"And done!" Kazuishi exclaimed, pulling her hand back with a satisfied nod, the golden glow fading from her fingertips. "You're fully healed, Taro."
Taro groaned softly as he pushed himself up, his muscles protesting before loosening with a stretch. He rolled his shoulders and flexed his legs, the stiffness from the crater crash melting away. "Thanks, Kazuishi," he said, a faint grin breaking through, his voice rough but grateful.
Tokkun stepped forward slowly, his black robe swishing faintly against the dome's dusty floor, the red glint of his eyes piercing through the mask. "That battle was quite interesting, Taro," he rumbled, his tone carrying a weight of approval.
Taro chuckled, scratching the back of his head, a sheepish glint in his eyes. "Interesting indeed. I sure did learn a lot from that fight." He dipped his head slightly in a respectful bow. "So, thanks a lot, Drenor Tokkun."
For a moment, Tokkun said nothing, his masked face tilted as he studied Taro, a hint of approval and interest flickering behind the red slits. Then, breaking the silence, he spoke. "Wait a minute for me here."
"Um, okay," Taro replied, raising an eyebrow as Tokkun vanished in a blur, the air where he stood rippling briefly.
Tokkun reappeared just as fast, startling Taro into a quick step back. "God, you're fast!" Taro blurted, his heart jumping.
This time, Tokkun held a weathered wooden box, its edges chipped and darkened with age. "A gift for your departure," he said, extending it toward Taro with a deliberate motion.
Tokkun handed over the wooden box, the wood creaking faintly as Taro took it. "A gift already? Let's see," Taro said, his curiosity piqued as he lifted the lid. Inside lay a black iron ring, its surface etched with strange, swirling symbols that seemed to pulse under the nexus's dim light. "What's it do?" he asked, tilting it in his hand, the metal cool against his skin.
"It's a rare item from an unconfirmed weave I acquired on my journeys," Tokkun explained, his voice low and measured. "It lets your power and abilities increase or decrease depending on your emotional state—it can even alter them. For example, if you were feeling extremely depressed, your powers would weaken by dozens, like landslides burying your strength. But if you had great determination for something, you'd gain an insurmountable increase in your powers. It grows with positive emotions, weakens with negative ones."
"So it's like a booster that depends on my emotions or feelings," Taro said, nodding as the concept sank in. He bowed his head once more, deeper this time. "I cannot thank you enough for your help, Drenor Tokkun."
"It's quite okay, Taro," Tokkun replied, his tone softening slightly. "But keep this in mind—some emotions can go either way based on your will or reasons. For example, if you felt an intense desire, like hatred to kill someone, your powers could grow indefinitely stronger. But if that intent falters, there'll be an insane backlash… so you'll need to be efficient with it."
"I'll keep that in mind—thanks for the pointer," Taro said, pocketing the ring with a determined nod. "Thanks again for the gift."
Tokkun nodded silently, his masked gaze lingering as he watched Taro and Kazuishi turn to leave, the dome's shadows swallowing their footsteps.
[After]
"So, what do you think, Taro? Was the squad to your liking?" Kazuishi asked, adjusting her glasses as they walked, the nexus's hum filling the air around them.
"It's definitely a strong competitor for the squads I've seen," Taro replied, his voice carrying a spark of enthusiasm. "I really like Tokkun and his crew—I sure could learn a lot from them."
"It seems like you've found a good pick," Kazuishi said, her tone cautious. "But don't hold onto it too strongly just yet. The next Drenor holds another interesting philosophy you'd probably like."
"I see," Taro said, punching his fist into his palm with a grin, the motion sending a faint ripple through the air. "Can't wait till we get there."
As they moved, Taro's eyes caught sight of relics lining the path—statues and carvings slightly different from the ones he'd seen before, their edges weathered and etched with strange, flowing designs. "Third Weave, I presume?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Ah, yes, the Third Weave," Kazuishi confirmed, her voice shifting into a more reflective tone as they slowed their pace. The nexus's crystal glow softened, casting long shadows that danced with the relics' forms. "During this weave, Nightdax were generally stronger than Dremapols—a rare shift in the balance. They launched a brutal attack on the Third Weave Dremapols, their numbers thinning greatly before the weave eventually passed. The Dremapols fought hard, but the Nightdax's strength overwhelmed them for a time."
"Woah? That's insane," Taro said, his eyes widening. "I thought Dremapols were always generally stronger than Nightdax."
Kazuishi adjusted her glasses again, the light glinting off the lenses. "That wasn't the case here. The Nightdax had somehow grown more powerful, tipping the scales. It was a dark period—entire squads were lost before they adapted."
"But let me guess," Taro cut in, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "They weren't as strong as the Second Weave?"
"No," Kazuishi agreed, her voice steady. "Both Second Weave Nightdax and Dremapols were stronger than those of the Third, but the gap with the Nightdax wasn't all that big. The Third was a turning point—Dremapols learned to evolve from it."
"Well, whatever," Taro said, a confident smirk spreading across his face as he flexed his hand, the ring's weight a subtle reminder. "With this ring and a bit of training, I'm sure I'll eventually even take down a First Weave Drenor."
Kazuishi's lips curled into a rare, slight smile. "Well, feel free to try."
Taro grunted, narrowing his eyes playfully. "Was that a bit of disbelief in that?"
"Of course not," Kazuishi replied, a soft chuckle escaping her as she turned her head, the sound light against the nexus's hum.
Taro's mind wandered as they walked, a smile creeping onto his face without him even noticing. "Wow, we're having a conversation without any insults or anything. We sure have grown, haven't we? His mind wandered back to the dome—the pain, the defeat, and then... the unexpected comfort. She'd even let his head rest on her... The thought warmed him…" The thought warmed him, a quiet shift in their dynamic.
"What are you thinking about with that smile on your face?" Kazuishi wondered, glancing at him, her tone curious but teasing.
"It's nothing," Taro stammered, the heat rushing to his cheeks as he quickly tried to regain his composure, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Whatever,we're here now," Kazuishi said, nodding ahead as they approached a pair of towering gates, their edges lost in the haze, too massive to see what lay beyond. The air grew thick, the nexus opening into a vast, open space that stretched into shadows. "This area also has quite a lot of space. Get ready, Taro, 'cause I have a feeling this is one of the most interesting squads for you."
"Interesting?" Taro grinned, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. "I like the sound of that."