The sun was barely rising, casting a pale golden light over the mountains that sheltered the Zenith Sanctuary. At one of the hidden exits, concealed behind a waterfall whose roar drowned out conversations, a small group had gathered.
Danky Norland and Diana Kurogami stood there, travel packs on their backs. It was time to leave.
Facing them, Adams, Hana, and Raizen had come to see them off.
Danky stepped toward Adams, the leader of the Astroforges who had pushed them to their very limits. For the first time, there was no trace of arrogance in his eyes, only sincere respect.
Danky Norland:
— Chief Adams... thank you. For everything.
Adams, whose face was usually a fortress of granite, placed one gloved hand heavily on Danky's shoulder.
Adams:
— Don't thank me. Just keep getting back up. That's all that matters.
Diana, in turn, bowed deeply before him, a simple gesture, but one filled with gratitude.
Then came Hana's turn. She couldn't help but pull Diana into her arms, a hug both sisterly and protective.
Hana (softly):
— Take care of yourself. And don't hesitate to read and reread your brother's letter whenever you start doubting.
She then turned toward Danky, a mischievous smile on her lips.
Hana:
— And you, try not to get too beaten up. Duck isn't nearly as patient as I am when it comes to patching wounds.
Finally came the quietest moment. Raizen faced Danky. There were no grand speeches... just a handshake, firm and strong, echoing the pact they had sealed the previous night under the moonlight. A look that said, "See you soon" and "Take care."
Diana stepped closer to Raizen, her expression gentle yet resolute.
Diana Kurogami:
— Be careful, Raizen.
Raizen Vithar:
— You too, Diana.
With those words, Danky and Diana turned away. Without looking back, they each took a different path, disappearing quickly into the dense forest.
Raizen, Hana, and Adams stood there for a long moment, gazing at the now-empty trails. The first separation of their "family" had become real.
(Fade to black)
"In this world, strength is not a gift… it's the price to stay alive."
"The Kara is the vital energy that flows through all things. Some shape it to create, others to destroy… but all depend on it to survive."
"When the breath of Kara fades, the heart stops beating, and the soul vanishes into eternal shadow."
Raizen remained still for a while, eyes fixed on the empty trails. The first fracture in their family bond had been sealed.
The whisper of the wind and the murmur of the waterfall seemed to fill the void left by Hana and Adams. A familiar solitude — but heavier today — weighed on his shoulders.
A faint sound made him turn his head. Takashi Aomi stood a few steps away. Motionless. Calm. An aura that seemed to absorb even the wind itself. The white bandage around his left hand betrayed a recent battle. No surprise, when Takashi fought, it was always serious. Deadly serious.
Takashi Aomi:
— Come. Follow me.
His voice was a sharp whisper, like polished metal against skin, yet without anger. Raizen obeyed instinctively. Each step echoed on the damp forest floor. The path wound between tall bamboo, until at last the massive red gate of the Tempio Zenith came into view, imposing, alive with Kara energy.
Takashi stopped. His dark eyes pierced through Raizen, as if probing his very soul.
Takashi Aomi:
— Open it.
Raizen blinked, hesitating. The last time, it had been Takashi who placed his palm on the gate.
Raizen Vithar:
— Me? But… I don't know how…
Takashi Aomi:
— Exactly. You're not supposed to. Otherwise, it would be too easy.
He stepped closer and brushed his fingers across the gate's surface. A soft vibration ran through his arm, silent but powerful.
Takashi Aomi:
— This door is sealed by the Celestial Kara. It cannot be forced. It must be convinced. You must resonate with it... not break it. Your Kara must speak to its own. Listen.
Raizen placed his hand on the cold wood. His Kara trembled at the touch, like a wild animal. He felt a pulse, the gate was not inert; it was breathing. Not hostile, just cautious. Every fiber of the wood vibrated with an energy that seemed to judge his presence.
Raizen Vithar (to himself):
— Listen… don't force…
He took a deep breath and let his Kara flow slowly, like a river winding around rocks. A faint bluish glow danced across his palm. The door didn't move, but Raizen felt a shiver run down his spine... it was responding. Not fully, but it was responding.
