After 10 years...
Among the towering mountains, far from any residential area, fierce fire tornadoes surge toward a man who tries to evade them, However, they scorch his arm, leaving burns, and the intense heat of the atmosphere leaves him dehydrated.
All of this... because of that fiery boy.
he quickly healed himself and returned to the fight.
Gara: "Hey, Flame! Could you lower your temperature a little? I feel like I'm getting roasted here."
Jack, unfazed: "Aren't we supposed to learn how to fight in all weather conditions? I'm just helping you improve as well."
Gara: "Damn you, kid."
Jack smirks: "Looks like I'm going to defeat you today, huh?"
Gara: "Only in your dreams!"
Their battle intensifies, and Jack reaches his peak strength. Gara is the only person he can fight without fearing that he might kill him or succumb to the extreme heat he has learned to control.
Suddenly, Gara catches Jack off guard, delivering a deep cut to his leg. But Jack quickly channels his energy to heal the wound and resumes the fight.
(Healing wounds using energy is something Jack learned from Gara. Only those who reach a high level of strength can do this, as it requires storing massive amounts of energy to release into their cells upon injury. This ability allows them to heal mid-battle, with the speed of recovery depending on the amount of energy stored within their body.)
Four hours of relentless combat pass, and in the end, they reach a draw.
Jack: "I don't want a tie—I want your head, old man!"
Gara: "And I still have enough stamina to mess around with you a little longer, Flame. But... why don't you tell her that you'll be late today?"
Before Gara could finish his sentence, Jack was already soaring through the air, sprinting back home. He had just realized they were an hour late for Black.
Gara laughed heartily. That little girl, Black, had grown into a formidable fighter. Her punches were not something one could recover from easily. And the thing that angered her the most? When they were late for a meal or for coming home.
He quickly followed after Jack, not wanting to delay any further.
When Jack arrived home, he found Black had just finished preparing dinner. He was a complete mess—exhausted, his clothes torn from battle.
Black: "Welcome back... Go wash up first, then come eat."
Jack, grinning: "Black, what did you cook for us? I'm starving!"
Black: "I made your favorite meal... and the master's too."
Jack: "What?! Why did you make his favorite meal?"
Black: "Jack."
Jack: "Yes?"
Black, in a strict tone: "Are you going to take a shower, or will you spend the rest of the day without food?"
Jack: "I'm showering now!"
He rushed to his room immediately.
Black smiled at him before turning to Gara, who entered a moment later.
Black: "You're late, Uncle Gara."
Gara: "I was just making sure no one had crossed the barriers around the mountain."
Black grabbed a cup of juice and handed it to him.
Black: "Here, Master, drink some juice. You're as dry as a leaf."
Gara: "Thank you, Bee."
After finishing his drink, Gara remarked: "This tastes great… What did you add to it today, Bee?"
Black smiled mischievously: "The same thing you added to the water this morning before you left."
Gara froze in shock—Black had become nearly impossible to fool.
She then handed him an antidote.
Gara: "Alright… What is it this time?"
Black: "It's the poison of the Black Azima plant. It's colorless and odorless."
Jack: "Old man, you can't trick her anymore! Damn, I've lost count of how many times you've poisoned us before. Were you trying to kill us?"
Gara, completely unfazed by Jack's complaints, simply walked to the dining table.
Gara: "Come on, Bee, I'm hungry."
They all sat down to eat, and after finishing their meal, Gara told them to get ready to head out that day.
Each of them went to their room to prepare, and soon after, they set off toward one of the nearby cities.
Gara took them to many places to help them learn about the world. His teaching them four different languages made it easier for them to travel to numerous destinations.
In the City of Baiman
Black was moving from one shop to another, shopping for their necessities. Afterward, they headed to the market.
While Black was picking out some fruits, Jack and Gara stood aside, carrying the shopping bags and chatting.
Black wandered a little further from them to buy the rest of the items.
A group of men noticed her.
One of them smirked: "Wow, look at that beauty over there."
