After everything—the Trial by Combat, their first mission, and their sudden promotion to Iron Seekers—the team had finally earned a moment to breathe.
With the final trial, Trial by Mercy, just weeks away, Seekers were allowed time to visit family before their last test to advance in rank.
For most, it was a moment of rest, of returning home before stepping into the fire again.
For Kai, there was no home to return to.
The Team Splits for the First Time
Standing at the edge of the Seeker Headquarters, Aria slung a bag over her shoulder, smirking. "First time we're all splitting up, huh?"
Rin adjusted his cloak. "Won't be long. Two weeks at most."
Lila smiled, a soft excitement in her expression. "I haven't seen my family since I left for the trials. Can't wait to tell them everything."
Kai simply nodded. He understood. He wasn't jealous—he had long since accepted his solitude. But a part of him… felt it. The absence of a place to call home, of people waiting for him.
Lila noticed his silence. "Kai, are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
He shook his head. "I need to train."
Aria nudged him with her elbow. "Of course you do. You and training go together like fire and oxygen."
Kai smirked slightly. "Something like that."
As the team exchanged their final goodbyes, they dispersed into the city, heading toward their families.
Kai, however, turned back toward the Seeker compound.
William was waiting.
William "Wolf" Lancaster stood atop one of the training towers, arms crossed, the wind whipping against his cloak. He grinned the moment Kai approached.
"Didn't feel like leaving, huh?"
Kai shook his head. "The monks are too far away. And training is more important."
William laughed. "Of course it is." He turned, gesturing for Kai to follow. "C'mon. We've got work to do."
As they walked through the secluded training grounds, William's expression shifted. It was rare for him to be completely serious, but now? There was something deeper in his gaze.
"I know what it's like."
Kai glanced at him. "What?"
William exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not having anywhere to go. Nowhere to return to."
Kai didn't respond, but his silence was an answer.
William smirked. "Master Elric took me in, same as you. Taught me everything I know." He paused, eyes sharp. "But even before that, I had something. You know what it was?"
Kai shook his head.
William grinned.
"An obsession."
He gestured to the training field. "I trained like a madman. Every single day, every single night. I studied Muti like it was my lifeblood. I was relentless. Because if I wasn't strong, then I was nothing."
Kai understood. More than words could explain.
William nodded at him, reading the recognition in his eyes. "That's why I like you, Kai. You're the same."
A pause. Then, his grin widened.
"So let's put that obsession to good use."
Legendary Training Begins
For the next two weeks, Kai and William trained like demons.
There was no holding back.
Kai fought at his absolute limit, pushing his Bodhi Muti further than ever before.
William, a master of Dream, Ruin, and Abyssal Muti, created impossible battle scenarios, forcing Kai to adapt or die.
Every single day was a war—a war against his limits, against his exhaustion, against his doubts.
William was merciless.
He warped the battlefield, creating illusions that felt real.
He forced Kai into no-win situations, pushing his mind to think beyond instinct.
He countered Kai's every move, proving that sheer power wasn't enough—it had to be refined.
And yet, through the struggle, through the exhaustion, through the brutal lessons—
Kai grew stronger.
Faster.
Sharper.
On the final night of training, Kai stood in the center of the battlefield, shirtless, his body covered in bruises and sweat. His muscles ached, his mind was hazy, but he had never felt more alive.
William stood across from him, arms crossed, watching him with an almost proud glint in his eyes.
"Not bad, kid."
Kai exhaled. "I'm ready."
William smirked. "Yeah… I think you are."
Then, his grin faded.
"But it won't be enough."
Kai's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
William's expression turned serious. "Trial by Mercy is different." He exhaled, looking at the night sky. "You think it's just another test. Another fight." He looked back at Kai, his golden eyes sharp.
"It's not."
Kai felt a shift in the air.
Something deeper.
Something he wasn't prepared for.
William's voice dropped.
"Trial by Mercy will change everything."
The Day of the Trial
The Seeker Association Headquarters was alive with energy. Seekers from across the city, winners of the Trial by Combat, had returned, each one carrying new experiences, fresh techniques, and sharpened resolve.
