The echoes of Suntaro's lightning strike still lingered in the air, but the battlefield was silent. The golden inscriptions that had once pulsed with power now dimmed, signaling the end of the trial.
Suntaro Akammi stood at the center, his sword sheathed, his posture relaxed—but the weight of his presence had changed.
For the first time, his companions weren't sure if they were looking at the same goofy, carefree friend they had known all this time.
Even Dangoichi Haruka, the Emperor of Mount Akatsuki, stood watching with a calculating gaze.
This wasn't just skill.
This wasn't just talent.
This was genius.
---
The Aftermath of Power
Kibito was the first to break the silence.
"NO. Nope. I refuse to accept this."
He pointed dramatically at Suntaro, his face filled with exaggerated disbelief.
"You've been holding out on us this WHOLE TIME?! Since WHEN were you THAT strong?!"
Suntaro grinned, tilting his head. "Since forever?"
Kibito's eye twitched. "DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD I STRUGGLED?! I NEARLY BROKE MY BACK FIGHTING MY MYOU, AND YOU JUST—JUST—!"
He waved his hands in the air, too frustrated to even form words.
Majinto crossed his arms, shaking his head. "I'll admit, that was impressive. But damn, man. You could've at least let it put up a fight."
Blade, still watching Suntaro carefully, finally spoke.
"You never told us you were already trained in Myou."
Suntaro's playful expression faltered for just a second.
Kagami noticed.
For a brief moment, there was something else in his eyes. Something deep.
Something buried.
Then, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
Suntaro grinned again, rubbing the back of his head. "Ehhh, I just figured it out early. No big deal."
Dangoichi chuckled. "No big deal? Boy, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were mocking me."
He stepped forward, resting his staff on his shoulder. "Suntaro Akammi, tell me something."
Suntaro raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Dangoichi's eyes gleamed.
"Who taught you about Myou?"
For the first time since the trial began—Suntaro's smile vanished.
The question hit something deep.
And just like that—his past rushed back.
---
A Memory of Thunder and Blood
Suntaro was six years old when he first saw death.
The Akammi Clan was one of the most feared and respected lineages, known for producing warriors with either unmatched speed or immense raw strength—and all of them possessed a natural connection to their elemental aura.
His father, Kenma Akammi, was a legend among them.
A warrior whose lightning could split the heavens.
A man who carried the blade Raitaro, the same sword now resting at Suntaro's hip.
And he was a man who had died fighting alone.
Suntaro could still hear his father's voice—
"One day, you'll be stronger than me, my son."
"One day, you'll awaken your Myou."
"But when that day comes… promise me, you won't make the same mistake I did."
That was the last lesson he ever received.
That night, under a storm-filled sky, a secret faction had come for them.
They were neither samurai nor shinobi.
They were something else.
Masked figures—moving like shadows, striking with terrifying precision.
A massacre.
A bloodbath that wiped out nearly all of the Akammi Clan in a single night.
Suntaro had been hidden beneath the ruins of his home, forced to watch.
Watch as his father fought against an army alone.
Watch as his lightning split the night, but still wasn't enough.
Watch as his own bloodline crumbled.
When the storm ended, the only things left were the bodies of his people and the crackling remnants of his father's final attack.
And that night—Suntaro learned the truth.
His Myou had already awakened.
He had felt it in his blood, in his bones, ever since he was a child. Unlike others, who discovered their Myou through training and battles, Suntaro had been born with it already active.
He just didn't tell anyone.
Not even Kibito.
Because in that moment, he had made a decision.
He would never let anyone take anything from him again.
And he would do it in his own way.
Not as a warrior driven by vengeance.
Not as a soldier weighed down by his past.
But as Suntaro Akammi.
The strongest.
The fastest.
The one who would never, ever lose.
---
Back to Reality – A New Path Forward
Suntaro blinked, returning to the present.
Dangoichi was still waiting for an answer.
He shrugged. "I taught myself."
Dangoichi studied him, searching his expression for any deception.
He found none.
The Emperor sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're a pain, kid. But you're the real deal."
He turned back to the others. "Alright, enough standing around. We move on to the next phase."
Kibito groaned. "Wait—already?! Give us a break, old man!"
Dangoichi smirked. "No breaks. You wanna master Myou? Then you train until your souls beg for mercy."
Blade exhaled sharply, his determination reigniting. "Then let's begin."
Suntaro stretched his arms. "Man, I was hoping for a nap, but fine. Let's do this."
Majinto cracked his knuckles. "Good. I was getting bored."
Kagami closed her eyes, centering herself. "We won't fall behind."
Dangoichi smirked. "Then come, warriors of Mount Akatsuki. Show me if you're worthy."
The mountain winds howled, carrying the weight of their resolve into the heavens.
And so, the true training began.
---
Meanwhile, in the Shadows…
Far away, atop another peak, three figure stood watching.
Their cloak billowed in the wind, and their masked face remained unreadable.
The air around them crackled with power—the same power as the Myou wielders of Mount Akatsuki.
The figure's lips curled into a small smile.
"They're growing fast," they murmured. "But will it be fast enough?"
With a single step, they vanished.
TO BE CONTINUED…