Black was stunning, her long hair flowing down her back. She wore a pink blouse and white pants.
The men approached the fruit stall where she stood.
Jack noticed them and was about to go beat them up, but Gara stopped him.
Jack: "What are you doing?! Why are you stopping me?!"
Gara: "This is her problem. Let her handle it herself."
Jack, coldly: "Don't you know what those bastards are thinking?"
Gara, indifferent: "She can take care of it herself."
He held Jack firmly, preventing him from going over.
One of the men spoke to the fruit vendor.
Man: "I'll pay for the lovely lady here."
Without even looking at him, Black extended her hand to pay for the fruit. But when one of the men tried to grab her hand, she swiftly caught his wrist and twisted it with such force that he felt it might break. He collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain.
Seeing this, the other two men attempted to attack her using the elements of wood and wind.
However, she easily blocked their attacks without even using her energy.
Gara had trained them to fight with their bare hands, without relying on their powers, increasing their endurance against attacks.
She kicked one of the men while still holding the other, then shoved him aside and delivered a punch that knocked him to the ground.
Meanwhile, Gara noticed another fight breaking out nearby, where someone seemed seriously injured. He told Jack to go help the man, but Jack ignored him, focusing entirely on Black's situation while still struggling to break free from Gara's grip.
The third man tried to sneak up behind her, aiming to strike her with a wind attack.
Black dodged him, which infuriated the man, and he spat out a vulgar insult.
That was the final straw—Gara could no longer hold Jack back.
In an instant, Black saw the man's tongue flying through the air, blood splattering everywhere.
She stood frozen in shock at what had just happened. Jack had made up his mind—he was going to kill all three of them.
Gara couldn't interfere anymore—his hands had been burned from holding Jack back. He had known this would happen. Jack completely lost control whenever it came to Black.
The moment those men laid eyes on her, Gara saw the shadow of death looming over them. And when one of them dared to touch her hand, Jack became a raging volcano.
Deciding to leave that volcano to Black, Gara turned to check on the injured man from the other fight.
Jack was about to cut off the hand that had reached for Black when she snapped out of her shock and grabbed him.
Black, screaming: "Stop! Jack, stop!"
She then turned to the terrified men, who were frozen in fear.
Black, angrily: "What the hell are you doing, idiots?! Run for your lives! Take your friend and get out of here!"
Jack, his fury still burning: "Black, let me go."
He struggled to break free, but she held onto him tightly, refusing to let him move.
Jack didn't want to use his full strength to break free, fearing he might hurt her. So, he decided to burn them all with his fire instead.
But Black sensed what he was about to do.
Black, pleading: "Jack, please don't… Please, Jack, don't kill anyone. I beg you, don't do this for my sake."
Jack felt her fear—not fear of the men, but fear for him. She didn't want him to become a killer because of her.
After everything that had happened, she doubted those men would ever approach another woman again.
Slowly, Jack started regaining control. He steadied his breathing, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, fighting the urge to kill.
Gara, watching everything unfold, was not pleased. He had already decided what he would do once they got back.
When Jack opened his eyes, he had fully calmed down. He smiled gently at Black, a stark contrast to his earlier murderous intent, and patted her head.
Jack: "Black, relax. I won't hurt them, okay? I promise."
Then, he shot the men a deadly glare.
Jack: "Get lost."
The two remaining men quickly grabbed their bleeding friend and fled.
Jack then turned back to Black, his demeanor instantly shifting. He started teasing her to distract her from what had just happened.
His tactic worked—she laughed at his words, her fear melting away.
Then, he told her to sit down while he picked up the fallen fruit with the vendors.
Black wanted to help, but he refused, not wanting her to see the blood-covered fruit or the bloodstains on the ground.
Jack ignored her protests, lifted her up effortlessly, and placed her on a seat a little distance away.
Jack, firmly: "Stay here and don't move."
Black wanted to argue, but Jack shot her a stern look, making her rethink it.
She pouted but nodded.
Black: "Fine, I won't move from here."
Jack smiled and patted her head.
