The sky seemed stable, but the air remained heavy, charged with a persistent tension. After the confrontation with the unknown Goldo, the group had decided to leave Kuzari to investigate the spiritual anomalies concentrated in the peripheral zones south of Kirina.
They moved through semi-abandoned districts. The buildings were cracked, suspended cables swayed in the wind, and the spiritual transfer stations were offline. Coded tags marked the walls, signaling the presence of dissident groups. Every step echoed metallically under their feet, a reminder that the Senshi had to stay alert.
Kaen looked up at the dilapidated buildings. "Is the sanctuary really supposed to be here?" he asked, his voice betraying skepticism.
"Not a sanctuary in the traditional sense," replied Takumi, observing the surroundings. "It's an ancient spiritual synchronization station. The old Senshi meditated there to stabilize their energy."
Astou scanned the district cautiously. "We're far from secure zones… the rules here are different."
Ishikawa remained silent for a moment, eyes dark. "This district… it's where my power first manifested."
Akiriho stared at him intently. "So that's how your Ni awakened… but you still don't have a special technique to defend yourself."
"I haven't mastered my power yet," admitted Ishikawa, his deep voice carrying a mix of nostalgia and determination.
As they crossed a shaky metal walkway, five figures emerged. Faces partially masked, armed with modified blades and stolen spiritual modules, they blocked the path. The gang leader stepped forward, his unstable energy sending shivers through the air.
"You're not from here," he said sharply. "You carry too much energy to pass quietly. So either you pay, or you lie down."
Floch immediately activated his defense field. "We're not looking for a fight… but we won't back down."
The criminals reacted with surprising speed, though their coordination was lacking. Their movements were jerky, as if their bodies struggled to handle the energy they manipulated.
"Dispersion Technique — Sekiha!" shouted Akiriho, sending a circular blast that slammed two assailants into the metal barriers.
"Shockwave — Ketsudan!" added Ishikawa. The ground trembled beneath his feet, throwing a third criminal backward.
Kaen narrowly dodged a modified blade and suddenly felt a strange vibration within him—a frequency that was not yet his own, but seeking to emerge.
"They're using illegal transfer modules," observed Takumi, eyes narrowed. "Their energy is unstable, and their control is almost nonexistent."
"This isn't combat, it's parasitism," added Floch. "They're using the energy like a drug."
One of the criminals lunged at Kaen. Without thinking, Kaen raised his hand. A weapon of light erupted, raw, uncontrolled, yet real. Two fiery projectiles tore through the air, striking the assailants and immobilizing them in intense heat.
The gang leader then charged at him, but a white flame shot from Kaen's hand, wrapping around the leader's arm. It didn't burn… it consumed. The criminal screamed, falling to his knees, desperately trying to deactivate his module. Nothing worked: he severed his own arm to stop the spread.
Astou stepped forward, surprised and impressed. "Kaen… you just…"
Panting, Kaen shook his head. "I… I didn't do anything. It just came out."
"No… it wasn't just the shot," Astou clarified, eyes serious. "It was legitimate. I mean your Ni. It awakened. That's what your energy looks like…"
For Kaen, it was not yet the Riten. But for the first time, he had repelled an assailant without fleeing, without hiding. A nascent power had manifested—raw, uncontrolled, yet real.
The group neutralized the criminals, silent in the face of this revelation. The path to Zone 7 was now clear, but the sanctuary had yet to reveal any of its secrets. Kaen had just unveiled something no one expected, and everyone knew this awakening was only the beginning of…
To be continued…