Chapter 3: Unbreakable Will

"True strength isn't just power. It's the unbreakable will that lies deep within the heart that pushes a person forward."

Burned by fire and consumed by fear, the boy still tried to rise.

Though he suffers his own weakness and carries the pain of his past,
he keeps moving forward.

With his "reason to fight" in his heart,

he reaches out for the hand of someone he believes in,

and takes his first step against fate.

This is the story of a boy whose very existence is put to the test.

Even if you're wounded—
as long as your spirit remains unbroken, you can become infinitely strong.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Flashback.
The earth was a wasteland torn apart by war. Burned-out buildings, streets buried under dust and rubble, and fresh scars still smoldering under a blood-red sun. Amidst the devastation, Shun walked leisurely, his white outfit in stark contrast to the ruin around him.

“I don’t get why the boss gave me this mission,” he muttered, kicking a stone. “He always says I’ve got great potential, but when it comes down to it... he gives me boring jobs.”

A faint crackle came from his pocket—his radio had activated.

“Are you talking about me?” replied a deep, steady voice—Tsukuyomi.

Shun froze for a second. He swallowed hard.

Seriously? He can hear me from this far away?

“No, Chief Tsukuyomi. I was just... recalling an old story someone told me.”

“At least come up with a more believable one,” the voice growled.

“Yeah, yeah…”

“And don’t forget—this mission is important. The target you’re tracking isn’t just some kid... he’s a professional killer.”

“I know, but you said he’s only ten years old. How hard can it be?”

“That kid has over five hundred kills under his belt.”

Shun raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

“All of them rich bastards, right? The kind that exploited the poor and stole their resources... Maybe they deserved it.”

“Maybe,” Tsukuyomi answered dryly. “But we’re not paid to decide what’s right or wrong. We’re paid to complete the mission.”

Shun sighed.
“I know. Still... I can’t understand what those twelve families have become. It’s disgusting—they’ll do anything to fulfill their twisted desires.”

“And don’t forget... we’re not so different.”

A heavy silence settled.

“…Maybe you’re right,” Shun admitted.

“I’m signing off. Complete your mission.”

The radio buzzed and went silent.

Shun stood for a moment, gazing toward the horizon. Then he slowly turned his head.

“You might as well come out. I can feel your bloodlust from here.”

A small figure emerged from the rubble—a boy, eyes sharp, hair messy, holding a rusted knife between his fingers. He was smiling.

“Well, looks like I didn’t hide my presence very well.”

“You might fool rookies or clueless billionaires…
But I’m something else entirely.”

In the blink of an eye, Shun vanished.
Tenzak’s eyes widened, but he had no time to react.

A cold blade touched his throat.

“This is how you hide your presence,” Shun whispered behind him. “You’re a beginner. I have no idea how you’ve survived this long.”

Suddenly, a blade shot out of nowhere and stabbed Shun in the side.

The young man collapsed, gasping.

When…? Did he do that the moment I sensed him? But how…?

“You fell for the oldest trick I have,” Tenzak said, stepping forward.
“I showed myself... so you wouldn’t notice my knives.”

Are there more knives? Where—?

“Looks like you’re just another easy target.”

Shun gritted his teeth.

Stay calm. Think. What kind of Zenka energy is this? Is it special…? But which one…?

“I’m sick of people like you coming into my city after everything that happened.”

“People like me? What do you think we did?”

“Don’t play dumb! You and your kind attacked our city, claiming to bring down a dictatorship… said you came to bring ‘peace.’
Bullshit. You just wanted our resources. And once you had them... you left us to rot.”

Shun said nothing.

“My dad lost his legs fighting alongside you. And how did you repay him? You didn’t. He died for nothing.”

“I get it,” Shun murmured. “But I can’t stand people who just blame others and do nothing to change their own reality.”

He looked up, his eyes sparking.

“And one more thing…
Never give a genius time to think.”

“…What do you mean?”

Tenzak felt a pull at his ankles.
Before he could react, he was dragged down—wrapped in black chains that erupted from the ground.

“What?! When did you cast this?!”

“Someone at my level doesn’t need to ‘cast’ a technique.
We just… do it.”

Tenzak struggled. His knives should’ve been within reach—but he couldn’t feel any of them.

“Where are they…? What did you do?!”

“At first, I was surprised you knew how to hide them. But once I figured out the trick... destroying them was easy.”

Shun stepped closer.

“You do possess a Zenka energy, that’s true.
But what you used just now was summoning energy.
And that surprises me… because it means, if you wanted to,
you could master basic Zenka.”

“What the hell are you talking about?! Just kill me already!”

Shun gave a calm smile.

“I have no interest in killing you. That would be a waste of potential.”

He took a few steps back and turned on his radio again.

“That’s why… I think I’ll have to lie to the boss.”

