In the Underground Chamber:
*Clang!* Clang!* Clang!*
The rhythmic strikes echoed through the underground chamber, filling the air with the sharp crack of clashing wooden swords.
"HA!"
Shizuka drove forward, her wooden blade cutting through the air with growing speed.
Her steps were light—controlled.
Not perfect.
But no longer clumsy.
Her breathing remained steady.
Water Breathing anchored her core, smoothing out her movements with each inhale. Then—without breaking—
She shifted.
Wind gathered along her blade, sharpening her next strike.
Across from her, Asahi hadn't moved.
Not a single step.
His stance remained relaxed, almost careless. One hand held his wooden sword low, his posture unchanged since the spar began.
And yet—
*TING! CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!*
Every strike was stopped.
Redirected.
Neutralized.
But this time—
His eyes narrowed slightly.
That was smoother.
Shizuka pivoted again.
Water—
Then Wind—
A clean transition.
No stumble.
No hesitation.
Asahi's wrist moved on instinct, deflecting her next attack—but for the briefest moment—
He paused.
Hoh...She's switching… properly?
Another strike came.
This time—
Something different.
A faint glow traced along her blade.
Not just breathing.
Magic.
[Wind Breathing x Elemental magic: Wind]
Wind pressure tightened unnaturally, compressed and refined beyond what technique alone could produce.
Clack!
He blocked it cleanly—but the impact carried more weight than before.
"…Hoh."
The sound slipped out quietly.
Shizuka didn't notice. She was already pressing forward.
"Not yet!"
She attacked again, faster now—linking her movements instead of forcing them.
Strike low—
Shift—
Strike high—
Wind and water weaving together. Not perfect, but intentional.
Asahi watched more closely now.
Water for balance… Wind for offense… and she's layering magic on top…
Another clash.
Clack! Clack!
'I only showed her the basics before I left…'
Her breathing wavered—but didn't break.
Mana flickered again.
Unstable.
But still able to controlled.
She didn't just remember it… she integrated it.
A faint smile touched his lips.
That's not normal growth.
For the first time since the spar began—
He adjusted.
Not his footing.
But his timing.
Testing her.
"Let's see how far you've pushed it, Shizuka-chan…"
Shizuka stepped in again, her focus tightening.
Her arms trembled slightly—but she didn't slow down.
Then faster.
Wind gathered along her blade once more—cleaner this time.
Not forced.
Focused.
"[Clean Gale Slash!]"
A compressed arc of wind tore through the chamber—straight and controlled.
Asahi's eyes sharpened just a fraction.
"Oh? "
He raised his sword.
A small motion.
A precise angle.
Tap.
The gale split cleanly in two and scattered behind him.
But Shizuka was already moving.
She closed the distance through the opening she had created.
A good decision.
Asahi's faint smile deepened.
That's new.
She appeared in front of him—
Striking low—
Then high—
Then shifting her grip mid-motion—
Trying to break his flow.
*Clack—clack—clack!*
Faster.
Cleaner.
Smarter.
For a brief moment—
She almost slipped past his guard.
Almost.
Then—
Her rhythm faltered.
Just slightly.
That was enough.
Clack—
Her blade stopped dead against his.
Perfectly intercepted.
Then—
Tap.
A light strike to her wrist.
Her grip broke instantly.
Her wooden sword slipped from her hands and clattered across the floor.
Silence filled the chamber.
Shizuka stood frozen for a moment.
Then her shoulders dropped.
"…I lost."
Her breathing was heavy—but steady enough to hold.
Not collapsing.
Not like before.
Asahi rested his wooden sword on his shoulder, looking down at her.
"You really improved"
She looked up, clearly annoyed. "You always say that."
He chuckled softly and crouched in front of her.
"This time, I mean it. Looks like you really did your homework"
She blinked.
Asahi tilted his head slightly.
"Do you know what changed?"
"…I didn't mess up my breathing?" she guessed.
"Partly."
He tapped her shoulder lightly.
"You stopped forcing your transitions."
Shizuka paused.
"You used Water breathing to stabilize your footing during battle, then shifted to Wind when your body could follow," he continued. "Before, you were switching you use magic along with it.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…I was doing that."
