CHAPTER 5:THE PATH TO STRENGTH
Chapter 5: The Path to Strength
A Town Consumed by Horror
Far from the safety of the underground base, a small Japanese town—Minakami—was drenched in carnage.
Its streets, once bustling with life, had turned into a blood-soaked graveyard. A monstrous reptilian creature roamed freely, devouring every human in sight. Its grotesque jaws snapped with disturbing ease, tearing apart flesh in the most horrifying manner imaginable. The screams of the last remaining survivors echoed for a moment—only to be silenced by the beast's insatiable hunger.
No one was left.
A False Sense of Safety
Back at the underground base, Hikaru and his team finally allowed themselves a moment of rest. For the first time since the apocalypse began, they felt… safe.
The weight of their battles, the pain of their losses, and the burden of their new reality pressed heavily on their minds. Sleep came easily that night.
But for one person, the hunger was stronger than exhaustion.
Kuroshin slipped out of the base, making his way to the nearest supermarket. The world was falling apart, but that didn't mean he'd let himself starve. He needed something to eat—preferably something better than emergency rations.
The streets were eerily quiet as he walked. No humans. No survivors.
Only aliens.
He quickly ducked into the shadows, avoiding detection.
Where the hell did all the humans go? he wondered.
After failing to find any sign of survivors, he returned to the base, feeling uneasy.
The Decision to Train
The next morning, Hikaru gathered everyone.
"We keep fighting, but we don't even understand the full extent of our powers," he said, his voice firm. "The most important thing we need to do right now… is train."
Everyone nodded in agreement. If they wanted to stand a chance against the aliens, they had to become stronger.
Leaving the rescued humans behind in the safety of the underground base, they moved to an open training ground, far enough away to prevent any damage to their shelter.
Hikaru, however, had a problem.
Unlike the others, he didn't fully understand what Ether was.
While the others had clear elemental abilities—fire, ice, wind—his power felt… different.
He turned to Emi, hoping for an answer.
"Do you know what Ether is?" he asked.
Emi shook her head. "I've never heard of it. Whatever you have… it's unique."
Hikaru frowned and firmed his grip. He focused, trying to summon his power.
A blue energy flickered to life in his hands.
For a brief moment, it felt like he could grasp it. But then, just as quickly, it faded away.
Hikaru clenched his fists. I need to master this…
Determined, he focused on his breath. He cleared his mind, shutting out all distractions.
And then—
BOOM!
A sudden burst of Ether erupted from his body, surging through the air like an uncontrolled storm. The ground trembled under its force.
For the first time, he could feel it. The power inside him.
Focusing again, he gathered the energy—this time, keeping it under control.
"Ether Blast!"
A massive explosion tore through the air, shaking the entire field. Dust and debris scattered everywhere.
Everyone turned in shock.
"That's… insane," Kaito muttered.
Hikaru smirked, gripping Nova, his newly named sword. Now, it was time to train in combat.
Aoi's Thunderclap
While Hikaru worked on his Ether control, the others pushed themselves to their limits.
Among them, Aoi developed a powerful new technique.
Standing in front of Hikaru, Aoi took a deep breath. He focused sound waves into his palms, channeling every ounce of his power.
Then—
BOOM!
With a single, deafening clap, a sonic blast exploded in Hikaru's ears.
The sheer force sent Hikaru flying backward, his head spinning.
"What the hell, Aoi?!" Hikaru groaned, clutching his ears.
Aoi grinned. "I call it Thunderclap."
Hikaru scowled but couldn't help smirking. Looks like everyone's making progress…
A Sudden Attack
Just as the training session ended, a thunderous explosion rocked the underground base.
Their safe haven was under attack.
Without hesitation, everyone rushed back.
As they arrived, they saw a lone man standing amidst the destruction.
His body was bulging with pure muscle, his veins pulsing unnaturally. His face was twisted in amusement as he admired his own handiwork.
Kaito stepped forward, eyes burning with fury. "Who the hell are you?!"
The man turned toward them, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Just getting rid of the weak," he said casually. "That's all."
Aoi's rage exploded. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, ready to attack.
The man threw a single punch.
CRACK!
Aoi's body was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground violently. Blood spilled from his mouth as his vision blurred.
He was on the verge of death.
Everyone froze.
"What the hell…?" Hiroshi whispered, shocked at the sheer force of one attack.
Kiyoshi gritted his teeth, rushing forward. "You bastard!"
Before he could land a punch, the man grabbed Kiyoshi's neck with one hand.
Kiyoshi struggled, but the grip was too strong.
Gasping for air, he barely managed to speak. "Who… are you?"
The man's smirk widened.
"I'm Muscle the Destroyer."
To Be Continued…