"Time is running out for Mom… If this continues, she'll lose too much blood and die. And this power… what is happening to me?"
I clenched my trembling fists as energy surged violently through my veins, growing stronger every second.
Ryusei glared at me, eyes burning with rage.
"Th–this is the Tenshinkai… How the hell do you have it, Nozomi? Tell me. Have you been hiding this from me?!"
"I don't even know what you're talking about!" I snapped back, confused and scared.
"Don't lie to me. I know who has it now…"
In a flash, my brother shot forward, aiming to grab me by the neck—
—but my body moved on its own.
I dodged.
Then dodged again.
And again.
Speed I never had before flowed into my limbs, making me slip away from every strike.
"STAY STILL!" Ryusei roared, flames swirling around his fist as he slammed a scorching punch into my stomach.
CRASH!
I flew across the room, slamming into the wall and collapsing.
"That… hurts…" I groaned, trying to push myself up.
But in that pain, a single thought burned brighter than all of it.
If this power lets me stand against him… then maybe I can save Mom and my sister.
Ryusei scoffed. "Don't think just because you awakened Tenshinkai, you can beat me, Nozomi."
I rose slowly, breathing in. Power rippled around me—
blue aura bursting out—
lightning-like pressure shaking the entire room.
The chain Mom gave me shattered into pieces.
Aura exploded from my body in every direction.
Ryusei clicked his tongue. "Annoying… If this continues—"
But before he could finish, I appeared right in front of him.
My fist, wrapped with swirling wind, flew toward his face—
but he barely dodged.
The shockwave alone demolished everything behind him.
"What the—?! If that hit me, I'd be in trouble," he muttered.
I stared at my own fist in disbelief.
"That was… me?"
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"That was the Seika of Takeshi Arata—one of the Four Heroes. His super strength. He could destroy buildings with a punch. If you're unlocking more Seikas from the Tenshinkai… I have to end this now!"
A raging red aura engulfed him as he began condensing fire and wind into a deadly point.
"Hope you're ready, Tenshinkai holder!"
I could sense it—
If he released that attack, the entire mansion would be reduced to ashes.
"Damn it… BROTHER!"
I dashed forward with everything I had—
grabbed him—
and tackled him straight through the wall and far from the mansion.
BOOOOOM!
His attack exploded midair, throwing me back violently.
"You're insane!" I shouted. "You made it explode midair just so I'd let you go. You could've died yourself!"
But as the smoke faded, I saw his wounds knitting themselves closed.
He was healing.
"Shut up. It barely scratched me. Regeneration is one of my Seikas," he smirked coldly.
My heart sank.
"How many Seikas… do you even have?"
"Does it matter?" he growled. "You're going to die anyway. And I'll take what's rightfully mine."
"You mean this power?" I roared. "You hurt our family—because of power?! Have you lost your mind, Ryusei?!"
"You wouldn't understand," he hissed. "Power is everything. And nothing will stand in my way. Not even my own family."
"I see."
Blue aura rose around me again, my eyes glowing brightly.
"Then there's no need to call ourselves brothers anymore."
We clashed Seikas—my wind versus his fire-wind fusion—
our auras colliding in a violent storm of energy.
But suddenly—
Pain exploded in my chest.
My vision blurred.
My legs gave out.
"What… what's happening…? My body… it burns…"
Ryusei smirked weakly.
"Seems you finally reached your limit, Nozomi. Time to sleep—"
But before his fist could reach me—
CRASH!
Two figures dropped from the sky, blocking his attack and forcing him back.
A-Rank Heroes.
One tall, dark-haired man cloaked in black shadows.
The other a smaller man with red eyes, aura flickering like a beast.
Ryusei froze.
Not from fear—
from pain.
His body, too, was reaching its limit.
"Tch… I can't fight two A-ranks like this. I have to escape."
He raised his hand. Blue light flashed as the five figures floated toward him.
"Teleport us," he ordered the man with teleportation Seika.
Before vanishing, he glared at me with hatred.
"The fun is just beginning…"
Then he disappeared.
My body collapsed.
I gasped for air, struggling to stay conscious as the A-rank hero lifted me.
"Please…" I whispered, vision fading.
"Save my mother and my sister..."
And darkness swallowed me whole.
Three Days Later
"Agh!"
I woke up with a jolt, breathing heavily.
I was lying on a hospital bed.
And beside me—
"Father…?"
Taiyō Gaisen placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You're awake. Good."
"Where's Mom? Is she okay? Where is she?!"
He didn't answer.
My heart dropped.
"Father… tell me."
"…She didn't make it," he said quietly. "By the time the heroes arrived, she had already lost too much blood."
My world shattered.
"No… no, that's impossible… Mother can't be…"
Tears poured down my face.
"And your sister…"
He swallowed hard.
"She hasn't woken up. The flow of her Seika is… damaged. The doctors are doing everything they can."
I grabbed his shirt, crying uncontrollably.
"Why… Why did this happen…?!"
"Nozomi," he said firmly.
"Calm yourself."grabbing me by the shoulder.
"NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! LET GO OF ME!" I screamed, trying to get out of bed.
His aura exploded—
a crushing blue flame that forced me to my knees.
"DO YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE IN PAIN?!" he roared.
"I couldn't protect my wife! I couldn't save my children! Don't act like you're the only one suffering!"
His voice cracked.
Tears trembled in his eyes… but he held them back.
He slowly calmed down.
I collapsed against him, sobbing.
"I'm sorry… Father… I'm sorry…"
"It's okay, Nozomi," he whispered.
After some time, being able to control our emotions he finally asked:
"Nozomi… Tell me everything about the Tenshinkai."
"You know about it?" I asked.
"Yes," he sighed. "Tenshinkai was created by the Four Heroes who fought Shigure Kurogane—the strongest villain in recorded history. They knew they couldn't kill him completely. So they combined their Seikas… into one."
"And brother wants it because…?"
"He is under Kurogane's influence. But why Kurogane needs Tenshinkai… I do not know."
I clenched my fist.
"I don't care why. I have to stop them. No matter what."
Meanwhile…
Deep in an abandoned factory, Ryusei collapsed after teleportation. Three of the figures were conscious, the rest unconscious.
A tall man with red hair and red eyes stepped forward, smirking.
"Well, well… look at you, Ryusei."
"Shut up… just heal me already," Ryusei snapped.
"That's not how you ask for help."
The man crouched, grabbed Ryusei's face—
and dark tendrils wrapped around his neck, choking him.
"You may be valuable to the Master," the man whispered, smiling wickedly, "but don't forget your place. Only he commands me."
Ryusei gasped, struggling.
"You bastard… Once I get the Tenshinkai—"
"Oh please."
He released him and walked away.
"It's not like you can touch me."
Ryusei punched the ground, creating a small crater.
"I'll show you… I'll get the Tenshinkai… and the full Shinkai… and then you'll be kneeling at MY feet. Just you wait."