The final test—Trial by Mercy—was about to begin.
At the center of it all, Kai, Aria, Rin, and Lila stood together once again.
Aria stretched, cracking her knuckles, grinning as she looked over her team. "Damn, it's good to be back."
Lila laughed. "It's only been a couple of weeks, Aria."
Aria shrugged. "Yeah, but look at us. We ain't the same people who left."
Rin adjusted his cloak, his Viatra Eyes gleaming faintly, a sign that his power had shifted in ways none of them could fully understand yet.
Kai, standing slightly apart, felt it too.
They had all changed.
Aria smirked. "Alright, let's hear it. What's everyone been working on?"
Lila's Vitalis-Elemental fusion had evolved, now allowing her to temporarily boost her teammates' physical limits while healing simultaneously. "Turns out, I can give y'all a little 'second wind' in battle."
Rin folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "You have no idea what I unlocked."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"
Rin's Viatra Eyes flickered—a brief shift in color, deeper, darker.
For a fraction of a second, his entire aura shifted. Something overwhelming. Something predatory.
Then it was gone.
"Second stage." Rin simply stated. "Now? I can see beyond movement, beyond Muti. And with my mastery over all my Muti… it's a whole new game."
Aria whistled. "Damn. Second stage already?"
Rin didn't answer. He simply smirked.
Kai, meanwhile, exhaled slowly, glancing at his own hands. His training with William had pushed him to the absolute limit.
And beyond it.
He had felt something.
Something different.
Something dormant, now awakening.
A transformation he hadn't fully tested.
Aria nudged him. "What about you, Kai?"
Kai's smile was small. Confident.
"Just watch and see."
For a second, Aria caught something in his eyes—something deep, something unreadable.
And for the first time, she hesitated.
What the hell had Kai unlocked?
Before the team could continue, the massive monitors across Seeker HQ flickered.
Breaking news.
The Red Order's attack on Dune City played in full view of everyone.
Seekers across the hall fell into silence, watching the destruction unfold.
Yobokari's image flashed across the screen, his speech shaking the world.
The city's last defenders falling.
Buildings collapsing in an instant.
A statement from the Voyager Association followed.
"The Red Order is now recognized as the single greatest threat to global stability."
Tension filled the room.
Kai clenched his fists. They were moving.
Rin narrowed his eyes. "They took a country. They took a damn country."
Aria's jaw tightened. "And if they come for us?"
Kai exhaled, his resolve unshaken. "Then we stop them."
The news ended, but the energy in the hall remained heavy.
The Red Order had made their move.
But today?
Today belonged to the Seekers.
The Trial by Mercy awaited.
And they would not fall.
The in perfect harmony, sending a ripple through the world's energy field, granting every Muti user an unprecedented surge in power.
No limits.
No drawbacks.
Just pure, unrestricted potential.
The phenomenon was known as "The Natural Embrace."
For a single day, humanity touched the pinnacle of its power.
And today?
Today was also the day of the "Trial by Mercy."
The final test.
The defining moment.
The stage where the next legends of the Seeker Association would rise.
The streets of the Seeker capital buzzed with energy.
Vendors filled the roads, selling exotic weapons, Muti-infused relics, and once-in-a-lifetime artifacts that could only be found during The Natural Embrace.
Musicians played hypnotic rhythms, while performers demonstrated elemental dances, controlling fire, wind, and water with an artistry that felt almost divine.
Seekers from all over the world gathered in the city, warriors, scholars, and rulers alike, all here to witness the Trial by Mercy.
But in the middle of all of it?
Kai and his team walked through the festival
Back together after weeks apart.
But instead of their usual banter—Lila and Aria were fuming.
Aria crossed her arms, doing everything in her power not to look upset. "So… let me get this straight."
She exhaled sharply, looking at Kai. "You just happened to spend two weeks training under William Wolf Lancaster?"
Kai blinked. "…Yeah?"
Lila looked personally offended.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD KILL FOR THAT!?" she shouted, shaking Kai by the collar. "WILLIAM. WOLF. LANCASTER! Do you even realize what you've done!?"
Kai sighed. "Why is this a big deal?"
