Part 1: The Speed Reversal
As Takuto awakened The Phoenix Gaze (Step 2: Phoenix Ember), Hayate's astonishment and shock completely dominated the scene. Although killer intent was evident on Takuto's face, his actions were purposeful and precise.
Takuto: "Come on! I'll make you regret being born!"
Takuto pushed off the ground, rocketing towards Hayate as a streak of red lightning. Takuto's speed now vastly exceeded Hayate's, causing Hayate to feel fear for the first time in combat.
Hayate used his ultimate Raijin no Mai to dodge, but Takuto's fist suddenly struck his chest. Hayate was thrown against the wall, his face contorted in pain.
Hayate: "This... How can this be! He surpassed my speed!"
Takuto didn't give Hayate time to speak, instantly appearing and striking again with his fist. Due to the immensely increased Physical Power of Step 2 (Phoenix Ember), Hayate was slammed into the wall, nearly breaking through it.
Hayate: "karhh!!!"
Kaori, seated with her injuries, was astonished watching Takuto's surge in power. Aoi was completely frozen in shock.
Hayate struggled to break free from the wall, using the lightning flowing around his body to move away from Takuto. He was only focused on survival, overwhelmed by Takuto's rage and uncontrolled aura.
Black lines glowed beneath Takuto's eyes. Although Hayate's movements seemed sluggish to him, Takuto understood the time limit and changed his attack pattern.
For the first time, a shimmering red Stellar Flow Orb (Power Orb) appeared in his palm.
Takuto launched the Orb at Hayate. Hayate tried his best to evade, but the Orb grazed his left side, and the force of the explosion caused blood to stream from Hayate's left arm.
Hayate: "Arrhh!!"
Hayate was utterly terrified by the destructive power of that Power Orb. He confirmed that he was no match for Takuto. His mind was now solely focused on a way to escape.
Hayate pressed his injured arm and looked at Takuto one last time. Takuto's power dominance was growing, and Hayate realized Takuto would not let him go free.
Hayate prepared to launch a sudden lightning attack towards Aoi Mizuka.
Hayate: "Do you think you've won?" Hayate sneered.
A powerful yellow lightning wave formed in Hayate's hand, and without looking at Takuto, he fired it directly at Aoi's body.
Hayate: "Protecting this girl is more important to you, isn't it!"
Takuto immediately knew Aoi could not withstand another lightning strike. He was only a second away from finishing Hayate, but his protective instinct took over.
The black lines beneath Takuto's eyes intensified their glow, and he raced forward, shielding the lightning wave with his body.
"BOOM!!"
With a violent Shock Wave explosion, the red Stellar Flow Aura absorbed the momentum of the lightning, but Takuto's body directly took the full impact of the energy.
Hayate laughed with satisfaction at Takuto's choice.
Hayate: "Good! Go on and protect her."
Hayate took advantage of the distraction, transforming into a yellow streak of lightning and vanishing at full speed.
When the smoke from the explosion cleared, Takuto was seen covering Aoi with his body, bleeding from his injuries. He looked at Aoi and spoke in a gentle voice.
Takuto: "Thank goodness... you're alright..."
Immediately after speaking, Takuto's body suddenly gave out, a combination of the duration limit being exceeded and the lightning damage, and he collapsed onto the ground. His red eyes faded, and the black lines disappeared.
Kaori: "Takuto-kun!!"
Kaori, disregarding her injuries, ran over worriedly and helped Takuto up. Aoi remained frozen, watching the collapsed state of Kaori and Takuto with regret and confusion.
The last sound Takuto heard was Kaori's anxious cry.
Part 2: Shizune Rinoka's Final Directive
Time: 8:17 AM
Takuto woke up in a room, thinking, "Where... where am I?" Looking around the room, he remembered. It was a room in The Crimson Aegis base, the place he had woken up a month ago after passing out.
Takuto: "I'm back at the Crimson Aegis base." He stood up from where he lay.
Takuto checked his body and found his injuries were healing rapidly.
Takuto: "I feel stronger than before... but last night..." He recalled the fight with Hayate and the way his power had surged last night.
Just then, Mika Lizumi entered the room. "Takuto-kun, are you awake? Are your injuries feeling better?" Mika was wearing her usual attire, a Japanese-style maid outfit. She carried a tray of food.
Takuto: "I'm fine. What about Ichinose-san and that girl?"
Mika: "Kaori-san and Mizuka-san are alright... Kaori-san is training with Sora-sama as usual. Mizuka-san is resting because she's exhausted."
Mika sat beside Takuto and placed the tray next to her.
Mika: "That girl seems to have trouble socializing. She hasn't spoken a single word since she arrived here."
Mika: "But she did ask about you, Takuto-kun. She asked if that person was alright."
Mika: "By the way, Shizune-sama called for you. I think it might be about that girl's situation."
Takuto: "Understood. I'll go see her in a moment."
Mika: "Please eat your breakfast first." Mika brought a small table over and carefully set down the rice and dish plates from the tray, holding the tray itself.
Mika: "Enjoy your meal. I have things to do, so I'll be leaving now. Please call if you need anything." Mika stood up and left the room.
(Takuto ate his meal and then headed toward Shizune Rinoka's office.)
Takuto arrived in front of Leader Shizune Rinoka's office. Shizune was sitting at her desk, with a calm and determined expression.
Takuto bowed his head respectfully.
Takuto: "Shizune-san, I came as you requested."
Shizune Rinoka gently placed her teacup down.
