Two days pass by super fast and it seems like most of the students are at full health. Ziku still has broken ribs and fractured left arm, but he tries to hide it from his mom. When he's at home she knows something is wrong because he's not able to use his left arm for certain things. She gets mad because she knows there's something wrong with him, but he won't tell her.
Natsumi: "Ziku! I watched the trial! I know you're hurt! Why didn't you say anything to me or even try to rest?!"
Ziku: "I did rest, but my arm just doesn't seem to heal."
Natsumi: "That's because Nakamura's take longer than the average person to heal from any wound. Our bodies age slower than the average human. At that cost our bodies need longer to mend. The older you get, the slower you will heal and get better from sickness. It's just how we are."
Ziku: "That explains why when me and Omoi both got cut on our leg from branches, his healed in a few days, and mine took 2 months."
Natsumi: "Yes. This is why I think your fractured arm is going to take a year maybe even 2."
Ziku: "2 years! But what about the tournament?"
Natsumi: "Would you rather fight at 100% or 25%?"
Ziku: " 100"
Natsumi: "Then you will find a way to convince them that this tournament be held when you're healthy."
Ziku: "Yeah, But I don't want the tournament to be halted just cause of me."
Natsumi: "I'm sorry Ziku. I can see how much your fighting spirit is increasing, but there are always going to be obstacles you have to face."
Ziku just looks down and begins to think. Natsumi hugs him closing her eyes. After they hug Ziku tells her that he wants to go talk with Asuna. Natsumi lets him go. Ziku walks all the way back to the academy holding his left arm. When he gets there, it's just in time since Asuna is about leave.
Asuna: "Shouldn't you be resting?"
Ziku: "I cant fight in this tournament."
Asuna: "Why not?"
Ziku: "I cant use my left arm at all, and my ribs are still broken. It was either fight and become even more injured; or rest and train to better myself. I chose my health first."
Asuna: "Hmm. You know you're not the first person to come to me and tell me you can't fight because if you're injuries."
Ziku: "Really? Who else came?"
Asuna: "Hiroyuki. His body doesn't seem as responsive as before he told me. So I decided that most of you guys are injured anyways it's just whether or not you were strong enough to admit it and know your limit. For all of you what I decided to do is give you all a break. I'm thinking a two year break."
Ziku: "two years?! Why so long?"
Asuna: "It gives me time to visit my family and also do training myself."
Ziku: "So that means the academy is out until it's time to come back?"
Asuna: "Yeah."
Ziku: "Oh his is perfect! Two years is more than enough time!"
Asuna: "Great! Use it!"
Ziku smiles and heads back home. Asuna looks into the sky and starts thinking to himself.
Asuna: "Like Toko told me. It's up to me to protect the village and that's what I'm gonna do."
Ziku rushes home smiling and excited. When he runs in his house, he slips and falls on his shoulder, breaking it.
Natsumi: "Really Ziku!"
Ziku: "I was just excited about what Asuna told me."
Natsumi: "And what's that?"
Ziku: "That all the students are going to have two years to prepare and get their bodies to full strength for the tournament!"
Natsumi: "That's great!"
Ziku gets real excited as they hear a knock at the door. When he opens it, he sees Omoi.
Omoi: "So we got two years huh?"
Ziku: "Yes! And the both of will get even stronger!"
They grab each other's hand and stare into each other's eyes with excitement for what's about to come in the next two years. All the students have received intel about the tournament dates and what to expect. All given the same excuse from Asuna on why he made this decision.
Asuna paces back forth waiting for someone. Mest shows up and asks if he's ready. The both of them head away from the village, going on a secret mission Mest has been needing help to complete. While the both of them are on the move Mest begins to explain to Asuna what they are in for.
Mest: "I've been studying and watching the other villages on my own. I found out that the man that killed my father and those who attacked our village some time back are preparing for something even greater."
Asuna: "Something even greater? Like what?"
Mest: "They know about the crystals! And they have all of them!"
