Master Zeff's Revelation
Master Zeff stood before Kai, his presence calm yet overwhelming. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could see straight through Kai's soul.
"So… you are Kai Rendra."
Kai felt his breath tighten.
Zeff smiled faintly.
"Oh, Kai… you are the chosen one."
Kai froze. "C-Chosen…?"
Zeff turned and looked toward the distant horizon, his voice heavy with history.
"You have been chosen as a protector of the Notorious Wrath Temple."
He continued,
"Indrias awaken only in special humans. Every human possesses basic Indrias—reflex, strength, perception—but they remain dormant. Without forming a connection to nature, they can never advance."
Zeff looked back at Kai.
"Only those chosen by the gods can truly connect with nature itself."
Kai clenched his fists, remembering the earthquake.
Zeff nodded.
"That was proof."
He then spoke a name that carried weight.
"Our Cardinal — Nakamura Yoshikage."
Ryu's expression turned serious.
"He is the only human who can wield five elemental Indrias at once. A true expert."
Zeff's voice sharpened.
"He can defeat Arch Fiends—commander-level monsters—in seconds."
Kai swallowed hard.
"But," Zeff continued, "if Cardinal Yoshikage ever unlocks the sixth Indria…"
The air itself felt tense.
"He will gain access to ultimate techniques."
Zeff raised a finger.
"Universal Smash.
Galaxy Fist.
And the most powerful of all—"
He paused.
"Omniversal Beam."
Kai's eyes widened.
"With that power," Zeff said calmly,
"even Dark Null can be crushed—
if Cardinal fights at eighty percent of his true power."
Silence followed.
Zeff stepped closer to Kai.
"And now you, Kai Rendra…
your awakening has begun."
Ryu Challenges Kai
The wind swept across the cracked ground, still marked by the scars of Kai's awakening.
Ryu stepped forward, wiping the blood from his lip. His eyes burned—not with anger, but resolve.
"Kai," he said firmly, "fight me."
Kai blinked. "W-What? Are you serious?"
Ryu clenched his fists.
"You just awakened an elemental Indria without training. That power is dangerous—to you and everyone around you."
Kai shook his head. "I don't even know how I did that!"
"That's exactly why," Ryu snapped. "If you lose control, you'll die."
Flames flickered around Ryu's arms.
"My Blaze Indria didn't awaken in one day," he continued. "I trained, I bled, and I survived. If you can't stand against me—"
The fire surged higher.
"—you're not ready for this world."
Kai's heartbeat thundered.
"Fine," Kai said, lowering his stance. "If fighting you is the only way to understand this power…"
Ryu smirked.
"Good."
🔥 Blaze Indria: Ignition Form 🔥
Ryu vanished in a burst of heat, reappearing in front of Kai with a blazing punch.
Kai barely reacted in time.
💥 Earth Indria: Tremor Guard 💥
The ground erupted, forming a stone barrier that shattered under Ryu's fist—yet softened the impact.
Kai was thrown back, skidding across the dirt.
"You're slow," Ryu said. "But your Indria is raw… powerful."
Kai gritted his teeth. "Then teach me!"
Ryu raised his fists, flames spiraling.
"Survive," he said.
"Then I'll acknowledge you."
The earth beneath Kai rumbled in response
Kai's Defeat
The ground beneath Kai continued to rumble, rocks lifting slightly as his breathing grew uneven.
Ryu watched closely.
"Your power is strong," he said calmly, flames dancing around his arms.
"But strength without control is just noise."
Kai clenched his fists. "I won't fall!"
He slammed his foot down.
🌍 Earth Indria: Seismic Break 🌍
The ground split open, shockwaves racing toward Ryu.
Ryu inhaled slowly.
🔥 Blaze Indria: Flame Step 🔥
He moved—not fast, but precise—slipping between the fractures as if he already knew where the earth would break.
Kai's eyes widened.
"H-how—?"
"Prediction," Ryu replied. "Zeff taught me to read intent before impact."
Ryu appeared behind him.
🔥 Blaze Indria: Blazing Fist 🔥
The punch struck Kai's side, heat and force exploding together. Kai was sent flying, crashing hard into the ground.
He tried to rise—but his legs trembled.
Ryu didn't rush him.
"Again," Ryu said. "Stand."
Kai forced himself up, blood dripping from his lip. His anger surged, the earth reacting violently.
Stones shot upward—out of control.
"That's enough," Ryu said sharply.
🔥 Blaze Indria: Suppression Burst 🔥
A wave of heat slammed into Kai, disrupting his Indria flow. The ground fell silent.
Kai dropped to one knee… then collapsed.
Ryu exhaled and lowered his flames.
"You lost," he said quietly.
"Not because you're weak—"
He looked down at Kai.
"—but because you're untrained."
Kai's vision blurred.
Ryu knelt beside him.
"I trained under Master Zeff for years," he continued. "I learned discipline, restraint, and survival."
He placed a hand on Kai's shoulder.
"You have greater potential than me," Ryu admitted.
"But potential doesn't win battles."
Kai clenched his fist weakly.
"…Then train me."
Ryu smiled faintly.
"That's why I challenged you."
From a distance, Master Zeff watched silently.
"And now," Zeff said to himself,
"the real journey begins."
Arch Fiend Vorax Appears
A suffocating pressure filled the area.
The air cracked as a massive shadow emerged from the darkness. Horns curved backward from its skull, and its eyes burned with endless hunger.
"Commander Zeff…"
the fiend growled.
