Chapter 76: The 6 Warriors [Season 6]

Sometimes the true weight of a decision is not felt at the moment it’s made, but when the calm arrives… and with it, the echo of what we left behind. It is not the roar of battle that defines a warrior, but the silence that follows. That instant when one stands before the mirror—stripped of masks, without the warmth of crowds or the judgment of gods—and asks: “Have I been true to myself?”

In a world where rules are dictated by forces that play with life like chess pieces, there are those who dare to raise their voices, to defy fate, not because they believe themselves heroes… but because they cannot bear the void of never having tried.

Today, six wills rise. Six different paths, united by an uncertain cause. There are no guarantees, no clear prophecies—only the certainty that what is coming will be bigger than all of them combined. And still, they move forward.

Because perhaps, deep down, a warrior’s greatness is not measured by his strength… but by the question that guides him. And by the price he is willing to pay for the answer.

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

A heavy breeze moved through the hall where GODS’ high command had gathered once more. The walls, carved with ancient symbols, seemed to hold in the tension that flickered between every look. Zeus stood in the center, presiding over the meeting with the solemnity of one who has watched too many wars be born from mere conversation.

“First of all, I want to thank you for your hard work,” Zeus said, his voice grave but calm. “I know the last days have been chaotic, but you have done more than expected, even with what happened with Blackbeard.”

A hush fell. Each person seemed to consider their words carefully. Then Alexbold stepped forward.

“I must admit…” he began, in the steady tone of someone who feels no need to dress up the truth. “Three of the slots were practically decided from day one. Yohei Aktína, Zef Mizushima, and Shu Sagesse not only dominated every trial, they did so with a level of talent rarely seen. Especially Yohei… honestly, I can’t imagine how far he could go on his own.”

Aphrodite, leaning against one of the columns, averted her gaze. She didn’t need to speak to agree—her mind completed the picture.

“No surprises there. Those three deserve their places without question. But… who will fill the other three?”

Alexbold, still frowning, raised his voice again.

“Before we continue… may I ask something?”

Zeus nodded without taking his eyes off him.

“Did you send him?”

“Send whom?” Zeus replied, a trace of alertness in his voice.

“Zou. The king’s right hand.”

Silence fell instantly, as if the air itself had frozen.

Aphrodite turned quickly toward Zeus, as startled as he was.

“That can’t be…” muttered the god of thunder under his breath. “What was that man doing there?”

“No one knows. The truth is that while I was away, that man oversaw the training. And though it pains me to say it…” Alexbold gave a nervous smile, “it’s frightening what someone can accomplish in so little time.”

The scene shifted. In everyone’s memory, an image of Yohei standing atop a mountain was projected. One strike from him, and the entire summit was swept away by a shockwave so powerful the very sky seemed to tremble.

“This feels great…” Yohei murmured in that memory as tiny blue bolts began to dance around his body.

Aphrodite watched, restraining her astonishment. “It wasn’t an order. He acted of his own will. But… why?”

The answer arrived without warning.

“I was just looking to have a little fun,” said a rough, relaxed voice.

There, seated beside Zeus as if he had been in the room for hours, sat Zou. No one had noticed him. Not even Iseli, who now regarded him with a mix of respect and confusion.

“When did he get here?”

“Zeus, I must say this,” Zou said with a crooked smile. “You have a son with impressive potential.”

Zeus straightened, unable to hide his annoyance.

“What are you doing here?”

“Carrying out a mission from the king. Although, I must admit, I ran into some… interesting warriors.”

“What did you do to Yohei?” Alexbold demanded.

Zou let out a dry chuckle.

“Since when do you worry about one of your children? Are you ill?”

“Watch your words,” Zeus snarled, electricity crackling in his eyes.

“I did nothing to them,” Zou replied, shrugging. “I only pushed them to their limits. The rest depends on them.”

“And why did you do it?” Alexbold pressed, still cautious.

Zou fixed his gaze on all of them.

“Because it would be boring to watch them fall too easily. I want to see how far they can go… if they survive.”

Then he stood. His steps were slow, but each left a chill in the air. No one dared stop him.

“See you in the second round,” he said without looking back.

They watched him walk away—part respect, part fear.

Back in the present, Aphrodite kept her gaze fixed on the door through which Zou had vanished hours earlier. Her expression was unusually serious.
“What are you really after, Zou?”

But there was no more time for questions.

Aphrodite pulled herself from her thoughts and turned back to the task still hanging in the air.
“Without further delay,” she announced, facing the assembled students, “these are the six warriors who will represent GODS in the second round of the tournament.”