Jack: "Good girl. Stay put. I'll be right back, okay?"
Black: "Alright. I promise I won't move an inch."
Jack went to pick up the scattered goods and apologized to the stall owners, who were trembling in fear.
One moment, he had been a merciless killer; the next, he was smiling, looking like an innocent angel.
Jack had sharp, striking features, a muscular build, and a serious demeanor. But the deadly aura surrounding him made the vendors too terrified to even breathe in his presence.
Once he finished gathering their things, he paid for the damage he had caused and for their purchases.
When he returned, Black was waiting for him with Gara, who still looked displeased with what had happened.
Gara: "Black, do we need anything else?"
Black: "No, Master. We've bought everything."
Jack: "Bee, do you want to go—"
Gara interrupted him: "Home."
Jack: "Why are we going back now?"
Gara: "Black, let's go home."
He picked up the bags and turned to leave, not giving them a chance to argue.
Black: "Jack, let's go back this time. Next time, we'll visit many places, okay?"
Jack: "Alright, let's go."
They used their energy to return home.
On the way, Gara reminisced about the past ten years and how difficult it had been to train Black because of Jack. Jack feared even the slightest scratch on her, and they constantly argued. If Black hadn't been determined to train and always taken Gara's side during lessons, he wouldn't have been able to teach her anything.
Jack had only tolerated her training reluctantly. Sometimes, when Black got upset with him for interfering, he would force himself to accept it.
When they arrived home, Gara placed the bags in the kitchen and went straight to his room without saying a word.
Black knew he was angry about what had happened, so she decided to cook a meal he liked and have Jack apologize to him at the dinner table. She would also apologize for not handling the situation quickly enough.
She started preparing the food, with Jack helping her. Once they finished, they went to call Gara.
Black: "Jack, we need to apologize to Uncle Gara for what happened today."
Jack: "No, I won't. I did nothing wrong."
Black: "Seriously?! You almost killed someone today!"
Jack: "They deserved it."
Black: "Ahhh… My God, have mercy on me!"
She stomped her foot on the ground, then went to Gara.
Jack smiled at her reaction and followed behind her.
She knocked on the door.
Black: "Uncle, we've finished preparing the food. Come eat."
Gara came out to have dinner and found Jack standing beside her.
Jack: "Old man—"
Gara interrupted: "Let's eat first, then we'll talk."
Jack and Black: "Alright."
They finished their meal, cleaned up, and then Black prepared some drinks for them. They sat together, and Black sat beside Gara.
Black: "Uncle, I apologize for what happened today."
Gara looked at Jack: "Don't you have something to say?"
Jack: "I didn't—"
Black nudged him and whispered,
Black: "Jack, shut up and apologize."
Jack whispered back: "Why are you whispering?!"
Black: "Jack, apologize."
Jack sighed: "Old man, I apologize."
Gara: "I know you don't mean it, you little brat."
Jack stood up angrily: "Yes, because I did nothing wrong! They dared to look at her!"
His anger flared even more: "I should have gouged out their eyes and burned them alive afterward!"
Gara shouted: "Jack, have you lost your mind?! Yes, they deserved punishment, but not death! Black could have handled it herself without your help. Meanwhile, someone else actually needed help, but you ignored them. That is unacceptable! You can't just turn your back on someone in need!"
Black realized that Gara wasn't only angry about Jack's violent instincts but also because he ignored someone who truly needed help. Guilt filled her as she thought about how many people could have been hurt today because of her.
Jack scoffed: "That's not my responsibility."
He sat back down as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell on them.
At that moment, Gara's worst fears were confirmed—Jack only cared about two things: Black and revenge. Nothing else mattered to him.
Black was about to intervene, but Gara stopped her and told them to listen carefully.
Black: "What is it, Uncle?"
Gara: "I have finished training you both."
Jack and Black, shocked: "What?!"
A heavy silence filled the air, but their expressions spoke volumes.
Gara, calmly: "Jack, today you matched me in a fight. At your current level, you might stand a chance against them. And you, my dear, I have nothing more to teach you—you have become the best healer I have ever known."
