Chapter 24: The Day Ken Lost Faith in Human Intelligence

After Akio used his technique "Internal Lightning Explosion", Akira's entire body stiffened, as if a bolt of lightning had struck him directly from the sky. He felt the burning electricity running through his veins, but instead of screaming in pain… he laughed!

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed completely—the air became heavier, and everyone in the market felt a strange energy coming from Akira! He slowly stood up, his body still shaking from the lightning's shock, but he was… smiling.

Akio (slightly nervous): "Huh? What is this feeling?"

Akira (in a deep, eerie voice): "I was enjoying playing with you… but since you made me bleed, I have no choice but to use this technique."

Akira's clothes began tearing apart, revealing his strong muscles. His black claws started glowing with a dark red color, and his red eyes burned even brighter. Suddenly, light steam began rising from his body—it was as if his body temperature was skyrocketing!

Akio (shocked, clenching his fists): "This… isn't Faken! This is… pure physical power!"

Akira (laughing wildly): "Exactly! This is my ultimate technique… 'The Furious Werewolf Punch'!"

In an instant, Akira vanished from Akio's sight—not only was he faster, but his movements became impossible to predict!

Suddenly, BOOM!

Akio felt a powerful fist slam into his face, sending him flying back at insane speed!

CRASH!

Akio's body smashed into multiple wooden crates, stopping only when his back hit a solid box. Blood dripped from his nose, his face covered in scratches—but he was smiling.

Akio (wiping his nose): "Hah… so you actually have something special? Good… I won't lose to some werewolf punk!"

As Akio's electricity surged, Akira became faster and wilder. The two began exchanging blows at lightning speed—claws vs. electric fists—each attack leaving destruction in the marketplace.

People ran away in panic, while Ken and Ann watched from a distance.

Ann (eating popcorn): "This is fun… I didn't think Akio could fight this seriously!"

Ken (taking a drag from his cigarette, eyes glinting as he watched): "The kid is still an idiot… but he's not bad."

Akio: "I'll take you down, you arrogant thug!"

Akira: "Let's see if you can!"

Akio charged his right fist, sparks flying everywhere, while Akira stepped back slightly, steam rising from his heated body. His fangs were sharp, and his eyes glowed with madness.

Then, as they both rushed toward each other…

SMACK!!!

Suddenly, all the noise in the market stopped—even the wind seemed to pause for a second. Amid the dust and debris, the unexpected outcome shocked everyone…

Both Akio and Akira collapsed to the ground in the dumbest way possible.

Instead of an explosion, lightning strike, or torn limbs,

they had… kicked each other at the same time,

causing them to fly backward and crash to the ground like defeated fools.

A moment of absolute silence.

Then, one of the market vendors mumbled: "Huh…?"

People looked at each other in confusion…

then, suddenly, a few kids started laughing.

And then—

the entire marketplace exploded into uncontrollable laughter!

Akio and Akira slowly turned to face each other…

Akio (slowly getting up, dusting himself off): "Damn… that was embarrassing."

Akira: "I didn't expect that, Lightning Boy."

Akio: "Neither did I, Wild Wolf."

Ann's face was frozen in complete shock,

while Ken stopped smoking, too stunned to react.

As Akira and Akio stood up after their ridiculous collision,

they looked at each other… and grinned.

Then, Akio extended his hand toward Akira for a handshake.

Akio: "My name is Akio. What's your name, werewolf idiot?"

Akira (without hesitation, shaking Akio's hand): "I'm Akira. Nice to meet you!"

People screamed in shock, some even fainted comically.

Ann (dropping her popcorn, eyes wide in disbelief): "HUUUH?! WHAT?! THEY'RE FRIENDS NOW?!"

Ken (sarcastic, arms crossed): "Looks like Akio found another rival in stupidity. Great… I just witnessed the dumbest way to end a deadly battle."

Ann (furious, comically shaking her fists): "FIGHT AGAIN! THIS CAN'T END LIKE THIS!!"

Akio (clearing his throat, trying to sound serious): "Well, Akira, looks like it's a tie."

Akira (nodding, hands on his hips): "Yeah… a tie… Let's just say we didn't fall, it was… a strategic plan!"