The air tensed. Eyes sharpened. Breaths were held.

“First, Yohei Aktína. Dominant in every training session—his Zenka energy and physical power place him far above the rest.”
Yohei stepped forward, unshaken.

“Second, Zef Mizushima. Master of both close and long-range combat, with near-perfect energy control.”
Zef grinned, bumping fists with Yohei and Lowa.

“Third, Shu Sagesse. An exceptional strategist, capable of reading the battlefield as if it were an open book.”
Shu raised his fist proudly, glancing toward Edén and Yuki, who smiled back at him.

“Fourth, Lowa Match. Our warrior with the greatest physical strength, and an expert in short-range weaponry.”
“Yes!” Lowa shouted, raising both fists into the air.

“Fifth, Edén Yomi. The student who has shown the greatest growth over these past months. His mastery of Zenka energy has even surprised the instructors.”
“Thank you,” Edén replied with a broad smile, struggling to contain his excitement.

Aphrodite looked at him with genuine respect.
“And sixth and final—Eris Onenighed. Her control over Zenka and cursed energy has surpassed every expectation.”

Everyone turned to look at her. Edén and Shu smiled upon seeing her, but the shock on Yuki’s face was undeniable.
“It can’t be…” Edén whispered.
“How…?” murmured Yuki.

Aphrodite continued in a steady tone.
“Your reports left us speechless, Eris. You’ve far exceeded what you showed in your entrance exam. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, professor,” Eris replied, bowing slightly.

But as the room filled with applause and celebration, one figure remained seated—silent, distant from the rest.
Yuki said nothing. She simply watched in silence… as something within her began to crack.

The afternoon wind gently stroked the leaves as they fell in spirals, as if the world were slowing down to make room for silence. On a bench in the most secluded corner of the training yard, Yuki sat motionless. Her face showed no sadness… but neither relief.

“Yuki, do you—?” Shu began in a cautious voice.

“No,” she interrupted without looking at him. “Leave me alone for a moment.”

Shu nodded silently and retreated with Edén behind him. They left the scene in shadow. Only Aphrodite remained standing a few meters away, her arms crossed.

“Are you wondering why you weren’t chosen?” the goddess asked coldly.

Yuki only turned her head slightly.

“Yes…”

“Because you’re weak.”

The words hit like a stone in water, sending invisible ripples that shook Yuki’s expression.

“You don’t hold back at all, do you?”

“Why would I?” Aphrodite replied with absolute calm. “I tell the truth. I don’t deny you’ve worked hard… and whoever trained you these seven years did a formidable job. You came back strong.”

Aphrodite stepped closer, her shadow falling over Yuki.

“But it’s arrogant to think you were the only one who sacrificed. Everyone here has bled, cried, fallen and risen again. Do you think that effort makes you special?”

Yuki clenched her fists. She didn’t answer.

“Have you ever asked yourself why you want to get stronger?” Aphrodite continued. “For fame? For power? For revenge? Or simply… to kill me?”

Yuki opened her eyes in surprise.

“What?”

“I know you want to avenge your father’s death,” Aphrodite said, unruffled. “I knew it the moment you looked at me again.”

“Then why did you act like you didn’t know anything?”

“Because I do not fear you,” the goddess said with a half-smile. “When I saw you again, I felt disappointment. It seemed you’d settled for being just stronger than before. Do you really think with that level you can even touch me?”

“I…” Yuki murmured, feeling small for the first time in a long while.

“If you truly want something, you must train until your body screams that it cannot go on. Whatever your reason, give everything. Don’t stop. Only then will you avoid regret.”

Aphrodite turned to leave, but before she did she let fall one last sentence like a verdict:

“I’ll be waiting, my daughter… until you’re strong enough to kill me.”

Silence embraced the place again. Yuki let out a small, bitter laugh—one full of impotence…and resolve.

“I’ll tear you to pieces next time… old woman.”

Hours later, in a bar near the dormitories, Violet, Shu and Edén sat around a table lit by the dim light of a hanging lamp.

“Here they come,” Violet announced.

“Yeah,” Shu agreed. “Edén, don’t you even think about saying something stupid.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Yuki said as he sat down.

Edén rested his elbow on the table, grinning mockingly. “So… how does it feel to have beaten you this time?”

“Huh?” Violet and Yuki said in unison.

“Ugh… idiot,” Shu muttered.

Edén already had several bruises on his face and a slight swelling around one eye. There was no need to ask what had happened earlier.

“You look better,” Shu commented sarcastically. “What happened?”

“Nothing in particular…” Yuki replied with an ambiguous smile. “Just that I haven't given up yet.”

