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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 – The Hybrid’s Truth

Chapter 4 – The Hybrid's Truth

The sun rose lazily over the small town where Tensho Imaru lived, scattering orange rays through the curtains of his room. He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes, when a soft knock sounded at his door.

"Tensho, sweetie," his mother's voice carried through. "There's a letter for you in the mailbox. Someone sent it directly here."

"A letter? For me?" Tensho muttered, stretching. He rarely got letters; most communication came through digital notes or announcements from the academy.

He dragged himself downstairs. His mother was waiting with an envelope, the paper thick and marked with a strange insignia—a crest that combined flame and frost, spiraling into each other.

"Looks important," she said, handing it over with a raised brow.

Tensho broke the seal and unfolded the page.

> Meet me. My home. There are things you need to know about what happened the other night. Come alone. — Rhian Dakoba.

Tensho's heartbeat jumped. He immediately remembered the battle in the forest, the swarm of Raxes, the moment his arm turned black and monstrous, his strength erupting like something foreign. And Rhian—the mysterious hybrid who had whispered words he barely understood: Stage 1 Umbraxis.

"Rhian…" Tensho whispered. His hands trembled slightly, but excitement tinged his nerves. Maybe this was the key to understanding what he was becoming.

Just as he tucked the letter into his pocket, a voice called from outside.

"Tensho! Yo, open up!"

It was Renjiro, his best friend, standing casually by the door with that grin of his that always looked like trouble.

Tensho sighed, stepping outside. "Renjiro, morning."

"Morning? It's already past ten, lazy bones. I was gonna drag you out to hang, but what's that face?" Renjiro leaned closer, sharp-eyed. "You look like you saw a ghost."

Tensho hesitated, then showed him the folded letter. "Rhian sent me this. Wants me to come to his house. Alone."

Renjiro squinted at the text, then scoffed. "Alone? Yeah, right. I'm not letting you walk into some rich dude's mansion by yourself. What if it's a trap? Or worse—what if it's boring?"

"Renjiro…"

"Nope. I'm coming. End of story."

Tensho sighed in defeat. "Fine, but don't cause problems."

As the two started down the path, a familiar voice rang out.

"Hey! Wait up!"

A girl jogged toward them, her hair tied back neatly, her determined expression recognizable anywhere. Akiko umbraxis.

"What are you two scheming without me?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Renjiro smirked. "We're not scheming. Just going to visit our mysterious hybrid friend. Wanna tag along?"

Akiko raised a brow. "Rhian Dakoba? That boy's a mystery wrapped in an even bigger mansion. I'm curious. Count me in."

Tensho groaned. "This wasn't supposed to be a group trip…" But deep down, he was glad. With them around, maybe he'd feel less suffocated by Rhian's secrets.

---

The three friends arrived at Rhian's estate, and their jaws nearly hit the ground. The place wasn't just big—it was enormous, a sprawling mansion with tall gates, gardens blooming with rare flowers, and even statues carved into the likeness of ancient warriors.

Renjiro whistled low. "Okay, so he's not just a hybrid—he's a rich hybrid. Figures."

Akiko muttered, "This place could fit our whole class and still have space for a swimming pool."

The gate opened smoothly, almost like it had been expecting them. Rhian himself stood at the entrance, hands in his pockets, his expression calm. He looked different from the battlefield—more controlled, his hybrid aura tucked neatly away.

"You came," Rhian said softly, then glanced at the two extra faces. "And… you brought company."

Renjiro grinned. "What, did you think Tensho would ditch us? We're a package deal."

Rhian sighed but gestured them inside. "Fine. But I need to talk to Tensho alone. You two… there's a training ground out back. Use it if you'd like."

That was all Akiko and Renjiro needed. Their eyes lit up like children given candy. "Training ground? Say less!"

They dashed off, leaving Tensho to follow Rhian into the mansion.

---

Rhian's room was large but surprisingly simple compared to the lavish hallways. Books stacked high on shelves, maps scattered across a desk, and a single sword mounted on the wall.

"Sit," Rhian said, closing the door behind them.

