| The Cyber Ascension | Arc 5 — "The Founder of Phoenix" | Volume 5
Chapter 56 : "The Yonuzuke Tricks"
The battlefield had quieted.
The 2nd Heaven General lay dead, his body still trembling from the remnants of Yonuzuke.
Smoke drifted into the sky. The air smelled of iron, dust, and the fading echo of screams.
Zenōnuke Eirien and Kiyoshi stepped out of the castle hall, their cloaks fluttering softly as they returned to the open grounds.
Eirien's gaze immediately shifted to the towering skeletal serpent still tearing through scattered soldiers.
Kaizenoo.
Even half-awakened, its bones rattled with a terrifying rhythm, crushing anyone who dared stand in its path.
Eirien raised his fingers.
Eirien:
"Enough."
His hands interlocked once.
The air trembled—
And Kaizenoo dissolved into purple particles, disappearing into the wind like dust blown off an ancient relic.
Kiyoshi groaned dramatically.
Kiyoshi:
"Ah!? Already?! Come on! I'm not satisfied! Eirien! Let's have some more fun!"
His muffled voice carried through the tall collar covering his mouth, eyes sparkling with chaotic energy beneath messy pink hair.
Eirien didn't bother looking at him.
Eirien:
"Our mission was to kill the General.
It's done.
We're returning."
Kiyoshi slumped like a child denied candy.
Kiyoshi:
"Ughhh… boring…"
They began walking—shadows stretching behind them across the broken courtyard.
But then—
A ripple of energy cut through the air.
Another cloaked figure appeared on the stone path ahead, his cloak fluttering slightly from the sudden movement.
Messy blue hair.
One single Tenshoudhā eye—glowing on his right side.
Sanozuko.
Kiyoshi's eyes widened.
Kiyoshi:
"OHH!? Sanozuko!! Long time no see!!"
He waved enthusiastically.
Sanozuko did not share the excitement.
His voice was cold, sharp, impatient.
Sanozuko:
"I don't want to waste time. I'll get straight to the point."
He raised a hand and pointed directly at Eirien.
Sanozuko:
"I want one of your Tenshoudhā.
Give it to me.
Or I'll take it myself."
Kiyoshi froze.
Then slowly—
A grin spread across his face.
Kiyoshi:
"Oh?! A thief, huh?! What should we do!? I'm soooo scared!"
He snickered loudly.
Then—
He stopped laughing.
His voice dropped, suddenly low, cold, mature.
Kiyoshi:
"Just as I expected.
You can't work for anything, can you?"
Sanozuko clicked his tongue.
Sanozuko:
"Tch. I've had enough."
He locked eyes with Eirien.
His Tenshoudhā activated instantly.
Sanozuko:
"Yonuzuke."
The air distorted—
Purple clouded the space—
A vortex of illusion energy spun outwards—
But Eirien's cloak fluttered gently, his hair falling over his forehead as he simply blinked.
No tension.
No reaction.
Not even a slight shift.
Eirien (calm):
"Don't bother, Sanozuko.
That level of Yonuzuke won't work on me."
His tone was so casual, it felt as if there wasn't even a fight happening.
Kiyoshi nearly choked on air.
Kiyoshi:
"Yo!? Eirien you absolute beast—"
Then he brightened suddenly.
A red sphere crackled into existence in his palm—tiny arcs of unstable energy swirling violently.
Kiyoshi:
"LOOK!! I finally learned how to make a proper lightning ball!"
Eirien tilted his head slightly.
Eirien:
"That's not a lightning ball.
It's Kashinori."
Kiyoshi blinked.
And blinked again.
Kiyoshi:
"WHAT!? I thought—Bro, it SPARKS!! How is that not—"
Sanozuko snapped.
Sanozuko:
"HELLO!? I'm still here!
Fight me!"
In the blink of an eye—
Kiyoshi vanished.
A heartbeat later—
He appeared behind Sanozuko, his Kashinori sphere hovering a few centimeters from Sanozuko's spine, humming with violent energy.
Kiyoshi's voice had turned dangerously soft.
Kiyoshi:
"You're being too noisy.
And too impatient.
Aren't you?"
Sanozuko stiffened, but didn't move.
Eirien finally spoke.
Eirien:
"Kiyoshi. Enough."
His tone was gentle—but absolute.
Eirien:
"We don't kill comrades.
Not out of care…
But because we need each other."
Kiyoshi sighed dramatically.
Kiyoshi:
"Aaah!? Fine, fine…"
He closed his fist—
The Kashinori disappeared with a soft, crackling sound.
Sanozuko exhaled sharply.
Sanozuko:
"I'll steal your Tenshoudhā…
When I have enough power to defeat you."
Eirien didn't even raise his voice.
Eirien:
"Then remember something."
He stepped forward, just once.
The air pressure shifted.
His Tenshoudhā eyes glowed darker.
Eirien:
"I was the first one to awaken Yonuzuke.
And the first to master it."
Sanozuko's expression darkened.
But he didn't argue.
He vanished.
Leaving the air colder than before.
---
END OF CHAPTER 56
"The Yonuzuke Tricks"