Lila stared at him in disbelief. "Oh my god. He doesn't understand."
Aria shook her head. "No. He doesn't understand."
Lila was a super fan.
Aria was a secret fan.
Both were insanely jealous.
Lila pointed aggressively. "He's only one of the greatest fighters alive! He's fought side by side with Master Elric! He's fought against Master Elric! His movement alone has been studied by hundreds of elite warriors! His technique, his mastery, his—"
Kai slowly pried her hands off his collar. "…He's just a guy?"
Lila collapsed dramatically. "You wasted the opportunity of a lifetime."
Aria scoffed, trying to hide her irritation. "Of course you get to train with him."
Kai shrugged. "He just trained me like normal."
Aria's eye twitched. "Normal?"
Lila groaned. "Did he teach you any secret techniques?"
Kai smirked slightly. "Maybe."
Aria and Lila froze.
Kai started walking toward the Seeker Colosseum, hands in his pockets.
"Guess you'll just have to watch and see."
Aria clenched her fists. "Oh, you know I will."
Lila looked physically ill.
Rin watched them, shaking his head. "This team is insane."
The Shadow of The Red Order
Before they could continue, the massive monitors across Seeker HQ flickered.
Breaking news.
The Red Order's attack on Dune City.
The entire city fell into silence as the broadcast played:
Yobokari standing in the flames, his Viatra Eye glowing.
Seekers falling effortlessly.
A nation kneeling to the Red Order.
A single phrase: "The greatest threat to global stability."
A weight filled the air.
Aria narrowed her eyes. "They're moving faster than we thought."
Rin exhaled. "And we're not ready."
Kai's fists clenched. They were coming.
But today?
Today belonged to the Seekers.
The Seeker Colosseum was a sea of energy, the air charged with anticipation. Every fifty years, The Natural Embrace awakened the world's strongest warriors, and tonight, it would also determine the future of the Seeker Association.
The Trial by Mercy was more than a test—it was tradition.
It was the final step for the next generation of Seekers to prove themselves.
And before the battles could begin, before the arena erupted into combat—the legends arrived.
A booming voice cut through the stadium.
"Seekers! Warriors! Witnesses of history!"
The moment Master Elric's voice echoed across the arena, the entire colosseum erupted into thunderous cheers.
At the top of the grand stage, standing on a massive elevated platform, Master Elric stood at the center, his presence undeniable.
Even from a distance, his golden cloak rippled like a celestial banner, his scarred yet ageless face unreadable.
This was the greatest Seeker alive.
And behind him?
The four greatest students he had ever trained.
General Rage the First – The strongest of Elric's students. A towering mountain of a man, clad in Seeker military armor, a massive colossal blade strapped to his back. His eyes—burning with an intensity that only war could forge.
Janoah "The Warlord" – Military Leader. The only man to ever defeat Master Elric in combat. His presence alone was enough to command the battlefield, his stance exuding calculated destruction.
William "Wolf" Lancaster – The Second Student. The Trickster. The Phantom. The Hunter. His signature smile never faded, but the sheer weight of his aura was suffocating.
Denzel "Starbreaker" Lamar – The Master of Celestial Muti. Unlike the others, he trained in only one thing—and perfected it. His Celestial Aura radiated blinding light, and the air around him bent under the weight of his infinite energy.
Lalia "The Water Demon" Butters – The Unstoppable Force of Nature. Her soft-spoken, bubbly demeanor betrayed her monstrous strength. Master of Water, Vitalis, Dream, Echo, and Primal Muti—her eyes glowed with limitless understanding of the world.
As they stood beside their legendary master, the energy in the arena became overwhelming.
These were the greatest warriors of this generation.
And now, they would announce the next.
Master Elric raised a single hand, silencing the crowd instantly.
Then, he spoke.
"Fifty years. That is how long it takes for the cosmos to align and gift us this moment."
His voice wasn't just loud—it carried weight.
"The Natural Embrace is not simply an event. It is a reminder."
The colosseum quieted, all eyes locked on him.
"For one night, Muti is limitless. For one night, we glimpse the peak of what is possible. And for one night, we decide—who among us will rise? And who among us will be forgotten?