"You survived last time only because Nakamura Yoshikage was there."
Master Zeff slowly turned, his expression calm.
Vorax spread his claws, dark energy leaking from his body.
"But now," Vorax continued,
"I will kill you… and take the fragment."
The ground beneath Zeff's feet scorched faintly as restrained flames formed around him.
"So they sent Vorax this time," Zeff said.
"An Arch Fiend at commander level."
Vorax laughed deeply.
"You know what happens when I get serious."
Zeff raised his eyes.
"Yes," he replied,
"You retreat."
🔥 Blaze Indria — Controlled State 🔥
A refined blaze wrapped around Zeff's fists, sharp and precise.
"You may be strong," Zeff said coldly,
"but you are still far below the Cardinal."
Kai and Ryu felt the pressure instantly.
"This… this power…" Kai whispered.
"So this is a true commander."
Vorax snarled, taking a step forward.
"Enough talk!"
Zeff tightened his stance.
"Then come," he said.
"Let me remind you why you ran last time."
The clash between Commander Zeff
and Arch Fiend Vorax
was about to begin.
A sudden flash of dark energy tore through the battlefield.
Slash.
Blood scattered across the scorched ground.
Master Zeff's left arm fell, burned clean at the cut.
"Kahaha…!"
Arch Fiend Vorax grinned.
"What's wrong, Commander? Lost your edge… or your arm?"
"K–Kai!" Ryu shouted.
"Master Zeff!"
Kai rushed forward, panic in his eyes.
"Master Zeff—are you alright?!"
For a moment, silence.
Then—
Zeff laughed.
A deep, fearless laugh.
"Hahaha…!"
He looked at the bleeding stump without a hint of fear.
"Listen carefully," Zeff said calmly.
"Losing an arm…"
He raised his remaining fist.
"…is not my weakness."
🔥 Blaze Indria — Absolute Ignition 🔥
The flames around Zeff erupted, no longer restrained. Fire spiraled violently, consuming the battlefield in waves of heat.
Kai and Ryu were forced back.
"T-This heat…!" Ryu gritted his teeth.
"He's raising his output!"
Vorax stepped back instinctively.
"This pressure…!"
Zeff planted his feet into the cracked earth.
"Vorax," Zeff said, his voice sharp,
"You wanted the fragment."
The flames condensed into a massive infernal sphere behind him, burning crimson and gold.
"Then survive this."
🔥🔥 FINAL ATTACK 🔥🔥
🔥 INFERNO HELLFLARE 🔥
The flames roared like a dragon released from hell, swallowing the sky as Zeff unleashed everything he had left.
Kai stared in shock.
"So this is…"
"…a true commander's final attack."
The battlefield vanished under fire.
Vorax's Defeat
The flames slowly faded.
The battlefield was unrecognizable—melted ground, scorched air, and silence heavy enough to crush breath.
From the center of the destruction, a figure still stood.
Arch Fiend Vorax.
Half of his body was burned beyond recognition. One horn was shattered, his armor melted into his flesh. Dark smoke rose from him as he staggered.
"Ghh…!" Vorax growled, dropping to one knee.
"That attack…!"
Zeff stood opposite him, breathing heavily, flames fading from his body.
"This is the difference," Zeff said quietly,
"between power stolen… and power mastered."
Vorax tried to stand but failed. The ground beneath him cracked as a dark rift opened behind his body.
"No… not exile…!" Vorax snarled.
Black chains formed from the void, wrapping around his broken form.
Zeff raised his remaining hand.
"Return to where you belong," he commanded.
The rift pulled violently.
Vorax screamed in rage as his body was dragged backward.
"This isn't over, Zeff!" Vorax roared.
"When Dark Null rises—!"
The rift snapped shut.
Silence returned.
Kai and Ryu stood frozen.
"He… he survived?" Kai whispered.
Zeff nodded slowly.
"He was exiled," Zeff replied.
"Not destroyed."
Ryu clenched his fists.
"So he'll come back?"
Zeff looked toward the distant sky.
"Yes," he said.
"And next time… he won't come alone."
The scorched wind passed through the ruins of the battlefield.
The war around the Notorious Temple had only begun.
Return to the Normal World
After the battle, Master Zeff was taken deep into the sanctuary to rest.
His wounds were severe, but his presence remained steady.
"He'll recover," Ryu said quietly.
"Commanders don't fall that easily."
Kai looked back once more before the realm gate closed.
"I'll get stronger," he whispered.
---
Back in the Normal World
The realm dissolved into light.
Kai and Ryu stepped onto an empty street, the noise of the normal world rushing back in—cars, voices, life.
Kai exhaled.
"…We're back."
Before he could take another step—
"KAI RENDRA!"
A girl came running at full speed.
SMACK!
Her palm landed cleanly on Kai's face.
"Ow—!"
"Why did you leave our date, you dummy?!" she shouted, eyes blazing.
"You just disappeared!"
Kai froze.
"I—I had something important—"
She leaned closer, furious.
"What could be more important than our date, huh?!"
Then she turned sharply toward Ryu.
"And you!" she pointed.
"Why were you with him?!"
Ryu blinked, completely calm.
"…Saving the world," he replied.
She stared.
"…What?"
Kai rubbed his cheek nervously.
"Long story."
She crossed her arms, still angry.
"You owe me an explanation. Both of you."
Kai sighed.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"I really do."
Unseen to them, a faint tremor passed through the ground—
as if the world itself had noticed Kai's awakening.