Chapter 53: Find Your Hidden Potential!

(Days has passed in which Sawano, Shibuto, Hinami, Kazuya, the entire elemental division and multiple Gods and Goddesses was called into Saikan Academy's campus where they all met inside their elemental division office and Chimon walked in with a vulgar look of despair on his face after the recent news.)

"Chimon: Everyone. We're here with both urgent and upsetting news. Konnor..?"
(Konnor walked up as he cleared his throat.)
"Konnor: Angel of the Elemental High Commission... is no longer with us."
(They all was shocked at the news which Sawano clenched his fist and started to combust flames out of it which Hinami held his hand to calm him down.)
"Sawano: Angel... No....!"

"Chimon: Due to these events.. one of our Elemental High Commission members Ash, actually stepped down a while ago before the meeting. He has placed himself on hiatus until further notice. With an addition to that, we've been given an updated list to the global rankings of strongest fighters across the world. Sawano, you're hereby back on the number one spot."

(Everyone was shocked again but most was very confused.)
"Kazuya: Wait! Wasn't Gaito number one?"
"Chimon: Due to personal reasons, Gaito left the elemental division. I cannot speak upon his behalf on why he left."
"Kazuya: Gaito... left...?"
"Chimon: On behalf of Angel's death, she left this recorded message for us if she ever fell on the line of duty."
(As the message was starting to play, everyone listened in.)

"Angel(Message): Greetings all who's hearing this. If you're listening to this recorded message, I have passed away and I am gracefully sorry my death has burdened you. It was a decision I've made to put my life on the line and this time, I have not came out alive. Although, knowing I was the Elemental High Commission leader, it is time for a new leader to take the seat. I hereby nominate Sawano Magachi as the new chief of the Elemental High Commission!"
(Sawano coughed on his water as he was surprised at the announcement.)

"Sawano: W-WHA?!? ME?!"
"Hinami: Congrats father!"
"Crystalline: Well you do have the attitude of a true leader."
"Sawano: But why me out of all people..?!"
"Chimon: Angel has trusted you ever since the day you was arrested as a child Sawano. She fought for you through thick and thin, even when you neglected her and us she still helped you from afar after all you've done throughout the years."
(He then paused in motion and remembered when she wanted to help him.)

-During Sawano's Captivity-

"Angel: I know you're hurting Sawano! She's not dead, she's still alive out there somewhere, I know it and I want to help you!"

-Present-

(Sawano then smiled and stood up.)
"Sawano: I understand now.. If she chooses me for the new leader of the High Commission. Very well, I happily accept!"
(Everyone whistled and clapped for Sawano as he nodded at the holographic Angel. After the meeting, Kazuya and Shibuto began to freak out.)
"Kazuya: Gaito..? Left...?"
"Shibuto: He obviously didn't tell us... h-he could've been... too busy!"
"Kazuya: Idiot... THINK ABOUT IT! If he was busy, WHY WOULD HE BE WALKING AROUND EARTH AND OLYMPUS ON A DAILY BASIS?"
"Shibuto: Calm down! I'm just as worried as you are."
"Hinami: Well... We need to ask around! Lets go to Olympus!"

(They both agreed and the three of them quickly teleported to Olympus, as usual crowded by Gods and Goddesses but they then asked around for questions regarding Gaito. Meanwhile in downtown of Hakodate, civilians started to walk faster away from an blue-eyed individual who was carrying a sheathed katana around.)

"Civilian: Holy crap, its Freeze! He was part of the Order Of Encursed Elements!"
"Civilian #2: Isn't that organization gone?!"
"Civilian #3: Yeah..! But there are some of the villains who've managed to remain unscathed from the whole battle years ago!"
"Freeze(Thinking): After so many years, I still expected this. These people still don't understand my new lifestyle."
(A while later after walking down the road, Freeze then stopped and heard a quiet voice in the shadows in which he did not bother to turn to it but stood to talk.)
"(Aloud): Alright. Who's there?"
(A cloaked individual appeared in the shadows with its face covered.)

"???: Just a friend. I've been searching for you... Horimi Kyonji!"
"Freeze: .....How do you know my true name? Answer that before this conversation continues."
"???: All I can say is, I know some friends with... government access. I can get you into anything you want, if you join us that is..."
"Freeze: Tell me. If I did join, will you tell me anything related to gods?"
"???" It'll depend on the boss's decision!"
"Freeze: I'll need time to think."
"???: Very well, if you've made a decision, come back here. The government awaits..!"
(The individual then disappeared out of thin air in which Freeze then continued to walk.)

"Freeze(Thinking): He knew my real name.. because he has connections to the government..? If that's how things are looking, I want to fight my cousin once again. We'll truly finish our fight... One will live and one will die, ice or water."
(As Kazuya, Shibuto and Hinami's quest for answers halted, they walked up to the temple in which they'd open the doors and saw Gaito's throne.)
"Kazuya: OI! GAITO!"
(Choryrth then turned around and surprised the three of them and Choryrth as well.)
"Choryrth: Kazuya? Oh... you three are here about Gaito, right?"
"Shibuto: Yes, what happened to him?"
(He sighed and kneeled to them after walking down the massive flight of stairs.)

"Choryrth: He told me to tell you if you guys found out... Gaito had to relinquish the throne down to me in order to crown me as the Lightning King once again."
(The three of them had their faces locked with speechless faces.)
"Kazuya: Where. Did. He. Go."
"Choryrth: I wish I knew. But he asked me to not track him in any way. I'm sorry..."
"Kazuya: Its... fine..."
(Kazuya's face was then clouded by rage building inside him in which Hinami held his hand.)
"Hinami: It's going to be okay... Kazuya, look at me please..."

