Chapter 4: Zenka

Close your eyes… and simply take a deep breath.

Sink deeper and deeper—
into the very depths of yourself.

Not into the past, nor the future…

A place where your present self is questioned.

Power is not just about being strong.

It answers to your convictions, guided by your will… and chosen.

A flame ignites.

Will that flame light your path… or set you ablaze?

No one knows the answer yet.

Drops of sweat fell to the ground in a steady rhythm, marking the pace of unyielding effort. Eden’s body tensed and flexed over and over beneath the pale light of dawn.

From a small hill, Shun and Tenzak watched, arms crossed, the air thick with dust and contained energy.

“You sure he’ll be ready by the deadline?” Tenzak asked, his eyes never leaving the boy.

“I have no doubt,” Shun replied firmly.

“And what makes you so sure?”

“Can’t you feel it? The energy around his body grows denser with each passing day. If he can do this while still holding back… I don’t even want to imagine what he’ll become once he lets it all out.”

Tenzak frowned.
“Now that you mention it… I sense something strange. His energy feels… aggressive. Almost like it’s screaming.”

“That’s because he only has one thing in mind,” Shun murmured darkly. “Avenge his grandfather.”

“You still think he’s alive?”

“It’s what benefits Black Lights the most. I don’t know why they want him, but if their goal was to take him alive, then chances are… he still is.”

“I see… so they’re using him as bait.”

“Exactly. But something doesn’t add up.”

“What’s that?”

“If they truly wanted him… why haven’t they sent one of their heavy hitters?”

Tenzak raised an eyebrow.
“What are you getting at?”

“Black Lights is a monstrous organization. In recent years, their cult has spread across the world like a plague. Millions of followers, zealots… even assassins who’ve surpassed some minor gods. Logically, they should have soldiers capable of fighting me head-on.”

“And yet…” Tenzak added, following his thought.

“…the ones I ran into that day were trash. If I’d arrived earlier, I’d have taken them out without blinking.”

“Maybe their real monsters just haven’t shown themselves yet.”

“Maybe…”

Down below, Eden continued his training.

“…nine hundred ninety-eight… nine hundred ninety-nine… and… one thousand,” he panted.

“Shun!” he called out, “I’ve finished the push-ups!”

“Good. Now start with a thousand shadow strikes.”

“Got it! One… two… three…”

Shun watched in silence.
Could it be… they already know about his hidden power?
Is that why they’re after him?

Damn it. I’m tired of thinking about this.

“Stop overthinking it,” Tenzak said flatly. “That’s never been like you.”

“…You’re right.”

Six months later.
The place was the same.
But the air… completely different.

“Amazing,” Tenzak murmured. “His energy… it’s different.”

“Told you,” Shun replied with a half-smile. “The results are even better than expected.”

“It’s time to do it.”

“Yeah. Get it ready.”

Shun took a few steps forward.
“Eden. The time has come.”

“Yes!”

An enormous underground chamber flickered dimly with the light of hundreds of candles arranged in a spiral.

“What is this?” Eden asked, walking in cautiously.

“This is the Zenka Ritual,” Shun explained. “It’s the only way to release your energy.”

“And how does it work?”

Shun smiled mysteriously.
“Wouldn’t it be more interesting to find out for yourself?”

Before Eden could reply, Shun snapped his fingers.
A flame bloomed in his palm, and when he cast it upward, it split into hundreds of tongues of fire, igniting the candles one by one in an infernal choreography.

Impressive… he didn’t even break a sweat, Eden thought, stunned.

“Go to the center of the circle.”

“…Understood.”

Eden stepped into the heart of the candle spiral—the core of the ritual.

“You ready, Tenzak?”

“Yes. We’d better not fail.”

“And if you do fail…?” Eden asked, nervous.

“Nothing too bad. Maybe… you’ll just die.”

“WHAT?! You damn pink-haired—why didn’t you say that before?!”

“Now!” Shun ordered.

Both men channeled their energy. The flames rose, twisting, forming an incandescent wall that surrounded Eden completely.

“What the hell is this?! I can’t… breathe!” he cried, his body trembling.

His legs gave out. He fell to the ground. Oxygen became scarce.

I… can’t… breathe…

His vision dimmed. Everything went black.

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the chamber.
Before him stretched an endless hallway of black columns, beneath a sky of blue flames—cold and otherworldly.

“Where… am I? How did I get here?”

He took one step. Then another. The floor creaked beneath him.

Is this… going to help me awaken my Zenka energy? But… how? That idiot Shun didn’t explain anything…

In the distance, something glimmered. A figure stood at the far end of the hallway, unmoving.

Eden narrowed his eyes.
“What… is that?”

His steps slowed. His heartbeat quickened.

“Whoever that is… they look strong,” he muttered.

His footsteps echoed hollow in the darkness.
The walls of the hallway seemed to stretch with every step, as if the place itself refused to have an end.

I honestly have no idea what I’m supposed to do here. I’ve been walking forever and this damn hallway just won’t end…

Something flickered in the distance—an odd light, like an invitation.

“What’s that?” he murmured, quickening his pace.

The structure shifted abruptly. Ahead was a solemn, circular chamber bathed in soft light. At its center, a stone table held six floating spheres, each vibrating with a distinct aura.

“Fire… Air… Earth… Water… Darkness… Light…” he recited, frowning. “What does this mean?”

A deep, omnipresent voice echoed into his thoughts.

“Those are known as the types of Zenka energy.”

“Who’s talking?” he demanded, looking around. “Where are you?”

