"In this world, strength is not a gift… it is the price you pay to stay alive."
"Kara is the vital energy that flows through all things. Some shape it to create, others to destroy… but all depend on it to survive."
"When the breath of Kara fades, the heart ceases to beat, and the soul vanishes into eternal shadow."
The flames of the consumed huts still danced on the horizon. The ground, cracked by the intensity of the black Kara, smoked in places like a cursed land. A few survivors, kneeling behind broken stones, held their breath, trembling, their eyes fixed on the titanic clash.
But soon, other silhouettes appeared through the mist and smoke: a few Astroforges, breathless, scratched, but still standing, surrounding a group of trembling survivors. They had heard the chaos and rushed to help.
At the center of the carnage, two forces collided.
The crystalline chains of the Sang Brûlé lashed the air in murderous arcs, each strike charged with bestial rage.
— Black Kara – "Deluge of a Thousand Links!" he shouted, sending his chains whirling like a storm of blades.
But Takashi did not step back. His fist rose, wrapped in azure lightning that illuminated the mist.
— Celestial Kara – Piercing Thunder!
A single impact shattered the dance of chains, the shockwave lifting dust and stones.
Blood dripped from his shoulder, his side bore a deep gash, but nothing slowed his march. Each step echoed like a sentence.
The Sang Brûlé clenched his teeth, retreating despite himself.
— Tch… this colossus… he takes hits like a demon… he thought.
— "I am Mad Dog, the rabid hound of the Sang Brûlé…" he said, his grating voice echoing between the alleys.
His chains cracked against the ground, releasing shards of blackened Kara.
— "And you, warrior… who are you?"
Takashi raised both arms, his veins coursing with lightning, his aura vibrating like a contained storm.
Takashi:
— "Takashi Aomi of the Zenith Stellaire."
— Celestial Kara – Judgment of the Zenith!
His fists struck together, creating a circular wave that exploded at the heart of the battlefield. The ground split, the mist was blown away, hurling several Sang Brûlé back like disjointed puppets.
The survivors stifled cries, their faces illuminated by the white flash.
— "It's… it's a monster… no… a savior…" murmured an old woman.
The Astroforges, inspired, joined the fray. Some created Kara barriers to protect the survivors, others struck from afar with intermediate techniques. But none rivaled Takashi's perfect mastery, even when he received a few superficial blows that grazed his skin or briefly threw him off balance. Nothing slowed his deadly dance.
But as the duel raged, a dozen Sang Brûlé rushed at Raizen, isolated further away, their weapons dripping with black Kara.
The boy stepped back, his heart pounding out of his chest. His breath was short, his hands trembling. But when the first attack struck, a primal instinct surged.
The boy had no time to think. His arms shone with a silvery glow. Two pure blades burst from his forearms, sharp and smooth like the moon.
One assailant lashed a whip of black Kara at him.
Raizen instinctively raised his blades — and the impact rang like a steel bell. A shiver coursed through his skin. His body had… remembered.
Before he even understood, he leapt forward. His blades cut through the air, and in a single breath, two enemies fell, their bodies marked by a replica of the wave they had launched.
Then another, and another: Raizen advanced, carried by an instinct he didn't know he had. His silver blades sliced through the darkness.
The survivors, speechless, watched this unreal dance. In their eyes, it was no longer a boy fighting: it was a hero being born, a chosen one shielded by the light itself.
But as he caught his breath, he saw the mass of enemies still encircling him. His heart stopped. His blades trembled. Fear crushed him again, brutal and icy.
— "Hehehe…" Mad Dog sneered, while enduring another blow from Takashi. His red eyes fixed on Raizen with greed.
— "So this is the new toy of the Zenith Stellaire. I'll tear him apart."
Takashi, without averting his attention for long, cast a glance at Raizen. His face remained expressionless, but a glimmer passed through his eyes.
— Not bad, kid… You showed your fangs. But you're not ready yet, he thought.
He struck again, his two fists falling like the sentence of a god, targeting most of the Sang Brûlé, even Mad Dog.
Takashi inhaled deeply, his muscles tense, his gaze cold and focused.
— Celestial Kara – Heavenly Tempest! he roared.
A massive spiral of energy burst around him, a concentrated storm of light and electricity engulfing all the Sang Brûlé present. The lightning struck simultaneously, each discharge splitting the air with a piercing hiss. The ground cracked under the impact, hurling debris in all directions.
