As Aria delved deeper into the annals of history, recounting the tales of Enishi's unprecedented power and the struggles of those who dared to oppose him, Kaito's mind whirled with a mixture of fascination and apprehension. The thought of facing off against an adversary who had once transcended the very limits of Enes filled him with a sense of dread, yet he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope flicker within his heart at Aria's words.
"Enishi, back in the Heian Era, had reached beyond what we thought was the limit. He reached the pinnacle of Enes," Aria explained, her voice tinged with reverence as she spoke of their ancient foe. Kaito listened intently, his eyes widening with each passing moment as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of Enishi's power.
"But... He's not at his best state right now, as you said previously. That means we could stand a chance against him if we all fought against him," Kaito interjected, his voice filled with a newfound sense of determination. He couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps, just perhaps, they might have a fighting chance against their formidable adversary after all.
Aria shook her head, her expression grave as she dispelled any illusions of false hope. "No. We need to rely on a practisioner showing up that wields immense power," she asserted, her words carrying the weight of centuries of knowledge and experience. Kaito's heart sank as he realized the enormity of their task, knowing that their fate rested in the hands of fate itself.
"That's practically impossible," Kaito lamented, his voice tinged with frustration as he grappled with the harsh realities of their predicament. Aria remained steadfast, her gaze unwavering as she sought to instill a sense of hope within her companion's heart.
"No. Several powerful practitioners have existed after the Heian Era," Aria countered, her voice filled with conviction as she spoke of the countless heroes who had risen to prominence in the wake of Enishi's reign of terror. "They obviously couldn't compete against Heian Era practitioners, but per era, there would be at least 1 powerful individual that would dominate the era... Therefore, we should hope this happens now."
As Kaito listened to Aria's words, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope blossoming within his heart. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance that they might yet emerge victorious against Enishi.
As Kaito and Aria delved deeper into their discussion, the weight of their responsibilities hung heavy in the air, each revelation serving as a stark reminder of the daunting challenges that lay ahead. Aria's words carried a sense of wisdom, yet even she couldn't help but acknowledge the inherent uncertainty of their situation.
"However, the chance of it happening right when we need it the most is difficult," Aria admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation. Kaito listened intently, his mind racing as he considered the implications of her words. The thought of relying on the appearance of a single individual to turn the tide of battle seemed almost too fantastical to comprehend, yet he couldn't deny the logic behind Aria's reasoning.
"Why?" Kaito asked, his brow furrowing with confusion as he sought to unravel the mysteries of their predicament. Aria sighed softly, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the confines of their surroundings.
"Because the practitioner would need to have already been born and grown up to be at least 14 years old," Aria explained, her words heavy with the weight of inevitability. "We can't drag a newborn into the battlefield and throw it in the front lines."
Kaito nodded in understanding, a sense of clarity dawning within his mind as he grappled with the harsh realities of their situation. The thought of placing such a burden upon the shoulders of a child filled him with a profound sense of unease, yet he knew that they had little choice but to place their hopes in the hands of fate.
"That... Makes sense. But, how would we know that such an individual has already been born?" Kaito inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity as he sought to glean whatever insights he could from Aria's vast reservoir of knowledge.
"I don't know everything," Aria conceded, her expression betraying a hint of frustration at the limitations of her own understanding. "The Divine Council, the Prime Minister of Japan, or someone associated with such things should know how to detect them. I managed to gather that much information solely because Ren told me."
Kaito nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities as he considered the myriad of avenues available to them in their quest for answers. Ren's influence had proven invaluable thus far, and Kaito couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Ren for his unwavering support in their time of need.
"Ren has been really handful," Kaito remarked with a wry smile.
As Kaito and Aria contemplated the looming specter of impending conflict, the weight of uncertainty hung heavy in the air, each question serving only to deepen the shadows that enveloped their thoughts. With the threat of Enishi and Haruka's imminent return casting a pall over their every move, the prospect of an all-out assault seemed increasingly inevitable with each passing moment.
"Do you think Enishi and Haruka will attack anytime soon?" Kaito ventured, his voice tinged with a note of apprehension as he broached the subject that weighed heavily upon his mind. Aria paused for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought as she considered the implications of his inquiry.
"I don't know," she admitted, her tone tinged with uncertainty as she struggled to piece together the fragments of information that had been gleaned from their sources. "Ren told me that they're doing something in the prefecture of Tokyo and did not inform me of anything else."
Kaito nodded solemnly, his thoughts swirling with a maelstrom of apprehension and doubt as he contemplated the true nature of their adversaries' intentions. The notion of Enishi and Haruka making their move sent a shiver down his spine, the ever-present sense of foreboding weighing heavily upon his heart.
"What could Enishi be planning?" Kaito wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper as he voiced the question that lingered at the forefront of his mind. Aria's expression darkened with concern, her gaze distant as she wrestled with the enigma that was Enishi's machinations.
"To be honest, I think Haruka is the manipulator," Aria mused, her words laden with the weight of her convictions as she voiced her suspicions. Kaito fell silent, his mind racing as he grappled with the implications of her assertion.
"I don't know..." Kaito admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as he struggled to come to terms with the grim reality of their situation. "But one thing is for certain, Enishi is the biggest threat."
Aria nodded in agreement, her expression grave as she acknowledged the gravity of their predicament. With the specter of Enishi looming large on the horizon, the prospect of defeating him seemed increasingly daunting with each passing moment.
"Let's assume we somehow manage to defeat Enishi at the cost of taking heavy casualties," Aria proposed, her voice tinged with a note of uncertainty as she voiced her concerns. "How would we possibly defeat Haruka, or the female?"
Kaito fell silent, his thoughts consumed by the magnitude of the challenge that lay ahead. With their enemies poised to strike at any moment, the path forward seemed fraught with peril, each step fraught with uncertainty as they sought to navigate the treacherous waters of their uncertain future.