The blinding pillar of light faded, leaving behind a heavy, unnatural silence. Quake, battered and bleeding, struggled to his feet. A jagged, mocking grin spread across his face.
"Hmph... so you actually managed to do it after all," he muttered under his breath.
Anne gripped her iron stick, ready to strike, but before she could move, an eerie phenomenon occurred. Quake's body, along with the massive form of the Blue Monster in the sky, began to dissolve into wisps of gray smoke. Within a heartbeat, they vanished entirely, as if they had never existed in the first place.
Anne lowered her weapon, her brow furrowed in confusion. "How did they get here? Were they summoned shadows, or something far more sinister?"
She shook the thoughts away. There was no time for puzzles. She looked at her three teammates who were entering the mansion. "Hey! Rio, Gyau, Kawsoki! Get inside and prepare a room for Marito right now!"
"On it!" Gyau shouted back, and the three of them sprinted toward the grand entrance of the manor.
Anne approached Marito. His white-eyed form had receded, leaving him visibly exhausted. His breath came in ragged gasps.
"Marito, are you okay?" Anne asked, her voice softening with concern.
Marito offered a tired smirk. "I'm fine. Just a bit drained."
They looked out over the shattered remains of the forest, the scars of their battle etched into the earth. "Whew... we still have a lot of work to do," Marito whispered. Without a word, Anne supported Marito, helping him walk toward the safety of the mansion.
Inside, Rio, Gyau, and Kawsoki had already found the mansion's crowning jewel—a luxurious, steaming Hot Spring. They plunged into the healing waters to wash away the grime of battle.
"Wow..." Gyau sighed, floating on his back. "What kind of billionaire builds a mansion with a built-in hot spring in the middle of nowhere?"
Kawsoki massaged his aching muscles, a look of pure bliss on his face. "Man, I can feel the fatigue leaving my body. This is literally heaven on earth."
Rio, however, remained pensive. He sat in the corner of the spring, the water up to his chest. "I wonder what we're supposed to do now? Why did they really bring us here?"
Just then, Anne entered the back area of the mansion. She had settled Marito into his room and came to check on the rest of the group. Seeing them enjoying the water, she leaned against a stone pillar.
"Rio," she called out, catching his attention. "Rest up while you can. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to teach you the ways of Air Manipulation. Once you master the basics, we're heading back to Shizen Lake."After their rejuvenating soak in the hot spring, the group gathered in the mansion's grand dining hall, feasting on the meal Anne had prepared.
"This is amazing! Anne-chan's cooking is top-tier!" Gyau exclaimed, his mouth stuffed with food. Anne offered a rare, modest smile, clearly pleased to see her teammates enjoying the meal after such a grueling night.
As they ate, Kawsoki turned toward Marito, curiosity burning in his eyes. "Marito-san, what exactly is 'Air'? Could you explain it to us one more time?"
Marito set his glass down, his expression turning serious. "Air is energy. I've explained it before, but listen carefully. Air is the fuel that intensifies your attacks, but more importantly, it allows you to gain absolute control over your physical body. While an ordinary person can only consciously control their limbs or head, an Air User can manipulate every fiber of their being."
He paused for emphasis. "Those who can achieve 100% control over their Air... they effectively become Immortals."
"Wait, for real?" Gyau blurted out, nearly choking on his drink.
"Yes," Marito continued. "Those at that level can force the aging cells within their bodies to regenerate and renew themselves indefinitely. They don't age. They don't decay. That is why they are called Immortals."
Gyau leaned in. "Then... how much control do you have, Marito?"
"I'm not at that level of absolute control yet," Marito admitted candidly. "But the disparity in rank isn't the point. I just wanted you to understand the true potential of becoming a non-mortal entity."
The conversation drifted toward logistics as Kawsoki asked where they should sleep. "You guys take the rooms upstairs," Marito directed.
Rio, who had been quiet until now, looked at Marito. "Marito... why did you choose me for this?"
Marito's gaze was piercing. "Because you have the mental fortitude to withstand your power, and more importantly, you aren't using it against us. Usually, when people inherit the power of Lord Shizen, they fail to contain it. That raw energy leaks out and becomes a danger to everyone around them. You saw what happened during the incident with Death, didn't you?"
"I remember," Rio nodded grimly. "Are you talking about Nezk?"
"Exactly. Right now, Lord Shizen's energy is fracturing and destabilizing across the mountain ranges of Japan. That's why the Hunters—the Slayers—are working with their familiars to seal off Lord Shizen's leaking power before it destroys everything."
Anne chimed in, her voice grim. "That's right. And that is exactly why we are heading to Shizen Lake. We have to reach the source before the collapse becomes irreversible."