Asuna: "What?! How?!"
Mest: "When Kasai fought Mikoto he tried using the crystals, but it failed and the crystals ended up being dispersed again."
Asuna: "No, I thought they fell in front of Kasai and we've been guarding them ever since!"
Mest: "Yeah, I thought that too, but I realized the crystals made an illusion for us to believe we had them in our possession. Instead they were dispersed across countries, even the world for them to be found again."
Asuna: "But why create an illusion?"
Mest: "That I don't know. I do know that the men who attacked our village long ago, is plotting to take over the world with these crystals. Instead of starting of a war, I decided we could take care of this ourselves."
Asuna: "That's a very smart move. Why me though? I'm far from being the strongest person you need."
Mest: "You are the strongest person I know that I trust."
Asuna: "Hmm, I see. What I don't understand though, is why did they still attack our village. They weren't after the crystals at that time. So then what?"
Mest: "They knew we had them, or now I guess you can say we didn't have them, but they knew. They also knew Kasai and my fath- I mean Kai were going to be able to stop them if they attempted. There best bet was to attack them at their weakest, with the people closest to them."
Asuna: "Did you say Kai was your father?"
Mest: "You caught that huh? Huhhhhhh yes he's my father."
Asuna: "So that means Kame is your brother."
Mest: "Yes he is. And one of the men we're looking for is my uncle Kento."
Asuna: "This all is making sense now. I don't understand why you haven't told Kame you're alive."
Mest: "If I did, he would be in more danger then I fear he already is. And also he would want to follow me and help, I don't want that. He's not ready yet and there's so much more he needs to find out about life before I could even think about bringing him."
Asuna: "I see."
Mest: "I left Kame at such a young age. He looked up to me. I can only imagine the pain he feels thinking I'm dead. This pain is what he needs to become stronger. Kame has more potential than me he just has to find it and put it to use for the right reason."
Asuna: "Then why don't you train him?"
Mest: "He'll find out everything. That's why I have Kenshi. He's doing what I can't right now."
Asuna: "I see. What else do I need to know about this mission. Wait! You mentioned Mikoto? That's one of my students names and she's female."
Mest: "Yeah, that is his daughter. He had twins, but his wife died when they were born. He thought the crystals would give him the power he needed to make the world the way he wanted and bring her back. Instead he died and the girls were given up for adoption."
Asuna: "Ziku was right about this world. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what is your real name?"
Mest: "It's Rai-On, only address me as Mest though."
Both of them arrive at the target. They spectate everything going on. They see people being stripped, some being killed, some tortured, and some being used. As they look on, they notice Mayonaka, Kento and Totsuki. Mest watches Kento as he starts to cry, seeing his uncle like that really messes with his head. Asian tries to calm him. Mest and Asuna begin to whisper.
Mest: "At this point. I don't know what to do."
Asuna: "You don't have a plan?"
Mest: "I did, it's just seeing Kento like that it-"
Asuna: "Don't worry about it, I'll think of something."
Asuna looks over and notices that they are all gone. He gets confused as to where they could have gone. He jumps over and sees if there is anyone alive. He checks all the bodies and so far none of them are alive. Until one woman coughs up blood.
Asuna: "Are you ok?"
Eve: "Where's my baby?!"
Asuna: "I don't know, I promise you I'll find your baby!"
Mest keeps comforting the woman and making sure she's staying alive. Asuna finds a baby, but turns out the baby is dead. He walks out with the baby and hands the baby to the mother. The mother realizes the baby is dead and she starts to cry. Asuna can only watch as she is truly heartbroken over the baby.
Asuna: "I'm sorry about your baby."
Eve: "I just had him. And now he's gone. My husband tried protecting us, but we're just so weak. Why is our village the only one that wasn't blessed with the power other countries share?!"
Mest and Asuna just look at the woman. Mest turns around and walks away.
Asuna: "Don't worry, you'll be safe."
Eve: "No! Don't help me! Leave me be! The gods wanted this to happen, let it happen!"
