Training Begins - Hiroshi's Humanity Arc

"So, if you can fly at the speed of light, why did it take so long for your father's buddies to show up?" Bibi asked in confused curiousity.

Hiroshi, Wisteria, Bibi, Tomokazu and Kage had arrived in Lightley only minutes after Kage's declaration to get rid of the Gods, thanks to Tomokazu's flight and speed. They had settled down in the tavern by themselves, only when Hiroshi ordered everyone out. He had almost forgotten that he had been made leader of the village.

 "Because they knew that they could defeat the God of Darkness easily. The only person that was afraid of him was my father, although I don't know why. The others are...naive, I suppose," Tomokazu said, answering Bibi's question.

Hiroshi was almost dumbfounded that Bibi could talk so openly to Tomokazu. After what he had done to her during the tournament, he was shocked that she could even look at him. He needed to find out answers, why she was the way she was. However, Kage had other ideas.

"Young Tomokazu, please stand up and explain to the others how Carte Blanche works," he ordered, and Tomokazu obeyed, standing up and facing the group, who had gathered around and formed a semi-circle around him. They sat down on bar stools, listening intently.

"Well, Carte Blanche is a technique used by not only my father, but the other seven Gods too. It is a move that allows you to use your imagination to create any power you want or desire. You can then do Carte Blanche multiple times after that, amplifying your power by one hundred percent each time. My father can go up to eleven times...after that it's nearly impossible," Tomokazu admitted, looking down at the dusty, concrete floor.

"Eleven times?!" Bibi burst out in shock. "We can't even do it once!"

"Anyone can do Carte Blanche. It's just a matter of getting lucky. There are two main ways to achieve Carte Blanche, according to my father. Firstly, just sheer strength. However, that could take years, and you need to be on a God's level...the second way," Tomokazu continued. "Is to be overwhelmed by emotions."

"In what way?" Wisteria piped up.

"You need to feel emotions very powerfully. Anger. Hatred. Love. It doesn't matter. You have to lose your sanity in that moment. It just happens. You won't even realise your doing it. Then, slam your clenched fist into your opposite hand's palm, yell the words, and name it." Tomokazu finished his explanation, and sat back down on the one stool that was available.

Kage stood back up and positioned himself in the center of the group. He cleared his throat and spoke again.

"So, that's our goal. We need to achieve Carte Blanche by the end of the year. I don't care if it takes years in theory. We will do it this year. I'm counting on you."

The four members looked at each other. They never wanted to work together. Not at all. However, it was clear that they would need each other's help. The Gods were on a whole different level.

"Tomokazu?" Hiroshi butted in.

"What?" Tomokazu hissed back at him, diverting his eyes elsewhere.

"Can the Gods be killed?" Hiroshi asked, which puzzled Tomokazu for a moment, but he pressed forward.

"Well...if you went in against any one of them by yourself, you would be in a lot of trouble."

"But can they be killed?"

"Yeah, they can," Tomokazu admitted, much to the shock of the group. "The only one immortal is Kuro-Yami. The rest can bleed and die. Simple as."

"Good," Hiroshi mumbled under his breath. Out of nowhere, Kuro-Yami came back from his inner mind.

"This would be advantageous for the both of us. If you can achieve Carte Blanche, I can get my true strength back, and you will be able to take on the Gods without my help," he reasoned, and Hiroshi nodded in agreement.

"Will your father come to check on us? If we are found to be holding Hiroshi here, we could be killed for treason," Bibi piped up, and Hiroshi looked to the floor. Being outcast again. He really couldn't blame them. His power was scared, and it even terrified himself to his very core. However, Tomokazu waved Bibi off.

"It's fine, my father probably doesn't care about my progress anyway. He just wants a successor. Nothing more, nothing less. If I'm not the strongest, he won't care. Simple as."

Hiroshi pondered that idea for a moment. Was that the reason that Tomokazu was so stood up? Trying to hit expectations and never being good enough? Sounded familiar to him, eerily so.

"Can you do Carte Blanche, Tomo?" Hiroshi asked in a curious tone. Tomokazu was almost too stunned to speak. It was the first time Hiroshi called him that nickname. Was this respect?

"Sadly, no. My father never taught me how to do it in his training. He just explained it to me. Guess he never wanted me to surpass him entirely," he smirked to himself. Bibi took Tomo's hand, which he had put in his lap. She looked deeply into his eyes.

"You will. You will surpass him. I know you can," she smiled, and Tomokazu blushed slightly.

"Seriously, what is her deal with him? He almost killed her a few hours ago," Hiroshi thought to himself. He struggled to understand emotions and human actions at times. Or maybe he just didn't understand women very well. Both options were possible. 

Kage cleared his throat and made his presence clear.

So, that's settled. Your training is effective immediately. Your first task..."

The four huddled together intently. Their first training program could be anything. However, they knew it was going to be intense. To beat the Gods, they had to break themselves and put together the pieces when they were done. 

Surprisingly, Kage sat down on a bar stool in the center of the huddle and smiled.

"Why do you all want to kill the Gods?"

"That's the first part of our training?" Bibi scoffed. "Isn't that kind of a waste of time?"

"I want to understand the kind of people you are, or at least, who you think you are," Kage expression grew cold. 

He was dead serious.