Ren slowly opened his eyes, greeted by a ceiling he instantly recognized. The familiar scent of air freshener confirmed it. Kaien's living room. A wave of calm washed over him.
But within seconds, anxiety surged back.
He sat up abruptly, scanning the room. His eyes locked onto his katana, resting on the circular glass table in front of him. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and stood, heading toward the door.
Just as his hand touched the doorknob, a voice called out.
"Oh, so you're finally awake." Kaien stepped out of his room, arms crossed. "Relax. Everyone's safe back at Squad 4's base."
Ren froze, then slowly turned around. The tension in his shoulders eased. He let out a breath of relief and sat onto the couch, letting the sheathed katana slide from his hand to the floor.
"What… what happened?" he asked. "Why am I here? What about Seth? The others? And Drake?"
Kaien walked over, leaning against the wall. "So it was Skullhead Drake, huh? According to the report Sora gave me three days ago, you guys barely made it out. Seth's fine. He's currently at the hospital, but nothing serious. He's getting discharged tomorrow."
Ren lowered his head, clenching his fists. "Thank God… but it's my fault. I wasn't able to save anyone."
Kaien pushed off the wall and walked toward him. He stopped just a foot away, looking Ren straight in the eye.
"Hey. You're no hero."
Ren's eyes widened at the words.
"You're not a hero," Kaien repeated, "but you did save Seth. That matters. But in doing so, you almost put the others in serious danger. Look, I get it, we all want to save people. That's the ZEAL way. But out there, you have to think fast and smart. Ask yourself, will this decision risk someone else's life? Is this really the best course of action?"
He placed a hand on Ren's shoulder.
"Compassion's important, but so is control. You're strong, Ren. But strength without discipline can be deadly. Still, you did well. Just be more mindful next time."
Tears welled in Ren's eyes. His throat tightened.
"I… did I lose control?" he whispered.
Kaien smirked and ruffled his hair. "Almost. So yeah, you owe me for stopping that."
Ren couldn't hold it anymore, he stood up and pulled Kaien into a hug, gripping the man tightly.
"…Thank you."
Kaien let out a small chuckle. "Anytime, kid."
After a few moments, Ren began to settle down. Kaien handed him a glass of water.
Ren took a sip, then asked, "So... I was out for three days?"
"Yeah," Kaien nodded. "You were sleeping like a log on my couch the whole time."
Ren rubbed his forehead. "Jeez. What about Drake? What's the plan now?"
"Well, you're all back in action in four days," Kaien replied. "This time, Squad 7 will be joining you for an all-out assault."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Will the Warden of squad 7 be there?"
Kaien shook his head. "I don't think so. He said his vice captain's more than enough. And honestly? I agree. I trust you guys."
"But Drake… he's ridiculously strong," Ren said, clenching his fists. "Still, I think my blade had an effect. I might've grazed him before he sent me flying."
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cocky. But yeah, I doubt things will go south with Shin Amano on the field. That guy's a monster."
Shin Amano huh? I wonder what type of guy he is.
Ren blinked. "Stronger than you?"
Kaien chuckled. "Not quite. But close. He's just a step below a Warden's level. That's how powerful he is."
Ren thought for a moment. "I don't think Drake's at that level. But he's a 6 star threat level."
"Then Amano should wipe the floor with him," Kaien grinned. "But still… don't be careless out there."
"Is Shin Amano a 7 star threat?" Ren asked. "And what about you? And me?"
"Well, he's not classified as a threat since he's our ally, but yeah, he's about that strong," Kaien replied. "As for us Wardens... we fall under a different category."
"Different?"
"Disaster Class," He said casually.
"Disaster Class?"
"Yeah. Let's just say it's for those whose strength can't be measured. As for you. Hmmm… Maybe around 4.5 to 5 stars? Yeah something like that. But enough about that, focus on Drake for now."
Ren's expression grew determined. "We'll take him down. Squad 4 will."
Kaien gave him a proud smile. "That's the spirit. But before that, there's something you need to learn."
He stood up and gestured for Ren to follow.
"Come on. Let's head to the roof."
