The silence lingered like a storm cloud in the grand chamber. Despite the polite smiles and neutral faces, Lord Hanzou had already caught the underlying tone the moment Elder Genmei referred to Ryoma merely as "the child."
He understood.
They weren't ready to accept Ryoma. Not as a rightful heir. Not even as part of the bloodline.
Though his heart simmered with restrained fury, Lord Hanzou remained still—his expression unreadable, his voice composed.
This was neither the time nor place to unleash his emotions. The meeting had been called for matters of state, and this… mention of Ryoma had simply been an unfortunate diversion.
Just then, Second Elder Inogami Seiko folded her arms across her ornate robe and leaned slightly forward, her tone matching Elder Genmei's with subtle precision.
Elder Seiko (soft, but sharp):
"That's right, Your Highness. That woman—ah, pardon me—the third lady, Akane… She has no clear background. No one knows of her past lineage or what family she came from. How can we place such a child among the heirs when the very blood running through him is in question?"
The words were smooth, but the accusation behind them was sharp.
Across the chamber, Third Elder Fushimi Rengyo narrowed his eyes slightly, then gave a slight nod.
Fourth Elder Okabe Rinko added her agreement without hesitation.
Elder Rinko (quietly):
"Yes… that's correct. We must proceed cautiously. This concerns the future of the entire bloodline."
A heavy silence returned, deeper than before. A moment stretched as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Second Royal Commander Sawatari Kenshin, positioned near the rear, shifted his weight slightly.
He didn't speak, but his fingers tapped faintly on the hilt of his sword—a silent rhythm that betrayed his thoughts.
He had already realized what was coming.
A chill crept through the council chamber.
It wasn't from the wind or the stone walls—it came from Lord Hanzou himself.
The shadowy aura seeping from his body curled across the floor like smoke, coiling around the elders' feet, heavy and suffocating. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as if his fury alone had stolen the warmth from the air.
Every elder felt it—an unseen pressure weighing down their shoulders, urging silence, demanding respect.
Hanzou's eyes burned with a quiet rage as he stepped forward, his voice sharp and cutting.
Lord Hanzou (coldly):
"Heirs, huh? That's what this is about?"
He scoffed—not in amusement, but in bitter disbelief.
Lord Hanzou (firm):
"You are elders. You should understand better than anyone… that the title of heir is not given to a newborn."
His gaze swept over them like a sword poised to strike.
Lord Hanzou (voice steady, dangerous):
"It is earned—through action, strength, and clarity. Whether it's my first son, Renjiro, or my second son, Ryouma, they will prove themselves with their own skill."
He took another step, shadows following him like loyal soldiers.
Lord Hanzou (tone rising):
"And let me make one thing very clear—I don't care what you think about Akane or her past."
His next words rang with finality, undeniable and fierce:
"But that child—Ryouma—carries my blood in his veins. Don't ever forget that."
A hush fell.
The cold didn't leave the room, but it twisted—now mixed with the weight of truth, legacy, and a warning none dared to challenge.
Just as silence began to settle in the room, Hanzou turned away—then paused.
His voice came low, calm… but it carried the weight of a final warning.
Lord Hanzou (without looking back):
"And if any of you still doubt that child…"
He turned his head slightly, just enough for his piercing gaze to return.
Lord Hanzou:
"Then wait—eight days."
Whispers stirred, but none spoke aloud.
Lord Hanzou (clearly):
"In eight days, Ryouma will be taken to the Sacred Temple."
A beat passed. Heavy. Final.
Lord Hanzou:
"Once the Trueborn Affinity Ceremony is performed, all your questions will be answered."
The words "Trueborn Affinity Ceremony" still echoed in the hall when the room stirred sharply.
Gasps. Eyes widened.
The air itself felt like it had thickened.
One of the elders—an aging man robed in deep indigo with a thin silver crown—stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly behind him.
Elder (outraged, disbelieving):
"B-But… Your Highness! The Sacred Temple…?"
Others rose in alarm.
Another elder, her voice sharper than the last, stepped forward.
Second Elder:
"That temple only accepts bloodlines of purity! Of legacy! How can it possibly recognize a child born of… of a servant's blood?"
The words hung like venom in the air.
For a moment, Lord Hanzou didn't move. He stood near the great doors, hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword, as if he hadn't just upended centuries of tradition.
But his eyes… his eyes were steel.
He turned.
One step forward.
Then another.
Each footfall echoed with authority.
Lord Hanzou (coldly, clearly):
"Don't make me say it again."
Silence.
Lord Hanzou:
"That child carries my blood… in his veins."
The elders froze—some paling, others swallowing hard.
