The morning sun shone brightly above the small but tranquil village, and just like any other day, the people were going about their lives—enjoying the fragile sense of security they had, unbothered by the greater scope of the conflict that plagued their world.

  Past the forest adjacent to the village, at the foot of a waterfall, Izumi, Takae, and Yuriko sat in the shade of a large tree. They were not wearing their uniforms, but instead more casual robes—worn down, yet still wearable.

  Before them stood Ichiro, who held a guardless brown sword.

  He looked down at the three sitting in front of him and took a deep breath.

  "Damn that Tsushiro," he said with contempt. "How could he think that I was a good choice for teaching these brats?"

  "We're not exactly thrilled about it either," Izumi whispered, loud enough to be heard.

  "Shut up!" Ichiro yelled, hitting him on the head with the flat of his sword.

  "What was that for?" Yuriko demanded.

  "I didn't give him permission to speak," he replied, "and neither did I give it to you."

  He sighed, then said, "Anyway, let's dive straight into our first lesson."

  "Excuse me," Takae said in a low tone. "I get that we're under your instruction, but might I ask why we're out here?"

  He smirked and said, "Good question. That's how good students behave—not like some people here."

  Izumi looked away from him, and Yuriko scratched her head as she put on an awkward smile.

  "Now, for the answer to your question," he continued, "in order to become Ashura Samurai, you don't just need fighting skill. You also need an innate understanding of source energy. The benefits of this knowledge apply to all warriors—even the djinn."

  "Oh yeah," Yuriko said after a sudden realization. "I remember you mentioning it back at the restaurant. What is it exactly?"

  "Source energy," he replied, "is the energy of life."

  Confusion spread across their faces.

  Ichiro sighed and said, "In order to understand source energy, you need to understand the universe itself."

  The looks of confusion persisted.

  "Basically," he continued, "existence is formed through the dynamic union of space and time, along with physical constructs known as matter. Matter is made up of particles that are given form by source energy."

  "Oh, I think I get it," Takae said. "According to what you've said, source energy gives form to matter, which is part of existence. So it's not wrong to say that source energy is the backbone of the universe itself."

  "Correct," he said, a smile crossing his face. "That is exactly what I meant."

  "Wow, you're really good at this, aren't you, Takae?" Izumi said.

  "Oh, it was nothing," she replied nervously.

  Yuriko stroked her chin before asking, "You said source energy gives form to matter, but how does it do that?"

  Ichiro turned to her and said, "Source energy stimulates the force that shapes and maintains matter. That's how it gives matter form."

  "Is that right?" Izumi said. "But then, if it only applies to matter, why is it so important?"

  Ichiro pointed at his own chest and said, "It's important because source energy is also what composes a soul."

  Takae thought for a moment after hearing his reply and asked, "But I thought souls weren't physical. So how are they affected by source energy?"

  Ichiro sighed and said, "A soul, by basic definition, is a mass of source energy enclosed in an intangible membrane."

  "Then if every soul is just a mass of energy," Yuriko asked, "what differentiates us from each other?"

  "Mmh, that's also a good question," Ichiro replied. "I wasn't expecting you guys to catch on this quickly. Where are you getting these questions from?"

  "Just answer the question, old man," Izumi muttered.

  "I heard that," Ichiro replied, furious. "Where do you get off calling me old? I'm still in my prime."

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  He took a breath to calm himself before continuing. "I wouldn't say every soul is the same, because if that were the case, all living beings would be one and the same."

  "So what differentiates individual beings then?" Takae asked.

  "Individuality occurs due to differences in the source energy that composes a soul."

  "Then what influences these differences?" Izumi asked.

  Ichiro scratched his head for a moment before saying, "They're influenced by many factors—genetics, for one. That's why you might notice people inheriting certain behaviors from their parents."

  "I thought parents only influence the physical aspects of their children," Yuriko said. "So how does that affect behavior?"

  "Physical characteristics come from genetic code," he replied, "but behavioral traits are shaped by the composition of the soul itself. Do you understand?"

  "Mhh, that kinda makes sense, I guess," Izumi said after processing his reply, "but that still doesn't explain why we need this information in order to become Ashura Samurai."

  Ichiro remained silent for a moment, then said, "How do I frame this… Well, think of it like this. The source energy inside a soul membrane is vast and is continuously leaking out. This energy that leaks out transforms into other forms, like heat."

  He stopped for a moment, letting it sink in, then continued.

  "Now here is where the catch comes in. There is a way to control this leaked energy, and even the source energy that exists in our surroundings."

  "How?" they asked in unison.

  "It is possible through ascension," he replied. "This is where an individual gains the ability to consciously control source energy, thus utilizing the energy leaking from their soul membrane—and, under special circumstances, even controlling external source energy."

  "Ascension is a prerequisite in order to become an Ashura Samurai," he continued, "as every single aspect of an Ashura Samurai's power is dictated by how efficiently they can manipulate source energy. This also applies to the djinn, who convert their blood into source energy."

  "So basically, individuals who have ascended can use source energy for various purposes," Takae said. "But is that all they can do?"

  "No," he replied. "Ascended warriors can also sense source energy. This sense is often referred to as the Higher Sense and is commonly used in battle to gauge the capabilities of your opponents."

  A silence followed as the three sat lost in thought.

  Seeing this, Ichiro said, "I think you all would benefit from a demonstration."

  He held out his hand and opened his palm.

  "Now I will show you the embodiment of the principle I just explained," he said, his gaze fixed forward. "This spell is the foundation of all Vahir, one of the three arms of the Ashura Samurai."

  He took a deep breath.

  "The first and founding spell of the vanguard series—Synthesis."

  The ground lit up as a septa-circle formed at his feet. Large and intricate, it was the first time the three had ever seen one up close.