Ren followed Kaien up to the rooftop. He had to admit, Kaien's apartment complex wasn't half bad. The corridors were clean, well-lit, and quiet. Potted plants sat neatly in almost every corner, giving the place a calm and tranquil atmosphere.
They climbed the stairs and pushed open the rooftop door. It wasn't as grand as HQ's rooftop view, but it had its own charm, open space, fresh air, and a single bench resting in the far right corner.
Kaien motioned toward the bench. "Sit and watch."
Ren sat as instructed, curiosity painted at his expression.
Kaien placed an empty trash bin about five meters ahead, then took a stance. His posture dropped low, relaxed but focused. Both hands slid into his pockets.
His breathing grew audible. Slow. Controlled. Like waves gently washing over the shore. The air around him seemed to slow with each breath. Dust particles floated midair, suspended unnaturally, as if time itself was hesitating.
Ren's eyes widened. "The dust... it stopped moving?"
Kaien remained silent. In one smooth motion, he pulled out his right hand and flicked his index finger. A faint shimmer, a scythe-shaped mist shot out and sliced the trash bin clean in half.
Ren blinked. "Couldn't you have just done that without all the dramatic buildup?"
Kaien shrugged. "I could've. But then you wouldn't understand what I'm trying to teach you." He turned back. "That was Pulse Control Breathing. It stabilizes your core and lets you use your Drive more efficiently. Pulse Control Breathing won't give you control over your drive core, your emotions do that. But when you lose it, it's the only thing that keeps your Drive Core from shattering once it becomes second nature to you."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but do I seriously have to do all that breathing stuff in the middle of battle? You think enemies are gonna wait politely while I meditate?"
In an instant, Kaien repeated the same stance, but this time, it was over in a flash. Before Ren could even register the motion, the already broken trash bin collapsed into eight neat pieces.
"No, you won't need to take your time. But you have to train slowly first," Kaien said calmly. "Build the rhythm. Master the flow."
Ren scratched his head. "Okay... but what exactly are you trying to teach me? That felt more like a magic trick."
Kaien let out a frustrated sigh. "Ugh. Teaching is hard... Fine, think of it like this, Pulse Control Breathing aligns your Drive Core with your heart, your body, and your breathing. When all three move in sync, you unlock better control and power."
Ren still looked lost.
Kaien waved his hands. "Just try this. When you breathe in, build Drive energy inside. When you breathe out, release it. Simple."
Ren frowned. "But I can just shoot lightning from my fingers whenever I want. Like you just did."
"Yeah, and look how unstable your output is. You're leaking energy, overstraining your core, and barely tapping into your full potential. You're firing at 50%, kid. No coordination. No rhythm. That's why you feel like you're about to explode after every big move and on top of that, your drive core goes crazy."
Ren's expression shifted slightly, he hated to admit Kaien had a point.
"Alright, alright. What do you want me to do?"
Kaien smirked. "Hit me with a lightning strike from your finger, but only when you exhale."
Ren took a deep breath and mimicked Kaien's earlier stance, low and grounded. He stretched out his right arm, index finger pointed at the fresh trash bin Kaien had set up.
He inhaled slowly then exhaled. Focused. Visualizing his Drive Core pumping energy through his body.
His eyes remained shut, unaware of the faint crackle building around him. Sparks danced in the air like dust, lightning particles beginning to flicker. Kaien, watching from the side, was visibly impressed.
He's a fast learner… Most new learners of the technique wouldn't even reach this stage in days. Maybe even weeks.
Ren exhaled sharply and fired.
A flash. The bin split clean in half.
"Wasn't that… a bit easy?" Ren asked, blinking.
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Don't get cocky. Now do it again faster."
Ren repeated the motion, his strikes growing quicker. But something still felt off, Kaien's speed felt out of reach.
"What's the secret?"
"Match every strike with your heartbeat."
Ren's eyes widened. "Isn't that too fast?"
He tried. But the rhythm slipped. Each bolt felt mistimed. His core pulsed irregularly and then, pain.
"Ah—!"