The bodies of the Sang Brûlé were pierced everywhere by the pure energy. Some were thrown against collapsed walls, others collapsed to the ground, unable to move, paralyzed by the intensity of the attack. Even Mad Dog, at the center, found himself nailed in place, his chains shattered around him, his body crossed with multiple burning marks of Kara.
He panted, trembling but still conscious. His red eyes fixed on Takashi with a rage mingled with respect.
— "You are the strongest of all my opponents…" he spat, his voice hoarse and strangled by pain.
— "But I am not the strongest among us…"
Takashi, slightly wounded in the shoulder and side, stood still. Short of breath, body marked but steady, he observed his enemy, finally neutralized. A faint smile crossed his lips, then suddenly he appeared in front of him.
Takashi Aomi:
— Celestial Kara – Piercing Thunder!
He pulverized the threat. But his gaze remained worried and focused.
Raizen, motionless, watched the scene, his heart pounding wildly. For the first time, he understood the extent of a Zenith Stellaire's power and the brutality required to protect others.
The Astroforges approached, helping the survivors stand and securing the Sang Brûlé incapable of continuing. The battlefield, bathed in light and Kara, was silent, only disturbed by the crackle of still-hot debris.
— "Mission accomplished…" murmured Takashi, his deep voice cutting through the Kara-charged air.
Raizen clenched his fists. His heart still vibrated with the energy of Heavenly Tempest. He now knew that a Zenith Stellaire was measured not only by power, but by the will to protect, to endure, and to pay the price for every victory.
After the Battle
Takashi Aomi stepped slightly away from the battlefield, his heavy yet steady footsteps echoing against the still-warm debris. His gaze swept over the survivors, trying to bring order to the chaos.
Aomi:
— Raizen, stay here. I'll call Adams, he said calmly.
Moments later, Takashi contacted Adams, leader of the Astroforges, his deep and commanding voice cutting through the heavy silence of the clearing:
— Adams… speak to them. Reassure these villagers, but remind them… silence is imperative. No one must speak of what they've witnessed.
A brief silence followed, then Adams nodded and left to carry out the task. Turning back to Raizen, Takashi allowed a faint smile to cross his lips:
— Well then, Raizen… it's time we head back. We need to treat our wounds and recover our strength.
Raizen nodded, still overwhelmed by the energy of his first real battle. But before they could take a step, an Astroforge rushed in from the side. It was Ashley—young and lively, her face streaked with dust but lit up with a bright smile.
Ashley:
— Aomi! Look what we found! she said, pointing to the group of villagers the Astroforges had protected.
The villagers came forward, some carrying freshly picked fruits, others holding small animals meant to nourish or aid those who had fought for them. Their eyes shone with heartfelt gratitude.
Takashi was taken aback, his eyes moving from one face to another, touched by their gestures. He inhaled deeply before speaking:
— Thank you… thank you all. But please, keep what you've brought. You'll need it more than I do.
An old woman stepped forward, insistent:
— No, young man, take it! You saved us… without you, we wouldn't be here!
Takashi felt the warmth of their gratitude and finally gave in:
— Very well… give it to the Astroforges. They'll put it to good use.
One last look at the survivors, a nod of acknowledgment, and then he turned to Raizen. Together, they began their journey back, leaving behind the flames, the mist, and the returning silence of the village. Aomi's Kara still pulsed faintly around him, and his heart carried the weight of a simple, powerful "thank you."
Final Scene
Takashi and Raizen left the village of Seiran, the silence of the bamboo forest surrounding their steps. The fading light of day filtered through the thick stalks, casting shifting shadows across the path. No words were needed—the calm after the storm enveloped them, broken only by the crunch of branches beneath their feet.
After a few minutes, Takashi broke the silence, his deep voice tinged with faint amusement:
— Raizen… despite your recklessness, your instinct to act on your own… I must say, I'm rather proud of you. You only have minor wounds. That's no small thing.
Raizen blushed slightly, lowering his gaze, still shaken by the brutality of the fight they had endured.
Takashi went on, more serious now, his eyes fixed ahead:
— Mag Dog was strong. But if I had used 70% of my power, that fight would've ended in no time. By fighting on his level, I showed him a form of respect. It was necessary, because you must understand—wounds, both physical and mental, are the daily life of a Zénith Stellaire.
He paused, his breath steady despite his cuts and bruises. Then, in a calmer, almost fatherly tone:
— Every Zénith Stellaire must understand that Kara is not just a weapon… it is a responsibility. Today, you've taken a step toward that understanding.
Raizen felt a mix of pride and humility rise within him. He understood that though his body and Kara had been tested, he had just crossed an essential threshold.