Shizune: "Takuto-sama, I'm proud of your Phoenix Gaze (Step 2) awakening. But this situation must not be taken lightly. Hayate has probably already reported your power to the Shadow Syndicate organization."
Shizune: "First, let's talk about Aoi Mizuka. You need to know who she is. She is the owner of the Demon Eye... The Void Oculus, which has been missing from our world for a long time."
Takuto's eyes widened. Hearing the words Void Oculus, he recalled the dark blue power he had witnessed.
Shizune: "The Void Oculus is one of the most destructive Stellar Eyes. However, Aoi is just a child. Because her power is connected to her emotions and instability, the Syndicate tried to use her as a weapon."
Shizune's tone became serious.
Shizune: "Hayate Shiro is one of the Elite Agents of the Syndicate, possessing the highest IQ and being the most dangerous. Allowing him to live after knocking him out was your biggest mistake."
Shizune: "We have decided to grant Aoi safe refuge here at the Crimson Aegis Base. But she has a unique condition."
Shizune: "She seemed to distrust everyone before. But after seeing you protect her last night... we believe Aoi's emotional state has changed. She seems to feel safe near you."
Takuto recalled the scene where he used his body to shield her from the lightning.
Shizune: "Because of your protection, she trusts you. Therefore, I'm entrusting her security to both you and Kaori."
Takuto: "I will take good care of her."
Shizune: "That's why, Takuto-sama, you also need to properly control Phoenix Ember and advance to the next step."
Takuto: "The next step?"
Shizune: "According to the writings left by our ancestral lineage, the Phoenix Gaze has four steps. Takuto-sama is now at Step 2, Phoenix Ember. That step is dangerous."
Shizune: "It is called the Imperfect State. In this state, you won't be able to use the power for long. According to the ancestral writings, it can be used for a maximum of only 5 minutes."
Takuto: "What happens if I use it for more than 5 minutes?"
Shizune: "At that point, your Stellar Flow channels will become blocked, and you won't be able to use your power for 24 to 48 hours."
Takuto: "So, what should I do next?"
Shizune: "The best way is to reach Step 3, Aura Flare."
Takuto: "How do I reach that step?"
Shizune: "For that matter, I sincerely apologize, Takuto-sama, I don't know either. You will have to find the answer yourself."
Part 3: Vow and Vocation
Takuto left Shizune Rinoka's office, but his body didn't feel heavy; rather, the responsibilities weighed on his shoulders. The hope of becoming Lord Cosmos's successor, a God, and the duty to protect Aoi, the Void Oculus owner... all had suddenly changed his life.
He walked past the room where he had eaten breakfast and reached the door of the room where Aoi was resting. Without opening the door, he peeked inside through the outside glass window.
Aoi Mizuka was awake on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the ceiling with cold eyes. She was silent, not talking or being aggressive, as usual.
Takuto recalled the pain he felt when he shielded Hayate's lightning weapon. In that single second, he had given up the chance to defeat Hayate and chose Aoi instead. A single thought clearly emerged in Takuto's mind.
Takuto (Internal): 'I couldn't save my mother... but this time, it will be different. I am not anyone's tool. I must be the one who protects the people I cherish.'
Time: The next afternoon
The day after meeting Shizune Rinoka, Takuto brought Aoi and Kaori from the Crimson Aegis Base to his modest home in the city. This was because Shizune's instructions required Aoi to reside close to Takuto.
Kaori Ichinose, being very capable, immediately began managing the logistics.
Kaori: "This house is two stories, so that's good. Since Takuto-kun's room is upstairs... I'll set up Aoi-chan in the room next to the living room downstairs. I'll stay in the room next to Takuto-kun's upstairs."
Takuto: "Alright, Ichinose-san, do as you say."
Aoi didn't say a word, quietly entering the downstairs room assigned to her. Her eyes carefully surveyed the surroundings, but her posture indicated she no longer considered Takuto and the others as enemies.
After the belongings were placed, Takuto gently approached Aoi's room. Kaori was upstairs organizing her things.
Takuto stood at the doorway and looked at the silently sitting Aoi. Her eyes looked up at Takuto.
Takuto: "Aoi-san... are you comfortable staying here?"
Aoi slowly nodded her head. She seemed to try to speak but suddenly stopped.
Takuto: "Please don't dwell on what happened last night. Call me if you need help; I'll always be ready. You are safe here."
Takuto's words were honest and sincere. Due to those words, a slight emotion appeared on Aoi's cold face. She tightly pressed her lips together and finally strained her voice to speak.
Aoi: "Takuto...."
She called his simple name, without the honorific "-san." That single word became the first bridge establishing trust between Takuto and her.
Takuto was surprised for a moment, then smiled warmly.
Takuto: "Okay. You can just call me Takuto. But don't try too hard to talk if you feel stressed."
Aoi nodded again, covering her face with her hands and remaining silent for a moment. She was a child struggling to recover from a difficult situation.
Takuto did not disturb her further and went back upstairs to Kaori. In his heart, he resolved to protect her from those who wanted to exploit her power.
Takuto entered his bedroom and looked at the picture of his parents on the desk. A question arose in his mind.
Takuto: "Did my father and mother... get killed because of my powers, too..."
Takuto: "If that's true... I'll never forgive them!"
His eyes turned briefly red with intense red Stellar Flow from his anger. His Phoenix Ember power was drawing strength once again from his hatred.
[END OF CHAPTER 5]