Asuna: "We can't just leave you!"
Mest is just crying trying to calm himself and think more clear.
Eve: "Please. I wish to be left alone."
Asuna doesn't have a reply. He and Mest end up leaving. Asuna turns around to look at her, and sees her cradling the baby crying even more. He gets angry and clinches his fist.
They decide to take a break so they could both empty their heads.
Asuna to himself: "What Ziku said to me years ago, I understand what he meant and his decisions."
Mest to himself: "Why do I witness and become apart of all the worlds pain? This life, this world it's only going to get worse. We have to fix it now!
Both of them begin to move forward again. Both silent for hours. Until they reach another village. This one hasn't even been touched and it's in perfect condition. Asuna and Mest think that they haven't got here yet and maybe they can catch them off guard. They decide to stay and wait. Nothing happens and they are confused. Until they are approached by two of the villages people. A young woman and her father.
Kokimina: "Who are you two?"
Mest just stares at her not saying a word as he feels his heart skip a beat.
Asuna: "I'm Asuna. And this is R- Mest."
Kokimina: "Can we ask why you are here? It's not likely for us to get any visitors."
Asuna: "Yeah we came here on a mission. We weren't assigned to be here specifically. It's just we thought the worst could happen here."
Kokimina: "I don't get it. What do you mean worst?"
Asuna: "It's a long story. Can I explain over something to eat?"
Kokimina turns around as to say follow her. Mest is just mesmerized by her and can't seem to think straight. Asuna explains everything to them as he eats and her expression quickly changes.
Kokimina: "How long do you plan on staying? What if when you leave that's when they come?"
Asuna: "I'm not sure, but we can't just stay here for too long. There are other villages and countries that may need our help."
Kokimina: "Yeah I understand."
Mest ends up talking to her.
Mest: "I've never seen a woman so pretty."
She blushes.
Kokimina: "Oh, thanks."
Mest and Asuna end up staying for 2 days and nothing happens. For those two days, Kokimina and Mest really got to know and understand each other and quickly became much more than friends. Asuna thinks that they should leave.
Mest: "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you I promise."
Kokimina smiles and gives him a hug as both Mest and Asuna leave. When they leave they end up having to search for Mayonaka again. They spend 4 months searching for him. Until they finally find him. Mayonaka was in some gigantic rundown building talking with other people. Mest and Asuna get close to go see what's happening and being said. When they get to the door both of them sense an immeasurable amount of Chi. Making both of them back up and are completely nervous. They try and suppress their Chi the best they could so they aren't spotted. It doesn't work in time as Mayonaka and Kento end up coming out.
Mayonaka: "Come out. I know who you are. Your chi is similar to his."
Mest shows his face. And Asuna right after.
Mayonaka: "Awee. Well if it isn't the baby Chikara. The savior of the clan. Are you finally here for your revenge?"
Mest: "You will pay for what you have done to my family!"
Asuna: "No, Don't! This is what he wants!"
Mest loses his mind after seeing Mayonaka and goes straight for him. He throws and punch that Mayonaka counters with his fist. The impact of both of them creates a shockwave. Then all of sudden Kento tries punching Mest, but he dodges and moves back.
Mest: "Asuna! Fight Kento! Don't kill him! I think I have a way of fixing him!"
Asuna and Kento fight. Asuna is by far stronger than Kento, only thing is if the fight drags on for awhile, the tide of the battle could easily change. All of Asuna's hits don't do any damage to Kento. Kento is unable to hit Asuna or even match his power, but if Asuna can't hurt him he'll end up wasting his stamina. Meanwhile Mest is overpowering Mayonaka.
Mayonaka: "Hmph! You're stronger than your father was."
Mest: "No! I am not! It's just there are no people around for miles and we are fighting by an abandoned building. This means I don't have to hold back for the sake of others. It's just me versus you! You fall today! By my hand!"
Mayonaka: "You can't expect me to believe your father was weak because of his surroundings."
