"Why the hell is this happening now, of all times?" Miyamoto muttered through clenched teeth.
His fist slammed into the stone wall.
BOOM!
The impact shattered a large section of stone, sending fragments crashing to the floor. Dust billowed through the room, briefly obscuring the damaged wall.
Lucy glanced back and sighed. She was already accustomed to her master's temper, but that didn't make his destructive outbursts any less frightening.
Miyamoto appeared beside her using Switch Mode. He raised one hand, and a glowing teleportation circle spread beneath their feet. Intricate lines of Renshi twisted across the ground, forming complex patterns of blue-white light.
A surge of Renshi engulfed them.
In the next instant, the room disappeared.
---
They arrived in the Kingdom of Ashura, a land renowned for its vast training grounds and strict traditions. It was a place where Renshi users were taught to put aside their grudges, control their emotions, and devote themselves entirely to becoming stronger.
Miyamoto had brought Lucy here for one purpose: to help her overcome her hatred and reach her full potential.
But letting go of revenge was easier said than done.
For five years, Lucy trained under Miyamoto's guidance. She learned to control her Renshi and combine it with Force Energy, gradually gaining command over both.
Her overall power increased twentyfold, while her body grew strong enough to withstand the immense Renshi flowing through it. Eventually, her master's seal was removed, allowing her to master some of her Renshi.
Despite all her progress, however, one thing never changed.
Her desire to find Amanda.
Whenever Miyamoto sent her on a mission, Lucy completed it quickly and efficiently. But rather than returning immediately, she often used her remaining time to follow rumours, investigate hidden trails, and question anyone who might know something about the Avengers.
For years, she had searched for even the smallest clue.
And finally, her persistence paid off.
---
Lucy burst into the quiet chamber where Miyamoto sat meditating.
He remained perfectly still, his eyes closed and his breathing steady, seemingly unaware of everything happening around him.
"Hey, Master. Master!"
There was no response.
Lucy stared at him for a moment before scratching her head.
"Wait a minute... Have you seriously been sitting here for five days straight? Without eating or drinking anything?"
She shook her head in disbelief.
"What's going on inside that head of yours? You're going to kill yourself one of these days, old man."
A calm voice answered without warning.
"I can hear you perfectly well, Lucy."
She jumped.
"Ah! You scared me."
Miyamoto remained motionless.
"I didn't mean to insult you, Master," she said quickly, rubbing the back of her head. "But seriously, how can you go five days without food or water? Aren't you getting too old for this?"
Miyamoto finally opened his eyes.
"You fool. I can no longer age. I'll remain as I am until the day I fall in battle."
Lucy blinked.
"Oh, right. I forgot about that little trick of yours you're not telling me."
She waved a hand dismissively.
"Anyway, let's save that conversation for another day. I finally have some information about where Amanda might be."
Miyamoto's expression immediately turned serious.
"Tell me."
Lucy stepped closer.
"I met someone during a mission. His family was captured by the Avengers, so he's been searching for them too. He told me they have several hideouts scattered across the continent. We never knew that before, but he managed to find a clue about one of them."
Miyamoto narrowed his eyes.
"That's not particularly surprising, but..."
He paused, studying her.
"Do you trust this someone you met? How long have you even known this so called someone?"
"Master, he wasn't some random stranger I met on the roadside," Lucy replied. "We were assigned to the same mission. He's a rogue Shinra, and he's stronger than most Pro Darkside Knights."
She paused before continuing.
"I even taught him some of the Art of Mojito, and he shared what he knew about the Avengers. We have the same enemy, so we decided to help each other."
Miyamoto considered her explanation for a moment.
"Alright... Alright. What's his name, and where does he come from?"
"His name is Peaches. He's from the Kingdom of Berserker."
The moment Lucy mentioned Berserker, Miyamoto's aura flared.
"Berserker?"
His expression darkened.
"Have you forgotten how brutal the Shinras from that kingdom can be? And you're telling me this man is a rogue, yet you trust him?"