People still stared at them in shock, while Ann sat on a wooden chair, completely out of popcorn.

Ann (disappointed, throwing her hands in the air): "Seriously? A tie? I was expecting at least an explosion or some epic lightning strike!"

But instead of returning to battle or even acknowledging the stupidity of their fall…

Akio and Akira decided to act even dumber!

They started insulting each other in the silliest way possible.

Akio (pointing at Akira's messy black hair): "Hah, looks like you haven't washed your hair in a week! Is that a werewolf technique too?!"

Akira (crossing his arms, smirking): "At least my hair is natural! You, with that blue mop, look like you fell into a bucket of paint!"

Akio (pointing at Akira's sharp fangs): "And you, with those ridiculous teeth, look like a rodent trying to act like a scary monster!"

Akira (pointing at Akio's lightning still crackling around him): "And you? You look like an electric boy who failed to become a proper light bulb!"

People in the market sighed, realizing the fight had turned from a deadly battle into a childish insult match.

Akira (grinning, extending his hand to Akio): "Alright, since we're friends now… let's see who's stronger. Punch me!"

Akio (raising an eyebrow): "Huh? Punch you?"

Akira (smiling excitedly): "Yeah, hit me with all your strength! I wanna see if you can make me scream!"

Akio (charging his hand with lightning, smiling confidently): "You're the one who asked for this, stupid werewolf!"

In an instant, Akio's fist crackled with electricity, and he punched Akira straight in the face… but Akira didn't scream. Instead… he laughed!

Akira (with a crazed grin): "Haha! This is fun! Now it's my turn!"

BOOM!

Akira punched Akio back just as hard… but Akio didn't budge. Instead… he smirked too!

Akio (challengingly): "Haha! Is that all you got?!"

And just like that, the two kept punching each other in the face, neither backing down, even as they both started staggering from the repeated hits.

Around them, the people in the marketplace were holding their heads, unable to comprehend the sheer stupidity of what they were witnessing.

Finally, Ken, who had been silent the entire time, dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushed it under his shoe, and slowly lifted his head.

Then, in a low, deadpan voice, he declared:

"Today… I have lost faith in human intelligence."

Ann, who had been watching the entire time, let out a deep sigh, burying her face in her hands.

Meanwhile, Akira and Akio continued punching each other like little kids, completely ignoring the fact that they were trying to kill each other just minutes ago.

Meanwhile, at Terrakula's Castle…

Far away from the chaos in the Darkova marketplace, Terrakula sat gracefully on her throne, sipping from a glass of fresh blood.

A brown-haired vampire servant entered the grand hall, bowing respectfully before speaking.

Servant: "Terrakula-sama, chaos has erupted in the Darkova marketplace! A fight broke out between Akira and an outsider boy named Akio, who possesses lightning Faken."

Terrakula remained relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, watching her servant with an unreadable expression.

She raised her glass again, taking a slow sip of blood.

Terrakula (calmly): "So, did the fight end with one of them dead?"

Servant: "No… actually, they became friends after falling down in the most ridiculous way possible."

For a moment, Terrakula's hand paused, lowering her glass slowly as she stared at her servant, as if she had just heard something completely incomprehensible.

Terrakula: "What?"

Servant (struggling to hold back his laughter): "I-I mean… The fight started off serious and brutal, but suddenly, a series of dumb accidents happened, and they fell down together… then they shook hands and became friends."

A few seconds of silence passed as Terrakula processed what she had just heard.

Then… she let out a short chuckle… followed by another…

Until she finally burst into loud, mocking laughter, her voice echoing throughout the castle!

Terrakula (laughing, her red eyes gleaming): "Hah… Are you kidding me?! That boy… made Akira befriend him in the middle of a death battle?! How humiliating!"

As her laughter died down, she rested her head on her hand, still smiling mockingly.

She raised her glass again, taking another slow sip of blood.

Terrakula (with a sly smirk): "So, that dumb mutt Akira has made a friend? What a joke."

But the servant wasn't finished yet—he hesitated, as if he had yet to mention the most important part.

Servant (nervously): "Well, there's… one more thing, Terrakula-sama. That boy, Akio… he wasn't alone."

Terrakula raised an eyebrow, looking at him with mild boredom as she waited for him to continue.