Mest: "There were tons of people in the village. Also you made him fight his younger brother! He didn't know how to fix him, so he decided he'll leave that to me! He trusts in me and I will fulfill that trust!"
Mest rushes Mayonaka and throws a combo that connects with such force and impact. Mest increases his Chi even more and tries to finish it with one last attack. His Aura turns gold and he's bright. He charges his last attack until.
Asuna: "Mest watch out!"
He looks back and sees Totsuki. Before he can even react. Totsuki grabs him and absorbs his Aura and Chi. He also places a different seal on Mest and drops him. Totsuki's body powers up and his chi increases making Asuna tremble. Asuna powers up his Chi with his aura turning white. His body just glowing with a bright white light. Asuna knows that his power up still isn't enough to match Totsuki, but he still tries to fight. Totsuki rushes towards him and tries to grab him, but Asuna moves out the way.
Asuna thinks to himself: "He can't fight! His power may increase, but if he cant use it then it's useless."
Asuna and Totsuki begin fighting and every hit that Asuna blocks he can feel the intensity of Totsuki's power. Then Totsuki begins to get angry, because Asuna isn't overpowering him, he just has more skill in fighting. Totsuki tried to grab Asuna to take his power, but Asuna keeps out dueling him.
Totsuki: "Your power will be mine!"
Asuna: "You can take all the power in the world, but if you don't know how to use it or even have basic skill you won't win anything. You could be stronger than me, but I'd be damned if I lose this fight!"
Totsuki: "You shut your mouth! I will become the ultimate entity of this entire universe!"
Asuna jumps up and puts his hand in the air. He creates a powerful shine that blinds Totsuki and just creates nothing but white light that only Asuna can see through. He goes to grab Mest and he tries to get as far away before his light goes out. Once Totsuki can see again, he gets angry that Asuna got away. He opens his eyes wide and all around him was destroyed. He looks around at the sight, smiling because he now realizes just how much power he absorbed and how much power he has. Asuna ends up taking Mest back to the village where Kokimina is. When he gets there he looks around until finally finding her.
Asuna: "Kokimina! Please help!"
Once he says this he falls to the ground dropping Mest. She rushes to them trying to help, but both are unconscious.
Kokimina: "Koki! Go get dad!"
Her little brother Kokiruko comes back with their dad.
Abel: "Leave them."
Kokimina: "What?! You're not going to help them?!"
Abel: "They are outsiders! We don't help their kind! They're the ones with all this power, why do they need us?! They don't help us, why should we?!"
Kokimina: "Dad, they are the ones trying to protect us. We can't just let them die!"
Abel: "This world is filled with two kinds of people. Them and us. You know what the difference is? It's the fact they they are given power and what do they choose to do with it? Nothing but war! Hatred! Greed! All of this is because of power! You have us. Weak! Helpless! Trying to live normal lives, but we get roped in to their war! We lose, we suffer, we die! What do they do? Nothing to help what they've done to us! They will never get my help!"
Kokimina: "Fine! You have your morals! And I have mine!"
Kokimina tries to pick them both up, but she can't so she grabs Asuna first. Then her little brother comes and grabs Mest. She looks at him with a Why expression. He just smiles and they carry both of them to their house. When they lay them down she just looks at Kokiruko.
Kokimina: "Why did you help?"
Kokiruko just shrugs his shoulders and then leaves her alone. She grabs two rags and wets them with cool water and places them on both of their heads. She tries her best to tend to them hoping one of them or both will wake up soon.
It's been 7 months so far and Ziku is training trying to get better and trying his best to recover. He has a cast on his left arm and his ribs are wrapped, but he's still able to train. He does one arm pushups, pull-ups and trains with using his sword with his right arm. Kame trains hard as well, also working out and training his body to endure more and become more durable. Kenshi and Kame both test their limits and until they can't fight anymore until their body can't even move. All the students know their weaknesses and try to perfect ways they can turn those weaknesses into something that will nicer affect them. All they want is to overcome those weaknesses. Hiroyuki knows how he must train. He ask to be put in the academy fighting center and for them to turn the conditions on high. He stands at the center as the room gets extremely hot. He tries focusing his Chi flow and moving it to all points in his body so he can regulate his temperature. The main problem was heat draining his Chi, so he tries enduring it so his Chi can increase and he would be able to withstand it more and use his abilities to the best possible without his attacks being weak or ineffective.