Black's eyes welled with tears. She had always considered Gara a father figure. He had taken care of them for the past ten years, never once slacking in their training.
She knew this day would come. Gara had told them before that when he could no longer teach them anything new, he would send them out into the world alone. Their paths would diverge, and they would learn from life itself.
Black, in a choked voice: "No, Uncle, please… There are still so many things I haven't learned yet."
Gara: "My dear, you need to see what life is like beyond this place. Besides, I finished training you both a while ago—you know that."
He looked at Jack and Black with genuine parental affection.
Gara: "But parting with you is incredibly difficult for me."
Black hugged him tightly, sadness evident in her embrace.
Gara turned to Jack, who remained silent, not uttering a single word.
Gara continued: "There are many things you need to accomplish in the outside world before you fight the Organization."
Jack asked bluntly: "What are they?"
Gara: "Do you remember what happened ten years ago, when those men killed your family?"
They both answered: "Yes, we remember."
Gara: Simon killed them before confirming whether you bore the mark or not. Because of that, the leader of the organization ordered the execution of everyone on Simon's team. He also punished Simon with forty lightning strikes. He now has trouble using his left arm, and he has been demoted from a leader to a subordinate.
Jack: And so?
Gara: And so, the organization is hunting you both like rabid dogs. They want to know if you bear the mark. But they're not the only ones looking for you.
Black (shocked): They're not the only ones?! Who else?
Gara: The person who is the reason you both must leave.
Jack: Who?!
Gara: All you need to know is that he can push you both to an unimaginable level in using your energy.
Jack: And how do I find him?!
Gara: You won't find him. He will find you. But if he doesn't see what he's looking for, he won't accept you. You must show him what you showed me ten years ago.
Black: Uncle Gara, I don't understand a thing you're saying!! How can he be so desperate to find him, yet he might not even help him?
Gara: He won't help him if that fool fails to convince him that he is worth training.
Jack: And why must I convince him?
(Gara raises his hand towards Black and says:) So that she doesn't die. As for you—please try to get yourself killed.
Jack (coldly): And what did you see?
Gara: Something I cannot explain. Truly. It's not a secret or anything, but I know he will recognize it immediately if you show it. Now, let me tell you both a few things.
Black, no matter what happens—no matter what—do not use your energy unless absolutely necessary. Store it and conserve it, Bee. Train only once every six months to replenish blood during heavy bleeding. That training consumes a lot of energy; never neglect it. Develop your physical abilities and endurance. I don't want you to do anything else besides training in those two things. Promise me.
Jack: You old man…
Gara (interrupting firmly): Jack, don't you dare—don't you dare stop her from training.
Jack had always wondered why Gara focused so much on these two types of training for Black. He wasn't as concerned with teaching her combat to the same degree. He had objected to it because Black had to cut herself deeply and lose a lot of blood during training. But now, after seeing Gara's expression, he was certain that stopping Black from training was out of the question—even if he didn't agree with Gara's methods.
Black: Understood, Master. But until when?
Gara: When the right time comes, you'll know. You'll realize for yourself when you must stop.
As for you, Jack—never stop your training. Train whenever you have the time. Don't set a limit to what you can achieve. Now, go in or out—I want to speak with Black privately.
Jack was about to refuse, but she pushed him outside so she could listen to Gara.
As he left, he saw Gara motioning to his ears, signaling him to listen to the conversation from outside.
Gara (smiling): You know there's a reason I'm doing this, right? Leaving you both in the middle of all this is harder on me than carrying a mountain on my back.
Black: Uncle, how can I help Jack? Jack isn't a bad person, Uncle, he's just—
Gara (interrupting): I know. I know Jack isn't a bad person. But he's afraid for you. He sees himself as the reason your life is in danger, and he wants to protect you with everything he has. He sees you as the last person he has left from his family.
He hesitated before continuing, "Black, it would be easier for me to send Jack alone, but I'm still really hesitant about you."
