Nato7

The Awakening: Around 150 years ago, a mysterious event known as "The Rift" caused a dramatic shift in the world. This event opened portals from another dimension, bringing Essences—mysterious and powerful entities—into the world. These Essences granted some individuals extraordinary abilities and set in motion a global conflict.

Essence Warriors: These are people who possess the power of an Essence, which can take various forms depending on the individual’s soul and affinity. Some are born with their Essence powers from birth, while others awaken them later in life. These warriors are ranked according to their power level, and the rankings play a significant role in their status, training, and missions.

Essence Reborn

The sky was golden with morning light as Renji, Takumi, and Reina stood at the edge of the cliffside training grounds. For two weeks, they'd trained under Riku Hayashi—Japan's soon-to-be first EX-Rank in decades—and today was their final session.

Riku stood quietly with his hands in his pockets, the wind brushing his grey hair, the same Divine Avatar form he once used now lying dormant within.

"This is it," he said. "Last day. No holding back."

Takumi cracked his neck. "We weren't planning on it."

Renji rolled his shoulders, his gauntlets crackling with crimson Essence. "We're ready."

Reina said nothing, but her calm expression and wind-tinged eyes said everything.

Riku raised his hand. "Then show me."

The ground cracked beneath their feet as they launched forward.

Renji blitzed in, fists surging with layered strikes, testing Riku's speed. Riku deflected each hit, his feet not moving. Renji roared and created a quake-pulse underfoot, trying to break his stance.

Riku simply flipped over him, landing a soft jab that sent Renji sliding back. "Sharper, Renji."

Renji gritted his teeth and attacked again—more fluid this time, more controlled. Riku nodded silently.

Flames swirled around Takumi like a dragon's coil. He launched fire spears, twisting in the air, turning into a living firework.

Riku dodged each shot, then vanished and appeared behind him with a palm strike. Takumi blocked it just in time with a flaming arm guard.

Reina moved like wind—hard to grasp, impossible to trap. She spun a cyclone around Riku, using the momentum to fire pinpoint air blades from above. Riku stood inside the storm, raising his hand, neutralizing the flow with his own aura.

Then she dashed in, blade formed from compressed wind—and for the first time, got within a foot of Riku's neck.

He stopped her sword gently with two fingers.

After an hour of testing, dodging, fighting, and failing, Riku called it.

"You're not quite A-Rank yet," he said. "But you've crossed the threshold. Now it's just consistency."

Takumi grinned through the sweat. "Best trainer ever."

Renji smirked. "Gotta admit… I kinda thought you'd be more stuck up."

Reina smiled, eyes twinkling. "Thank you… Riku."

He nodded. "Keep going. You're closer than you think."

Later that day, the three left the grounds together, confident and proud.

Riku stood alone on the hill as the wind passed by, whispering through the grass.

His phone buzzed with a message from Kensei Gojuro.

"Get ready. Your Ex-Rank ceremony is almost here."

Chapter 74: Final Forge