Chapter Ten: “The Six Clans”

Chapter Ten: "The Six Clans"

Flashback Arc — Part I

"Before I was a teacher... I was someone who believed in mercy. This is the story of how that belief burned away." – Rengoku Arashi

🎙️ Prologue – Rengoku's Narration

Rengoku's voice, aged and reflective, opens over images of ancient battlefields, clan crests, and shattered temples:

"Six clans shaped the world before we shaped magic. Six bloodlines. Six destinies. We weren't born equal. We were born into power... and into war. We existed in Love within clans and in war without the clan.

Each clans battled for dominance, over the other be and lives were destroyed, happiness were destroyed. Loved ones were killed and massacred, mine was not an exception".

We had Zeno Clan – Blood manipulator sorcerors

"Every drop of blood is a weapon. The Zeno Clan have an opening in their body where they take a percent of their blood and turn it into powerful weapons…they can take the blood of others and turn it to weapons too. One blast from their attack and the person is dead."

Warriors used the bloods in some parts of their arms, face, and other parts to summon whips of blood, blood cannons blasts that are very powerful and healing allies.

One falls unconscious from overuse—burnt veins glowing red if too much blood is used.

Here is the Sakura Clan – Spirit Manipulators.

"They make contracts with death. The Sakura clan walks with ghosts, spirits demons and ghouls."

Spirits swarm around young summoners.

Student kneels, accepting a death-pact symbol on her arm.

They summon them to destroy and kill, they can also merge with the spirits to strengthen themselves in battles.

We have the Zenin Clan – Energy Forgers

"They manipulate energy itself. Power, pure and raw."

Combatants explode fields with energy shockwaves, energy beams and blasts.

A Zenin student forms twin sabers from her own aura.

We have the Matsumoto Clan – Shinigami Tamers

"Flesh is temporary. Spirit is forever."

Giant spirit wolves tear through cursed spirits.

A student merges with a white falcon mid-air, becoming winged.

"They use creatures and curses to fight in battle"

We have the Satoru Clan – Masters of Infinity & Oblivion

"Untouchable. Unstoppable. One in a thousand can erase existence, these is the strongest clan in all the land, onece in a thousand years, a worthy soul gains Oblivion along with Infinity."

We see an ancient Satoru sorcerer activate Oblivion—everything around him dissolves into nothing.

The last but not the least, the Tsukihara Clan – Shikigami artists

"They use creatures for war, magical creatures, different kinds and sizes."

A shikigami user attacks a sorceror totally killing him… at the cost of her own sanity.

"And I… I was from none of them. I came from the Arashi Bloodline—the wielder of fire. Our name means nothing… until we burn."

– Rengoku Arashi

Scene Shift – Tenkai High, Seventeen Years Ago

The training yard bursts with applause. Special-year students duel like gods. Above them, on the Special Grade Balcony, four students sit on golden benches.

Rengoku Arashi leans back, yawning.

Beside him, a soft voice: "You forgot."

He turns.

Yukari Tsukihara stands there, smiling in her white soulweaver robes, hands behind her back.

"…Forgot what?", Rengoku asked in confusion.

"What do you mean by fogort what, it's my birthday.",she said a little angry

He groans. "Again?, I'm sorry, this war has made me forget the things of this life".

"No worries, This is your last warning, sensei.",She said handing him a rice bun.

They laugh. He tosses an arm around her.

She whispers in a little sad tone, "You've got everything—power, pride… maybe give me a little attention."

He responded: "I'm sorry, I do this so that I can protect you and others".

"Ooh I'm so jealous, when will I meet my lucky man?", Seta Ryuuji said playfully.

"Don't worry, he will come around".

They all started laughing.

Then the skies began to pour out rain heavily, but no one took cover, it was a great time for them to play in the rain. Seta Ryuuji, Yukari Tsukihara and Rengoku Arashi played lovingly under the rain, but Rein didn't join, he looked at them with a little pride, hatred and disdain.

"Rein, come in and join us, it's great out here", Rengoku called out.

"Sorry but I'mm good, thanks", he refused.

"Come on Rein, it's so much fun", Seta insisted but he didn't even respond.

"What a jerk?", She said angrily.

Soon the rain stopped and the drenched team decided to seat and dry out for a while.

"Haaaa, what a wonderful day", Yukari said lying down on Rengoku's laps.

"I love you", he stated.

Then they kissed.

"I love you too", She respondes.

They all sit and chat for a while until....BOOM!.

The announcement crystal flares.

"Special Grade Class: Rengoku Arashi, Yukari Tsukihara, Rein Asaka, Seta Ryuuji — report to Mission Gate Omega, a mornarch breach has been detected."

The four students gather in a dark hall lit by red sigils.

The Elder explains:

"Cursed Zone: Eastern Barrens. Minor anomaly. Infiltrate, destroy and seal. This is not a test,."

Rein Asaka, Rengoku's best friend, grins. "Easy. I could do it shapeshifted as a janitor."

"Hope its something that actually bleeds this time.", says Seta.

"Let's give Yukari the day off. Birthday girl shouldn't get blood on her boots.", says a Smirking Rengoku.

She slaps his shoulder. "Come on, i can handle it, it would be a breeze".

"No, please stay behind", Rengoku protested.

"Ok if you insist, but...are you guys going to be able to handle it ", she asked.

"Of course we can handle one mission without you, you wouldn't even help anyway", Rein said nonchalantly.

"Hey, what do you mean by that?, I killed fifty demons in the last mission and...."

"And I killed hundreds, just stay here any quit whining".

"Whining, who do you think...."

Rengoku interrupts, "Yuki_chan, please just forget whatever he said, don't give hears to him".

She gives him a hug saying: "I hope I will be able to see you again".

"Yeah of course, I'll survive it"., Rengoku said processing it in his mond, though a little disturbing.

The team left, they reached the gate's location and they walk toward the glowing gate, a single thought crosses Rengoku's mind:

"This is the first mission in weeks, but it's not the first mission of my life, and I'm a special grade sorceror".

The team walked to the the gate and they meet a normal looking man with beast-like resemblance.

"I bet that is a beast monarch", Rein said with certainty.

The beast monarch summoned pride of lions, ambush of Tiger, and lots of crocodiles to attack them.

The battle was easy and expected from special grade sorcerors.

The monarch tilted his head from confusion and then turned to a 10 ft tall griffon (Lion's body and hind legs, Eagles head and fore legs).

"I told you it was a beast monarch"., Rein said with a smirk on his face.

The team stood ready to fight and he lunged at them to attack.

Rengoku shouted getting ready to fight,: "Come on guys, this might be the last fight of our lives, let's make it count".

"Yeah", Seta shouted.

To Be Continued…