Black: No, Uncle. I would never leave Jack behind. I'll go with him—I have my own score to settle with them.
Gara: Black, I'll ask you just one question.
Black: Go ahead.
Gara: Caesar got involved in this by choice. But you didn't. You've had to bear the consequences of your father's decision. You can stay with me—no one will be able to reach you here.
So now, it's your decision. Do you want to go with Jack, knowing that I can't guarantee your safety? Or do you want to stay here with me, far from the organization's harm?
Jack stood outside, anxiously waiting for Black's answer.
She responded confidently, without hesitation.
Black: I'll go with him. Uncle Gara, my father chose to stay by Uncle Edmund's side and accepted the consequences of his decision without an ounce of regret. And now, as you said, this is my choice.
I don't want to stay here and let Jack face those criminals alone. I have my own score to settle with them. This isn't Jack's fault, Uncle—it's my decision. We're in this together. This is our war, not just his.
Jack heard Black's response. His expression darkened with concern, and he walked to the garden to train for a while.
Gara: I knew you wouldn't stay here and leave that annoying little brat alone.
Black laughed at his words.
Gara (laughing): Keep your voice down.
Gara noticed Jack walking away. His expression turned serious.
Gara: There's another reason I'm doing this. Black, that man will not help Jack if he sees that Jack doesn't care about others, if he's indifferent to their suffering. If he sees that, he won't care about Jack's suffering either.
That's why I'm sending you with him. There's no one else Jack listens to, no one else he fears for, no one else he cares about like he does for you. And he's never refused you anything.
That's why I need you to help him. I need you to bring out the qualities he's buried deep inside himself so they don't distract him from his revenge. And that's my fault—I never realized the first lesson I taught him was to never intervene to save others if it would jeopardize his mission.
Gara looked away, avoiding her gaze, his expression filled with regret.
Gara (continuing, voice heavy): I didn't intervene to save your family when… when…
Black took his hand.
Black: Uncle, don't worry. I know you had your reasons.
Gara smiled at her and continued.
Gara: Black, that man is Jack's only hope for survival. What I saw in Jack back then was his love for his family and his desire to protect them. I saw a child who was passionate about life and loved it. But now… now, he's just a body moving for revenge.
Black nodded firmly, promising Gara that she would do everything in her power to bring Jack back to who he once was.
Her reluctance to leave had disappeared. She now understood—they had to go. Because saving her childhood friend depended on the success of this journey.
Gara stepped outside to find Jack training. He was so lost in thought that he had burned a tree without realizing it.
Using his water element, Gara extinguished the flames.
Gara: Jack, what's wrong with you, boy? Wake up.
Jack: I don't want her to come with me.
Gara: I know.
Jack: Then convince her to stay.
Gara: I can't. Why don't you try? You've always been the best at convincing her. She always listens to you.
Jack glared at him silently before turning and walking away.
Gara: Why are you angry now? If even you can't convince her, do you think I can?
Jack, you heard Black's words. She said this is your war, not just yours alone. You're not the only one who lost a family—she lost hers too.
For years, Bee has been training hard to avenge those who killed her loved ones. The only thing you can do now is find that teacher. He won't just train you—he'll train Black too, and better than I ever did.
Jack remained silent, refusing to respond.
Gara could see how conflicted he was. He decided it was best for everyone to take a break.
Gara: Go inside and get some rest. Your journey will be difficult starting tomorrow.
Jack shot him a quick glance before silently heading inside.
The Next Morning
Jack woke up to loud noises and stepped out of his room, puzzled.
"What's all this commotion so early in the morning?"
He saw Black standing in the kitchen, cooking a large amount of food, with many items stacked beside her.
His anger flared when he realized she had gone out alone to get these things.
Jack (angrily): "Black!"
Black (startled): "What's wrong, Jack? Why are you yelling?"
In a swift movement, he was suddenly in front of her.
Jack: "Did you go out alone today?"
Black: "Yes, I woke up early and went out to buy some supplies."
Jack: "Are you out of your mind? Why did you go alone?"
