Chapter - 4: Way to Chikara - 1

Shike smiled faintly. "There's still much for you to learn, Kaito. But today, you've seen the path you must walk."

"I shall tell you something..I'm a Dual Element user".

Kaito was shocked, but somewhat he expected this. "You're a dual element user? So what are your two elements?"

"As you know my one element is Matter and my second element is Space." Shike replied.

"Amazing!" Kaito was awed in his power..

Shike placed a hand on his shoulder, pride evident in his gaze.

"I'll be here to guide you every step of the way. But first we need to change our base. Because we will not be safe in our base for a longer time."

"So where will we go?" Kaito asked curiously.

"I will take you to another base." Shike replied.

The quiet hum of the forest was broken only by the crunching of leaves underfoot as Shike led Kaito deeper into the wilderness. After their escape from Yanei, Kaito was eager to catch his breath, but Shike's pace didn't slow. 

"Sensei, how much farther?" Kaito finally asked, panting.

"Not much longer," Shike replied curtly. "We need to reach the new base before sunrise. The barrier around it will hide us from their detection."

Kaito sighed in annoyance but continued walking.

As dawn broke, Kaito found himself staring at a hidden stronghold carved into the heart of a cliffside. The entrance was concealed by dense vegetation, but once Shike moved the vines aside and chanted a brief incantation, the stone wall shimmered and disappeared, revealing an arched doorway.

The base inside was far from what Kaito expected. It wasn't just a hideout—it was a fortress. Spacious and reinforced, it had clearly been built with defense in mind. The main hall served as a training arena, lined with weapon racks, scrolls, and glowing runes carved into the walls. A smaller chamber to the side held sleeping quarters and a simple kitchen.

Kaito let out a low whistle. "You made all of this?"

"Built it years ago," Shike said, setting down his pack. "Always good to have a fallback location."

As Kaito wandered around, marveling at the base's craftsmanship, Shike set up a protective Seijutsu Barrier around the perimeter. The air shimmered briefly as the runes on the walls activated, locking the base in an invisible shield.

"We'll be safe here," Shike said. "But safety is temporary if you don't learn to defend yourself. Your training starts now."

"I need a break, first please," Kaito pleaded.

Shike stood in the center of the training arena not listening to Kaito, his stance firm as he summoned a shimmering blade of energy into his hand. It was sleek, radiant, and perfectly balanced.

"Your first task," he said, "is to forge a sword from your magic element—Matter. This will be your primary weapon and the foundation of your skills."

Kaito frowned and walked into the training arena, holding out his hands. "How am I supposed to make a sword out of… stuff?"

"Matter is different from other elements," Shike explained, dissolving his sword into a swirling mass of particles. "It doesn't have a natural form. You must shape it with your will and stabilize it with your Seijutsu."

He demonstrated, reshaping the particles into a towering broadsword, then a curved katana, then a small dagger. The transitions were seamless. "This level of control doesn't come easily. It requires focus, precision, and patience. Start by summoning the matter in its raw form, then mold it into the image of a sword."

Kaito nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. He sat cross-legged in the center of the arena, closed his eyes, and held out his hands. Slowly, glowing particles began to form, swirling like fireflies.

"Good," Shike said. "Now, visualize the sword. Its hilt, its blade, its weight. Make it real in your mind."

Kaito tried to focus, but as soon as he attempted to shape the particles, they fizzled out. He groaned in frustration.

"Focus!" Shike barked. "Your mind is wandering. A weapon isn't just a tool—it's an extension of your spirit. If your resolve wavers, so will the blade."

Days passed, and Kaito's initial enthusiasm gave way to exhaustion. His first attempts at creating a sword were disastrous. One time, he managed to summon a clumsy lump of matter that resembled a club more than a blade.

"Well, it's… something," Shike said, barely hiding his chuckle.

Another time, Kaito accidentally created a sword so heavy that he couldn't lift it. "Maybe I'm better off as a blacksmith," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Shike shook his head. "A warrior doesn't rely on luck or brute force. Keep trying."

Despite the failures, Kaito refused to give up. He spent hours each day in the training arena, refining his control over his Seijutsu.

Another mishap had Kaito summoning a blade so brittle that it shattered the moment he tried to swing it. The shards flew everywhere, one landing on Shike's head.

"If you're trying to kill me, you'll have to try harder," Shike deadpanned, though the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.

"Yeah, yeah," Kaito muttered,

During breaks, Shike found ways to keep Kaito's spirits up. One evening, he challenged Kaito to a game of Element Chase, a playful competition where they used their powers to create glowing orbs and try to outmaneuver each other.

"You're fast, but not fast enough!" Kaito shouted, dodging Shike's energy orb and countering with his own.

Shike smirked, easily deflecting it. "You'll need more than speed to beat me, boy."

Another time, Kaito discovered a stash of preserved fruits in the kitchen. Thinking they were ordinary, he bit into one, only to find it was incredibly spicy. His face turned red as he fanned his mouth.

Shike burst out laughing. "Idiot, That's a Firefruit! Didn't I warn you about those?"

"You didn't say they'd melt my tongue!" Kaito retorted, chugging water.

After weeks of relentless effort, Kaito finally had a breakthrough. One morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered into the training arena, he sat cross-legged with renewed focus. Closing his eyes, he visualized the sword in vivid detail—a sleek, elegant blade with a black-and-silver finish.

This time, when the glowing particles gathered in his hands, they didn't fizzle out. They coalesced, forming a tangible shape. When he opened his eyes, the sword was there, gleaming and solid.

He stood, gripping the hilt tightly. The blade felt natural, as if it had always been a part of him.

"Sensei!" Kaito called out, his voice trembling with excitement. "I did it!"

Shike approached, inspecting the sword with a critical eye. He nodded, his expression one of approval. "Well done. You've not only created the sword but stabilized it. That's no small feat."

Kaito grinned, holding the sword aloft. "And I can summon it anytime, right?"

"Yes, to do it, memorize your sword design," Shike said. "Now that you've mastered the technique, the sword is bound to your will. You can call it forth whenever you need it."

Over the next few days, Kaito practiced summoning and dismissing the sword at will, honing his connection to it. He even began experimenting with different shapes and sizes, though he always returned to his favored sleek design.

One evening, as they sat by the fire, Shike broke the silence with a revelation that caught Kaito off guard.

"Kaito," he began, his tone uncharacteristically soft, "there's something I didn't tell you, but now I think I can tell you."

Kaito looked up, curiosity etched on his face. "What is it?"

"I have a daughter," Shike said. "Her name is Ayaka Nazamaki. She's a Chikara—a high-ranker like I'm training you to become."

Kaito blinked, stunned. "You have a daughter? Why didn't you tell me before?"

Shike sighed, staring into the flames. "It wasn't the right time. Ayaka is strong—one of the best in her rank. She's also the same age as yours."

"Hm, Will I ever meet her?" Kaito asked.

"Perhaps," Shike said. "But for now, your focus must remain on your own growth. Ayaka is a Chikara for a reason."

Kaito nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "I'll work hard, Sensei. I promise."

Shike placed a hand on Kaito's shoulder, his gaze firm. "I know you will."

He had taken his first step toward mastering his powers and forging his path as an Elementer. And deep down, he knew what his real purpose was…. 

  to be continued….