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Chapter 34 — A Spark Between Roses and Beasts
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Scene 1 — Training Ground / Living Room
Miro dashed out of the kitchen like a bullet, her steps striking the ground like the rhythm of the world's end as she leapt into the air.
Her dress lifted slightly, revealing part of her leg glowing beneath the dim lights.
At that exact moment, Kazu bent backward in chaotic smoothness, like one of those comedic fight protagonists who survive purely by coincidence.
Miro passed over him, their faces meeting midair… and time slowed.
Hair drifting. Eyes widening. Danger gleaming.
In the middle of that violent scene, Kazu spoke with an artificially calm tone:
Kazu, coldly: ( I looked at her just to observe her training style, nothing more. )
Then— BOOOOM!
Time snapped back to normal speed.
Miro crashed into the wall behind him.
Wood shattered, fragments of concrete scattered everywhere, and she fell down toward the training ground like an angry flower thrown by force.
Kazu landed lightly below, Kiura following after him.
Renion covered her mouth in concern, while Zokimoshi's eyes gleamed with the wild shine of someone who lives for action.
Miro rose from the dust, clasping her hands nervously.
She lowered her head slightly, and her voice came out shy despite the visible destruction behind her:
Miro, shyly: ( Are you really not going to leave me and go with her? )
Kazu raised an eyebrow with the confidence of an old man who knows he is in trouble:
Kazu: ( I'm in my seventies, and she probably hasn't even reached forty. I don't want anyone but you. )
Suddenly…
It was as if the sky had opened its gardens.
The place transformed into a field of floating roses.
Soft music hummed around them.
Heavenly colors filled the air… a romantic scene from the wrong novel.
Miro hugged her husband, tears falling lightly.
She lifted her head to look at him:
Miro: ( I knew you wouldn't leave me and go. I didn't even attack you seriously. )
Inside Kazu's mind, images flashed of himself nearly dying twice just minutes ago.
Kazu: ( Yes, yes… even I knew your attacks weren't real. )
Then he whispered internally:
( She almost killed me, and now she says she didn't attack seriously. )
Miro moved closer, her eyes shining, her lips approaching his—
… but before anything could happen…
Zokimoshi's face suddenly appeared between them like an unexpected YouTube ad.
Zokimoshi: ( Why did the action from earlier disappear? )
He grabbed both their faces and pulled them apart.
( And why are you two this close? )
Miro blushed deeply and raised her hands in embarrassment:
Miro: ( Alright… I'm sorry for what I did earlier. )
Kazu: ( It's fine. )
Then he added in deadly calm:
( Can you leave now? )
Miro smiled shyly:
( Alright, I'll prepare something delicious for you today. )
She left, laughing softly.
Kazu let out a long breath…
But a small voice beside him said:
Nero: ( Papa, did you bring me candy? )
Kazu froze as if time itself had stopped. Then he grabbed his neck, forcing a smile:
Kazu: ( Sorry… I forgot. )
Nero exploded in anger:
Nero: ( Every time I tell you to bring some, but you never do! You hate me! You're not a good father! You're the worst father! )
She began crying intensely:
( Why don't you bring me candy? Why don't you love me? )
Kiura opened his mouth in shock:
Kiura: ( She always gets angry and attacks him, but this time she started crying. )
Kazu shouted in inner agony:
Kazu: ( Damn it! I escape one disaster only to fall into another! Why does life stand against me?! )
Renion stepped forward and hugged Nero:
Renion: ( It's alright… I'll make him bring you large amounts of candy next time. )
Nero: ( Really? )
Renion smiled warmly: ( Yes. )
Then she whispered mischievously:
( But you must teach him a lesson now—he's afraid of you. )
Kiura tensed: ( Wait, this is destroying families. )
Kazu: ( What is this chaos… I'm starting to feel bored. )
Suddenly…
A metallic crashing sound shook the place behind them.
They turned to see Zokimoshi slicing another door in half.
Huge rats with glowing eyes burst out and attacked, but Zokimoshi crushed them with swift strikes.
Blood scattered around him without a single blink from his eyes.
Zokimoshi: ( What's wrong with these cells? I feel tremendous energy coming from them, but every time I break one, I find weak monsters and a blue stone. )
Kazu: ( Because not every appearance is real. )
He pointed at Renion:
( Like her… she looks kind and gentle, but she's cunning and evil. )
Renion flared with anger and advanced toward him, but Kiura grabbed her with difficulty, trying to keep her under control.
Kazu raised his hand to regain their attention:
Kazu: ( We have a new lesson. It may be one of the easiest, but it's important. )
They gathered around him.
Zokimoshi: ( What is it? )
Kiura: ( Tell us. )
Kazu: ( All you need to do is channel some of your mana into your eyes. By doing so, you'll be able to see your opponent's mana. I'll call it… Spiritual Vision. )
Renion: ( I've mastered this skill! )
Kazu: ( Show me. )
Mana flowed from her eyes, and in an instant, the world changed.
"Kiura's Mana"
A dark black aura leaning toward violet, dense, rising to the ceiling like a pillar of smoke.
"Kazu's Mana"
A brilliant golden aura, extremely dense, glowing like a small sun gathered around him, steady and undisturbed, rising several meters upward.
"Zokimoshi's Mana"
A pure orange aura, powerful, surging upward with force.
"Renion's Aura"
A medium-density golden aura surrounding her instead of rising.
Renion thought: ( They're all stronger than me… I hate this. )
After that, everyone tried and succeeded.
But…
Kazu stared at Kiura with sharp eyes, as if seeing something he was never meant to see.
Kazu thought: ( What is this black aura? Why does it surround him? It's incredibly strong… so why is he weak? Perhaps he could become a threat… I must always stay prepared. )
Kiura: ( Why are you staring at me like that? )
Kazu smiled: ( Nothing… but why did you stop lifting the rock? The number will double. Lift it 200 times for each hand. )
Kiura: ( T… Two hundred?! )
Kazu: ( Start. I don't want to hear any complaints. And you, Renion, return to your training. And you, Zokimoshi… )
He held his chin thoughtfully:
( You… hmm… stay with me. )
Zokimoshi: ( Why don't I get training? )
Kiura and Renion returned to their exercises.
Kazu: ( Because you're very strong… and you might be equal to me in power. )
To be continued…
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