Black: "Keep your voice down. Uncle Gara is still sleeping."
She then continued in a sad tone, "We're leaving today, and Uncle Gara hasn't cooked for himself in a long time. That's why I was preparing food for him—a lot of it. And Jack, I want you to make him some fish. He loves the way you prepare it. Can you do that?"
Jack was about to refuse, but before he could, she placed a knife in his hand and pulled him to stand beside her in the kitchen. He realized he had no escape.
Gara woke up and stepped out of his room to get some water. As he reached the kitchen, he was surprised to find the fridge stuffed with neatly packed and wrapped meals—all his favorite dishes.
He smiled and started looking for them. He found them outside, trimming the garden and watering the plants.
He called them inside to have breakfast together.
They ate together, reminiscing about the past ten years. Laughter and playful banter filled the air.
Gara recalled the first day he took them in, their training sessions, and Black's countless pranks. He remembered how hard it had been to build a bond with Jack.
He wished he could keep them with him forever, protect them with all his strength. But he knew he couldn't. They would never agree to hide.
After some time, Jack and Black were in their rooms, getting ready.
Gara: "Black, Jack… come here."
They stepped out of their rooms and sat down as Gara held two closed bags. They couldn't tell what was inside.
He took out two dragon-shaped emblems and handed one to each of them.
Gara: "You can use this to summon me if you are ever in desperate need of my help. It can only be used once—so use it wisely."
Gara then handed a bag to Jack and the other to Black. When they opened them, they found a large amount of money inside.
They exchanged puzzled glances before looking at Gara, waiting for an explanation.
Gara: "This isn't my money. I'm not that rich."
Jack: "Then whose money is this?"
Gara: "It's yours."
Black: "How?"
Gara: "Before your family fled, they converted all their assets into cash. Some of it was deposited in banks to make it easier for their children to access later, while the rest was kept in physical form instead of using cards or bank accounts, making it harder for the organization to track them.
In truth, Jack, the Anderson family owns a vast amount of wealth. Your family is extremely rich, and this is only a small fraction of their fortune."
Jack: "Really?"
Gara: "Yes."
Gara handed them bank account documents belonging to their family.
Gara: "This is your wealth. Do with it as you wish. Are you both ready?"
Black: "Yes, Uncle, we're ready."
Jack: "Yeah."
Gara (warningly): "Jack, never let anyone see your mark—not a friend, not an enemy. Remember that.
Black, even if you get injured, don't use the stored energy to heal yourself unless it's a severe wound.
You have three days before the organization finds you."
Gara then transported them to the Guardian Empire.
Gara: "One last thing... If a dragon comes alone, it will be a fierce battle. But if it does not come alone, then it will be a war that spares nothing. Remember that. Goodbye."
Jack: "Where are we, old man? And what do you mean?"
Gara: "Figure it out for yourselves..."
Jack: "Aren't you going to give us a way to contact you?"
But Gara vanished before he could answer.
And so, their journey into the unknown began.
Elsewhere...
A guard sprinted through a corridor until he reached a large room. He stopped, knocked on the door, and entered when permission was granted.
Guard: "Sir, Jack Anderson's energy has appeared."
The man quickly turned to him. "What? Where?"
Guard: "We don't know yet, sir. It will take some time to pinpoint—"
The man grabbed the guard by the throat. "Find him immediately!"
Then he threw him across the room.
The guard quickly got up. "Yes, sir! Right away!"
In another place...
A falcon delivered a message to someone, who immediately rushed inside.
Man: "Sir, Jack Anderson has surfaced."
A smile spread across his master's face. "Find him… Find him quickly, before the organization does."
Man: "Understood, sir."
The master chuckled. "Things are about to get very interesting. I truly want to see that fiery boy… The one who forced Gara to intervene after all these years."
And so, the hunt for Jack Anderson began.
He had just taken his first step out of hiding, stepping onto the path of revenge.
What will happen next?
What awaits them?
To be continued…
"Don't forget to like the chapter if you enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to your thoughts in the comments!"