Kanju knows he has to work on his fighting skills and not focus on just his ability. So he and Senpu work on their martial arts together becoming better fighters. Shizuko has Jiro, although Jiro wants to train with his brother, Shizuko insists he trains by himself. Shizuko wants to become stronger on his own and make his father proud of him for a change. Omoi helps and trains with Ziku sometimes, Omoi wants to make sure Ziku becomes healthy while also making himself stronger. Most of the other students train with their parents and or sensei's from the academy.
Natsumi sees Ziku working day and night trying to get back to full strength.
Natsumi: "Ziku I get that you want to hurry and recover, but over exerting yourself like this isn't going to help. You need to balance training and rest."
Ziku turns around and looks at his mom. He doesn't say a word as he just falls back immediately being unconscious. Natsumi runs over to him trying to wake him up. She rushes him to the hospital and he's rushed to a room and quickly operated on. Natsumi pacing back and forth until a doctor comes out.
Doctor: "Good news is. His brain seems to be operating functionally, but you son is comatose."
Natsumi: "Comatose!?But how? Why!?"
Doctor: "Over exertion in his body. He constantly kept his body under tremendous amounts of stress, even before his injury."
Natsumi: "Let me see him."
She walks in and sees Ziku completely comatose. She walks over to him, grabs his hand and starts to cry.
Natsumi: "I'm here Ziku!"
Doctor: "I'm also sorry that I have to regret to inform you that when we looked at his brain stimuli and we gave an estimate to where he may be comatose for 6-8 weeks. And if he doesn't wake up after the 8th week, he could die."
Natsumi wipes her tears and then looks back at Ziku.
Natsumi: "He will wake up before then! I will not lose my Ziku too!"
Doctor tells Natsumi that visitor hours are over and that she must leave. She refuses.
Doctor: "Ma'am, I have asked you nicely. Please leave."
Natsumi: "I don't care what policies and laws you have to follow, I will not leave my child all alone here. I'm staying by his side no matter what!"
The doctor calls for Core members to come and escort Natsumi out. Members of the core arrive, the most of elite of the Core show up and they walk in to grab Natsumi. When they go in Natsumi releases White Aura with lightning flowing around her body. Her eyes even glow a bright white as she just looks at the Core members. Instantly they freeze and become terrified.
Natsumi: "You will not take me away from my son!"
All the members end up being too afraid to do anything calling her a freak and retreating. Natsumi calms down and everything goes back to normal, then the hospital just decides to let her stay.
Asuna is able to open his eyes and move around, but ever so slowly. Mest is still unconscious and Kokimina doesn't know what's wrong with him. Then she notices a mark on the back of his neck that seems to be spreading all over his body.
Asuna: "We have to stop the curse seal from spreading. It's draining more and more of his Chi while dark Chi is being replaced. If the curse fully spreads, Mest will become a puppet."
Kokimina: "How do we stop it!?"
Asuna: "I don't know. I still can't move my body. He's in your hands right now."
She can't believe that she hasn't even known Mest for more than 2 months, but here she is trying to save his life all on her own. She tries her best to stop the spread. Luckily for her it seems to be going at a slow pace for some reason. After a few days, Asuna is able to move again and he decides to help her.
Kokimina: "Asuna, this curse isn't just draining his Chi, it will eventually kill him. It's not going throughout his whole body, its attacking his heart. Once it does, he will be dead."