"Relax," Kaien said calmly. "Your core's not breaking, it's just out of sync. That's normal. Do this every night. Sync every strike with your heartbeat. Once you nail it, you'll be tapping into the core essence of your Drive Core's potential. It's not just about brute force, it's about rhythm, flow. Pulling the right amount of energy for every move. Less strain, more control. That's where true power, and mastery begin."
Ren gritted his teeth, nodded, and steadied himself once more.
Ren trained for another 30 minutes before Kaien finally raised a hand to stop him.
"Training hard is good," he said, tossing Ren a towel, "but limit it to an hour a day. Your core's still out of sync, and without rhythm, it'll need time to rest. Build control first, then push harder."
Ren nodded, wiping the sweat from his face.
"Anyway… why am I here again? Shouldn't I be at Squad 4's base?"
Kaien leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Because I needed to train you for this to keep your core from shattering. It'll be best for you to get this technique down before the next raid. Or at least 75% of it."
Ren's eyes sharpened. "I can do it in three days. No, give me two!"
Kaien smirked at his confidence, but in the back of his mind, the expectations were more grounded.
If he hits 50% in three days… that alone would be beyond incredible.
The very next day, Ren was on the rooftop at dawn. No meals, no bath, no distractions. Just training.
For the next hour, he moved with intense focus, taking short two-minute breaks between sets. He was starting to feel it, the rhythm. A human heart beats roughly 60 to 100 times per minute, and Ren had managed to sync half of those pulses with precise Drive Core bursts. Lightning crackled and shot out from his fingertips in sharp, controlled flashes. Fully powered, yet efficient.
He could feel the difference. The output was stronger, more refined. And for the first time, it didn't burn through his stamina or threaten to destabilize his core.
After his session, Ren collapsed onto the rooftop, sweat clinging to his skin. The morning sun beamed down, forcing him to throw his shirt over his eyes.
I'm getting the hang of it, he thought, chest rising and falling from breathing. If I can fully master this... maybe I can even forge a new technique. Something fast. Something devastating.
Ren sat quietly, deep in thought, trying to squeeze out an idea but nothing came. His mind was a haze.
Then, a memory sparked.
Back during the fight with Warden Aeri, he used the walls like springs for Thunderstep, bouncing in quick zigzags across the floor, up the walls, and side to side.
His eyes lit up.
What if I do that in midair? No walls. Just platforms made of lightning. I'd cut down movement time and boost my speed exponentially.
The idea clicked. If he had full control over his Drive, he could generate temporary constructs, just enough lightning, precisely molded.
Platforms, he thought. Small. Compact. Just enough for my toes to land on and leap from. I only need them for a fraction of a second.
Ren pointed his index finger out and began forming them. Little by little, square-shaped lightning platforms began to appear in the air around him, flickering, unstable, but there.
This is it! I just need to speed it up. If I can make three of these in under a second...
He focused hard, Drive energy surging through him.
One… two… three.
Three seconds passed.
He let out a frustrated breath. Too slow.
But he didn't stop. His eyes narrowed with resolve.
I'll get it. No, I have to.
Ren kept at it for another twenty minutes—repeating the same motion, same focus, same frustration. No matter how hard he tried, the timing refused to drop.
He groaned and dropped to a knee. Still three seconds….
Just then, Kaien strolled in, arms stretching above his head, yawning like he just woke up from a nap.
"Well, the idea's solid," Kaien muttered, scratching his head. "But why the hell are you only using your index finger? Try using three fingers. Are you dumb or something?"
Ren blinked, flustered. "W-w-wait! You only used your index finger when you showed me!"
"That was for reference, idiot. Not a rule. Use your hands properly. Now try it again."
Ren exhaled sharply, pulling in Drive Core energy with every breath, his rhythm syncing with his heartbeat. He positioned his thumb, index, and middle finger.
Now!
In a single pulse, three lightning platforms shot out in less than a second—fast, precise, and stable.
His eyes lit up. "That's it!!!"
Kaien smirked. "Yeah, and that's it for your training today. I did say to keep it under an hour."
Ren froze. "W-wait, but I just—!"
"Too bad," Kaien said, already walking away with another yawn. "Save that hype for tomorrow."