Chapter 70: The Reunion

The sun hung low in the sky as the arena filled with excited spectators, all eager for the next round of the tournament to begin. Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu stood together near the entrance, the energy of the crowd buzzing in the air. They had all grown during their extra training months, but the real surprise was about to come.

The trio had reunited after months apart. Ryuu had grown taller, his movements sharper, his presence even more intimidating than before. Hana was now leaner and quicker, her agility practically unmatched. Tetsu was just as confident, his mind more strategic, and his strength more than enough to hold his own in any battle.

They exchanged smiles and greetings, catching up on everything that had happened during their time apart. Ryuu was the first to notice how much taller Hana had gotten, while Tetsu couldn't help but flirt with Eri, giving her a wink as he adjusted his gear.

"Eri," Tetsu said with a grin, "Did you miss me?"

Eri, who had been standing off to the side, rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Try not to get any more girls into trouble, Tetsu," she replied. "We don't need any more distractions today."

Hana giggled at the exchange, but as they all continued chatting, a question began to form in the back of their minds: Where was Kael?

Just as the thought crossed their minds, the air seemed to change. A quiet ripple passed through the group as a figure in a black robe with white stripes appeared from the crowd. His presence was unmistakable, and there was something about the way he moved that made everyone stop in their tracks.

He was tall—at least 6'0" now—his once dark hair now a bright, stark white. The figure slowly lifted his hood, revealing his face. It was Kael.

Everyone froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Hana's heart skipped a beat. The Kael she remembered was much shorter, and his hair had always been black. But here he was, standing before them, transformed—taller, stronger, and with hair so white it almost glowed under the arena lights.

"Kael…?" Hana whispered, her voice filled with surprise and something else—something warmer.

Kael chuckled, noticing their shocked expressions. "It's me, guys," he said with a smirk, his tone light and teasing. "Did you really think I'd come back the same as I was? It's only been a year."

The group stood still for a moment, still processing the change. Ryuu was the first to recover, clapping Kael on the back with a smile. "Damn, Kael, you've changed. You're almost unrecognizable!"

Hana couldn't help herself. Her emotions bubbled to the surface, and before she could stop herself, she rushed toward Kael and wrapped him in a tight hug. "I can't believe it's really you!" she exclaimed, her face flushed.

Tetsu, not one to be left out, grinned and joined in, giving Kael a hug of his own. "Man, I knew you'd get stronger, but this… I didn't think you'd be this much of a monster." He gave Kael a playful nudge, but there was genuine admiration in his voice.

Kael laughed, clearly not used to this much attention. "Guys, come on. It's only been a year. Don't act like I'm some kind of different person."

Eri, standing off to the side with an amused expression, raised an eyebrow at the group. "I thought you all said you'd be back in six months. Did you forget what you told me?" she asked, her voice tinged with a playful edge.

The group chuckled awkwardly, but there was no denying the bond between them. They had all come so far, and despite the time apart, they were still the same—still family in their own way.

"We just… couldn't wait to see you," Ryuu admitted with a shrug. "It's been a hell of a year for all of us."

Kael smiled at his friends, his gaze shifting to Hana, Tetsu, and then to Eri. "I get it. But now, let's focus on what's coming. We still have a tournament to finish."

The atmosphere was electric, but now it was tinged with a new sense of camaraderie. They were back together, ready to face whatever challenges the tournament had in store. With Kael standing by their side once more, they felt like they could take on anything.

But as they prepared to head toward the arena, Kael paused, turning to Eri. "Hey, thanks for not kicking my ass for being late," he said with a grin.

Eri rolled her eyes but smiled softly. "You better make up for it in the tournament, Kael. I expect nothing less than the best from all of you."

With that, the group shared one final glance before heading toward the tournament arena, ready to face their next challenge with new strength and determination.

But as they walked, Kael couldn't help but notice something strange—though the team was reunited, something felt different. The Darkshade members were nowhere to be seen, and there was an unsettling sense in the air. Something was coming, and Kael could feel it deep in his bones.

But for now, they were back together. And that was all that mattered.