Zang stirred awake to the sound of light chuckling. His vision, still blurred from sleep, focused slowly on a face hovering just inches from his own—Ikari, grinning mischievously and contorting his features into ridiculous expressions. His tongue stuck out to one side, one eye wide open while the other squinted shut.
In pure shock, Zang's reflexes kicked in. Without thinking, he swung his fist with a speed that belied his grogginess. Ikari, of course, caught it effortlessly, his hand clamping around Zang's knuckles like a vice.
"Whoa there, champ! What's with the hostility?" Ikari teased, feigning hurt feelings as he released Zang's hand.
"What the hell are you doing in my face!?" Zang shouted, his heart pounding as he sat upright in bed.
Ikari crossed his arms, leaning back casually. "You were mumbling in your sleep, and you were glowing. Figured I'd investigate. Can't have my little protégé turning into some kind of radiant lightbulb without me knowing why."
Zang blinked, his mind still fuzzy. "Glowing? I don't remember anything like that."
Ikari shrugged. "Eh, maybe you're just evolving. Or maybe you're dreaming of something spicy. Either way, it was funny." He clapped his hands together loudly, making Zang flinch. "Alright, enough beauty rest. Big day ahead. Up and at 'em!"
Groaning, Zang swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet meeting the cold floor. He grabbed his hammer and began strapping it to his back while Ikari, already dressed in his usual jeans and nothing else, waited by the door.
"You know, you could at least wear a shirt," Zang muttered as he tightened his straps.
Ikari smirked, flexing his arms in exaggerated poses. "Why cover perfection? I'd just make everyone jealous."
Zang rolled his eyes. "Let's just go."
As they stepped outside, the Demon Realm greeted them with its usual harsh beauty. Crimson skies stretched above a landscape of jagged black rocks and rivers of molten lava. Zang adjusted his hammer, the weight of it familiar and reassuring.
"Hey, Ikari," Zang started, breaking the silence as they walked, "what exactly did you put in me when we first met? That... thing you stabbed into me."
Ikari glanced over his shoulder, a grin forming. "Ah, you mean the Wrath Core?"
Zang nodded.
Ikari stopped, turning fully to face him. "Alright, here's the deal. When I was first appointed as the Commandment of Wrath, the Demon King himself gave me something special—a second endo core. The Wrath Core. It's not like the regular endo system; it's more volatile, more powerful. It's what gives me some of my more unique abilities."
"And you gave me a part of it?" Zang asked, furrowing his brow.
"Yup," Ikari said, poking Zang in the chest. "That little piece inside you? It's like a seed. Dormant for now. But once it starts to grow..." He spread his arms wide, mimicking an explosion. "Boom. You'll be on a whole new level."
Zang swallowed, unease creeping into his voice. "And if my body can't handle it?"
Ikari made the same explosion gesture but added a sound effect this time: "Kaboom. You turn into ash."
Zang groaned. "Great. No pressure."
Ikari slapped him on the back. "Relax, kid. That's why we're training. By the time it wakes up, you'll be more than ready. Trust me."
After an hour of trekking across the rough terrain, Ikari stopped abruptly. Without warning, he leapt into the air, his body lifting effortlessly until he hovered about thirty feet above the ground.
Zang stared up at him, dumbfounded. "What the—how are you doing that?"
Ikari grinned down at him. "What, flying? Anyone with endo hypersensitivity can do it. Didn't they teach you this stuff back home?"
"No!" Zang shouted, frustration creeping into his voice. "How do you expect me to follow you if you're just... floating away?"
Ikari sighed, descending slightly. "Alright, listen up. Flying's not that hard once you get the hang of it. Here's the trick: circulate your endo, like you normally do. Then, push it outside your body, let it wrap around you like a shell. Once you've got that, imagine it pulling you upward. It's like dragging yourself through the air."
Zang stared at him, skeptical but intrigued. He closed his eyes, focusing on his endo. He felt it coursing through his veins, then willed it to flow outward. A faint aura shimmered around his body.
"Good! Now, lift!" Ikari called.
Zang imagined the energy lifting him off the ground. To his surprise, his feet left the rocky surface. He hovered a few feet in the air, unsteady but undeniably airborne.
"Not bad, kid!" Ikari cheered. "Now, let's see if you can keep up!"
He shot off into the sky, leaving Zang scrambling to follow. The first few minutes were shaky—Zang wobbled and nearly crashed several times—but he gradually found his balance. Soon, he was soaring through the crimson skies alongside Ikari.
Their flight was interrupted by a deafening roar. A massive black dragon with glowing red eyes swooped toward them, its wings creating powerful gusts of wind.
"Uh, Ikari?" Zang called out, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yeah, I see it," Ikari replied casually, not even turning to look.
The dragon roared again, its jaws opening wide as it lunged toward them. Zang gripped his hammer tightly, his heart racing.
"Should we—"
Before he could finish, Ikari raised his hand. A swirling vortex of red, purple, and black energy formed in his palm. He clenched his fist, and the dragon's body suddenly erupted from within, a massive explosion tearing it apart.
The beast disintegrated, its remains scattering like ash.
Zang stared, his jaw dropping. "You didn't even flinch..."
Ikari grinned, patting Zang on the shoulder. "Like I said, experience. You'll get there someday."