The tension in the room was palpable. Reiji's siblings were visibly shaken by the revelation that Aido had a spirit contract. This explained his ability to deflect the attack. Nagisa, Haruto, Renji, Sora, and Daiki all had spirit contracts, making them stronger than Reiji-a fact they knew from their spiritual auras, except Reiji's.
Nagisa, ever the thinker and observer, furrowed his brow as he processed the situation. "Yuan energy," he mused, "is vital in this world. It strengthens both the body and the soul of all living and dead beings. Mastery of Yuan comes in tiers, with the basic tier allowing one to contract simple spirits and so on."
Despite Reiji's high mastery of Yuan, Nagisa couldn't understand why he hadn't acquired a spirit. "If Reiji's Yuan was at an Advanced Tier, he should have been able to obtain a spirit. Why didn't he seek one out? Spirits are ranked by classes and tiers-Mortal Class spirits are the most basic, with tiers ranging from 1 to 10. Each class and tier is determined by various factors, including time, emotions, and surroundings. When a human contracts a spirit, they gain unique properties but at a cost. Higher-class spirits demand more, sometimes even the destruction of an entire planet. My own spirit is Mortal Class, Tier 6. What's Reiji's goal, especially considering he has no spirit and still deflected the attack?"
Nagisa gripped his kunai tightly, a slight smile and sneer tugging at his lips as he looked towards Aido.
"Woooooo! Now this is what I like-a bit of uncontrolled violence, haha!" Haruto, always the wildcard, exclaimed as he drew his long, thin, sharp short sword. The moonlight reflected off the blade, revealing a bit of blood and red flames that danced along its edge.
Sora, with his flowing black hair and sharp eyes, took a moment to study Reiji before drawing his katana with a heavy sigh.
Daiki remained stoic, a neutral observer, but Renji could sense the deceit in his eyes. Daiki was cunning, waiting for the right moment to strike and minimize trouble.
As the situation escalated, Aido charged at Reiji with reckless abandon.
"Breathe, breathe. This will be overwhelming, but they won't be my downfall!" Reiji declared, drawing his katana from its purple scabbard. The blade, silverish-black, reflected the moonlight, combining with Reiji's cold, purple eyes to exude an aura of killing intent.
Nagisa's hand moved swiftly, releasing countless kunai aimed at Reiji. At this moment, a snap echoed through the room. The sound came from Shinjai, the patriarch, who had been observing with an amused yet irritated expression. Shinjai triggered a dramatic transformation. The room collapsed, contracting and expanding rapidly, turning every object into sharp shards. The shards flew past each sibling, grazing Aido's cheek and drawing blood-a clear warning of his expendability.
Renji, ever the loyalist, knelt before Shinjai with respect and reverence. Haruto, irritated, followed suit. Aido, drenched in cold sweat, realized how close he had come to death.
The shards reassembled the room, restoring it to its previous state.
Shinjai's gaze swept across the room, his aura commanding respect and fear. "The reason Reiji hasn't yet contracted a spirit is because it must be higher than Earth Class. If it were, it would share its pure essence with him, making him more attuned to higher-grade classes. But until then, he will rely solely on his own skills."
Shinjai's voice was cold and authoritative. "Next time you disrespect me, all of you, I will ensure you suffer before death. You only fight to kill when you are not in my presence!" His powerful aura filled the room, reflecting years of discipline and power.
As the scene settled back into uneasy silence, the soft patter of rain could be heard falling on the *kawara*-the traditional Japanese roof tiles. Aido furrowed his brow in frustration, hissing under his breath. He felt they had been so close to catching Reiji off guard. Shinjai, watching from his elevated seat, cast a cold, critical gaze at Aido and Reiji. Both of them displayed great potential, but it was a pity Aido had lost a few brain cells during childbirth. Otherwise, with his ruthlessness, he might have made a formidable patriarch. Haruto, however, would be far worse; he'd use the clan for his own ambitions, and if Haruto somehow managed to kill all of his siblings, Shinjai would have no choice but to kill him himself. The world had no shortage of women, after all. Fathering more heirs would be simple.
Just as Aido was about to speak, to retaliate with his sharp tongue, a knock echoed through the room. An elderly servant entered, bowing low as he presented a sealed note marked with a black raven-the Kuroshiro family crest, used only for the most confidential matters.
Shinjai took the note, his cold gaze lingering on his children for a moment longer before he opened it. As his eyes scanned the contents, his expression changed. The blood drained from his face, and his teeth clenched, rage flickering behind his narrowed eyes. The shift in his aura was immediate and palpable. Reiji's siblings could feel it; even their contracted spirits seemed unsettled, wailing faintly within their bonds, as though recoiling from Shinjai's overwhelming presence and the fury of his own spirit.
"Return to your seclusions," Shinjai commanded, his voice tight, betraying the gravity of the situation. "I will share the information I intended to... later. Now is not the time."
His voice, though controlled, cracked slightly, hinting at the severity of whatever the message contained.
Reiji, ever observant, knew something was deeply wrong. He couldn't pinpoint what, but he sensed that whatever was written in that note had the potential to reshape everything they were preparing for. Shinjai would only dismiss them if the situation was truly dire-something that threatened not just the clan but his very life as patriarch.
One by one, Reiji and his brothers rose, exchanging cruel, lingering glances filled with mutual distrust and the murderous intent they had known since childhood. Bloodshed was their language, contempt their legacy.