They continued on, leaving the forest of Seiran behind. The air grew fresher, purer, a sign they were nearing the hidden sanctuary of the Zénith Stellaire, where Hana awaited the wounded and the weary.
The sanctuary, concealed behind waterfalls and cliffs, was a secure haven—a place of healing and preparation for those who bore the Kara.
Takashi walked calmly beside Raizen, letting the boy reflect on his growth. For the first time, Raizen felt he was no longer just a child of the streets… he was truly becoming a Zénith Stellaire.
The hidden sanctuary of the Zénith Stellaire emerged before them, veiled by a powerful energy. The air was infused with a gentle, almost living aura, and the sound of falling water seemed to purify each step. After passing through the protective zone, they finally beheld the serene landscape. In the distance, Hana stood, worry etched across her face but lit by a smile as she saw Takashi and Raizen return.
Hana (worried):
— Are you alright? she asked, her voice soft but firm.
Takashi nodded, lightly scratched, and placed a hand on Raizen's shoulder.
Aomi:
— You'll be treated first.
Raizen nodded, a blend of relief and nervousness flickering across his features. Hana invited him to sit at a low table in the center of the healing chamber. She began examining his wounds with precision, using Kara to accelerate regeneration and soothe the pain.
As his small cuts and burns closed under Hana's expert touch, Raizen still felt the weight of the battle lingering in his muscles and bones. He took a breath, then turned to her and Takashi:
— It was… it was incredible. I've never felt anything so intense. The Sang Brûlé… Mag Dog… he was a monster. I thought… I thought I was going to…
His voice faltered, but Hana gently placed a reassuring hand on his.
Hana (reassuring):
— You held on, Raizen. You used your Kara to protect others. That's what matters.
Takashi, standing a short distance away, watched silently, his eyes reflecting both pride and thought. After a moment, he turned slightly and said:
Aomi:
— I'll take a walk. I'll be back.
Raizen watched him leave, intrigued by his mentor's calm demeanor, while Hana continued treating his wounds. Slowly, the pain faded, replaced by a deep but satisfying exhaustion.
Raizen:
— When I stood against them… I didn't know if I'd make it…
Hana:
— And yet you did. And you acted with instinct, with courage, Hana corrected with a faint smile. Every step is a lesson, and today you learned more than you realize.
Raizen drew a deep breath, feeling his Kara hum faintly. For the first time, he understood that his strength was tied to his will—and to his resolve to protect those who could not defend themselves.
Night in Kazemori
Night had fallen over the hidden sanctuary. The soft glow of the moon shimmered on the surface of a natural hot spring made for the Zénith Stellaire. Steam rose in delicate spirals, cloaking the place in mystery and calm.
Raizen, as was his habit, approached the spring with a towel wrapped around his waist, ready to unwind after the grueling day. He sighed, relishing the humid warmth radiating from the water.
Without hesitation, he sank fully into the spring, letting his muscles relax as the residual Kara within him settled. But as soon as his eyes opened under the water, he felt a presence—someone was already there.
A silhouette rose slowly, the steam revealing the form of a young woman about his age, completely naked. Raizen's eyes widened, and he shot up to the surface with a stifled gasp of "oh!" The woman, equally startled, scrambled to cover herself with her arms, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
Raizen:
— Eh! he exclaimed, his face burning.
The young woman, just as surprised, tried to shield herself.
Woman:
— Wh-what…? she stammered, blushing furiously.
Before they could recover from the shock, footsteps approached the edge of the spring. A young man with bright red hair, a towel wrapped hastily around his waist, entered, ready to bathe. He froze at the sight of Raizen and the young woman, both naked and mortified.
Young man:
— Oh… uh… I… I didn't mean to…
His gaze flickered awkwardly to the woman, his face just as crimson as theirs.
Three held breaths, three faces flushed under the moonlight and steam. Silence reigned, broken only by the gentle bubbling of the spring.
Raizen stammered, trying to avert his gaze and regain composure:
— I… I thought I was alone…
The young woman murmured in turn, her face still scarlet:
— Me too… I… I thought it was empty…
The red-haired boy at the entrance, hesitating, finally muttered:
— Well… uh… I guess I'll just… wait outside.
Raizen slowly stood, the water up to his waist, while the girl sank deeper into the spring. Raizen slipped out, following the boy.
Raizen (with a sly grin):
— Sorry about that. Enjoy yourselves anyway…
The steam and the murmur of the water hid the colors of their cheeks, and the hot spring soon returned to its tranquil atmosphere, as though the awkward encounter had been nothing more than a fleeting interruption.
END OF CHAPTER 4