Tensho sat on the edge of a chair while Rhian leaned against his desk. The hybrid's eyes burned with seriousness.

"About your hand. That wasn't just some fluke."

Tensho looked down at his right hand, remembering the black, monstrous transformation. "You called it Stage 1 Umbraxis…"

"Yes." Rhian folded his arms. "Umbraxis is your clan blood. When you unlocked it, your arm took its first form. But you're different from me, Tensho. My powers are limited—I inherited ice and fire, nothing more. But you… you're something else."

Tensho frowned. "What do you mean?"

Rhian's tone lowered. "There's a legend. The first hybrid. He was born centuries ago, a boy whose parents were from both clans. He wielded gravity itself. But his best friend, jealous of his strength, betrayed him. Both clans hunted him down. The boy vanished—some say he died, others whisper he still lives. But one truth remains: his bloodline carried power beyond either clan alone."

Tensho's chest tightened. "Are you saying…?"

Rhian nodded. "You might be like him. Not just any hybrid. One who could wield all powers. Your black hand was proof—Stage 1 of Umbraxis. And if legends are right… you'll have stages far beyond that."

Tensho's head spun. All powers? The thought was terrifying and thrilling at once.

"But…" Rhian added, his voice softening, "Hybrids aren't hunted anymore. The clans made peace, at least publicly. Still… trust carefully. The Umbraxis clan especially—they'll hunt you if they discover what you truly are."

Before Tensho could answer, the door suddenly creaked open.

"Rhian, honey, do you—oh!"

A woman stepped in, elegant in her dress but with the brightest smile. Rhian's mother. She spotted Tensho and lit up.

"Oh my goodness, Rhian! You didn't tell me you had such a cute friend! Tensho, right? Are you single?"

Tensho's face turned red. "Uh—wha—?"

"Mum!" Rhian's composure shattered instantly. "Get out! We're having a serious talk!"

"But he's adorable! Don't you think, Rhian? He'd make a wonderful—"

"OUT!" Rhian all but shoved her back into the hallway, slamming the door shut, his face crimson.

Tensho couldn't help laughing. "I didn't know you could blush."

Rhian groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "Ignore her. Please."

The tension lightened, and for a moment, Tensho forgot the heaviness of their conversation.

---

Later, Rhian guided Tensho outside to the training ground. The sight made Tensho pause—Renjiro and Akiko were already sparring fiercely, dust kicking up as Renjiro's swords and arcis bullets clashed with Akiko's precise assasin shadow strikes.

"They're always like this," Tensho muttered.

But Rhian stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Watch."

He raised his hand. Ice erupted across the ground, freezing both fighters mid-motion. Before they could even shout, flames engulfed the ice, melting it away without harming them.

Renjiro stumbled back. "What the—?!"

Akiko's eyes widened. "You… you have two powers?"

Rhian let the flames dissipate. "I am a hybrid. And this is the truth you should all know."

Silence hung heavy. Even Renjiro, usually full of jokes, looked stunned. Tensho knew their world had shifted—Rhian wasn't just another student. He was proof that hybrids walked among them, powerful and real.

---

Evening fell as the group left the mansion. Rhian insisted on walking them home, saying it was safer. The streets were quiet, lamps flickering as the last of the daylight faded.

That was when they heard it—a muffled cry.

"Help! Somebody help!"

The group rushed to the corner of an alley and froze. A child was being dragged away by a towering Rex, its reptilian form monstrous—but this one was different. Its eyes glowed red, and it grinned with unnerving intelligence.

"Well, well," the Rex hissed, its voice clear, mocking. "What do we have here? A little snack… and an audience."

Tensho's blood ran cold. "It… it can talk."

The Rex smirked, waving at them. "Bye bye."

Before anyone could move, Rhian roared and unleashed a wave of fire that scorched the entire alley. But the Rex vanished mid-flame, teleported away by some unseen force. The fire slammed into a wall instead, leaving it charred black.

Renjiro shouted, his voice breaking the silence. "What the hell was that?!"

No one had an answer.

And just like that, their night ended with a question that weighed heavier than any of them could bear.

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