
Danky
"I know you're following me, Raizen. You can come out."
Raizen emerged from the shadows, intrigued by this change in tone.
Raizen
"…Why are you training in secret?"
A heavy silence fell, then Danky removed the top of his outfit. In the pale moonlight, his back appeared, streaked with deep, old scars.
Danky (in a low, restrained voice)
"These marks… they weren't left by an enemy. It was my brother. The person I loved most in the world."
Raizen frowned, surprised.
Danky (gaze lost in the distance)
"That day, he had survived… just like me… an attack by the Blood Burns. But his legs were crushed; he couldn't walk anymore. The pain… the rage… it destroyed him from the inside. And in a moment of madness, he marked me with his own despair. Not long after… he died."
He placed his hand on the rock, his fingers trembling slightly.
Danky (his voice broken but determined)
"Since that day, I swore to myself… to train, to become stronger, no matter the cost. Not just to avenge my brother… but so that no one else has to live through what we did."
Raizen remained silent. Danky's impassive mask had cracked, revealing a raw, human pain.
Under the moonlight, the clearing resonated with an invisible weight: that of a promise born from suffering.
(Final Scene)
Meanwhile, with Duck Bum Darly and Takashi Aomi in the Tempio Zenith...
Night enveloped the Tempio Zenith. Suspended lanterns cast a soft light on the white columns and astral frescoes, while the temple's silence was broken only by the soft sound of tea being poured.
In a spacious room, Takashi Aomi and Duck Bum Darly sat cross-legged. An Astroforge bowed and delicately served them tea in fine porcelain cups.
Astroforge (softly)
"Here is some tea for you. Thank you for answering the summons."
Aomi and Duck bowed their heads and took a sip, appreciating the warm aroma of the tea.
The heavy sliding doors opened, and Kuro entered. His traditional white Japanese attire perfectly suited his imposing stature. Without a harsh word, he greeted them naturally, as he had always done with his protégés.
Aomi and Duck stood up and knelt, their foreheads bowed, respectful but accustomed to this paternal attention.
Kuro (calm, fatherly)
"Are you both well? Ready for the road?"
Takashi Aomi
"Yes, Master. We are ready."
Duck Bum Darly
"Everything is in order."
Kuro nodded, satisfied. His voice regained its natural firmness.
Kuro
"Very well. We are leaving for the village of Seiran. Be vigilant and remain discreet."
Without waiting, he headed for the exit. Aomi and Duck followed him immediately, sliding their cups onto the table. The Astroforge watched the scene silently, respectfully, as the three Zeniths moved off into the night, already focused on the mission ahead.
(On the road to Seiran – Night)
The carriage glided silently along the winding road, rocked by the steady movement of the wheels. The moon faintly lit the path, casting dancing shadows on the trees. Inside, Kuro sat upright, his face impassive, while Takashi Aomi and Duck Bum Darly watched the landscape through the window.
After a moment of silence, Duck broke the tranquility.
Duck Bum Darly (curious)
"Master… why did you choose to travel by carriage? We could have simply appeared directly at the Zenith hideout in Seiran."
Kuro turned his gaze slightly toward him, a faint smile on his lips, filled with his usual warmth.
Kuro (calm, fatherly)
"Sometimes, one must take the time to admire the scenery… and to feel the road beneath one's feet, even if it is long. It helps prepare the mind for what awaits."
Duck nodded, understanding without truly understanding, while Aomi remained silent, absorbed in the relative serenity of the journey.
The trees passed by slowly, and after a while, the first lights of Seiran appeared on the horizon. The carriage stopped, and the three Zeniths disembarked. The devastated streets stretched out before them—collapsed buildings, traces of struggle still visible, the city seemed frozen in a silent agony.
Kuro stopped and observed, his heart heavy.
Kuro (in a low, deep voice)
"The city has suffered… too much suffering…"
He looked down at the ground and held out his hand. Instantly, he felt a strange, corrosive presence: Black Kara had seeped into the air and the earth.
Kuro (determined, straightening up)
"The reason I asked you to escort me here… is to purify this corrupted place."
He placed his hands on the earth. A green light, soft yet powerful, erupted from his body and formed around him. The light created silhouettes: ghostly shadows reproducing the fight that had taken place between Takashi Aomi and Mag Dog. Every movement, every clash of Kara seemed frozen in this luminous projection, silently telling the story of the past battle.
Aomi and Duck froze, impressed by Kuro's power and precision. The city's silence became almost palpable, as if the light itself was paying homage to what had been lost and preparing the ground for what was to come.
Kuro looked around, his dark eyes fixed on the corrupted expanse, then turned to his disciples.
Kuro (calm but firm)
My brother has caused much pain to this village, and especially to these poor villagers.
The green light exploded, projecting a purifying wave that swept through the air and the earth. The Black Kara dissipated under this surge, leaving behind cleansed land and an almost surreal silence. Kuro remained motionless for a moment, his palm on the ground, then straightened up, his eyes scanning the devastated city.
He took a step to move away, but suddenly, he froze, his gaze fixed on… nothing. A strange sensation, as if something or someone had just brushed against his mind.
END OF CHAPTER 10