"You still are," he said calmly. "Just less."
She puffed her cheeks. "That doesn't sound like improvement…"
"It is," he replied. "Before, your rhythm broke completely. Now you only bend it."
She fell quiet at that.
Asahi continued.
"Your magic control improved too. Thought the way you use your magic is not kinda okay but That wind slash was sure refined"
A small pause.
"It almost forced me to adjust."
She blinked again.
"…Almost?"
He smiled faintly.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Tch…"
But she didn't look as frustrated this time.
Just thoughtful.
Asahi tapped the floor lightly with the tip of his sword.
"Your main problem hasn't changed."
She stiffened.
"…I think too much."
"Exactly."
He pointed at her feet.
"When you start planning too far ahead, your body slows down. Your stance tightens. Your timing slips."
Shizuka looked down.
"…That's when you stopped me."
"Every time."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—
He reached out and patted her head.
"But."
She looked up.
"You've stabilized at Intermediate level," he said. "Your fundamentals don't collapse anymore. That's the hardest part."
Her expression softened.
"And you actually made me pay attention today."
That did it.
A small smile broke through.
"…Heh."
She stood, picking up her wooden sword. Her legs were shaky—but steady.
"Next time," she said, gripping it tighter, "I'll make you move seriously."
Asahi smirked.
"I'm looking forward to it."
As they walked off, Asahi's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
'Status'
All her stats were steady at Rank D… except her magic.
She's growing faster than I expected.
A quiet sense of pride settled in his chest.
"…Alright," he said, turning away. "That's enough for today. Let's eat before you collapse."
Shizuka immediately brightened. "Finally! Wait—you're cooking, right?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. But first, we need to drag Tet out of the gaming room."
Shizuka grinned. "She's definitely still playing."
"Then you know what to do."
"Roger that."
---
A few minutes later, the smell of sizzling oil and curry spices filled the air.
The kitchen glowed warmly as Asahi worked with practiced ease, ladling golden curry sauce over crispy, freshly fried cutlets.
On the other side of the house, Shizuka was on a mission of her own.
"Tet! Open up! You've been in there forever!" A muffled voice replied from behind the door.
"Five more minutes! I'm about to win this match!"
"Yeah, you said that three hours ago while we are training!"
"Wait—no, don't you dare—AHHHH!" A few seconds later, the door opened with a thud as Shizuka dragged Tet— and clutching her game controller—down the hall.
"Come on, you zombie! Food's ready!"
"I was just getting to the final boss…" Tet mumbled, yawning.
"You'll have another boss to face if you skip meal," Shizuka teased, tugging her along.
Shizuka stopped short and blinked. "Uh… Asahi-nii, there are four plates. Did you forget how to count?"
Tet perked up realized what is gonna happened. "So, that's why you're gonna officially introduce her to her.
Asahi smiled mysteriously, wiping his hands on a towel, "Of course, We also have to official welcome her back to her country too."
Meanwhile Shizuka didn't catch up what they talking about felt confuse in these moment, "What are you talking about Asahi-nii. Who is gonna come?"
Asahi didnt reply just smile at her and spoke, "You can come out now."
A faint hum filled the air. Then—fwoom!
A brilliant flash of golden light illuminated the room like a sunrise. The brightness was almost blinding for a moment before it slowly dimmed, revealing a figure standing amidst a gentle shimmer of energy.
A woman bathed in golden radiance appeared before them—her long, flowing hair gleamed like sunlight, cascading over her shoulders in waves. A delicate crown of gold adorned her head, and her serene eyes glowed softly like the morning sun.
Her robes—woven in hues of white and deep indigo, threaded with gold—rippled gently, as though moved by an unseen breeze. Each of her movements exuded warmth, grace, and an unmistakable divine presence.
The room fell completely silent.
Shizuka's eyes widened, speechless as the golden-haired woman turned her gentle gaze toward them, smiling softly.
Asahi crossed his arms, the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Shizuka" he said, his tone warm yet composed, "allow me to introduce someone my new family"
He gestured toward the radiant figure.
"She's one of I fought and won her in the battle—the Goddess of sun herself. Ōmikami Amaterasu."
"Another woman showed up around Asahi-nii again?!"