He leaned forward. “So you better beat Zutarts. If you don’t… I’ll beat them myself.”

“We’ll win,” Shu said firmly. “And we’ll meet them in the semifinals.”

He extended his fist to the center of the table. Violet hesitated for a second, then smiled faintly and joined in.

“I'm not that excited about fighting, but… I’m in,” she said.

Yuki followed suit. “I’ll become stronger. We’ll win the tournament… together.”

They all waited for the final comment.

“I’m not thrilled about teaming up with the ugly one…” Edén grumbled as he added his fist to the group. “But I’m in.”

Laughter and smiles intertwined like a silent promise.

Night fell calmly over Athens. On the rooftop of the main building, Group 1 was also sharing their thoughts.

“It’s a shame we weren’t the four of us,” Lowa said in a resigned tone.

“Yeah…” Zef added. “I still don’t understand how they chose Eris over Sebastian. In strength and energy, he’s far superior.”

“Idiots,” Yohei interrupted coldly. “They only think with their muscles.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The second round is a team battle. It’s not all about strength. You also need strategy, vision, balance. They already know the battlefield. If we make a single mistake, we’re done for.”

“And what does that have to do with Eris?” Zef retorted.

“Everything. She stood out the most on the written exam, alongside Shu. They’re geniuses. If we know how to use them… we can win.”

Lowa smiled, nodding. “I wouldn’t expect less from number one.”

Yohei didn’t answer. He stared at the sky, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

“How strong have you become… demon?” he remembered the moment he’d seen Edén’s aura. Something about that energy felt familiar… and terrifying.

“And that sword… it doesn’t radiate energy, but… why do I feel like it hides something monstrous?”

Yohei’s lips curved into a barely visible smile. “I want to crush him with my own hands.”

Far from there, in a nameless territory, the shadows moved violently. A young swordsman, his movements inhumanly precise, was cutting down every monster that crossed his path. None of them managed to touch him.

“He’s impressive,” one of the men commented from a watchtower. “He doesn’t miss a single strike. If he keeps this up, he’ll soon be the strongest of them all.”

“Not yet,” a hooded figure declared. “Increase his training.”

“Sir? But… he’s only thirteen!” the subordinate protested.

The superior’s gaze turned murderous. “Do I have to repeat myself?”

“N-No, sir.”

The watcher stepped aside, trembling.

“If everything goes according to plan… we’ll win the tournament. No doubt.”

The swordsman, now surrounded by the corpses of the creatures, stared with an empty expression. His eyes reflected no glory… only boredom.

“This is really boring,” he murmured. “No one gives me a fight. They’re all weak.”

“I hope that worthless god keeps his promise… if not, I’ll kill him.”

A dark, overwhelming energy began to emanate from his body. The air around him trembled.

Then, with a crooked smile—as if he already saw everything burning—he murmured, “I hope to have some fun.”

The sunset dyed the clouds gold above the operations base. The atmosphere, though calm, was thick with contained tension. On a stone overlook, Shun watched the horizon with his arms crossed, the breeze fluttering his cloak.

“It seems they didn’t take long to decide who will go to this round,” he remarked without turning.

Alexbold, a few steps behind, nodded. “Something like that. Although… it’s true several very strong students were left out.”

“It’s a team battle, right?”

“Yes.”

Shun barely turned his face, expression calm but firm. “Then I don’t think it’s a bad choice. All the selected ones have something to offer. But…”

“Are you worried about Edén?” Alexbold interrupted with uncanny intuition.

Shun shook his head slowly. “No. I’m worried about what might happen to the others… if he loses control.”

Alexbold was silent for a few seconds, then placed a hand on his companion’s shoulder. “Trust him. He’s changed a lot these weeks.”

“Maybe,” Shun answered, lowering his gaze slightly.

“It seems there’s something else bothering you.”

“I wouldn’t call it worry… quite the opposite,” Shun murmured, with a faint smile.

“And that is?”

“I’m excited.”

Before Alexbold could respond, a familiar voice cut into the conversation. “Black Lights.”

Juana had arrived unannounced, leaning against a column, her face serious.

“Juana,” Shun said with a raised eyebrow. “You’re late.”

“Sorry. That idiot Yosa wouldn’t stop shopping on the way.”

Yosa appeared behind her, loaded with bags up to his neck. “What did you say?! You were the one who wouldn’t stop buying things, four-eyes!”

“Shut up, Koala.”

The air vibrated. Yosa dropped the bags and drew his sword, his energy crackling. “Wanna fight, four-eyes?”

“Bring it on,” Juana replied with a defiant smile. “I hope you don’t get tired quickly, Koala.”

