Chapter 6: The Truth About the First Hybrid
"It's no use."
That voice froze every heartbeat in the room.
The darkness around them rippled like water as everyone turned toward the sound.
Renjiro's voice cracked through the silence. "What… what's that?"
Akiko frowned. "Not what—who's there?"
Tensho's eyes darted left and right. "No—who? What is that?"
Rhain clenched his fists, sparks of flame flickering between his fingers. "Rex?"
The voice chuckled, deep and hollow, vibrating through their bones.
"Hahaha… naive children. I am neither a person… nor a thing."
"Answer the question!" Rhain shouted, his flames roaring brighter. "WHO ARE YOU!?"
"Now, now… calm down, boy," the voice said softly—almost kindly.
But Rhain wasn't having it. He launched a fireball forward with a sharp gesture.
It never reached its mark.
The air bent.
Gravity flipped.
The fireball twisted back toward them like a flaming boomerang.
"MOVE!" Akiko yelled.
Rhain froze it midair with a flash of blue frost, shattering it into steaming shards.
Tensho rushed forward, black energy crackling around his arm. "Take this!"
But the figure whispered something barely audible. "Kito… kito…"
The black energy fizzled out instantly, Tensho's hand returning to normal.
"What the—!?" Tensho staggered.
Renjiro raised his hand, his Arcis forming into a sleek glowing gun. "Then I'll handle this!"
He fired. The bullet soared—then stopped midair, crushed by invisible pressure.
"Gravity manipulation…" Akiko hissed, sending out a shadow serpent from the floor.
But even the shadow distorted, flattening under the unseen force.
The figure stepped into the faint light.
Long gray hair. Eyes glowing silver. A calm, knowing smile.
Tensho's breath caught. "Wait… it can't be… You're the legendary first hybrid… the one who vanished!"
Rhain's eyes widened. "That explains the gravity!"
Akiko gasped. "No way. I can't believe I'm standing in front of him!"
Renjiro frowned. "What are you people talking about?"
The man smiled again. "So, the new generation does know the stories. Excellent. Smart children indeed."
Rhain shouted, "But you died! You disappeared years ago! How are you still alive!?"
The man chuckled. "Come now. Sit, children. Let me tell you my tale…"
---
Flashback: Yamato's Story
The world shimmered and suddenly, Tensho and Rhain found themselves somewhere else.
Everything turned gray—buildings, trees, the sky itself.
A young boy appeared, around ten years old. His name echoed faintly—Yamato Inosuke.
Yamato's voice narrated as they watched.
"It all started in Libra… I was young, just ten. My family was happy. We weren't rich, but we had each other. I went to school like any other kid…"
The scene shifted—Yamato laughing with another boy. "That was my best friend. My brother in everything but blood. We trained together, dreamed together… Until jealousy poisoned his heart."
In a flash, everything burned.
Yamato's eyes dimmed. "He betrayed me. Reported me to both clans."
Tensho's fists clenched.
Akiko's voice whispered from the echoing space, "The Luminara… and Umbraxis…"
"The clans were horrified," Yamato said. "They called me a monstrosity—a fusion of light and darkness. A threat to balance itself."
Flames erupted—houses destroyed. Screams filled the air.
"The Umbraxis clan invaded Libra, hunting me. My parents fought to protect me, though their powers faded when I was born. That's the curse of hybrids. The child inherits… the parents weaken."
A flash—two bodies falling.
"My parents died that night."
Rhain muttered, "That's… horrible…"
"I came home," Yamato continued, voice shaking, "and found both clans arguing over who would kill me first. Fear took over. My powers awakened… and went wild. Gravity collapsed. The world bent around me. I ran."
The world darkened, turning to shadow and void.
"And then… a voice called to me. 'Come, child. Be accepted here.' I went… desperate… and was trapped in darkness. Time stopped. I grew old but did not die."
He looked up at them now, face wrinkled but eyes fierce.
"And that, children… is the story of the first hybrid."
---
Back in the present, the dungeon's silence returned.
Tensho whispered, "That's… insane."
Renjiro muttered, "So our clans did all that?"
Akiko stared at the ground. "Guess they weren't always so righteous…"
Rhain clenched his fists. "Enough. We can't change the past—we need to get out."
"It's no use," Yamato said. "No one leaves here."
"There's always a way," Tensho said firmly.
Yamato smiled faintly. "There is… now that you're here, my boy."
"Me?" Tensho blinked.
"Yes. The Stage One Umbraxis form—the black arm you awakened. Only that can break this seal."
Everyone looked at Tensho.
Tensho laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, about that—I can't just activate it. It just… happens."
Yamato shook his head. "Simple, child. It's like using your hand. Concentrate all your Arcis into one point. Feel it flow."
Tensho nodded, closing his eyes.
"Concentrate… concentrate…"
Inside his mind, a whisper echoed:
"I'll lend you some of my power… for now."
Black light flared from his arm.
"Yeahhh!!" Renjiro cheered. "He did it!"
Akiko grinned. "Finally!"
Rhain smirked. "That's my guy!"
"Now," Yamato said. "Place your hand on the wall. Push."
Tensho slammed his palm against the wall. Darkness pulsed—then cracked.
A deafening BOOM echoed as the dungeon shattered, light flooding in.
They stumbled out into the open air, coughing, blinking.
And far away—
A talking Rex stood watching, tail flicking nervously. His reptilian eyes widened.
"Oh no… you've done it. You've woken the master."
The ground trembled violently.
The Rex's tone dropped. "Do you fools know what you've just unleashed?"
Renjiro raised his gun. "No idea—but I know we're gonna kick your stupid tail."
Akiko cracked her knuckles. "And keep our promise—to bring that kid home."
Rhain ignited with fiery aura. "That's the spirit, Class C!"
Behind them, Tensho's black arm still glowed faintly. He looked up at the shaking sky, whispering,
"Then let's finish this…"
To be continued…