The next morning, Ren woke up on the same couch as the day before.
Kaien had offered him a place to crash for now since Ren had no place to stay in Aetherpolis yet.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and immediately noticed the scent in the air.
Bacon. Eggs. A warm, familiar smell.
He stood and turned toward the kitchen where Kaien was flipping breakfast in a pan. It had been years since Ren had smelled homemade food like this.
After his parents died and his brother disappeared, Ren had gotten by on convenience store meals and instant noodles. It wasn't like he had much of a choice, he didn't know how to cook, and couldn't afford a stove even if he did know how.
"Yo! You're up," Kaien called out. "Come grab a seat."
"I didn't know you could cook," Ren said as he sat down across the table.
Kaien flipped the eggs in the pan with ease. "Oh yeah, I run a small restaurant around here. I'll take you there sometime."
Ren tilted his head. "You really don't act like a gangster. You're… different. No menacing aura, no rough attitude, you're just… normal."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Kaien paused.
He slowly turned to face Ren.
That brief glance, calm, unreadable, was enough to make Ren's whole body tense.
In an instant, instinct took over. He leapt back from his seat, lightning crackling faintly around his feet. He didn't need to be told. The air around Kaien had shifted.
It was heavy, intense. Like a predator sizing up its prey.
Kaien raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Now, now. Relax, kid. I'm not gonna hurt you."
"Well," Ren muttered, his stance still guarded, "doesn't feel like it."
Kaien gave him a sly grin. "First lesson as my apprentice, don't judge someone by how they look. Always look deeper. Gangsters, no matter what they stand for, don't back down from a fight. So don't let appearances fool you."
Then, just as quickly as the pressure came, it vanished.
Kaien turned back to the stove, humming to himself like nothing happened. The smile returned to his face, light and easygoing.
"Heh. Don't worry, that was just a little demonstration. There's nothing "Deeper" in me so you don't have to worry." he said cheerfully. "You can sit back down now."
Ren blinked, unsure whether to laugh or stay alert but the tension had passed.
Ren slowly returned to his seat, his eyes still on Kaien.
There's something deeper in you…he thought. A sadness buried beneath that smile. That kind of aura… it doesn't come from nowhere."
"So?" Kaien said, breaking the quiet. "I need you to come with me later."
"Where to?" Ren asked, his mouth half full as he munched on the food Kaien had served him.
"Whoa, slow down there," Kaien chuckled, handing him a glass of water. "Try not to choke."
Ren took it and drank as Kaien continued.
"Anyway, ZEAL operates in squads, most of us do, at least."
He leaned back slightly, arms crossed.
"So I'll have to talk to the boss and figure out which squad to place you in."
The boss, huh? Ren thought. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of person could lead someone like Kaien. If Kaien was this strong, and he hadn't even gone all out yet, how powerful would their leader be?
"Is everyone in ZEAL awakened?" Ren asked curiously.
"Not all," Kaien replied, "but most are. That said, even those without awakened Drive Cores are still elites in their own right. We don't pride ourselves in numbers, but we definitely have confidence in our skill. Every single person in ZEAL is a core member of the gang. Everyone has a place."
He smiled, looking at Ren.
"So I hope you find yours soon."
After finishing their meals, Kaien brought Ren back to ZEAL's headquarters.
This time, as they stepped through the front doors, Ren actually took a moment to look around, and his eyes widened.
Woah, this place is amazing. Ren thought.
He hadn't noticed it the day before, too caught up in following Kaien around. But now, he finally saw the interior for what it was.
Banners bearing ZEAL's white wing emblem hung from every corner of the massive main hall. The ceiling stretched high above, making the room feel even larger. The walls were clean gray and there were no windows anywhere in sight.
At the far end stood a stage-like concrete platform, slightly raised from the rest of the floor.
"This is where we hold general meetings," Kaien said, his voice echoing faintly in the vast space. "We're a bit early, so just wait around here."
Ren looked around. "Wait… but there aren't any seats?"
