Episode 386: The Only Way
Yuma was heading to his parents’ house in a car driven by Tanaka.
The house was located in the suburbs of Tokyo, so the area was deserted with hardly any people around. The car stopped in front of a fairly large detached house.
“Thank you very much, Tanaka-san. I’m sorry for making you come all this way.”
Yuma got out of the car and thanked Tanaka, who was in the driver’s seat.
“No, no, this is nothing. More importantly, go see your parents soon. They’ve been waiting for you, Yuma-kun.”
“I hope so.”
Yuma gave a wry smile. He thanked him once more and closed the door. Tanaka waved with a smile and backed the car up, returning the way he came.
Yuma turned on his heel and headed towards his house.
Standing in front of the entrance, he felt relieved that he had truly returned. He opened the door and called out, “I’m home,” to which a voice replied, “Welcome back.”
His mother came over, wiping her hands with a towel.
“Yuma!”
His mother, showing a surprised face, approached and hugged Yuma, rejoicing with a tearful voice, “Oh, you’re safe.”
“I have to tell your father right away. He’ll fly back immediately.”
“Eh? But isn’t he still at work…”
“It’s fine! No one will complain if he leaves early today.”
His mother went to get her phone in high spirits.
Yuma scratched his cheek and headed to the living room. Looking around the house he hadn’t seen in a while, he opened the sliding door that led to the backyard. He put on his Sandals and went out into the yard.
He couldn’t help but smile at the shadow that came running towards him with great vigor.
“Woof woof!”
“Hey, Mamezou. Have you been doing well!”
He picked up Mamezou, who had rushed over, and petted him all over, saying, “Good boy, good boy.” Mamezou licked Yuma’s face.
It was a healing time that he felt after a long time.
He was once again able to think that it was good to come back to Japan.
◇◇◇
At the Elceed Corporation’s training facility in Tokyo, Rui, Tennoji, Taizen, and Misaki Bluewell were in a large dojo-like space.
Rui and Tennoji faced each other in the center of the dojo, while Taizen and Misaki watched from the wall.
“Now, let’s begin. Don’t hold back. Come at me with all you’ve got.”
“Yes.”
Rui and Tennoji were wearing the latest model of protectors and holding Magic Enchanted Armaments for training.
Tennoji had volunteered to be Rui’s sparring partner in order to test the strength of Rui, who had returned.
Rui took a stance with his blunted Longsword, intending to borrow Tennoji’s strength.
Tennoji lowered his waist slightly and refined his Mana. As plasma ran around him, Tennoji’s hair stood on end and turned golden.
The plasma gradually turned black from its golden glow.
Second Stratum of Lightning — 【Black Lightning】.
“You may have grown through your journey, but we haven’t been playing around either. I’ve defeated a large number of Monsters, and my Magical Power has also increased!”
Tennoji kicked off the floor. “Lightning Sprint,” which housed Lightning Magical Power in his feet. He jumped into Rui’s space with tremendous speed.
–He’s coming in!
The moment Tennoji’s fist was about to strike — Rui’s figure disappeared.
“What!?”
Tennoji stopped and looked around. Rui was standing behind him.
“Not bad…”
Tennoji licked his lips and charged again. He unleashed a barrage of attacks that were too fast to see, but Rui dodged them all by a hair’s breadth.
Tennoji jumped back and pulled back his right fist.
“How about this!”
From the straight punch that Tennoji unleashed, black Lightning in the form of a ‘Tiger’ attacked Rui. It was a deadly Third Stratum Magic that would automatically track its target even if they tried to escape. Tennoji was planning to cancel the magic the moment it hit Rui, but Rui didn’t dodge and instead raised his Longsword high.
“You intend to meet it head-on… interesting!”
The Black Lightning ‘Tiger’ charged straight in.
Rui lit Black Flames on the Iron Longsword he had raised. Fourth Tier Fire Magic, stronger than Black Lightning.
The black Lightning and black Flames collided, and a roar and impact spread around them.
Tennoji squinted and looked ahead, but there was no one there.
It seemed that the ‘Tiger’ had been annihilated by Rui’s attack. And what was even more surprising was Rui’s speed.
Tennoji looked at the Iron Longsword placed against his neck.
Rui had moved behind him. Tennoji grinned and pushed the Iron Longsword away with his hand.
“You’ve gotten stronger, Rui. It seems I’m no match for you.”
“No, I was surprised that Tennoji-san was able to master ‘Black Lightning’ as well.”
As the two were talking, Taizen and Misaki, who had been watching from a distance, approached.
“No way, that’s amazing! Even though I was far away, I couldn’t see Rui’s movements at all. What’s going on?”
Taizen asked with a dumbfounded look. Rui gave a wry smile and told them about the Dark Knight (Donkel Ritter).
He explained to the three of them that he had gained extraordinary speed through a powerful Demon Ore. After hearing the story, Misaki shook her head in disbelief.
“To think there’s such a Demon Ore… It seems there’s still a lot we don’t know.”
Tennoji, who was listening next to her, nodded deeply in agreement.
“Has my brother… has Akito become just as strong?”
“Yes, he’s incredibly strong. In terms of Mana Index, Akito is higher than me.”
“I see…”
Tennoji fell silent with a difficult expression. After thinking about something for a while, he opened his mouth.
“I’ve been planning this for a while, but it might be possible if Rui and Akito are here.”
At Tennoji’s words, Rui furrowed his brow and asked, “What is it?”
“The Monsters from the ‘Red Dungeon’ are causing the most damage in Japan. There’s only one way to stop this damage.”
“That is–“
Tennoji nodded slightly in response to Rui, who was holding his breath.
“To conquer the Red Dungeon. Lend me your strength for that, Rui.”