Takashi leaned against a bamboo stalk, silent. His gaze was neither critical nor indulgent. He was simply waiting—a calm catalyst for the energy forming around them.
Takashi Aomi:
— Your Kara is a blade. Now it must become a key. Not a strike, but a breath. Raw power only closes doors. Intention opens them. Focus on what you want, not what you fear.
Raizen felt his heartbeat quicken. He could almost hear the door breathe, feel the vibration of Kara through the wood and the air around him. An invisible dance. A silent dialogue. The first lesson wasn't about combat, it was about finesse and listening.
The wind swept through the bamboo grove, underlining the moment. Raizen smiled slightly—a nervous but determined smile. He understood, even if only partially: mastering Kara wasn't just about strength. It was about sensitivity.
Raizen remained there, hand lowered, breath short. Frustration began to rise. He had tried to force it—didn't work. He had tried to be gentle—didn't work either. He could feel the door's energy, calm and powerful, but his own still seemed… misaligned.
"Think of your Kara not as a weapon, but as a key."
Takashi's words echoed in his mind. A key. A key must have the right shape.
He closed his eyes again. This time, he stopped thinking about the door. He thought about himself. About his own Kara. He remembered the first time he felt it, a burning heat in his chest. He remembered the sensation of the blades bursting from his forearms, raw, wild energy. And he remembered the subtle pulse he infused into the metallic glow... a pure, precise intention.
That was it. His Kara wasn't just one thing. It could be a storm… or a whisper.
He took a deep breath, and instead of trying to push or command, he did something different. He let his Kara speak. He gave it no order. He simply allowed it to be.
A bright light began to emanate from him—not an explosion, but an intense aura of pure, radiant blue that illuminated the entire clearing. The light wasn't aggressive. It was calm, steady, confident. It pulsed once, then twice.
He placed his hand on the door again. This time, there was no resistance. He felt resonance. Like two musical notes tuning perfectly in harmony.
A deep rumble echoed. The ancient carvings on the door began to glow with the same light as Raizen's. Slowly, majestically, the colossal door turned on its axis, revealing the familiar path to the Tempio Zénith.
Raizen opened his eyes, panting, sweat dripping down his forehead—but a feeling of pride and fulfillment like never before filled his chest.
He turned to Takashi. And for the first time, he saw something he never thought he'd see.
Takashi Aomi was smiling. Not a smirk, not a restrained grin—a genuine, open smile that brightened his usually stoic face.
Takashi Aomi:
— Well done. If you've managed to open this door, it means you are truly a Zénith Stellaire.
He paused, letting Raizen savor the moment, before continuing in a more instructional tone.
Takashi Aomi:
— There are five doors like this one, placed in strategic locations. They are our greatest secret—our means of moving without being detected.
• One is in the city of Goma, where you completed your last mission.
• Another lies in the Congo port city.
• A third is in the mountain city of Namon.
• The fourth stands within the fortified city of Mbanza.
• And finally, this one, near Kazemori.
Raizen was stunned by this revelation. He had never imagined such a network.
Takashi Aomi:
— All these doors lead to the same place: the Tempio Zénith. But there is one fundamental rule.
His gaze grew more intense.
Takashi Aomi:
— Only Celestial Kara can open them. That is our greatest strength, and our greatest safeguard. That's why you had to learn.
Not just to fight, but to belong. To have the power to return home... wherever you are.
Raizen looked at the open door, then back at his mentor. Now he understood. This training wasn't just about power, it was about identity. He was no longer just a fighter. He was a guardian of secret paths. A true Zénith Stellaire.
A faint smile curved his lips, one of admiration and understanding.
Raizen Vithar:
— I get it now… I see why the Sang Brûlé have never found a single one of our bases. The strategy is incredible. It's not about hiding, it's about being unreachable.
Takashi nodded, his smile fading back to his usual neutrality, but a glimmer of satisfaction still shone in his eyes.
Takashi Aomi:
— Exactly. Now, let's go.
