LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 6: Meeting the Patriarch
The silence of space was milky white, only interrupted by the panting breath of a young boy. His stomach rose and fell with the rhythm of his ragged breath. Huff... huff... huff... At his feet lay around fifty children of his age, their battered state bearing witness to the intensity of the training they had just undergone. Despite being in bad shape, they still breathed faintly.
The boy's irises were entirely white with violet reflections, devoid of visible pupils, and were outlined with a thin contour. The blood vessels stood out distinctly on his temples, signs of intense concentration. His cold and impassive gaze slowly swept the room, assessing the damage.
Suddenly, the creaking of a door broke the heavy silence. A figure appeared in the doorway. The boy turned towards the newcomer and, despite recognizing him, showed no sign of respect.
The man who had just entered spoke with an emotionless voice, "I see that you are progressing at an astounding pace and that you have mastered your pupils perfectly, Akira. Your powers are developing well beyond our expectations."
Akira remained silent, simply staring at his interlocutor with his enigmatic eyes. A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"You know why I'm here, don't you?" continued the man. "The patriarch summons you in two days. Prepare yourself."
Akira nodded imperceptibly. The man then turned and left the room, leaving the young boy alone with the bodies of his training companions.
"It's been 16 years since I landed in this world," Akira thought as he touched his face. "And since then, I have been increasing my power. The biggest change remains my eyes, which have awakened as Bakugan. I master them at a frightening level... But lately, I feel a subtle change within me. I still don't know what it is..."
He clenched his fist and murmured to himself, "For now, I just have to continue to grow my power and prepare for what awaits me."
With a cold gaze, Akira stepped over the almost lifeless bodies and left the room with determination, already focused on his next training. The patriarch's summons left him with only two days. Two days to push his limits even further. Two days to become stronger than ever.
Akira exited the training room, strolling nonchalantly down the corridor. Suddenly, he spotted a boy of about his age walking towards him. Having nothing to do with him, Akira continued on his way. However, when they reached each other side by side, the boy turned abruptly, launching a surprise attack on Akira with lightning speed.
Reacting instinctively, Akira dodged the assault by throwing himself flat on the ground, letting the boy's fist cut through the air above his head. Pushing off with his hands, he propelled himself backward like a spring, aiming to strike his assailant head-on. But the agile boy shifted to the left, evading the blow with ease.
Without a moment's delay, Akira turned in the air and delivered a descending kick, his body twisting like a serpent to add more power to his attack. His opponent raised his left hand above his head, blocking the blow with disconcerting ease. Simultaneously, he gathered all his strength in his right hand and unleashed a devastating punch.
Akira crossed his arms over his stomach, absorbing the impact of the blow that sent him flying backward. As he touched the ground, he performed a backward roll, landing gracefully on the balls of his feet, knees bent, elbows resting on his thighs. His body was taut like a bow, ready to spring into action at any moment.
After a few seconds of stillness, Akira slowly straightened up. He shook his sore hands as if the attack he had just endured had left a mark. Then, breaking the silence that had settled, he spoke...
"That was a hell of a blow... You almost killed me," Akira said with a sarcastic smile, a mischievous gleam dancing in his eyes.
The boy, irritated by Akira's nonchalance, retorted sharply, "Don't play smart with me. That blow was just a scratch for you."
Akira tilted his head, intrigued. "Is that why you attack me without even bothering to introduce yourself?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Does the identity of your opponent really matter?" the boy replied, a mysterious smile on his lips.
These words brought a smile to Akira's face. He released a fraction of his murderous intent, a chilling aura suddenly enveloping him. "I don't think it's crucial, but it might save me from having to kill you," he said casually.
Despite the murderous intent emanating from Akira, the boy remained impassive, showing no trace of fear. "Not only is your reaction speed astonishing, but you also possess monstrous strength... I understand better why you are called 'the prodigy'," he observed, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Akira grimaced, his disgust for the nickname clearly visible on his face. While he was aware of it, no one had ever dared to call him that. Suppressing his murderous intent, he suggested, "I think it would be wiser for us to stop here."
A heavy silence hung between them, charged with tension. Then, the boy turned away, ready to leave. "Very well, my presence here is no longer necessary," he said in a neutral tone.
As he was about to walk away, the boy stopped and added over his shoulder, "Ishiki. Ishiki Otsutsuki. That's my name. I hope our paths will cross again."
Upon hearing this name, Akira's eyes widened, a spark of recognition igniting within them. An enigmatic smile stretched across his lips as he murmured, "Destiny is indeed full of surprises." Then, he turned around and resumed his path.