  Instinctively, they stepped back, fear rising at the sight of something they couldn't fully comprehend.

  They stood in silence as tiny specks of glowing light began appearing above his open palm.

  The particles converged in a chaotic flash, twisting together as something began to take form.

  Slowly, the light faded—revealing a red apple.

  "How?!" Yuriko yelled.

  Ichiro smirked. "I stimulated the source energy in the surroundings of my palm, forcing matter to take form according to the shape I envisioned. This is the true essence of Vahir."

  The three stared in awe.

  Ichiro casually tossed the apple toward Izumi.

  As Izumi reached for it, spikes suddenly shot out from inside the apple. He barely dodged in time as it hit the ground with a dull thud.

  "What the hell?!" Izumi yelled.

  Ichiro chuckled. "I knew you'd go for it, you glutton."

  He straightened his posture.

  "Now that you've seen what an ascended being can do, we'll begin your physical training in order to trigger ascension in each of you."

  "How exactly does one ascend?" Takae asked.

  "Well, it usually occurs naturally after years of rigorous physical training and meditation," he replied. "But we don't have that kind of time, so I'll be forced to stimulate it manually."

  "Well, go ahead," Izumi said, fiddling with the spiked apple.

  Ichiro hesitated.

  "This method may result in physical side effects."

  "Like what?" Yuriko asked.

  "That's the problem," he replied. "There's no way of knowing when—or where—the side effects might appear, if they appear at all. But this is the only option we have for now."

  "So the question is—are you willing to take that risk?" he continued.

  Ichiro expected a moment of silence while they weighed the decision.

  Instead, Yuriko shouted, "Do it. I'm ready."

  "We won't move forward if we're afraid of taking the first step," she continued. "So I'm willing to take that risk."

  "I agree," Takae replied.

  They both turned to Izumi.

  "No objection here," he said.

  "Good," Ichiro said as he stepped toward Izumi. "Then let's not waste any time."

  "What do you—" Izumi began.

  He never finished.

  Ichiro's fist slammed into his gut, the impact sending Izumi flying backward into the nearby river.

  Ichiro stood still, his fist glowing—coated in a menacing green energy.

  Before Yuriko or Takae could react, he vanished.

  In the blink of an eye, he reappeared between them.

  Two strikes.

  Both were hit with the same attack Izumi had taken, their bodies launched away from him.

  "The best way to ascend," Ichiro said calmly, "is to strike the core of the body with a highly condensed jab."

  He lowered his glowing fist.

  "The success rate of this method isn't guaranteed," he continued. "But that's just another risk that you'll have to take."

  Elsewhere in a dark cavern lit only by the moonlight seeping through holes in the ceiling, three individuals dressed in dark hooded cloaks stepped into the moonlight.

  "Why are we here again?" one asked.

  "I'm just as clueless as you," another responded, "but I'm sure it has something important if he called us out personally."

  The one at the front gestured for silence as he said, "Silence, he's here."

  They all knelt down as they heard footsteps approaching from the darkness toward them.

  Once the sound of the steps had stopped, the one at the front raised his head to see a well-built figure dressed in elegant black attire. His body was only partially illuminated by the moonlight, his face still imperceptible.

  "You summoned us, sire," the one at the front said, lowering his head again.

  "You ungrateful bastards," the voice bellowed, "you sure took your time."

  "Forgive us sire," another one at the back replied, "we got lost one our way here."

  "Ordinarily I would've killed you all for your insolence," the elegantly dressed man replied, "but i am in need of your service shamefully so."

  "Asahi, that good for nothing brother of yours," he continued, "is dead."

  Hearing this, the one at the front looked up and said with a slightly trembling but steady voice, "W- What?"

  "You heard me," he replied, "that bastard and those other three brothers of yours died in their recent mission. What a waste of Nether blood, their insult to my dignity persists even in death."

  A silence followed as the bigger among the group asked, "Forgive my insolence sire, but how did they perish."

  "They were unlucky enough to have faced, the flaming frost himself," he replied.

  "The flaming frost?!" Another yelled, "but how there have been no reports on him for seventeen years, he's supposed to be dead!"

  "Watch your tone!" The one at the front reprimanded, "how dare you raise your voice infront of his majesty, Avios Nether the king of wolves."

  Hearing this, he quickly placed his head on the ground and said, "forgive me sire."

  "Infuriating as that was," Avios said, "i can blame you."

  This comment made the one bowing slowly raise his head.

  "Out of all you bastards, Asahi had the greatest potential," he continued, "that is why i sent him on that mission but I may have overestimated his abilities. Though he managed to reach his metamorphosis he was still beaten in the end."

  "That is why I summoned you out here," he continued, his fur cape flowing in the slight breeze drifting through the holes in the ceiling. "Though I would've preferred calling out your sister, this task is too trivial for someone of her stature. Here are your instructions."

  "He even thought of sending her out," the one at the front thought. "Just how serious is this assignment?"

  "As you well know," Avios continued, snapping him back to reality, "my sister is dead and her half-human bastard is alive in the human realm."

  He paused before continuing. "I'm sure that that brat is alive. Your mission is to eliminate that stain on my name and anyone that is associated with her."

  "Sire!" they yelled back.

  He turned away and stepped back into the darkness before saying, "Do not disappoint me or I will ensure you meet the same fate as your mother. Now get out of my sight."

  "Your command is our duty!" they yelled in unison. "We will serve his majesty, Avios Nether and the will of the wolf djinn clan!"

  "Good," he replied before walking off into the darkness, the sound of his footsteps fading away in the distance.

  The one at the front slowly looked up, his predatory eyes glowing a fierce yellow as his face twisted in fury, veins bulging across his forehead.

  "Just you watch," he mumbled. "I'm nothing like him."