(Kazuya then squeezed Hinami's hand tightly which shocked her with lightning as she yelped in pain but backed up with fear and worry for Kazuya. She looked at his face and saw tears flowing with distraught and fury.)

"Kazuya: Its.... FINE...!"
(He then rushed out the temple and launched himself back to Earth after going towards the portal, Shibuto and Hinami quickly followed him. Kazuya then flew into the skies and screamed Gaito's name all over Hakodate, desperately looking for him.)
"GAITOOOO!!!!!!! GAITOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"
(He then flew to the forest and mountains in which he yelled with a big inhale.)
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(The yell echoed throughout the mountains which Kazuya's arms then fell flat to his side and the tears just continued to travel down his cheeks.)
"Why...?"

(Shibuto and Hinami stayed back as they looked and felt his guilt. A week has passed since Kazuya's search for Gaito and Hinami was training with Apollo as Shibuto and Sumizaki decided to train together but Kazuya hasn't been seen or heard from since giving up on finding Gaito.)

"Apollo: Try again, Hinami! If you wish to be a Goddess of The Sun, you must channel your conscious to a certain level and sync your spirit to THE sun."
"Hinami: Okay!"
(She then sat down with her legs crossed and mentally focused her conscious on the sun in which she sees the sun in her mind and started glowing yellow fiery aura around her body. Apollo stood there to wait and see the potential rise out of her body physically.)

"Apollo: Very good..."
(The sun's aura began to blink on and off which Hinami was losing concentration to the sun's heat getting even hotter in her head. The aura disappeared as she gasped then coughed, Apollo patted her back and gave her some water.)
"Hinami: I almost had it... but the sun is just... too blinding and hot.."
"Apollo: That is understandable, but do not worry. You'll get the hang of it soon!"
"Hinami: I hope so.."
"Apollo: We'll take a break for now, regain your strength."
"Hinami: I'm curious.. what's this suppose to do?"
"Apollo: Connecting your conscience with the sun will sync you with your potential which will wrap itself around your body, revealing how much strength there is hidden and shown now."
"Hinami: I think I understand it now..!"

(She sat back down and crossed her legs again and entered a deeper meditation, she was then picturing the sun once again. Apollo stood there and watched her concentrate but then saw sweat building up on Hinami's face and the sun's aura began to wrap around her again but kept itself stable.)
"Apollo: She's doing it..! She might just unlock it..!"

(More sweat began to build on Hinami as she was closer than before to the sun in her mind. A few moments later, the aura began to shine brightly in which Apollo stood there which then after the bright shine went away, the sun's aura was completely surrounding Hinami in which she opened her eyes and looked for herself.)

"Apollo: You've done it."
"Hinami: Whoa.. So this is the sun's aura...?"
"Apollo: That's right, it took us two months for you but you're a quick learner!"
"Hinami: I'm glad I finally pulled it off! I wonder how Kazuya's doing.."
"Apollo: Kazuya? Oh, Gaito's child?"
"Hinami: Yeah.. I'm not sure what happened to Gaito but Kazuya's been looking for him ever since. I wonder what he's doing now.."
(Kazuya was kicked down which he rolled to the ground and coughed out spit which he looked up at Lotus whom was training him.)

"Lotus: Try again!"
"Kazuya: Damn it...!!!"
(Kazuya continued trying to land a strike on Lotus but was becoming sloppy with his attacks in which Lotus landed a powerful uppercut which then sent Kazuya into the air and he fell on his back, bleeding from the mouth but breathing still.)
"Lotus: .....This training is concluded. You're not strong enough to resist attacks like mines."
"Kazuya: W-Wait... p-pl-please..."
(Lotus turned around with disappointment but stopped as Kazuya got up.)
"Lotus: Amber, would you kindly bring a towel for Kazuya?"
(Kazuya stood up and saw Amber Hunt walking out of Lotus's dojo with a towel and gave it to him but Kazuya was surprised at what he was seeing.)

"Kazuya: Wait.... Why is.. SHE.. here..?"
"Lotus: Amber has decided to quit hunting you for assassination in agreement, I teach her my combat ways."
"Kazuya: But... isn't she-"
"Amber: Don't get the wrong Idea, asshole. I'm only doing this so I can get stronger then I'm going to come back and hunt you down once again!"
"Lotus: Of course.. you're welcome to try. I will put you down on the spot if you do try to assassinate Kazuya again."
"Amber: Tch..."
(She got up and went back inside, Kazuya cleaning the blood off himself from Lotus's uppercut.)
"Lotus: Clean yourself up. I won't go easy, no matter how many attacks I throw at you."
"Kazuya: I can... handle it.."
"Lotus: Kazuya. If you're that desperate to find Gaito, you've made a grave mistake coming to me for combat sparring."
"Kazuya: Why... is that..?"
"Lotus: Because. You're not mentally prepared for the consequences of the future. Gaito stepped down as King Of Gods, that is true. But he did it out of his own will to save himself from his own consequences in the future. Gaito wants us to get stronger without him so we can prepare ourselves for the upcoming fights in store for us."
(He smiled as he looked into the sky.)

"That sneaky bastard always has his way. That's why I respect the lad."
"Kazuya: I don't get it Lotus... what made you and Gaito one of the most dangerous assassin duos in Japan?"
"Lotus: Ah, it's been a long time since I was asked that question. Why not come inside for tea Kazuya? I will tell you the story as we take a break."
"Kazuya: Oh- Okay.."
(They both went inside the dojo and drank some tea which was prepared thanks to Amber as she was training in the other room.)
"So how did it happen? I want to know how it began when you first joined the assassin's guild!"

"Lotus: I see... Very well, listen carefully now. It all started when I was five years old, my father met a man named Aimiya..."