Hanzou's gaze cut through them, one by one, like a blade honed for silence.
Lord Hanzou (final):
"And no blood of mine… will ever be called impure."
Without another word, he turned and exited the room, his presence lingering like a storm that hadn't quite passed.
Everyone in the room was taken aback.
It wasn't just Lord Hanzou's commanding tone or the sudden mention of taking Ryouma to the Sacred Temple.
It was what it meant.
Because the Trueborn Affinity Ceremony was no trivial ritual. It was a sacred, ancient process—one that used the bloodline and spiritual resonance of a child to determine the truth behind their existence.
Not just who they were, but what they carried.
The child's name and the unique presence in their blood would reveal which affinity they were born with—and how many. One affinity was the norm. Two was rare. And three... was almost unheard of.
In this world, three core energy systems governed the path of strength:
Ki, Mana, and Qi.
Ki was a body's natural flow—an invisible sense that expanded as one trained, sharpening the instincts, empowering the limbs, and allowing a fighter to detect hostile energy before it struck. It could not be stored like other forms of power; it remained present as long as the user's stamina held out.
Mana was the essence of magic. It existed as particles in nature, felt through deep meditation. With practice, a mage could gather those particles, slowly forming a core within their heart. The stronger the core, the more devastating their magical abilities became. But unlike ki, mana was limited by how much the user could store and control. Once drained, recovery took time.
Qi, on the other hand, was cultivated in the lower abdomen—the dantian. Through years of focused training, the user could form a dense core of pure energy. Unlike mana, qi was more stable and internal, used for reinforcement, energy-based techniques, and enhancing the body's structure. But it lacked the external magic of mana and the fluid awareness of ki.
All three had their strengths. All three had their limits.
Possessing two affinities was already considered a divine blessing. It took either extraordinary talent—or a lifetime of painful, focused training.
A child born with such potential could not be ignored.
And that's what made Lord Hanzou's decision to take Ryouma to the Sacred Temple even more shocking.
Meanwhile, deep within the dense stretches of the Kuroi Tani jungle...
Lady Sayaka stood tall, her eyes sharp and unwavering, a slender katana clutched firmly in her right hand. She stared ahead calmly, unfazed by the brutal sight before her—five monstrous ogres, their skin dark and coarse, crude weapons raised, snarling as they prepared to charge.
She exhaled softly and whispered, almost playfully,
"Let's count, shall we?"
One. Two. Three... Four.
With each number, her surroundings shifted. The ground seemed to hum, the very air thick with invisible tension. As the ogres roared and lunged forward, the corner of her lips curved into a devilish smile.
At that moment, she tapped into her triple affinity—Ki, Mana, and Qi—a rare gift from the heavens.
With Mana, she expanded her sensory perception, creating a perfect awareness zone around her, instantly calculating every ogre's position and movement.
With Ki, her instincts sharpened, her body flowing with unshakable rhythm and flawless timing.
With Qi, she channeled raw energy directly into her katana, forming a sharp blade of ethereal force extending beyond the steel.
Her feet slid forward, and in a flash—a single soundless motion—she vanished from her spot, like cutting through space itself.
The next moment, she reappeared behind the ogres, gracefully sliding her katana back into its sheath.
Click.
She spoke, calm and composed:
"Trueborn Affinity Ceremony, huh? Now this... this is getting fun."
A chilling silence followed.
Then—thyaaak!
Each ogre's massive body split into precise, clean fragments, collapsing to the jungle floor without a single groan. Blood did not even reach the air. It was as if they had been cut before they realized it.
The soldiers accompanying the expedition stood frozen. Their faces turned pale with awe and fear. None had ever seen such perfect harmony of Ki, Mana, and Qi in battle.
For them, it was as if god had descended.
Energy System Summary (short but deeper)
Ki (気) – The energy of life and instincts. It enhances reaction time, body control, and battle senses. Martial artists use it for inner strength and awareness. In combat, it fuels movement and raw power.
Mana (マナ) – The natural flow of magical particles in the world. Through meditation, a user can form a core inside their heart. The stronger the core, the more magic can be stored and controlled. Mana allows one to feel and manipulate the elements—like wind, fire, water, or even time.
Qi (氣) – The refined internal energy gathered inside the Dantian (lower abdomen). It's stored like a spiritual reserve, slowly enhanced through years of training. Qi can be transferred into weapons or body parts to deliver powerful attacks, but it takes discipline and precise control.
To possess all three is nearly unheard of. Most people can only awaken one affinity in their entire life.
Even two is called a "Heaven's Kiss."
But three?
That is trueborn divinity.