“How much energy young people have these days…” Tiresias commented, finally appearing among them.

Both combatants lowered their energy in an instant and sheathed their weapons.

“Looks like we’re all here,” Shun said.

“Yes,” Alexbold confirmed.

The breeze paused for a moment when Shun spoke the next words: “It seems we’ve found one of Black Lights’ bases.”

They all froze. “What?!” they shouted in unison.

“We don’t have all the details yet,” Shun continued.

“Why don’t we attack immediately?!” Alexbold exclaimed.

“The preparations aren’t ready yet.”

“You? Worried about preparations?” Alexbold replied incredulously.

“It’s a direct order from the king,” Shun declared, his gaze sharp as a spear. “Until he gives the green light, we cannot move.”

“Damn it…” Yosa grunted. “What’s the king waiting for?”

“I don’t know,” Shun confessed. “But we have no other choice.”

Tiresias watched his leader silently and thoughtfully. “It’s strange… that Shun follows orders, even from the king himself. He has his own reasons, that’s for sure.”

“So then…” Juana interjected, “when do we leave?”

“Most likely after the second round,” Shun said bluntly. “But I won’t promise that everyone will return unscathed.”

Yosa fixed him with a serious stare. “Are you underestimating us?”

“What’s wrong, strongest man?” Alexbold added, crossing his arms. “Are you scared?”

“Is that it?” Juana finished. “Are you scared?”

Shun lowered his eyes for a moment… then let out an honest laugh, surprising them all. “Suicidal idiots…”

Yosa narrowed his eyes. “Boss…”

“Shun…” Alexbold murmured.

Miles away, between quiet alleys and lampposts that were just beginning to light up, Shu walked beside Sara along the cobblestone avenues of Grek.

“It seems you’re adapting well to the group,” Shu commented.

“Yes,” Sara replied with a calm expression. “It’s an incredible group. Everyone is really powerful.”

“You’re not far behind either,” Shu added. “That power you showed in Nork was impressive.”

Sara lowered her gaze.
“Though… I wasn’t able to face that Jötun.”

“Neither was I. He was a monster… literally.”

“Yeah…”

They walked in silence for a few steps.

“How are things in the kingdom?” Shu asked. “The last I heard, Nai was preparing to become the new ruler.”

“Yes… After all, he’s the one with the most potential and the greatest support from the people. Almost all the gods fell in battle… only a few survived.”

“It was a disaster,” Shu said, frowning. “I still can’t get what I saw there out of my head.”

“I trust we’ll move forward. Nai is strong… and he’s not alone.”

In a hidden corner of the kingdom, among trees with violet leaves and black soil, Nai swung his sword with precision. His body, now more muscular, was drenched in sweat. He had changed.

“Big brother! You got a letter!” shouted a small girl running toward him.

“A letter?” Nai asked, stopping his training.

“It says it’s from… the cursed girl?”

Nai let out a soft laugh, surprised by the sender.
“Thanks, Mei.”

“You’re welcome!” the little girl replied, grinning from ear to ear.

Knock, knock.

Nai turned. A tall, muscular man with red hair stepped through the doorway.

“Leaving already?”

“Yes. I’m going to take the Special Forces trials,” Slangemorder replied firmly.

“Looks like my father managed to convince you to do something reckless,” Nai joked.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. He was… a great man.”

“I know.”

Slangemorder clenched his fists at the memory of Dan, his mentor. His eyes glimmered with restrained gratitude.

“Besides, I can’t just stand still. There are people I owe a lot to.”

Nai smiled, whistled softly, and from the back of the room emerged Mjolnir, wrapped in a faint glow.

“Take it,” he said, holding it out.

“What are you doing?” Slangemorder asked, confused.

“It’s yours.”

“Why?”

“I’m sure my father would have wanted this. Besides… I’m not yet worthy to wield it.”

“But…”

“Stop doubting yourself. If after passing the trials you still believe that, then bring it back to me.”

Slangemorder closed his eyes, deeply moved.
“I…”

“Good luck, my friend,” Nai wished him.

“Thank you… Nai.”

The red-haired warrior left with firm steps, and Mei waved her hand to say goodbye as the sky slowly darkened.

The ground shook with every clash. In the sky, bursts of energy streaked like lightning. Amid the roar, Yohei stopped the combined strike from Lowa and Sebastian with a single hand. He didn’t even flinch.

“Hey, hey… is this for real?” Lowa gasped.

In one motion, Yohei spun on his axis and delivered a kick straight to Lowa’s stomach, sending her flying. Using the same momentum, he shoved Sebastian toward her. Both slammed into the ground in a cloud of dust.

