Jun Shizukami was now entirely consumed by his heavy new responsibilities.
In the West Land, the quiet sparks of rebellion were growing into a steady fire. Slowly, the first hidden clues of the mastermind behind the chaos began to surface.
Meanwhile, Grand General Kazuki relentlessly hunted for the Legendary Divine Spirit Wolf. It was the most critical mission, given to him directly by Hayato.
To dedicate himself fully to the search, Kazuki handed his other duties to his most trusted friend, leaving Hayato to manage the collapsing order of the world alone.
The new system of power had fully developed.
The Eastern and Western Lands stood at the absolute peak of the new era.
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At the SSS Rank stood Hayato Shizukami, Kazumi Kaimetsuza, Jun Shizukami, and a select few elites from the Northern and Southern Lands.
Above even them existed the Legendary Sage.
Placed at the mythical X Rank, no one knew their identity or whereabouts. But their existence had been absolutely confirmed, and that alone shook the world.
Below the summit, humanity was evolving rapidly.
Nearly 1.5% of the Awakened had reached the elite A Rank and S Rank as Shin Warriors.
Days passed in a blur of progress. The old world was gone, but its lost knowledge was being eagerly rediscovered.
Humanity was advancing, yet the West Land remained a constant target for riots and unrest.
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Hayato Shizukami refused to rule with strict brutality. He did not want the people to believe that the dark days of war, destruction, and tyranny had returned.
He was a soft-hearted man, but he also knew the bitter truth: an innocent heart could not rule an empire.
In the past, he had made ruthless decisions. When the " War Demon " Hayato stepped onto the battlefield, rivers of blood followed.
Back then, his only equal in combat was his future wife, Ema of the Kaimetsuza clan.
To stop the endless slaughter, the clan elders finally intervened, replacing the war with a bond of marriage to establish peace.
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Now, decades later, that relationship was the world's greatest hope.
But the union of the Shizukami and Kaimetsuza clans also bred a silent, terrifying fear. No one in existence could match their combined might.
As the world evolved, the mastery of Shin Power and Shin Noa deepened.
It was a brutal rule: to keep Shin Power, one had to train endlessly. If a warrior stopped, the power would slowly fade away.
People began molding their energy into specific properties.
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Some commanded fire, while others flowed with water. Some dashed like lightning, poured down like clouds, stood firm like earth, or manipulated plants.
Through this relentless elemental training, their very DNA was adapting. Slowly, these ingrained traits would become their permanent Shiritsu, forming the identities of brand-new clans for generations to come.
Survival and hunger were no longer issues.
The Great Forest of Monsters, spanning thousands of kilometers, had become humanity’s massive food source.
Because of the sheer abundance of food within it, the terrifying monsters rarely ventured outside the forest walls.
But where progress bloomed, greed festered.
From the shadows, a mysterious organization emerged.
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Shinsei (新生).
They were like ghosts. No one knew who they were, how many members they had, what their ranks were, or what their true purpose was.
The Shiritsu Supreme Council had already opened a classified file on them, deploying Shin Warriors to hunt them down.
Yet, Shinsei existed as if they were entirely invisible.
But their horrific deeds grew day by day. They incited the masses, feeding the people's hunger for power.
Their ultimate goal required removing Hayato Shizukami, so they poisoned the West Land with lies, making them fear the East Land.
Amidst this rising chaos, Hayato’s greatest focus remained on his son.
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It's beem five years since then,
He refused to let Takashi become a monster of destruction like he once was. He played with him, guided him, and carefully trained him so the boy would never realize the true depths of the world's hatred.
He had to protect the child, for the fate of the world rested in his hands.
But Takashi was growing. He was observing.
He realized he had to wear a mask. He learned he was not allowed to complain, and slowly, he became quiet and deeply sad.
Born just one day after the Day of Salvation, Takashi was the heir to two supreme bloodlines, yet he had absolutely no power.
The world believed the Savior had denied him, branding the young prince a cursed existence.
He finally asked his father the question that haunted him.
"Why do they look at me like that? Why won't anyone play with me?"
Children refused to play with him. They called him a demon and cursed his bad luck.
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They mocked the strange mark on his face, laughed at his mismatched eye colors, and ridiculed his dual-colored hair. Most of all, they hated him for being powerless.
Even the great leaders looked at him with hidden disgust.
But inside the palace, his family loved him fiercely. He wanted to be like his Uncle Jun, whom everyone respected and loved.
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Hayato would kneel and comfort him.
"My son, be a light that guides people, or a shadow that helps them sleep."
"Do not be a light that blinds them, or a shadow that terrifies them. Build your own path. Expect nothing from anyone. Let your hard work speak."
During this time, Takashi often met his cousin, Aira Kaimetsuza.
Ironically, the very things the world hated about Takashi, Aira absolutely adored.
She was completely captivated by his face mark, his strange eyes, and his unique hair.
To silence the dangerous rumors spread by Shinsei and prove the unbreakable peace between the lands, a political decision was made.
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A political marriage between the five-year-olds, Takashi and Aira.
Kazumi happily agreed, as it was what he and his daughter wanted all along.
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The grand wedding ceremony was set to take place on the 5th Anniversary of the Day of Salvation.
The day finally arrived. All the leaders gathered in the Central Point City.
Outside the grand halls, Takashi stood alone, watching a group of children play. He just wanted to join them.
But the moment he stepped closer, the cruel mockery began.
"Look, it's the demon."
"So unlucky."
"Look at his creepy eyes and weird hair."
"He has no power, stay away from him."
Takashi stood there, overwhelmed with sadness.
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Suddenly, Kazumi, Tsugumi, and Aira arrived at the festival.
Aira spotted the children mocking him. But instead of being angry, she looked at Takashi with pure joy.
Blushing furiously, she ran toward him, her face glowing with affection.
"Takashiii!"
Seeing his cousin running at him so happily while the others stared, a massive wave of shyness and embarrassment crashed over Takashi.
Unable to handle it, he spun around and bolted away.
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SWOOSH!
Aira froze in her tracks, watching him run.
Instead of feeling rejected, her face turned completely crimson with delight at his shy reaction.
She swayed happily, completely lost in the moment.
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THUD!
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She stumbled backward and fell onto the grass.
"Aira!"
Kazumi and Tsugumi rushed over, quickly lifting her up.
Aira looked up at her father and mother, completely dazed, her eyes sparkling like stars.
"Father... will I really marry Takashi?"
Kazumi smiled gently. "Yes, my dear. Very soon."
Hearing the confirmation, Aira's body went completely rigid.
Her face turned as red as a tomato, and with a goofy, blissful smile, she happily fainted right into her parents' arms!
The day wasn’t over. But something had already begun.
And somewhere nearby, hidden safely in the shadows...
Takashi stood alone.
Listening. Thinking. Enduring.
Because the world...
Was still moving.
[To Be Continued...]
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and then Add to home screen.