Servant: "He was accompanied by someone named… Yukaji Ken."

Terrakula's expression froze completely.

Her glowing red eyes locked onto the servant, and just like that—her playful amusement was gone.

Terrakula (low, cold voice): "What did you just say?"

Servant (swallowing nervously, feeling the room grow cold despite the warm air): "Y-Yukaji Ken… was there too… He seems to be traveling with that boy Akio… and a ninja girl as well."

Terrakula (her voice now dangerously sharp): "Are you telling me… that Yukaji Ken, the boy who slaughtered 500 soldiers in just one minute, is still alive?! And he's in Darkova?!"

Servant: "Y-Yes, my lady! I saw him with my own eyes! He has red hair and gray eyes, just like King Cirrus!"

Terrakula slowly lifted her head, gazing at the servant, who could not hide the slight tremble in his knees.

Terrakula (with a soft, eerie smile): "Oh… what a delightful surprise."

But there was no joy in her tone.

Her voice was cold—a voice that carried danger, as if she had just learned something interesting, but had yet to decide what to do about it.

Servant (trying to keep his voice steady): "Yes… When people in the market realized who he was, they screamed insults at him, but he didn't react at all—he just sat there, watching Akira and Akio's fight."

Terrakula: "Just watching? Tell me, servant… Is Yukaji Ken interested in something here? Does he have a purpose?"

Servant: "There's no confirmed information, but… it doesn't seem like he intends to cause chaos yet."

Terrakula let out a short laugh, then clasped her hands together, gazing into the shadows that covered half of the hall.

Terrakula (calmly, with sly curiosity): "Oh, darling… If he doesn't intend to cause chaos… then he isn't the Yukaji Ken I've heard about."

At that moment, Nyoro entered the hall with calm, measured steps, having overheard the entire conversation.

Nyoro: "This is great! Are you saying that my cousin is in Darkova?!"

Terrakula (surprised): "Your cousin?!"

Nyoro (creating a white fireball in his hand, smirking arrogantly): "Terrakula-sama, have you never wondered about the origins of my Vakin? The truth is… I'm half Yukaji!"

Terrakula (tilting her head slightly, intrigued): "Hah… Half Yukaji? Now that's interesting."

She rose slowly from her throne, stepping toward Nyoro gracefully but with a commanding aura.

She stared at the white fireball in his hand as if she were admiring a rare gemstone.

Terrakula (touching her chin, thinking aloud): "Now things are getting truly interesting… So, tell me, Nyoro—how did you get such a unique Vakin?"

Nyoro (smirking confidently, playing with the white flames): "I was born different. Normally, if two people have different Vakins, their child inherits both powers separately. But I… was born with a Vakin no one else has! A perfect fusion of Fire and Ice!"

Terrakula (laughing in delight): "Looks like I've been keeping a rare treasure without realizing it!"

Nyoro (excitedly): "Now that I know my cousin Ken is here… I just want to fight him!"

Terrakula (whispering mockingly, tilting her head slightly): "Really? You want to fight Yukaji Ken… the heir of flames, the boy who slaughtered hundreds of soldiers in cold blood… just like that? How amusing!"

Nyoro: "Yes! I'll show him that a half-Yukaji is far stronger than him! And after I tear him apart, I'll bring you his remains as a gift!"

Terrakula (laughing excitedly, patting Nyoro's head): "Ooooh, how adorable of you, my dear!"

She removed her hand from his head, then slowly licked her lips in a disturbing manner.

Terrakula: "Let me taste the great Yukaji heir myself! I've always dreamed of drinking the blood of a teenage Yukaji… I wonder, is he as handsome as his uncle? That would make his blood even sweeter!"

Servant (in a calm, respectful voice): "Shall I bring him to you, Terrakula-sama?"

Terrakula (her eyes glinting with mischief): "No, no… Let's not rush things. Let him wander freely for a while… and see what he's up to."

She paused, then slowly turned her gaze toward the servant, her expression now sharp and dangerous, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Terrakula: "Watch him closely… and if he proves to be interesting, inform me immediately. Perhaps… I'll invite our little guest for dinner."

Servant (bowing respectfully): "As you command, my lady."

To be continued…