Chapter 24
"Eiiii…!"
Lily screamed as she swung her hands wildly, her movements exaggerated as she hopped back several steps. Her breath came out unevenly, more from frustration than exhaustion.
"You know I can't defeat you, big brother. You are way out of my league!"
She clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed them, her shoulders dropping.
"And besides… I have the strength to fight and crush most of our enemies," she continued, her voice lowering, becoming more honest, "but not you. Not at this point. You are still too strong for me."
Renji's eyes rested on Lily. For a brief moment, he said nothing. Then, a soft smile formed on his face, calm and gentle, as if he were looking not at a warrior but at family.
"The control of the power you have," he said slowly, "is scary."
Lily looked up at him, surprised by the seriousness in his tone.
"To wield so much power at your age…" Renji continued, "…but power isn't made for just strength."
He raised his hand slightly, his fingers tightening as if grasping an invisible weight.
"It is made to protect the weak."
The wind shifted, carrying his words with it.
" You should know We don't posses power to destroy," he said firmly, his gaze unwavering, "but to protect."
At a distance, Takeda watched the scene unfold. A small smile appeared on his face as memories resurfaced in his mind.
Those words… he thought. They are the exact words I said to him.
—Flashback
"Urghh—!"
Crash!!
The sound echoed as Renji's body was smashed straight into the ground. Dust erupted into the air, forming a thick cloud that momentarily obscured everything.
"Ouch!"
Renji groaned as he pushed himself up, rubbing the back of his head.
"Takeda-sensei…" he said, wincing. " Old man! That really hurt."
As the dust slowly cleared, Takeda stood calmly, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
" Who the hell are you calling old, sighhh....You are growing stronger, Renji," Takeda said. "Your body is adapting. It might take time, but I feel you will soon awaken your mana."
Renji froze.
"R-really?"
His eyes sparkled, glitters practically dancing within them.
"But you still have a lot of work to do," Takeda added.
"Eiii! You really mean it?!"
Takeda chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yes."
"Yesssss!" Renji pumped his fist into the air, excitement overflowing.
"Soon I'll have the strength to fight and crush the gods and destroy our upcoming enemies!"
Takeda's expression shifted. He gazed at Renji for a long moment before letting out a slow sigh.
"Renji…"
The boy turned, still smiling.
Yes?
" Listen to me you have been through a lot and I understand why you feel having strength is the answer ,but while it's good to fight when we're stronger," Takeda said, "it's also good to protect."
He stepped forward and placed his hands firmly on Renji's shoulders.
"You have something worth protecting, don't you?"
Renji's smile faded. His eyes changed as he slowly lowered his head, memories flashing through his mind.
"…Yes," he answered quietly.
"I… I want to protect my family and my friends."
Takeda smiled.
"Good."
He tightened his grip slightly and spoke with conviction.
"Then remember this. Power isn't made for strength. It is made to protect the weak."
"We don't seek power to destroy," Takeda continued. "We seek power to protect. Always remember what you are fighting for."
—Flashback Ends...
Takeda smiled faintly.
Seems you didn't forget everything I taught you, sometimes it feels like youve changed but in reality you haven't he thought, I'm glad I was your mentor.
Renji turned his attention back to Lily.
"I don't want to fight you just for the sake of fighting," he said calmly.
Lily listened closely.
"I am excited by your promise of getting stronger, and you really did in such a short amount of time in the real world" Renji continued. "But if you really want to join the fight…"
His tone hardened slightly "you are not fighting against Hunters."
Lily's expression stiffened.
"You are fighting against beings above Hunters."
Her eyes widened.
"I know, but—"
"But—" Renji cut her off, raising a hand. "I understand."
Trust me I understand
He studied her carefully, his sharp gaze missing nothing.
"And judging from the way you're talking," he added, "it shows you've encountered an echo."
Lily flinched slightly.
"But I'm pretty sure my mother would have dealt with it," Renji continued, "and that's why you're here… even when you shouldn't be."
A small smile returned to his face.
"So let me test you myself," he said. "That way, I'll know I'm not sending you out to get killed."
He paused.
"Defeating a pillar is one thing," Renji said seriously, "but defeating a divine being is another."
Nearby, Arisa smiled quietly as she listened to everything. Her chest swelled with pride as she watched Renji.
He's grown so much, she thought.
Lily exhaled, then smiled.
"Alright, alright, big brother," she said, rolling her shoulders. "I'm ready when you are."
Her eyes burned with determination.
The air around them grew heavy, signaling that the test was about to begin.Renji smiled.
"Good."
The word was calm, almost casual, yet it carried weight.
