Chapter 89: The Clash of Flames and Rock

In the early morning courtyard, a thin mist lingered, and the sunlight scattered across the blue brick ground, glistening faintly with moisture. Yahageshii stood silently behind a large tree, his gaze fixed intently on the sparring session unfolding in the center of the courtyard.

Sure enough, Harutemi was practicing with Elder Kasamaki. She wore black athletic shorts and a white tank top, her exposed muscles appearing both refined and powerful. Her movements were agile and focused, beads of sweat on her forehead exuding youthful energy.

Despite his age, Elder Kasamaki remained spry, each move precise and methodical. He had already noticed Yahageshii behind the tree but chose not to expose him. Instead, a faint, amused smile played on his lips. This young man is certainly proud, he thought, yet his actions are so childish, sneaking around like this. Quite amusing.

Yahageshii watched Harutemi's combat techniques. Her movements were noticeably clumsy, far from the grace of a naturally gifted warrior. Yet, his expression showed no trace of disdain. He could see through the clumsiness to the tireless effort behind it—every awkward maneuver bore the mark of relentless practice.

Suddenly, Elder Kasamaki chuckled and deliberately left an opening. Caught off guard, Harutemi was sent flying and landed right at Yahageshii's feet.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Harutemi groaned, rubbing her shoulder as she lay on the ground staring at the sky. Then she noticed Yahageshii standing there, looking down at her.

For a moment, both were frozen in surprise. Realizing her position was rather undignified, Harutemi scrambled to her feet, hastily adjusting her clothes. Elder Kasamaki, meanwhile, smiled knowingly, offering Yahageshii an unspoken way to step into the scene.

Seeing this, Yahageshii silently stepped out from behind the tree.

Harutemi glanced at him and suddenly broke into a mischievous grin. She didn't seem embarrassed at all by her earlier blunder. Instead, she cheerfully teased, "Well, well, what brings you here? Didn't you say yesterday, loud and clear, that you didn't want anything to do with us?"

As she spoke, she mimicked Yahageshii's stance from the previous day—arms crossed, a scowling expression—and lowered her voice dramatically: "I refuse to train with a bunch of nobodies!"

When she finished, Harutemi burst out laughing, her voice crisp and unrestrained.

Yahageshii's face twitched, a vein pulsing on his forehead. Clearly, her words had struck a nerve. He pressed his lips together, turned on his heel, and started to walk away.

Before he could leave, Elder Kasamaki spoke up. "Harutemi is always blunt, but she means no harm. Since you're already here, why not test your skills? A friendly sparring match with my granddaughter, nothing more."

Upon hearing this, Harutemi immediately lit up with excitement. She clenched her fists and hopped in place like a frog, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "Yes, yes! Come on! I've been itching for a real match!"

Yahageshii's gaze turned cold, a flicker of disdain crossing his face. Without a word, he nodded and stepped into the center of the courtyard. His stance radiated an air of lethality, as though he were ready to attack at any moment.

Harutemi, however, was entirely unaffected by his imposing demeanor. She maintained her bright, eager expression as she took her own stance, her movements imbued with a carefree energy, as though this were a playful spar rather than a serious duel.

The tension in the courtyard grew heavy, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Their contrasting auras—one icy and one blazing with life—seemed to freeze the lingering morning mist for an instant. Elder Kasamaki narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable as he observed the impending clash.

Yahageshii struck first, moving like a whirlwind as he closed the distance between them. Flames erupted from his fists as he swung, the air itself shrieking under the force of his attack.

At the last possible moment, Harutemi stuck out her tongue playfully and clasped her hands together. Instantly, the ground trembled, and countless rocks erupted from beneath her feet. They coalesced into a sturdy barrier that encased her completely.

"A stone manipulator?" Yahageshii's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. But the shock was quickly replaced by fury. Without hesitation, his flaming fists smashed against the barrier.

BOOM!

The sound of the collision echoed through the courtyard, but the rock shield remained unscathed, not even a crack marring its surface.

Gritting his teeth, Yahageshii unleashed a flurry of blows, the fiery impact of his fists against stone creating a symphony of crashing and crackling. Sparks flew in every direction, and the heat seemed to ignite the very air. Yet, no matter how fiercely he attacked, the barrier stood firm.

At last, Yahageshii paused, panting slightly as he glared at the impenetrable wall. His voice was laced with frustration as he growled, "Is hiding behind your little shell all you can do?!"

From within the barrier came Harutemi's cheerful reply: "If you've got the skills, then break it! Or are your fists just for show, mister tough guy?"

Her words ignited a fresh wave of fury in Yahageshii. The flames enveloping his body surged to new heights, shifting from red to an intense white-orange that burned like a volcanic eruption. With a roar, he poured all his power into one final strike.

This blow was unlike the others—so fierce it seemed to scorch the very air around it. When his fist connected with the barrier, the rocks softened like clay before shattering into countless fragments. But as the pieces scattered, they ignited into flaming chunks of molten rock that filled the courtyard with a hellish glow.

"What?" Yahageshii muttered, involuntarily taking a step back as the scene unfolded.

When the smoke cleared, Harutemi emerged from the shattered barrier unscathed, her face glowing with exhilaration. She waved her hands in the air as though conducting an invisible orchestra, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Look at all these new friends!" she exclaimed, her gaze playful as she gestured at the floating chunks of flaming rock.

Yahageshii's eyes darted around the courtyard. The fragments of the barrier were now suspended mid-air, each one burning brightly. They hovered like a swarm of predatory beasts, their numbers overwhelming.

Dozens, no—hundreds of molten rocks floated menacingly around Harutemi, each radiating heat and energy.

Clenching his fists, Yahageshii muttered under his breath, "What the hell…"