His gaze swept across the arena.
"The Trial by Mercy has always been the final step for Seekers seeking greatness. Tonight, we witness the strongest of this generation take their place in history."
He extended his hand toward the battlefield.
"Tonight, they fight—not for survival, but for honor. Not for power, but for their legacy."
A pause. Then, his voice boomed.
"And so, Seekers… let the battles begin."
The Tournament Bracket
The massive golden projection flickered, revealing the names of those who had qualified.
The crowd cheered as each name was displayed, and fighters across the arena stood, weapons ready.
Among them—Kai, Aria, Rin, and Lila.
They had fought their way to this moment.
Now, they would face the strongest of their generation.
And soon?
They would stand before legends.
The first match was about to begin.
And somewhere in the distance, high above in the night sky, the planets slowly continued to align—counting down to the moment where Kai's true power would be revealed.
As the roar of the colosseum raged on, and Master Elric's words still echoed in the air, Kai stood completely still.
His name hadn't been called yet.
But his mind?
It wasn't here.
A memory surfaced—clear, vivid, as if he was living it again.
A flashback to his training with William.
The sky had been dark that night, stars endless above them.
Kai stood in the middle of the Seeker training grounds, his body aching, his mind exhausted from days of relentless training.
William sat on a stone ledge, arms crossed, watching him with that damn smirk.
"You know," William began, his voice calm, "I see a lot of myself in you."
Kai wiped sweat from his brow. "Oh yeah?"
William chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Yeah. That same… obsession."
Kai didn't respond.
William's grin faded slightly. "You remind me of how I used to be. Before I figured out what real power was."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "And what is real power?"
William exhaled, stretching his arms. "Control." He leaned forward, locking eyes with Kai. "Not strength. Not speed. Not even Muti. Just… control."
A silence stretched between them.
Then, William smirked again. "Which is why… I'm gonna teach you something stupidly dangerous."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "…How dangerous?"
William laughed. "Put it this way: If you overuse it, you die."
Kai blinked. "…Okay."
William stood up, cracking his neck. "Alright, listen carefully."
He lifted a single hand—and the world changed.
The air shook.
The space around William bent.
And then—he disappeared.
Kai's heart slammed into his ribs.
William was gone.
But before Kai could react, before he could even blink—
Light exploded behind him.
William's foot stopped inches from Kai's skull.
The sheer force of the movement sent a shockwave through the air, but William hadn't even made contact.
Kai's eyes widened.
William grinned, stepping back. "See? Control."
Kai swallowed. "What… was that?"
William held up two fingers. "Sage Mode."
The air around him shimmered, his hair slightly glowing, his eyes radiating golden light.
William walked forward, and with every step, he seemed weightless. Timeless. Like he was beyond physical limits.
"This is a combination of four Muti types—Primal, Elemental, Celestial, and Aura."
Kai frowned. "Aura?"
William nodded. "It's what separates true masters from everyone else."
He exhaled, eyes glowing. "Aura is the energy that exists within all living things. Unlike Muti, it's not tied to the world. It's tied to you. It's your presence, your will, your essence manifested."
He clenched his fist—and suddenly, light formed in his palm.
A blade of pure energy.
Yet, when he passed it to Kai, it felt like he was holding nothing.
Kai's fingers went through it, like light wasn't meant to be held.
**"In Sage Mode, you don't just use light."**William's voice was quiet now. "You become it."
Kai's breath caught.
William crossed his arms. "This isn't something you can master overnight. Hell, I can barely hold it for longer than a few minutes without burning myself out."
He looked Kai dead in the eyes.
"If you use it wrong, your body will shatter before your soul even realizes it's dead."
Kai slowly nodded. "…Got it."
William smirked. "But if you get it right? If you learn to master it?"
He gestured to the stars above them.
"Then even the heavens will struggle to contain you."
Back to Reality – The Trial Begins
The flashback ended—but Kai's body still felt the memory.
The colosseum roared as the next fighters entered the ring.
He exhaled slowly.
Sage Mode.
It wasn't ready yet.
He had barely scratched the surface.
But soon…
Soon, they'd all see it.