"Yeah," Kaien replied with a chuckle. "We usually don't sit in here. Just stand, or do whatever. I'll be back in a bit. I'll go and get the leader."
As Kaien walked off, Ren continued to look around, still in awe.
Eventually, he wandered over and sat down on the edge of the stage-like platform, gazing up at the high ceiling.
A few minutes passed before Kaien returned, this time with three others walking with him.
Leading the group was the bald-headed man from yesterday. His scarred eye and intimidating build still gave off that same tough aura, but now, he wore a friendly smile as his eyes met Ren's.
The second person, walking just behind, had a round afro, dark skin, and a silver lip piercing. His expression was casual, almost lazy but he wore a bright smile despite his muscular and menacing build.
Then there was the last one.
He walked at the very back, half a step apart from the others. He wore a white shirt topped with ZEAL's Jacket, the hood pulled low over his face, casting it in shadow. His frame was slim, smaller than the rest of them, almost delicate looking compared to the others.
But Ren felt it instantly.
That aura, oppressive and overwhelming, came out from him like a calamity. Even from several meters away, it weighed down on the air in the room. He was the smallest in the group, but somehow, his presence felt larger than anyone else in the hall.
Ren's body tensed instinctively.
That's him, he thought. The leader of ZEAL. And that other guy in the afro, he's definitely a warden. They are strong.
"Zig," the guy in the hoodie said calmly, his voice almost bored. "Charge at him. No mercy. Overwhelm him with killing intent."
Without hesitation, the bald-headed man Zig grinned and charged forward, his fists suddenly erupting in flames.
Ren didn't flinch. As Zig closed the distance, Ren raised the scabbard of his sheathed katana and blocked the incoming punch cleanly.
But Zig's grin only widened.
"I suggest you draw that sword of yours."
Huh? Ren's eyes narrowed. In the next instant, a second surge of power exploded from Zig's fist.
A blast of heat and force erupted at point-blank range, sending Ren flying back several meters. He rolled once on the ground before planting his feet and sliding to a stop.
His hand twitched slightly from the impact.
"Tch… such a fiery and loud dude," Ren muttered, shaking his arm. A small smirk played on his lips. "Alright then… I guess it's time I go all out too."
Ren gritted his teeth and unsheathed his black katana.
In an instant, sparks of lightning erupted around his body, crackling and dancing in the air.
The sudden surge of power caught everyone off guard, everyone except Kaien, who simply crossed his arms and watched with a knowing look.
"Your boy's not half bad, Kaien," the guy with the afro said with a smirk. "Let's see if he knows how to actually use that power."
Zig's eyes lit up. "Now we're getting serious! Name's Zig by the way."
Without waiting another second, he charged at Ren again, his fists and feet blazing with fire.
Zig launched a straight punch. Ren dodged it effortlessly, his body flowing with lightning-like reflexes. But Zig followed up with a wide roundhouse kick. Ren blocked it with his blade's handle, but the sheer impact sent him flying upward.
"Tch… his firepower is no joke," Ren thought, flipping through the air.
Zig leapt up after him, moving like a blazing comet through the sky.
"Fire of Death!" Zig roared, flames surging around his right fist as he prepared to end it with a crushing blow.
Ren, still mid-air, looked trapped, helpless.
Until—
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted from Ren's body, bursting outward like a storm.
The force slammed into Zig mid-attack, sending him hurtling down to the ground like a meteor. He crashed with a fiery explosion and a cloud of dust.
The man with the afro narrowed his eyes. "Should we stop this? This fight is as good as finished and Kaien's boy is leaking drive core energy."
"Just a little longer," the hooded leader said calmly. "Kaien, step in when it gets dangerous."
Kaien gave a quiet nod, his eyes never leaving Ren.
Ren shot down from the sky like a lightning-charged missile, his body and katana crackling with electricity.
Zig was still on the ground, dazed.
With his blade raised and lightning coiling around him, Ren prepared the finishing blow.
