The scene shifted to one week later. Arthur and Kazuki were making their way toward the battlefield. There was no army behind them — the troops of South Ryehem had already assembled at the warfront, awaiting orders. The battlefield stretched endlessly before them, filled with scattered camps marked by flags and the presence of battle-hardened soldiers. A faint tension lingered in the air, the kind that only comes before bloodshed.
As they arrived at the South Ryehem military encampment, they spotted Emperor Shang standing at the command post, overlooking maps and battle formations. The battle for the day had yet to begin, and Kazuki immediately ran toward his father, his eyes bright.
"Dad, how are you? Is everything alright?" Kazuki asked with innocent concern.
Emperor Shang turned his gaze from the maps, raising a brow at Kazuki's presence. He then shifted his attention to Arthur and spoke with a calm yet curious tone. "Arthur… you sent me a message that day, asking me to allow Kazuki to come to the warfront. I gave you permission without questioning it, but now that he's standing here… I must ask — why did you bring Kazuki to the battlefield at such a young age?"
Arthur smiled faintly and replied, "I didn't, Father. He's the one who insisted on coming."
Shang's expression turned to mild confusion, glancing back at Kazuki. "Is that true?"
Kazuki nodded eagerly. "Yes, Dad! I want to learn new techniques, train my Spiritual Force, and become stronger and more mature. Please, let me fight at least once."
Shang let out a slow sigh, knowing of the demon attack incident at the academy and how Kazuki had handled it on his own. He could no longer treat Kazuki as an ordinary eight-year-old. "Very well," Shang finally said. "But be careful. This is not a playground."
Kazuki beamed with excitement. "Thank you, Dad!"
"Where's Sister Ezabela?" Kazuki then asked, looking around.
Shang gestured toward one of the larger tents. "She's resting inside her camp. She's been focusing on her cultivation since last night."
Scene shift: 2 hours later
Arthur and Kazuki entered Ezabela's tent. The interior was peaceful, illuminated by the soft glow of Spiritual lamps. Ezabela was sitting cross-legged, meditating as streams of faint Spiritual Force circled around her. Her aura was steady, concentrated.
Sensing their presence, Ezabela slowly opened her eyes, her calm expression betraying no hint of fatigue.
"How close are you to reaching Body Refining Tier 5?" Arthur asked, folding his arms.
Ezabela sighed softly. "Not as close as I'd like. At my current pace, it would take me about five years to reach Body Refining Tier 5."
Arthur raised a brow. "Aren't you constantly absorbing the Soul Force of the defeated North Ryehem soldiers?"
Ezabela smirked. "If I keep that up, it might reduce the time to around three years… maybe a little more, maybe a little less. War has its advantages."
Kazuki stood nearby, quietly observing their conversation. Though he said nothing, he was listening intently, noting every detail. Deep down, he knew that soon, he too would face battles and trials far beyond what any normal child should endure — and yet, he felt ready.
As the sun began to set outside, the distant sound of war drums signaled the coming battle.