Immediately, his eyes shifted. Without turning his head or saying a single word, his gaze locked onto Sakura.
Sakura felt it instantly.
She met his eyes for only a brief second before nodding.
Understood.
She stepped forward and raised her hands, her fingers moving with practiced precision.
Dragon… then boar.
The hand signs were sharp, deliberate, and filled with authority.
Lily stared at Sakura, a sign of rememberancw flashed across her face. As she remembered those hand signs
"Eiii— Sakura-san, wait—!"
But Sakura had already spoken.
"Apex of Transcendance: Domain Mimicry."
Her voice echoed unnaturally, as if layered upon itself.
"GBIM!!!"
In an instant, reality shattered.
The room folded inward, swallowed whole as space collapsed like paper being crushed. There was no sense of motion, no warning, no resistance.
Everything vanished.
Darkness.
A pitch-black state stretched endlessly in all directions. There was no ground, no sky, no horizon. Only silence and void.
"Where are we?"
Rarvi Surya's voice broke the stillness, tense and cautious.
"Is this really an Apex ?"
Hiroto and Arisa glanced around instinctively, their eyes straining as the entire area was consumed by endless darkness. It felt heavy, pressing against their senses, as though the void itself was alive.
Before anyone could say another word, Sakura opened her eyes.
They glowed faintly.
Stretching forth her hands with a single command, spoken softly yet carrying absolute authority, she said,
"Come forth."
The domain responded.
Cracks spread across the darkness, splintering reality itself. Space distorted violently as unseen forces tore through the void. The sound was neither thunder nor glass, but something far deeper, as if existence itself was being disrupted.
Nature began to answer her call.
From the fractures, light spilled through.
Slowly… trees emerged.
She spoke again "Bring forth life"
The domain responded instantly. Reality cracked, splintering into pieces as the very fabric of space shivered in this place she commanded nature and Nature itself began to obey her will. It was slow at first a faint green sprout here, a glimmer of light there but then, as if awakened from a slumber, and the domain unfolded.
Trees erupted from the ground like living pillars of emerald. Birds, delicate and bright, flew in elegant arcs, filling the air with song. Rivers appeared, winding gracefully across fertile lands. Flowers bloomed in impossible colors, some that seemed to reflect the light of stars themselves. The landscape spread endlessly, stretching beyond what the eyes could see a living, breathing Eden.
She steadied herself calmly : Domain mimicry [ Eden's garden]
Marcus Steel's jaw dropped, unable to conceal his awe. "W-What is happening?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "It's… it's incredible…"
Indeed, it was a marvel, almost like a dimensional dungeon come to life, but alive in a way that made even the strongest hunters pause in admiration. Every leaf, every blade of grass, even the faintest ripple in the water seemed to hum with vitality.
Renji stepped forward.
Step
Step
Step
"Like I said a year and a half ago," he began, his voice steady, "each of you must open all twelve harem gates and awaken the Apex."
If the echoes really are coming then it's a must you do
Fighting azerin's generals in one thing but fighting the echoes we need to be prepared.
He turned slightly, making sure everyone was listening.
"Each Apex is unique to its own user," Renji continued. "Some may come with domains. Some come with amplifiers to your Hunter abilities."
He paused.
"You might gain more," he said, "but each is unique to its own user."
His expression hardened.
"…Remember, it's a forbidden technique."
The atmosphere subtly shifted.
"It can kill you," Renji said calmly, "even before you open six of the harem gates."
Lily stared around in awe, her breath catching as she took in the sheer beauty of what Sakura had created.
"Chaos and nature…" she murmured.
Renji continued.
"Sakura, as the Witch of Andor, has the unique skill to copy Apex of Transcendance abilities that involve domains."
Like I said it's unique
It amplifies her mind and being able to copy a domain after seeing it once
He gestured toward the land around them.
"Within that domain, she can manipulate nature. It bends to her rule."
Sakura stood silently as the world responded to her presence, leaves swaying as if acknowledging their master.
"The pitch-black domain you saw," Renji added, "is her mind."
Lily stiffened.
"She conjured it into reality."
Renji's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Therefore, she can copy your domain," he said. "Either hit you back with equal force… or make it stronger by blending chaos and nature."
She's the witch of Andor because she embodies chaos and nature in one body
A chill ran through the group.
"You feel comfort," Renji said quietly, "but you slowly die in reality."
This is the level of power we must attain to defeat the upcoming enemies
Hiroto swallowed hard, his heart pounded as he looked around.
Is this really the power I have to obtain? he thought. Can I really reach this level?
Renji turned and stared directly at Lily.
"Come," he said simply.
"Shall we begin?"
The world seemed to hold its breath.