"Thunder Clap." Ren whispered.
In that moment, he vanished, nothing but a flash of light and reappeared above Zig, descending even faster than before, lightning roaring around him.
He brought his blade down in a decisive strike.
But—
A burst of force pushed back.
"Did he make it in time?" the afro-haired man asked, narrowing his eyes.
As the smoke and dust cleared, Ren's katana was stopped.
A faint mist filled the air, forming a translucent barrier.
Standing between Ren and Zig was Kaien.
His hands in his pockets casually, the mist-like shield glowing around him as it blocked the attack with ease.
He didn't even look surprised.
"Don't you think that's enough, Ren?" Said Kaien with a menacing smile.
Ren's eyes widened.
The pressure around him faded, and the lightning slowly died down.
Realizing what just happened, he stepped back in shock. His whole body hurt like every energy in his body was exploding. His katana slipped from his hand, clattering onto the floor.
But despite the pain, without a word, he rushed past Kaien and knelt beside Zig.
"Hey… are you okay?" Ren asked, panic flickering in his voice. "I'm sorry".
"Don't worry about it, kid." Zig said with a grin, brushing off the dust as he stood. "I got a little too into it myself."
Ren stood up too, but the look in his eyes had changed.
There was sadness there, deep and familiar.
He didn't say anything, but inside, he knew the truth.
It almost happened again. Ren thought
He had lost control.
It wasn't the first time. Whenever he felt trapped, whenever he was pushed too far, something inside him snapped. His survival instincts would take over, and with them, the storm that lived in his body.
The lightning.
It was a reflex born from years of fighting to survive in a town with no laws, no mercy, and no second chances. A place where he had to become something dangerous just to live another day. But there was one difference.
Back then… his brother was always there to stop him. To pull him back before he went too far.
"Your boy's not half bad, Kaien," the hooded man said casually, his tone light. "With some control and proper training, he could be a solid core member of ZEAL."
Kaien nodded with a grin. "Yeah. I think so too. I'll whip him into shape."
The afro-haired guy stepped forward, flashing a wide smile at Ren.
"Yo, kid! You just roughed up my squad member. Good! I like it!"
Is that how you should react when someone beats up your squad member? Ren thought.
"What's your name? Wanna be my apprentice? I'm a ZEAL warden too, y'know I can teach you how to control that power so you don't have to hold back anymore! The name's Rago Kinji!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Chill out!" Kaien shouted, stepping in with a glare. "That's my apprentice you're trying to steal!"
Ren stood frozen, completely dumbfounded by their reactions. He had braced himself for anger, for punishment, for chains around his wrists or a fist to his face. That's how it had always been. Whenever he lost control, people would look at him with fear or disgust. All except for one person.
His brother.
"Wait… aren't you going to detain me?" Ren suddenly shouted, his voice shaky. "Aren't you scared? I could lose control and cause real damage!"
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then—
BWAHAHA!
All three of them burst into laughter.
Even the hooded guy cracked a faint smile.
"What's your name, kid?" the small man in the hoodie asked, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Ren. Ren Asakura."
"Well Ren, you don't have to worry."
He took a step forward, and in that instant, Ren felt it again, that overwhelming pressure cloaked in calm.
"I myself, and these two wardens, despite being oddballs, could detain you anytime we wanted. That goes the same for all the other five wardens. That's the power gap between us. So don't let it get to your head."
Ren swallowed hard but said nothing.
"That being said…" the hooded man continued, "I can sense it in you. There's good in your heart. What you need is guidance and control."
His tone shifted, sharp and serious as he took off the hood. His face was pretty and comforting, his hair was messy red and his eyes were orange.
"But hear me clearly, if the day ever comes when you stop fighting those emotions and start embracing them, when you let yourself be consumed by that rage, as the leader of this gang, I won't be so kind."
A heavy silence followed.
"Losing control and fighting it, that shows strength. But giving in? Letting it take over? That makes you a threat."