Asuna looks closely at the seal and tries to remember the one Kento had. After some time he realizes that there is a difference. Kento has a control seal, while Mest has a death seal. Kokimina starts to cry because she knows that there is nothing she can do to help Mest. A couple weeks go by and yet the seal hasn't stopped spreading. She doesn't know how, but she keeps slowing the process more and more.
Then on the other side of the country Ziku is still in his coma. Each day the room gets more and more crowded because of all the people visiting Ziku. Of course Omoi came. Jiro was there, with Kanju, Isamu, Kireina, and Aiko. All of the decide to stay with Ziku, putting a hold on their training to make sure Ziku comes out of the coma.
Within the coma, Ziku has a vision. He sees a silhouette and chooses to follow it. Every time he gets close, it turns to smoke and disappears. Finally he catches up to it and it doesn't move anymore. Instead it stands in the middle of a room just looking in Ziku's direction. It turns to the side, showing Ziku 5 other silhouettes with their eyes all glowing a different color. Ziku just stares confused at the meaning of what he is being shown.
Ziku: "What does this mean?"
Ziku tries to think of what any of this could mean. He even sits down in front of them staring with intensity. Then almost instantaneously he starts to hear his name. He looks behind and sees a light. He starts to walk towards it, when he looks back all the silhouettes are gone. He begins walking towards the light again. Then he hears another voice calling out to him telling not to walk towards the light and just wake up. He stops dead in front of the light, then swiftly moves towards the voice once he gets close to the voice he wakes up from his coma. Ziku jerks up out of his bed and starts hyperventilating. He looks over to see everyone who came. For a good 10 seconds the room is completely silent. Then Omoi runs over to him and hugs him. Omoi starts to cry along with Natsumi and Aiko. Ziku is confused looking around and seeing Jiro, Isamu, Kireina and Kanju all smiling at him.
Ziku: "Uhh, so what happened?"
Everyone starts talking all at once and it starts to hurt Ziku's head.
Ziku: "Ahh! Please! One at a time!"
Natsumi: "You slipped into a coma and we've all been waiting for you to come to. The doctor said you could be in a coma for quite some time, but once it hit the 8th week it would be impossible for you to wake up and you could die. Today was your last day Ziku! If you didn't wake up...."
Ziku: "I've been in a coma for 8 weeks?!"
Aiko: "Yes, we all hoped you'd wake up."
Ziku stares at Aiko and think to himself: "It was her voice!"
As he stares at her, she looks down and starts blushing.
Isamu: "Well now that you're awake. How about some training?!"
Everyone looks at Isamu and just stares at him. Isamu immediately gets scared.
Isamu: "It.. it was a joke!"
Ziku starts laughing and then it makes everyone else laugh.
Asuna walks back in the house and sees that Mest is finally awake.
Asuna: "Mest!"
Kokimina: "Yeah, he woke up this morning, but the seal still spreads."
Mest: "It's a weird feeling. Knowing you can die at any moment."
Kokimina: "You wont die! I'll make sure of it!"
Asuna and Mest both look at each other and become totally silent.
Kokimina: "I cant completely get rid of it and I'm sorry. What I can do is slow the effects indefinitely so it poses no real risk of killing you real soon."
Mest: "Really! You're amazing!"
Kokimina blushes.
Mest: "How long do you think?"
Kokimina: "I slowed the process, so you have 6 years until it really starts to attack at your heart. That's if you were to live a normal life. You being a warrior cuts you down to 3-4."
Mest: "So really, it's up to me huh?"
Asuna: "You have a decision to make."
Mest: "Well There's still so much I have to do for my brother. That way when I do die. He can finish what I started. I put all my faith in him."
Asuna: "Don't worry. He can do it."
Mest: "Well what happens now?"
Asuna: "Well, I guess I'm gonna visit my family. It's a two week journey to where they are."
Mest: "I'll stay here. Maybe Kokimina could hopefully find a way to reduce the time even more."
Asuna: "Yeah, Good luck!"
Mest: "Good luck to you!"
Kokimina: "Goodbye Asuna. Thank you for everything!"
Asuna nods at her and takes his leave.