The next day, in their usual training spot deep in the forest, Elijah perched on a tree branch, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. Although he wouldn't admit it, uncertainty gnawed at him. Below, Kai lounged in the sunshine, absent-mindedly basking until a rustle caught his attention.
A figure emerged, wearing a mask and moving with elegant grace. "Hey, guys," she greeted cheerfully, waving her hand.
"You're late," Kai remarked.
"Or," she teased with a sly smile beneath her mask, "you could just say you missed me and were eagerly awaiting my arrival." Kai tensed, visibly annoyed by her teasing. Ignoring his reaction, she turned to Elijah. "How are you, Elijah?"
Elijah glanced at her, snapping out of his reverie. "Oh, you're here. Let's get started." He hopped down from the tree, prompting Kai to reluctantly rise. Sensing Kai's reluctance, Elijah added, "It's just a recap, Kai. You can go back to sleep soon enough."
"Fine," Kai grumbled. "So, tomorrow is our big rank-up. I'll be facing Rank 500, and you'll take on Rank 501. These two have held their positions for years, blocking those below from advancing. Since we're under Rank 500, we can't challenge anyone in the 400s. We've got a week to prepare, and the best way to get stronger is through battle."
"But why are you guys picking fights with E+ or D- rank opponents when you're only F+?" she asked, puzzled. "Are you planning to get yourselves killed?"
"No, we're not planning to die," Elijah reassured her with a smile that quickly faded. "The real reason is... I'm struggling to break through, like something is holding me back, and I can't figure out what."
"I think I know why," Kai interjected.
"Really?" Elijah raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Kai nodded. "Being of Oni descent, I can sense negative emotions. I don't feel any from Elijah, but your heart is emitting suppressed negative emotions of hurt, revenge, and pain. It's often called a 'demon heart' or an unstable foundation."
"Oh, you mean his emotions are affecting his origin foundation," Julia said, understanding.
"Exactly," Kai continued.
Julia elaborated, "This phenomenon is known to both demons and angels. It involves negative and positive energies, often referred to as Yin and Yang."
Kai added, "This imbalance is rare. The only way to fix it is by letting go of hate or satisfying it. And by the way, Yin and Yang aren't the same as positive and negative energy."
"Anyway, how do you know all this?" Kai asked, surprised by Julia's knowledge.
Julia remained silent, prompting Kai to sigh. "Alright, don't tell me."
Meanwhile, Elijah pondered their conversation. 'So that's why my heart has been aching. If that's the case, it's easily fixable.' He chuckled inwardly. 'Hey, Alter-me, did you know about this?'
Alter Elijah's voice echoed in his mind. [Yeah.]
'Why didn't you say anything?' Elijah exclaimed.
[Did you even ask? It's your body. How could you not notice the accumulation of negative energy at your heart?] Alter Elijah retorted.
'I thought it was happening at my core, not my heart. You should have warned me. What if—' Elijah was cut off.
[It wouldn't have mattered. The Negative energy in your heart is being purified automatically. I suggest you absorb the Negative energy and purify it into Yang Chi.] Alter Elijah advised calmly.
Elijah refocused on the conversation outside his mind. "Why did you say it was rare?" he asked after a brief pause.
"Because it only happens to those with a Yin or Yang physique, and even then, it's still rare," Kai explained.
Elijah nodded, contemplating his next move. "Are there any differences between Yin and Yang and negative and positive energies?"
"I'm not sure," Kai admitted. "But I've heard there are many differences. Maybe you should consult someone more knowledgeable about this."
'I'll ask Miss Amy about those energies later,' Elijah decided, excusing himself. "You two can continue sparring. I need to sort this out for a moment."
"Alright," Julia acknowledged as Elijah returned to his spot under the tree.
"Have fun, you two," Elijah said with a grin as they resumed their training.