Raizen Vithar:
— Where are we going exactly?
Takashi's gaze drifted into the glowing passage, as if he were staring through time itself. When he spoke, his voice was heavier, carrying a weight Raizen couldn't yet comprehend.
Takashi Aomi:
— To the origin of our creation.
Without another word, he stepped into the luminous corridor, leaving Raizen to follow, heart pounding with a mix of awe and anticipation. The young Astroforge cast one last glance at the bamboo forest behind him before crossing the threshold. He thought he was going to the Tempio Zénith for simple training. Now, he realized he was about to uncover a far deeper secret.
Transition
While Raizen began his training under Takashi's watchful eye, elsewhere—the Kara War was far from over.
City of Goma — Eastern District
Known for its hot springs and eternal festivals, Goma pulsed with joyful energy.
Laughter, merchants' cries, the music of hanging lanterns—everything seemed alive.
But, as always, shadows lurked where light shone brightest.
In a narrow alley away from the festivities, the celebration had turned into a nightmare.
Four bodies lay twisted on the ground, their faces frozen in terror.
Sitting on one of them, a Kageyami lazily dragged his black claws across the flesh, almost absentmindedly.
Kageyami (whispering):
— Weak… Weak… The world belongs to predators.
A vibration in the air. Then suddenly, two agile figures dropped from the rooftops, landing silently at the entrance of the alley—two Astroforges.
Their white coats brushed the ground with grace.
Astroforge 1:
— Celestial Kara: Binding Webs!
From his hands, he cast a network of glowing celestial threads that wrapped tightly around the Kageyami.
But the creature smiled. His veins blackened, his muscles swelled, his skin cracked.
A deep rumble shook the walls.
Dark energy erupted, shredding the celestial threads like paper.
Superior Kageyami (growling):
— Too many weaklings… All must vanish.
— Dark Kara: Shadow's Embrace!
The ground beneath the Astroforges began to boil. Sharp, solid pillars of shadow erupted upward. But the two Zéniths, seasoned warriors, reacted in time, leaping back to evade the deadly strike.
The ground quivered.
Astroforge 2:
— Careful! It's a Superior Kageyami! Stay sharp—Internal Kara: Muscle Reinforcement!
His body flared with a blue aura. He lunged forward at blinding speed, landing a powerful punch square in the monster's face. The impact echoed loudly—but the creature didn't even flinch. It retaliated with a brutal headbutt that sent the Astroforge staggering back, blood streaming from his nose.
Another wave of shadow spikes rained down. His partner dove to shove him aside, narrowly avoiding death.
The two Zéniths panted, overwhelmed.
The Kageyami lifted his head toward the sunlight above, where laughter still rang from the festival crowd.
A monstrous smile spread across his distorted face. Ignoring the two Zéniths, he launched himself out of the alley, sprinting toward the innocent crowd with terrifying speed.
Astroforge 1:
— No! He mustn't be seen in public!
But it was too late. The monster was too fast.
A gust of black wind surged. Panic was about to erupt.
Then, suddenly, a calm, almost mocking voice fell from the sky.
Voice:
— Hey. Where do you think you're going?
A flash split the air.
A figure shot past them, so fast he seemed carried by the wind. He landed effortlessly in front of the Kageyami, blocking his path. The man wore a duck-beaked mask and carried two swords on his back.
He made a lazy gesture, as if sheathing two invisible blades.
And then... before anyone could understand what had happened, the Kageyami's massive body froze. Thin slicing lines appeared across his form, and he collapsed into a thousand pieces, like a crumbling stone statue.
The man in the duck mask sighed, hands in his pockets, not even looking at the aftermath.
Duck Bum Darly:
— You're in my city, bastard.
And here, no one kills without judgment.
Not while Duck Bum Darly still breathes.
The two Astroforges, stunned, stared at him in awe.
Astroforges (in unison, breathless):
— It's him… The man with the duck mask!
Duck tilted his head slightly, his eyes hidden behind the visor.
Then he smiled proudly…
END OF CHAPTER 12