"Calm down, Master. I'm not some foolish twelve-year-old kid. I'm old enough to know when someone is genuinely devoted to what they're pursuing."
Lucy folded her arms.
"First, he's a dual Renshi user, just like me. Second, he can use both types of Renshi. His control over Light Renshi is even better than mine."
"But he looks kinda weak as a dual Renshi user to be honest,but that's not my concern."
"His Renshi might be sealed whatsoever."
She met Miyamoto's gaze.
"That doesn't automatically make him trustworthy, but it gives me a reason to hear him out."
Miyamoto stared at her for several seconds before finally relaxing.
"Hmm. At least you're thinking before acting."
He folded his arms.
"That earns him a little of my trust. Where is this hideout?"
Lucy immediately answered.
"Peaches told me there are five main hideouts. The largest one houses their strongest forces, but the others are scattered across the continent."
"I think we should investigate the one closest to us first. He knows where to find it."
Miyamoto rose to his feet.
"Very well, then. Get some rest and prepare yourself. We'll leave tomorrow."
Lucy smiled.
---
The following morning, the sun shone brightly over the Kingdom of Ashura.
Miyamoto and Lucy made their way toward the coast, where waves crashed against the shore. The ocean stretched endlessly toward the horizon, while the salty breeze swept across the sand.
A lone figure stood near the water, his cloak fluttering in the wind.
The moment he spotted them approaching, he turned around.
"So you're Peaches, huh?" Miyamoto asked flatly.
Peaches smiled and extended his hand.
"Nice to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about-----"
Miyamoto walked straight past his outstretched hand.
"Hmph. No respect for your elders?"
Peaches's smile twitched.
Behind Miyamoto, Lucy quickly tapped his arm and leaned closer.
"Master, please. Can you act normal for once? If you keep this up, he's going to change his mind about helping us."
Miyamoto ignored her.
Peaches slowly lowered his hand and crossed his arms.
"Let me make something clear, old man. I don't know you, and you don't know me either. But we're fighting the same enemy, which gives us something in common. If we're going to work together, we need to trust each other enough to cooperate."
He paused briefly.
"And maybe start with a handshake."
Miyamoto's expression turned cold.
"Trust?"
In the next instant, his Renshical pressure erupted.
The air shook as an overwhelming force slammed into Peaches, driving him straight to his knees. His arms trembled beneath the pressure, and sweat immediately gathered across his forehead. He struggled to draw a proper breath.
Miyamoto stood before him, looking down with a dangerous expression.
"Listen carefully, boy. The fact that you're a witch might have gone to your head, but this girl is all I have left."
His gaze hardened.
"If you ever try to hurt her, I'll rip your tongue out myself. Some witches are nothing compared to me, and you don't want to find out what happens when you get on my bad side."
His pressure intensified for a brief moment.
"And watch how you speak to me from now on. I don't take disrespect lightly. I won't be shaking hands with a brat. Have some respect."
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the pressure vanished.
Peaches gasped, drawing several deep breaths as he struggled to recover. He looked up at Miyamoto, disbelief written across his face.
What the hell was that?
He's so powerful that I couldn't even detect his aura. How does he hide his Renshi so perfectly?
Lucy quickly stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, Peaches. That's just how my master is. He doesn't trust people from Berserker easily..."
She glanced at Miyamoto before continuing.
"Actually, it's not just people from Berserker. He's like that with strangers he meets for the first time."
Peaches slowly rose to his feet and brushed the sand from his clothes.
Lucy offered him an encouraging look.
"But look at it this way. If he truly thought you were a threat, he wouldn't have stopped there. The fact that he let you stand back up means you've earned at least a little of his trust."
"Hmph. What a troublesome old man."
Peaches glanced at Miyamoto, a faint smirk appearing on his face.
If that was his way of testing me, fine. I'll play along.
But don't think I'm someone you can look down on, either.
"I can look down on you if I want. Don't say anything like that again. I won't tolerate it."
Miyamoto's cold reply left little room for argument.