“How can this be?” Lowa panted, her arms trembling. “We’re both gold rank… how can there be such a difference?!”

“That’s what makes it more exciting, don’t you think?” Sebastian replied with a bloody smile.

“Yeah,” she nodded, igniting her fists with pure rage.

Lowa’s aura concentrated around her hands like a cyclone. Sebastian, beside her, raised both palms, and a searing combination of fire and light burst from his fingers like tiny suns.

“I’ll crush him with my fists!” Lowa shouted.

“And I’m going to roast him like a chicken!” Sebastian cried, laughing.

But the fight didn’t last much longer. In seconds, both lay on the ground, defeated, their auras extinguished.

“I told you so…” Yohei said, still without a single visible wound. “It was a pointless fight.”

“And what are we supposed to do against you?” Sebastian huffed, looking up at the sky. “You’re a damn monster…”

“It’s just a matter of training,” Yohei replied, pivoting on his heel. “You should train more.”

“Let’s hope so…” Lowa murmured.

A bitter thought gnawed at her bones: “If this is the third… how the hell will we face the first or the second? For now, it seems we can only rely on Yohei. Although…”

Her eyes unconsciously rose toward a solitary mountain in the distance.

“…perhaps, not only on him.”

On a remote peak of Grek, Edén panted. A dark circle spun around him like a compressed storm. His hands trembled as he tried to hold the energy in check.

“No… I can’t…” he spat blood. “If I can’t control myself… we’ll lose. I have to stop being a burden to the team…”

The energy vanished in an instant, as if rejecting him. Edén fell to his knees.

“Am I really incapable of more?… Damn it… I’m still so weak…”

“Well, well… looks like you really have gotten stronger,” said a familiar voice behind him.

Edén looked up. Shun stood there, watching him with a half-smile, his pink hair tousled by the wind.

“Pink hair…”

“At least now you can use your powers consciously,” Shun commented, crossing his arms.

“I… I’m still not strong. I can’t face powerful rivals.”

“Want me to gift you a little power?” Shun joked.

“No thanks… you’d probably do weird stuff.”

“Me? Never!” he said with a mischievous grin.

“See?”

“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be back at work after the mission on Death Island.”

“I will be… but I wanted to take a few days off.”

“I see… Any sign of them?”

“Them? You mean Black Lights?”

“Yes.”

“No. Nothing. Those bastards know how to hide.”

“I understand…”

There was a brief silence, then Edén spoke timidly.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are we really… the good guys?”

Shun blinked. “Huh? Are you talking about what happened last time?”

“Yes. If we’re on the right side… why do so many people suffer for those we defend?”

Silence stretched, broken only by the wind.

“I don’t have a correct answer,” Shun finally said. “Is being on this side right? I don’t know. Would being against them be right? No idea. Screw both sides.”

He looked at him intensely.

“Is it wrong to destroy the world if that world hurts the ones you love? Is it wrong to protect what you believe in, even if you’re alone? Is it wrong to defy the rules of twelve old men who no longer understand the world?”

He paused, then lowered his gaze and smiled.

“I don’t know. But I don’t care either. I’ll protect what I cherish… even if it costs me my life.”

Edén let out a small laugh.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you speak seriously, pink hair.”

“Think I look cool?”

“Yes… really cool.”

Shun fell silent. For a moment, even he was surprised by how much he valued those words.

“Thanks, pink hair. I hope to see you again.”

They shook hands.

“Same here, idiot.”

At the ship’s gangway, the students said their goodbyes with hugs, jokes and promises.

“Good luck, guys,” Violet said.

“Thanks,” Edén replied.

“You better not lose. If you do, I’ll kick your asses,” Yuki added, smiling.

“We won’t lose,” Edén answered firmly.

“We’ll wait for you in the third round, at two,” Shu said, extending his fist.

One by one, everyone put theirs in.

“Kick everyone’s asses,” Sebastian shouted. “I trust you.”

“We will,” Lowa affirmed confidently.

“Let’s hope Yohei doesn’t take away our fun,” Zef joked.

“Get stronger. We’ll be waiting for you, Sebastian,” Yohei said seriously.

Off to the side, Eris watched silently. No one noticed her, not even when Aphrodite approached and raised her voice.

“Looks like we’re all here.”

The teacher raised a hand, solemn.

“It’s time to depart for Zutarts. I don’t want regrets. Leave everything on the battlefield. Understood?”

“Yes!” they all shouted in unison.

Aphrodite nodded. The door closed behind them. Grek’s sky rose above, and destiny began to trace its new line.