“I wouldn’t know how to tell you. I am here… yet I am not. I am someone… and yet no one. I exist… and do not.”

Eden frowned.
“You one of those weird philosophers?”

The voice laughed, filling the air like an invisible wind.

“No, no. I’m much more than that. I don’t have a real name… everyone calls me something different. God, the creator of the world, the Big Bang… the beginning of everything.”

“So… you’re the creator of everything?”

“Well… something like that.”

“Then tell me—what am I doing here?”

“That’s what I should ask you. What are you seeking in this place?”

Eden lowered his gaze.
“I’m not exactly sure. I just know I want to become stronger. Shun told me this ritual was the way.”

“Shun?”

“Yeah. Pink-haired guy, cocky, not good-looking, and pretty weak.”

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t recall anyone like that.”

“Some creator god you are.”

“You’re right,” the voice replied with amusement. “Very well, let’s begin. But first, I must ask you… why do you want this power?”

Eden didn’t hesitate.
“I want revenge… and to get my grandfather back.”

“That’s your answer?”

“Yes. I won’t lie about it.”

A loud, but not mocking, laugh echoed through the chamber.

“I like you, kid. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard something so stupidly honest.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

“The last time I saw someone like you… he was a white-haired boy.”

Eden looked up.
“Aren’t gods supposed to eliminate evil?”

“Yes… but I know you’ll use this power for good. After all, I am your creator.”

Suddenly, the chamber shook violently. The spheres began to spin around him, tracing circles of pure energy.

“What the hell’s going on?!”

In the Tartarus, the tremor shook the walls.

Shun watched the scene with a satisfied smile.
“Incredible… the energy he’s giving off is colossal.”

Tenzak stood silently beside him.
It’s overwhelming… unlike anything I’ve ever felt before…

But awe turned to chaos. An invisible slash cut through the air.
Shun’s right hand fell to the ground with a dull thud.

“What…?!”

Shun looked at the open wound without losing composure.
“Well, well… do you have any idea how much trouble it is to reattach a hand? What a pain…”

A figure descended slowly—wings of light, armor radiant. It was Gabriel.

“My intention is to make sure you don’t have to reattach anything,” he said sternly.

“As serious as always, Gabriel.”

“And you… as insufferable as ever.”

“What’s an archangel of your caliber doing in the underworld?”

“Don’t play dumb. You know exactly why I’m here.”

“I’m not letting you take him.”

“I’m just following orders.”

“As always… obeying those old men in togas.”

Gabriel drew his sword, pointing it at his former ally.

“Shut your mouth. I don’t care how strong you are… I’m stronger.”

“…Really?” Shun muttered with a half-smile.

“Shut up!” Gabriel’s roar made the ground tremble.

“If you’re going to waste my time, just leave.”

“I can’t. I have a mission.”

“I hate guys like you… always doing what someone else decided was ‘right.’ Even when those rules were written by twelve idiots who only protect their own hides.”

Gabriel sighed.
“I’ll talk to them. I’ll tell them there’s no threat for now. But if you want to protect the boy, don’t screw it up.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“…I really do hate you.”

“I hate you too, my friend. But trust me—
that boy is going to change a lot of things.”

Back inside the ritual chamber.
The Darkness and Fire spheres flickered intensely. The others barely glowed.

The voice laughed again, deep and reverent.
“I was definitely not mistaken. It will be interesting to watch you grow, Eden Yomi.”

“What do you mean by that?! Explain yourself!”

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

The world compressed—
a flash swallowed everything.

Eden awoke at the center of the circle.
The candles were toppling one after another.
The ground was cracked.

“You alright?” Tenzak asked, quickly approaching.

“Yeah… I just feel… strange.”

He looked at his hand.
A current of energy pulsed through his skin—vibrant, alive.

What… is all this?

“Looks like you’ve completed the ritual,” Shun said with a crooked smile.

“What happened to your hand…?”

“Oh, nothing… I was just playing around with a katana and… well, you know.”

“Seriously? You’re even dumber than I thought.”

Tenzak looked away, suppressing a laugh.
Honestly… I think the real idiot is someone else.

“Tell me—what did you see in there?”

Eden recounted everything in detail. When he mentioned the spheres, Shun’s brow furrowed.

“The Darkness sphere was flickering…?”

“Yeah. Is that a problem?”

“A big one. It’s actually very serious.”

“Why?”

“Darkness energy is the most hated by the gods. All because of a war… thousands of years ago.”

“A war…?”

“I’ll explain it to you someday. For now—don’t use it. We’ll focus on your Fire energy.”

“…Understood.”

“Try using it now.”

“Huh? Just like that? I don’t even know how!”

“Just aim at me—like you’re trying to kill me.”

“Shun, are you insane?!” Tenzak cut in.

“Let it flow,” Shun insisted. “Channel the energy through your whole body… then release it through your palm.”

The entire chamber began to tremble. The air grew heavy around Eden.

Seriously? I barely gave him instructions and he’s already controlling it…

“Dark Flame Burst!” Eden shouted—
and the technique exploded forward without warning.

The blast hurled Shun through the air, smashing him into the far wall. Eden collapsed, exhausted.

Tenzak stared in disbelief.
If this is what he can do in a single day… what will he be capable of in a year?

Shun rose from the rubble, clothes in tatters, laughing to himself.

“Not bad… but even so, this year’s candidates won’t be easy. Many… are already stronger than him.”

“You’re serious?” Tenzak asked, almost in disbelief.

Shun nodded.
“This… is only the beginning.”