Chapter 8
Genma lifted his head up. The beast that came from the woods stepped back. The other whose limb was severed was crawling to the woods.
"What's the matter, didn't you want to kill me? Or are you actually so foolish to think I will let you live? Genma tilted his head, his body still bathed red.
He vanished into the air. As he was in the air, he leapt below coming down with his blue to orange flame glowing in his hand.
Genma threw his flames down. A tornado of blue orange flames fed through the body of the crawling Genju.
It screamed in pain. The cyclone of flames kept on feasting the mindless beast's flesh.
The attack glowed on the other genju. It looked left, right then up, only to see Genma firing a blue flame kick — BAAM!!
The Genju flew into the ground, rotating then hitting another tree.
It got up grinning and roaring at Genma.
Genma looked at it, his head down.
"Oh so the flame tattoo I gave you on your face did not break you?"
Then it was painted on the beast's left face, a blue orange flame scar.
"That tattoo is my pneuma and the concept of pneuma, is …"
Genma forwarded his hand at the beast.
"It can be controlled anywhere as long as it's mine."
The flame scar ignited into flames on the whole genju. It growled, wailing in pain, the flames roasting its thick skin.
Genma had controlled his pneuma to explode into flames on the beast's whole body.
Genma dropped his hand.
"I am done but,..."
Flashback: Three genju slashed his left leg and right hand. He held one's hand and shared volts of lightning with it, burning the Genju
The other also grazed his chest but he held its limb and pulled it toward him, setting its head on fire then causing it to riot and later crash down to the ground.
Another scraped his left hand, then he withdrew to a tree thinking,
"I have to concentrate on breaking through their skin. Burning them could mean getting too close to get a right hit which is risky. I need to concentrate on shaping pneuma. Lightning, I will concentrate more pneuma to the outside to make it regular and sharp with destruction"
A genju found him and launched its claws at him but he fell back from the tree and stood back. The Genju jumped straight at him.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Genma developed a lightning spear and fired it through the genju's brain, frying the flesh and smoking. The blood splashed on his face. Genma stepped aside for the beast to drum the ground.
Another rushed to him from behind. He backflipped over it and widened his hands, spawning two lightning blades then lunged it through the genju's back, raising it up, then down,splitting the beast into half. Blood sprung on him magnificently.
Flashback ends.
"I had to suffer for the victory. I almost died, and Zenith just watched me…"
"Even in blood he still looked at me taking cuts… I don't know if he wants me dead, but …I still don't get why he was just levitating there, doing nothing."
Zenith's chilling proud smile never wavered. In his mind, he had another child in addition to Genya.
"Hiroshi Genma, Hiroshi, you learned the best way, the hard way, how to act and react in the face of death, the best training, you…"
Zenith lowered himself down in front of Genma.
Genma still looked down. Zenith's hands were pocketed. Then he removed his right hand from his pocket.
Then sent Genma's head right to his chest.
Genma was struck by surprise, opening his mouth a bit.
"Uhh?"
"You passed Hiroshi…You passed. What you did is beyond extraordinary, you killed more than ten nyx genju on your first day of being in the Soul Realm…" Zenith's voice became calmer.
"I am sure you would be wondering why I didn't help you. If I had helped you, you would feel a little relaxed but…"
"Letting you do it yourself forced your brain to think critically while being agile in combat… scars are normal in battle, they serve as proof we survive, and you Hiroshi, have survived."
"I am very proud of you son, you are now an official student of Zenith."
Genma's guarded heart softened and succumbed to the feeling of care and love. Tears escaped his eyes silently as he remembered the same care his mother gave him.
He saw Masami.
He saw Miyuri.
He saw his mom.
Now he sees Zenith, another person who loved him in all his life.
He told Zenith.
"Zenith sensei, my blood, it will soil your clothes, I mean…"
"Don't think about that Hiroshi, you're now a student of mine, a son that I will teach, what is blood?"
Zenith sent his hand back into his pockets and moved back a little.
"Let's get back to the academy, Hiroshi."
Zenith opened Boundless, another vertical parallelogram to the sparring grounds they once came from.
Zenith entered first, then Hiroshi.
They stood on the sandy colosseum sparring ground.
"No one's here. What's happening?"
Zenith informed Hiroshi.
"It's recess, students and teachers are having their lunch. Hiroshi, you need a bath and some new flashy clothes."
Zenith sent forth his hand forward and summoned Boundless to the academy's ultra modern bathroom.
Zenith and Hiroshi got in. The blue neon lights on the walls, roof and ground were beautiful and the bathroom had a button to make the curtain opaque. The showers had a cold and hot button. It was luxurious.
Hiroshi was mystified by the bathroom, it was actually his first time. He didn't know what to do. He just held the curtain with his mouth open.
"Well, what are you waiting for, get in. Oh don't be scared. This is a bath tub. Press the blue glowy button for a cold shower and the red for hot and yeah get your clothes off including the blindfold and give it to me once you enter."
Hiroshi nodded and got in. Zenith drew the curtain to the wall and left some space for Hiroshi to use to give him his clothes.
Hiroshi pulled his hoodie, pants, boxer and dark inner dress in a folded form, with his sneaker on them.
Zenith took them. Hiroshi asked.
"Eerm Zenith sensei, what are you gonna do with the clothes?"
"Just take your bath, I WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM."
Hiroshi turned on the red one
Green pneuma flared and burnt the dresses from Zenith's hands.
"Well since I fought and I have scars, a hot shower would be best."
The hot shower warmed Hiroshi's skin and irritated the cuts but he endured and got happy as he gave a grin. Steam rose and enveloped the bath tub.
Zenith summoned Boundless and entered it. This time he was at a beautiful ultra modern mall with enhanced lights and hovering carts. People were seen shopping.
It was Paradise, the future world of the physical world.
He walked to the clothing section and took a classic light white zipped hoodie with four front pockets. Then a white attractive pocket knicker, white socks and finally, new sweet white sneakers for Hiroshi.
Lastly, a white blindfold for him. He went to the dark haired female cashier but the items were awkwardly on his shoulder.
"OH, ZENITH SENSEI, THAT WOULD BE TWENTY BLINGS!"
"Sure."
Zenith opened another Boundless space to his own closet and removed a bag of gems called blings and placed it on the cashier's table.
Zenith opened another Boundless space.
"Your change will beee …"
Zenith entered the space.
"ZENITH SENSEI? ZENITH SENSEI?"
Zenith had returned to the bathroom.
Hiroshi had finished and he was about to get out then Zenith prompted him.
"Oh Hiroshi check the wall, draw the handle. There are boxers you can wear. When you are done, your dress is here…" Zenith stretched the clothes to the space.
Hiroshi slid the handle and saw them. He wore one. He sent his arm out. Zenith placed the hoodie and knicker on his hand.
Hiroshi brought them and put them on. He got out with his eyes closed and his hair sparkling with some droplets of water.
It seemed even with Hiroshi's eyes closed, he could still see through.
"Take these socks and sneakers."
"Thanks but if you don't mind, where are my old ones?"
Zenith gave a wide smirk.
"I took care of them."
Hiroshi tried the socks and shoes on.
"Here's a blindfold, for Gemini."
Hiroshi took them and wore them on his eyes.
He looked more cool and gorgeous.
"LOOKING COOL, HIROSHI. NOW…"
A sweet voice played
"Zenith…"
Zenith looked back.