“…You’re kidding me. You came here to kill me, right?
Then do it,” Tenzak spat, eyes burning with rage.

Shun sighed like someone hearing the same song for the hundredth time.

“You’re such a pain. What is it with kids these days, thinking they can do whatever they want…”

He crouched down, locking eyes with the chained Tenzak.

“From now on, you work for me. But it’s a secret…
I’ll probably get killed if anyone finds out.”

“And what if I refuse?” Tenzak growled.

Shun’s smile vanished.
The air grew thick with a cold, suffocating aura—
like death itself had exhaled over the battlefield.

“You can’t,” Shun whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Because I am something worse than death.”

Back to the present.
Tenzak clenched his fists, a tremor running down his spine.

In that moment… I felt the same thing I feel now.
A clear message. An unavoidable truth: death.

Shun stood over Eden, unconscious on the ground.
His smile had changed—it was almost… proud.

Tenzak swallowed hard.
Was this… what you were expecting all along?

“It’s even better in person,” Shun said, then stepped forward.

With surgical precision, he knocked Eden out cold with a single blow.

The dark aura surrounding the boy vanished completely.
The Underworld beasts, still lingering nearby, recoiled and silently scattered.

Shun snapped his fingers.
The chains binding Tenzak dissolved like ash.

“You felt it, didn’t you?
There’s something very interesting inside him.”

“Whatever’s inside him… it makes him practically invincible,” Tenzak replied as he stood up. “But if he doesn’t learn to control it, it’ll only bring chaos… and death.”

“I know,” Shun answered calmly.
“But tell me… don’t you think it’s worth the risk?
Just to see what he becomes?”

Tenzak stared at him for a long moment—then looked away, visibly shaken.

“You’re terrifying.”

“Didn’t I tell you?
I’m worse than death.”

Eden’s body, still motionless, began to emit a faint glow.
The wounds on his chest and face slowly began to heal.

Shun clicked his tongue, amused.

“Seriously?
That just makes things even more interesting…”

“Tenzak, I need you to do something for me.”

“What do you need?”

Hours passed.
The sky began to darken above the makeshift training field.
Eden, lying atop a large stone, opened his eyes with difficulty.

“Wh… what happened?” he muttered, confused.

“Not much,” Shun replied, sitting nearby. “You just passed out after losing a lot of blood.”

“And… the test?”

“There never was one. I just wanted to check something.”

“Damn pink-haired bastard…”

Shun chuckled.

“I’ve got a few things to explain. But first—Tenzak, bring it in.”

“Right,” the young man replied, handing Eden a training uniform.

“Sorry if it’s not to your taste. It’s the best I could improvise.”

Eden looked at it. The design was simple, but sturdy.
For a moment, it reminded him of his grandfather’s old combat uniforms.

“It’s fine. It actually looks good.
By the way… who are you?”

“Sorry for not introducing myself earlier,” Tenzak said, giving a slight bow.
“My name’s Tenzak. I work under Shun.”

“Oh… I see.”

Shun watched him silently.
Eden’s body was still wrapped in an energy that accelerated his healing.
But the most interesting part… hadn’t awakened yet.

“I’ll wait until you’re fully recovered before I explain everything,” he finally said.

“No. I don’t have time to waste.
I need to get stronger… as soon as possible.”

Shun nodded, unsurprised.

“If that’s what you want… then let’s begin.”

He stood and walked toward the center of the clearing.

“Right now, you don’t even control one percent of your power.
Your potential is huge, yes…
But if you don’t learn to handle it, it’ll kill you.”

“What do I need to do?”

“For the next six months, you’ll focus on one thing only:
Strengthening your body.
If you don’t, you’ll never reach the next step.”

Eden frowned.
“And what’s that step?”

“Activating your Zenka energy.”

The boy blinked.
“What’s Zenka energy?”

Shun crossed his arms, as if he’d been waiting a long time for that question.

“Zenka energy is the vital core within all beings—humans, beasts, entities, even monsters.
Everyone is born with it.
But not everyone manages to awaken it.
Some ignore it… others awaken it the wrong way.”

“And if I awaken it the wrong way?”

“You’ll die. Simple as that.”

Eden swallowed hard.

“Do I really have to wait that long?”

“Yes.
If you’re not in peak condition in six months…
You won’t make it into GODS Academy.”

“I’ll do it. I’m sure of it.”

“I know,” Shun said, smiling.

He pulled out a sword wrapped in black cloth.

“Also… I’ve got this for you.”

He handed it over.
The weight was perfect, the balance flawless.

“For now, use this sword.
Your grandfather’s blade… you won’t be able to wield it yet.
Something is protecting it—something your current level can’t handle.”

“I see… Thanks for the sword.”

Eden gripped the hilt. He closed his eyes.

Grandpa… wherever you are…
Please wait for me.
I won’t take long.
I swear I’ll become strong enough to defeat those two.